Gear The Dead Air/KNS Precision Switchsight Dave Merrill February 5, 2019 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More Last year out of seemingly nowhere, Dead Air announced a product they developed in conjunction with KNS Precision–Switchsights. Currently only available for Glock pistols, Switchsights allow you to easily swap between standard-height sights and taller suppressor-height sights. You can think of these like flip-up backup iron sights (BUIS) but for your pistol. So why would you want them? A few reasons, actually. Suppressor height sights sometimes require special holsters in order for the front sight to clear; this is especially true of those running Leupold Delta Point Pro optics on their handguns because they require a taller set than other micro dots. Holster fit aside, if you're running a red dot on your pistol (come on, it's 2019) suppressor height sights allow for a cowitness with your dot–but they can also clutter your window. Switchsights should be looked as actual backup sights rather than training wheels to find your dot, and the view of your window is a helluva lot less obscured when these are folded down. The front sight installs fairly normally, though you have to ensure it's square as you torque down so it doesn't become misaligned. The rear sight uses a small set screw (use some thread locker!) to hold it in place, though this also means that adjusting for windage, if you have to do so, is reasonably simple. As factory standard, these alloy steel sights come with a typical 3-dot sight that should be familiar in either sight plane. However, we're looking for the least busy sight picture as possible so we grabbed a permanent marker and blacked out the dots for when the sight is folded. If you used something like nail polish undoubtedly it would look better. Bear in mind that these are not night sights, but you can add some photoluminescent paint to the dots if you want to make some hoodrat ones. We didn't bother, as these are strictly backups. For a while, some of us have been considering ditching irons on red dot'd slides entirely. While that may give some the heebie jeebies, remember that with many red dot failures the irons won't be useful anyway. Dot dies? Sure, no problem. Window cracked? Nope. Window fogged/muddy? Nope. While an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure in the form of RainX and Cat Crap, these things can still happen. In the event of failures where you cannot see through the window, you need to be practicing alternative sighting methods anyhow (look forward to a future RECOILweb piece on this). Instead of ditching the irons entirely, the Switchsights allow us to baby step our way there while still giving us an emergency iron sighting option. You can visit either KNS Precision or Dead Air to give these a closer look. Explore RECOILweb:Shadows Systems Foundation Series Pistols: Best Affordable "Gucci" Glock? [Hands-On Review]Brownells BRN-4: The HK 416 We Can Have At Home [SHOT Show Range Day 2023]Black Friday & Cyber Monday Gun Deals [UPDATED] [2023]New: the Rudy Project Tralyx Shooting Kit NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.