FN 509 Tactical Suppressor Height Sights and Options

FN 509 Tactical Sight Options and How To Adjust Accordingly

The FN 509 Tactical sights are designed to be used with a suppressor or other muzzle devices, which can affect the bullet’s point of impact. This blog post examines the FN 509 Tactical suppressor height Sights and options. Often, shooters purchase a tactical handgun fitter with a threaded barrel and suppressor height sights to later purchase a suppressor. We often get asked, “Does the sight alignment change with or without a suppressor?”

This comprehensive blog post will explore these specialized sights’ features, benefits, and options. Whether you’re a competitive shooter, a tactical enthusiast, or someone looking to improve their shooting experience, the FN 509 Tactical Suppressor Height Sights offer a range of advantages worth considering.

The Significance of Suppressor Height Sights

The rise in popularity of pistol suppressors has led to a need for sights that can co-witness with the taller profile of the suppressor. Standard-height sights can obstruct the sight picture when a suppressor is attached, affecting accuracy and making target acquisition challenging. This is where suppressor height sights come into play. Designed to be taller than standard sights, they allow you to maintain

a proper sight alignment and sight picture, even with a suppressor installed.

Exploring the FN 509 Tactical

The FN 509 Tactical is popular among firearm enthusiasts due to its exceptional features and versatility. Chambered in 9mm, this pistol has a threaded barrel and an optics-ready slide, making it a perfect platform for suppressor use. The FN 509 Tactical, when paired with suppressor height sights, offers a complete shooting solution for those seeking enhanced accuracy and versatility.

Alignment of Suppressor Height Sights

Alignment remains the same when using suppressor height sights, whether you have a suppressor attached to your handgun. The purpose of suppressor height sights is to provide the necessary clearance for the taller profile of the suppressor while maintaining the same sight picture and alignment.

When aiming with suppressor height sights, you should follow the same principles of aligning the front and rear sights as you would with standard sights. The top of the front sight should be centered within the notch of the rear sight, and the tops of both sights should be level with each other.

The primary difference with suppressor height sights is that they raise the height of the sights to accommodate the added height of the suppressor when attached. This allows you to maintain the same sight picture and alignment when using the suppressor.

Therefore, the sight alignment and picture should remain consistent whether you shoot with or without a suppressor attached. It’s important to practice with your specific firearm and sight setup to become familiar with how it performs and how it aligns with your point of aim.

Advantages of Suppressor Height Sights

The benefits of using suppressor height sights are numerous:

Co-witnessing: Suppressor height sights are designed to align with the height of a mounted suppressor, ensuring proper co-witnessing with an attached optic or red dot sight. This allows shooters to utilize both their iron sights and the benefits of an optic simultaneously.

Sight Picture Clarity: The elevated sight profile of suppressor height sights ensures a clear picture, even with the suppressor obstructing the view. Shooters can acquire targets more easily and maintain precision during rapid follow-up shots.

Aftermarket FN 509 Tactical Sight Option

The FN 509 Tactical has a great pair of suppressor height iron sights. Several reputable manufacturers offer suppressor height sight options for the FN 509 Tactical. Below is our choice.

Trijicon HD XR Night Sights

Trijicon, known for its top-quality optics and sights, offers the Trijicon HD XR Night Sights for the FN 509 Tactical. These sights feature a tall profile, robust construction, and tritium-powered night sight illumination. The combination of a front tritium dot and a serrated rear sight allows for quick target acquisition and precise shot placement, even in low-light environments.

Compatibility with FN 509 Tactical

Before purchasing, ensure the suppressor height sights are designed to fit the FN 509 Tactical model. They are constructed to match the pistol’s slide dovetail dimensions and height requirements, allowing for proper installation and co-witnessing with suppressors and optics.

Fine-Tuning and Zeroing

Once you have installed suppressor height sights on your FN 509 Tactical, it’s essential to zero your handgun for optimal accuracy. Zeroing refers to adjusting the sights or sight alignment to align the point of aim with the point of impact at a specific distance.

To zero your handgun with suppressor height sights, follow these general steps:

• Choose your desired zeroing distance. Most shooters opt for 25 yards or meters as a standard starting point.
• Set up a stable shooting platform and place a target at the chosen distance.
• Take a series of shots at the target using a stable shooting position and proper sight alignment.
• Evaluate the point of impact on the target and compare it to your intended point of aim.
• Make necessary adjustments to the sights or the sight alignment picture if the sights aren’t adjustable.
• Repeat the process of firing shots and making adjustments until the point of aim and point of impact coincide.

Remember, zeroing is a process that may require several iterations to achieve the desired results. Maintaining consistency in shooting technique and sight alignment during zeroing is important.

Maintenance and Care

Proper maintenance, cleaning, and care are good ideas to ensure the longevity and optimal performance of your FN 509 Tactical suppressor height sights. Here are some maintenance tips:

• Regular Inspection: Periodically inspect your suppressor height sights for any signs of damage, loose screws, or excessive wear. Check that the sight picture remains clear and the tritium illumination (if applicable) is functioning correctly.
• Cleaning: During regular firearm cleaning, pay attention to the suppressor height sights. Gently clean them using a soft cloth or a cleaning solution suitable for your firearm. Be cautious not to damage the sights or disturb their alignment during cleaning.
• Loctite Application: To prevent sight screws from loosening due to recoil or other factors, consider applying a small amount of thread-locking compound (such as Loctite) to the screws. This helps maintain their position and prevents unwanted shifts in sight alignment.
• Storage: When storing your FN 509 Tactical, keep it in a secure and dry location. Consider using a gun case or safe that protects the firearm and its sights from any potential damage or environmental elements.

