TFB Review: XS Sights DXT2 - Fixing The Desert Eagle’s Biggest Flaw

Fellow writer Luke C. discovered I picked up a Magnum Research Desert Eagle and generously gave me two sets of XS Sights to test after learning I was less than thrilled with the stock sights. This article will focus on how I installed and tested the XS Sights DXT2 Big Dot Night Sights on my .44 Mag Desert Eagle.

Installing The Sights

XS Sights has an excellent YouTube video demonstrating removing and installing the sights. I followed it exactly, except for the part where he says to take extra precautions with the vice. I used a foam pad, which I thought would be enough buffer, but it was not, and I scratched my beloved pistol in several places where the vice was gripping it.

If you’re uncomfortable doing this, please take your firearm to a gunsmith!

Quick Removal And Install

Remove the front and rear sights using a hammer and punch (I used a homemade wood punch to avoid scratching my gun as much as possible, but I also had to step up to a metal punch because I didn’t have a Nylon punch).

The sights are secured pretty tight, so removing them takes some force, but I strongly encourage you to begin by softly hammering and working your way up to stronger swings.

The sights slide in and out from a specific side (the video does a great job of showing this), so be sure you’re hammering them in the correct direction. I found the rear sights to be the hardest to remove.

Once you remove the stock sights, the reverse process installs the new XS sights. You can lock them in place with the lock screws and Loctite provided in the package.

Before locking the sights in place, take your pistol to the range and shoot a few groups with it to ensure they’re perfectly centered with your barrel.

Now, this is all personal preference and likely has a lot to do with the fact that I wear prescription glasses. It’s not that I couldn’t line up the sights and take accurate shots; it just took me longer than other sights I’ve used.

However, these sights are still a tremendous step up from the stock ones for two significant reasons.

Reason #1

These are night sights, and they glow in the dark. They illuminate very well in low-light situations. If you plan to use your DE for home defense, this is reason enough to acquire some new sights.

Overall, I’ve been impressed with the XS Sights DXT2 Big Dot Night Sights because they are:

• Easy to install (no special tools needed) and fit securely
• Bright and easy to see in daylight or at night
• Made in the USA

That doesn’t mean they’re perfect because I didn’t like:

• How long it takes to get lined up on target (with practice, I could significantly lower that time)
• Using Lock-Tight to secure the sights