Choosing the right sight for your Glock 43 is a critical decision that directly impacts your accuracy and confidence, whether you’re at the range or relying on your firearm for personal protection. The right optic can make a significant difference in target acquisition speed and overall performance in various lighting conditions.
This roundup covers a spectrum of excellent options, from high-visibility iron sights to advanced micro red dots. We’ve selected products known for their durability, clarity, and reliability to help you find the perfect upgrade for your compact pistol, ensuring you are equipped for both day and night use.
Our Top Picks for Glock 43 Sights
- TRUGLO TG13GL3PC Brite-Site TFX Pro
- Glock 43 42 Factory OEM Night Sight Set
- HOLOSUN HS507K X2 Multi-Reticle Red Dot
- Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sight Set
- Trijicon GL601-C-600836 HD XR Orange Sight
- Swampfox Sentinel II 1×20 Micro Red Dot
- Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable LED Reflex
- Shield RMSc Micro Red Dot Sight
TRUGLO TG13GL3PC Brite-Site TFX Pro
The TRUGLO TFX Pro is a hybrid sight system that brilliantly combines fiber-optic and tritium technologies. This design provides a bright, high-contrast aiming point in broad daylight and a steady, battery-free glow in low-light and no-light conditions. It’s an ideal solution for a carry sight that needs to perform reliably at any time of day.
Its snag-free design ensures a smooth draw from a holster, while the high-contrast orange “Focus Lock” front ring helps your eye quickly find the front sight for faster, more accurate shooting. The enclosed design protects the fiber optics from damage and keeps them hidden from your target’s view.
Glock 43 42 Factory OEM Night Sight Set
For those who prefer a factory-original upgrade, this Glock OEM night sight set is a perfect choice. These sights offer the reliability and fit that you expect directly from the manufacturer, ensuring seamless compatibility with your Glock 43. They provide a trusted and straightforward solution for enhanced low-light performance.
Built with robust materials and a simple three-dot configuration, these sights are designed for durability and consistent performance. They offer a significant improvement over standard factory sights without changing the pistol’s overall profile, making them an excellent option for users who value a no-fuss, dependable setup.
HOLOSUN HS507K X2 Multi-Reticle Red Dot
The HOLOSUN HS507K X2 is a feature-packed micro red dot designed specifically for subcompact handguns like the Glock 43 (with an adapter plate). Its Multi-Reticle System (MRS) gives you the flexibility to choose between a 2 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, or a combination of both. This allows for rapid target acquisition at close ranges and precise aiming for longer shots.
With a battery life of up to 50,000 hours and the convenient Shake Awake feature that conserves power, this sight is always ready when you need it. The durable 7075 aluminum housing and side-loading battery tray make it a robust and user-friendly option for everyday carry.
Trijicon Bright and Tough Night Sight Set
Trijicon is a legendary name in night sights, and this set for the Glock 42/43 lives up to the reputation. These sights are built to be exceptionally durable and reliable, using tritium phosphor lamps to provide a constant, self-luminous glow in low-light situations. The classic three-dot configuration with green dots is intuitive and easy to use.
Known for their rugged construction, these sights are designed to withstand heavy use and harsh conditions. They offer a significant tactical advantage by allowing for fast and accurate sight alignment when traditional sights would be difficult or impossible to see.
Trijicon GL601-C-600836 HD XR Orange Sight
The Trijicon HD XR sights are engineered for speed and precision. The standout feature is the bright orange front sight outline, which creates a high-contrast aiming point that draws your eye for faster front sight focus. This design is particularly effective in high-stress situations where speed is critical.
Combining a tritium vial for low-light performance with a photoluminescent orange ring for daytime use, these sights offer excellent all-around visibility. The “XR” designation refers to the extended sight radius, which can contribute to improved accuracy over standard configurations.
Swampfox Sentinel II 1×20 Micro Red Dot
The Swampfox Sentinel II is a compact and capable micro red dot built for concealed carry. Its slim profile and 20mm objective lens make it an ideal optic for a subcompact pistol like the Glock 43, offering a clear sight picture without adding unnecessary bulk. It features a straightforward 3 MOA dot for precise aiming.
This sight includes practical features like Shake N’ Wake technology to automatically turn the sight on with motion and a removable rear sight guide that acts as a backup reference point. With ten brightness settings, including night vision compatibility, it is adaptable to any lighting environment.
Trijicon RMR Type 2 Adjustable LED Reflex
The Trijicon RMR Type 2 is the gold standard for ruggedized red dot sights. Renowned for its incredible durability, it is built to withstand extreme conditions and heavy recoil, making it a top choice for professional and serious civilian users. Its robust housing is designed to survive drops and impacts that would destroy other optics.
The adjustable LED model allows you to fine-tune the dot brightness across multiple settings to perfectly match your environment. While it requires a slide cut or mounting plate for the Glock 43, the investment provides an unmatched level of performance and reliability for a red dot sight.