Following these maintenance practices, you can keep your suppressor height sights in optimal condition, ensuring reliable performance and accuracy.

Red Dots For the FN 509 Tactical

Red dot sights offer rapid target acquisition, increased situational awareness, and improved accuracy. When combined with suppressor height sights, shooters can enjoy these benefits even with a suppressor attached. Red dot suppressor height sights allow for co-witnessing, ensuring that both the red

dot sight and the suppressor height iron sights are simultaneously visible, providing redundancy and flexibility in target engagement.

Red dot sights offer rapid target acquisition, increased situational awareness, and improved accuracy. Many shooters who shoot with both eyes open prefer the Red Dot sights. When combined with suppressor height sights, shooters can enjoy these benefits even with a suppressor attached. Red dot suppressor height sights allow for co-witnessing, ensuring that both the red dot sight and the suppressor height iron sights are simultaneously visible, providing redundancy and flexibility in target engagement.

What is Co-Witnessing

Co-witnessing refers to the alignment of two aiming systems, typically iron sights and red dot sight, so both are visible in the shooter’s sight picture. The purpose of co-witnessing is to provide redundancy and flexibility in aiming and target engagement.

When properly co-witnessed, the shooter can use either the red dot sight or the iron sights as a reference for aiming, depending on the situation and personal preference. This can be particularly useful in scenarios where the red dot sight may experience technical issues, such as a dead battery or a damaged lens.

In suppressor height sights, co-witnessing is achieved by aligning the iron sights, which are taller to accommodate the suppressor, with the red dot sight. This lets you simultaneously see the illuminated red dot and the iron sights. The iron sights act as a backup aiming reference, ensuring that the shooter can still engage targets effectively even if there are issues with the red dot sight.

Sig Sauer Romeo 1 PRO Red Dot

There are many choices for great Red Dots for the FN 509 Tactical, but this one leads the list because I use it on my FN 509 Tactical and have never had one issue with it.

Trijicon SRO

The Trijicon SRO (Specialized Reflex Optic) is compatible with the FN 509 Tactical for co-witnessing with suppressor height sights. The SRO is a popular red dot sight known for its large window and clear sight picture, making it a preferred choice for many shooters.

Please refer to the large selection of mounting plates that came with your FN 509 Tactical for installation—allowing for seamless integration of the SRO.

Holosun 507C X

The Holosun 507C X2 is compatible with the FN 509 Tactical for co-witnessing with suppressor height sights. The Holosun 507C X2 is a popular red dot sight known for its durability, feature set, and affordability.

To achieve co-witness with the Holosun 507C X2 and suppressor height sights on the FN 509 Tactical, you need to use the specific mounting plate supplied with your handgun for the Holosun 507C X2. These

mounting plates are designed to be compatible with the FN 509 Tactical’s optics-ready slide, allowing for seamless integration of the red dot sight.

Ammunition Considerations

Use the right ammunition: Different ammunition can affect the bullet’s point of impact. If you switch between different types of ammunition, you may need to adjust your sights to maintain accuracy.

Ammunition Selection

When selecting ammunition for your FN 509 Tactical, there are a few factors to consider, including the intended purpose of use and personal preferences. Here are some general recommendations for ammunition choices:

• 9mm Defensive Ammunition: For self-defense or personal protection purposes, it is recommended to use high-quality, reliable, and purpose-built defensive ammunition. Look for hollow point ammunition designed to expand upon impact, creating a larger wound channel and transferring energy to the target. Popular options include Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Hornady Critical Defense, and Winchester Ranger T-Series. For +P ammunition, consult your user’s manual.
• Range/Training Ammunition: You may opt for full metal jacket (FMJ) ammunition when training or practicing at the range. FMJ rounds are typically more cost-effective than defensive ammunition. They have a lead core encased in a copper or brass jacket and are designed for reliable feeding and consistent performance on targets. Common FMJ options include Winchester White Box, MagTech, Remington UMC, Federal American Eagle, and Sellier & Bellot.
• Match-Grade/Competition Ammunition: If you’re participating in competitive shooting matches or seeking the utmost precision, consider match-grade ammunition. Match-grade rounds are manufactured with tight tolerances and exceptional consistency, which can improve accuracy and reliability. Brands like Federal Gold Medal Match, Hornady Match, and Black Hills produce high-quality match-grade ammunition.

It is advisable to test different ammunition types to determine what works best for your specific firearm and shooting style, considering recoil, accuracy, and reliability factors.

Shooting Technique

Pay attention to your shooting technique, specifically your grip and trigger control. Inadequate grip or flinching during the trigger pull can affect your point of impact. Ensure you have a firm and consistent grip on the pistol, and practice smooth trigger control to minimize any unnecessary movement.

FN 509 Tactical Suppressor Height Sites Conclusion

The FN 509 Tactical Suppressor Height Sights offer shooters the advantage of maintaining proper sight alignment and sight picture even when using a suppressor.

These sights enhance accuracy, visibility, and versatility, making them a valuable addition to the FN 509 Tactical platform. With various reputable sight options, shooters can choose the configuration that best suits their needs. Remember to follow proper installation procedures, zero your handgun, and maintain regular maintenance

As always, comments and questions are welcome below.

FN 509 Tactical Suppressor Height Sites and Options FAQs