FOGHORN October 2023

Twobirds Flying Publications

XS Sights R3D 2.0 Night Sights for Your FN509

Copyright 2023, Twobirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

 XS Sights R3D 2.0 Night Sights for Your FN509
2023

XS Sights R3D 2.0 Night Sights for Your The original FN509 3-dot sights are excellent
FN509. steel sights with a great finish, but for rapid
target acquisition and low-level light
By: Sal Palma
performance they cannot compete with the
XS R3D 2.0.

I first approached the installation using the

XS Sight Pusher.

XS Sights introduced the R3D in 2021. This

was the first year where XS made changes to The XS Sight pusher is one of the easiest sight
the rear sight and many of you may recall the tools I have used, but it is Glock centric and
company’s “Ember Glow Technology.” In the FN509 slide is slightly taller than the
2023, XS introduced an upgraded version of Glock’s, so I was not able to achieve
the R3D branded R3D 2.0. Its initial alignment of the pusher with the rear sight
availability was for GLOCK and Smith & dovetail.
Wesson pistols with a follow-up offering in
August 2023 for the Sig Sauer, P320, P365,
and P226; Springfield Armory XD and
HellCat; FN509. Our host for this review is
the FN509, FN’s outstanding 9mm pistol.

I fell back to a Sight-Tool Gen 3 which can

accommodate the larger slides. Sharing a bit

Copyright 2023, Twobirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.

 XS Sights R3D 2.0 Night Sights for Your FN509
of good news, XS Sights is working on a new
sight pusher that will support a wider range
of pistol slides.
The R3D 2.0 is a three-dot sight design that
doubles down on XS’s “Big Dot” philosophy.
The front sight is a dual illuminated post with
a phospholuminescent orange glow dot and
a tritium center insert. The glow dot absorbs
ambient light and emits a highly visible soft
glow for several hours. At night, the tritium
center insert takes over presenting a very
visible sight picture.
2023
XS made two significant improvements in
the R3D 2.0, both to the rear sight.
XS serrates the back of the rear sight using
deep cuts that function as a shadowing
surface to eliminate glare, but more
importantly enhances visibility of the two
rear tritium dots. The rear dots are centered
in two black PVC rings. They do a fantastic
job of focusing your eyes, so you have a
sharp sight picture.
Copyright 2023, Twobirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.
 XS Sights R3D 2.0 Night Sights for Your FN509
2023

XS also transitioned to a Black Nitride finish XS sights are manufactured in the U.S.A. and
which provides superior corrosion resistance come with a 30-day money back guarantee.
along with an upscale look. You can’t ask for more than that.

For ease of installation, the R3D 2.0, like its -SP

older sibling, features a lead-in edge and
Easy Press Crushzone.

Product Features

• Tritium front and rear sight

• Black nitride surface finish
• DIYer Install Rated
• Dual-Illuminated tritium
photoluminescent front sight
• High contrast orange or green
photoluminescent Glow Dot
• Anti-glare Blacked-out Serrated
Equipping your favorite carry or duty pistol Rear Sight
with the XS R3D 2.0 will enhance your speed • Rear Sight Ledge for one-handed
and reliability of target acquisition under any slide manipulations
lighting conditions. The build quality is • Traditional notch and post 3-dot
excellent, backed by a 12-year tritium sight picture
warranty and outstanding customer service. • CNC-machined iron sights
The R3D 2.0 is also available in suppressor • Made in Fort Worth, TX
height.

The R3D 2.0 is available for the following

models:

• Canik
• Glock
• Sig Sauer
• Springfield
• FN
• Smith & Wesson
• Taurus
• Tisas
• Walther

Copyright 2023, Twobirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.