Shield RMSc Micro Red Dot Sight
The Shield RMSc is a minimalist and ultra-compact red dot sight originating from the United Kingdom. Its low-profile design is perfect for maintaining the slim, concealable nature of the Glock 43. The sight offers a clear, sharp dot for fast aiming without obscuring your field of view.
Engineered for reliability on small, snappy pistols, the RMSc is constructed from a single block of steel, providing excellent strength and durability. Its simple, intuitive operation and compact footprint have made it a popular OEM choice for several firearm manufacturers, speaking to its quality and performance.
Buying Guide: What to Look For in the Best Sights for Glock 43
When I started looking for new sights for my Glock 43, I quickly realized it wasn’t just about picking the shiniest option. The right sight setup can make a huge difference in how quickly and accurately you can get on target, especially in a defensive situation. Since the G43 is a popular concealed carry piece, your sights need to perform in bright daylight and in low-light conditions where you might need them most. Let’s break down what I consider when choosing the best sights for Glock 43 for day and night use.
First, think about sight picture. The standard plastic sights on a factory Glock are, to be honest, not great. You’ll want something with a much clearer and faster sight picture. For many, this means a three-dot system, but there are other excellent configurations like the “U-notch” and colored front sight from Ameriglo or the classic three-dot white bar from Trijicon. The goal is a setup that lets your eye naturally find the front sight and align it without conscious effort.
Next is the technology for low-light performance. This is non-negotiable for a carry gun. You have two main choices: tritium and fiber optics. Tritium is a self-illuminating radioactive gas sealed in a glass vial. It glows without needing any external light source, making it perfect for pitch-black conditions. Brands like Trijicon and Ameriglo are masters of tritium. Fiber optic sights, like those from Truglo, are fantastic for daytime. They gather ambient light and become a very bright, easy-to-see dot. Some of the best sights for Glock 43 combine both, with a tritium lamp for night and a fiber optic ring for day, giving you the ultimate all-condition sight.
Finally, consider durability and installation. Your sights will get bumped and banged. You need a tough material like steel or aluminum. The finish is also important for resisting holster wear. And then there’s the install. Glock sights are notorious for being a pain to swap out yourself, often requiring a specific sight pusher tool. It’s usually worth the small fee to have a professional gunsmith do it to avoid damaging your new investment. Think about what works for your lifestyle and practice with whatever you choose until acquiring the sight picture is second nature.
FAQ
What makes a sight good for both day and night use?
A sight that works well in both conditions typically combines two technologies. For daytime, a fiber optic element is excellent because it gathers ambient light and creates a very bright, highly visible aiming point. For nighttime, self-illuminating tritium lamps are the gold standard because they glow in total darkness without any external light source. Many modern sights pair a tritium vial with a fiber optic cable or use high-visibility color outlines around the tritium to give you a clear advantage in any lighting situation.
Are night sights the same as red dot sights for a Glock 43?
No, they are completely different. Night sights, like tritium sights, are physical iron sights that have glowing markers you look at. A red dot sight is an electronic optic that projects a dot onto a small lens, which you look through to see your target. Mounting a red dot on a Glock 43 usually requires having the slide professionally milled to accept the optic, which is a more involved and expensive process than simply swapping out the iron sights.
Can I install new sights on my Glock 43 myself?
You can, but I generally don’t recommend it for a beginner. Glock slides are very hard, and the sights are installed with a precise, tight fit. Removing the old rear sight often requires a sturdy vise and a specific sight pusher tool. Trying to hammer them out with a punch can easily damage your slide’s finish or, worse, mar the new sights. For most people, paying a gunsmith a small installation fee is a worthwhile investment to ensure it’s done correctly and without damage.
How long do tritium night sights actually last?
Tritium has a half-life of about 12.3 years. This means the brightness of the glow will be roughly half as bright after that time. Most manufacturers consider their sights “usable” for around 10-12 years. The glow doesn’t just shut off; it gradually dims over a very long period. Even after 15 years, they will often still glow, just not as brightly as when they were new.
What is the benefit of a blacked-out rear sight?
A blacked-out rear sight, which has no white dots or tritium lamps, is a popular choice for many shooters, especially when paired with a high-visibility front sight. The idea is to simplify your sight picture. With nothing on the rear to distract your eye, you can focus entirely on the bright front sight and the target. This can speed up target acquisition and improve accuracy for some people, as it removes visual clutter.
Are there any sights that are a direct replacement for the factory Glock 43 sights?
Yes, almost all aftermarket sights designed for the Glock 43 are direct replacements. They use the same dovetail cuts as the factory sights. However, it is always a good idea to double-check the product description before you buy to confirm it is listed specifically for the Glock 43, as dovetail sizes can vary between different pistol models and manufacturers.