TFB Review: XS Sights R3D 2.0 Desert Eagle Night Sights

After hearing that I’d recently gotten a .44 Magnum Desert Eagle, my fellow writer Luke C. sent me a couple of night sights to slap on and test out. My favorites were the XS Sights R3D 2.0; they’re 100% better than the stock black sights for several reasons.

Both sights I tested from XS Sights were simple to install but did require some elbow grease. I also strongly recommend taking extra precautions to avoid scratching your beloved hand cannon because it’s easy to do… as I found out the hard way!

Alrighty, let’s get into why the R3D 2.0 Night Sights are so much better than the stock peepers.

Pros of the XS Sights R3D 2.0 Night Sights

Before I installed these on my .44 Magnum DE, I knew I would love them. I’m just a fan of the notch and post sight picture, but that’s just the beginning.

• Simple to install
• Quick target acquisition and sight alignment
• Bright in daylight or at night
• Made in the USA
• HUGE improvement over the stock sights

As I mentioned, I was surprised by how simple the installation process was for these sights. The most challenging part was removing the stock sights without scratching the DE.

Supporting high-quality American-made products always makes my heart swell a little. I enjoy supporting my fellow Americans, even if it costs a couple of extra dollars.

Lastly, you won’t miss your stock DE sights after installing the R3D 2.0 Night Sights. It’s a night and day difference! Okay, that was a little cheesy, I know, but they are genuinely a ginormous improvement over the factory sights.

Cons of the XS Sights R3D 2.0 Desert Eagle Sights

Though these sights offer several tremendous benefits, that doesn’t mean they’re perfect. I managed to find some things I didn’t love about them.

• Using Loctite to secure them
• Risk of damaging your Desert Eagle while installing them
• Another expense on an already expensive firearm

Maybe it’s because I’m indecisive or just enjoy tinkering too much, but I prefer not to use Loctite on something I might want to change. It just makes it a bigger pain in the butt.

I briefly touched on how I accidentally scratched my DE during the installation process, so this is just a friendly reminder to use a nylon punch and rubber or foam vice.

These sights aren’t unreasonably priced, so my tiff is really with the DE. When spending that kind of money on a firearm, this quality of sight should come installed from the factory, not the hard-to-see iron sights.