I apologize if this has already been posed 1000 times. I've always used tritium sites and now I am seeing more fiber optic sites available. Do they even improve the visibility in low light situations? What are your guys preferences? Should I try fiber optics or stick to tritium?
Tritium vs. Fiber optic sites?
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Tim
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I generally prefer Fiber optics as they stand out better for me in daytime.
FWIW, I (and many others) pretty much think that any type of 'night sight' is out of favor.
FWIW, I (and many others) pretty much think that any type of 'night sight' is out of favor.
I assume a lot of us open carry or conceal carry to protect our families and ourselves? So most crime occurs at night what is the preferred method of being able to shoot accurately in those conditions now if not "night sites"? Under the barrel lights? What's "in favor"? I'm old and old and old school I guess. I'm all for learning though?
Fiber optic sights? No. They essentially become black on black sights.
Are you using a weaponlight? If so, both fiber and tritium sights will look like black on black. Actually, you won't even see the sights, you'll see a silhouette of them.
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I’m a switch hitter.
Like both in some firearm’s sight picture!
Like both in some firearm’s sight picture!
The best way to shoot in those conditions? A light and a red dot optic.
Here’s the thing about night sights, if it’s dark enough for you to need them to see your sights, then it’s gonna be too dark for you positively identify your target and you shouldn’t be shooting if you can’t do that.
Now if you have a light on your pistol, then soon as you turn that on, you’ll see the sights, but not the tritium so what’s the point of night sights then?
The only thing night sights are good for, is finding your gun on the nightstand in the dark. Now if your gun already has them, fine, there’s not really a downside to them, but I wouldn’t go out of my way or spend money to get some.
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You’re a big/bright light proponent, what prompted that?
I am facing limited mobility issues and this is a consideration I must address.
I am facing limited mobility issues and this is a consideration I must address.
I hadn’t thought about the how weapon lights would come into play but my understanding is that as dots have become more common people don’t want bright stuff in their sight picture because it distracts from the dot. But I can see the argument with a light as: shouldn’t be shooting at targets you haven’t positively identified so don’t need night sights because any time you shoot at night your light will be in use and make the night sights just be silhouetted.
Edit: @Derek8404 beat me to it
Edit: @Derek8404 beat me to it
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If you do decide on a light they make some nice compact ones that fit well on the 19 size guns.
Check out the Streamlight TLR-7A
Cole_McD
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Don't discount a quality handheld for daily carry as well.
I carry both a handheld and a wml but if I could only pick one, it would be a handheld.
Everything that needs illuminating doesnt always need a handgun pointed at it, and the power output of a handheld will likely far surpass most concealed carry lights. How this pertains to sight selection is all the same, with the exception that spill from a handheld can still help illuminate fiber optics depending on how you use it.
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This.
I like as much brightness and throw as possible. Makes it easier to positively ID, and even disorient the person you’re pointingst if needed. You can also shine at the ceiling or floor and use reflection to light up a room.
Timfoilhat
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Keep in mind that if the other guy is sending lead in your direction your light becomes the locator beacon and draws fire. Using a handheld and an FBI hold can help mitigate that. I'd suggest getting into a class on the subject of different light holds.
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Average Joe
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The FBI technique works great in an open environment. During building clearing and using cover properly, not so much. It’s a tool for the tool box but learn and practice many other techniques, especially for CQB.
Timfoilhat
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Absolutely, and why I suggested a class.
I have always been a flashlight nut anyway. I think that like eating crayons, comes naturally to a Jarhead. It makes perfect sense to me to get the light source away from the body. Will check into training around here.
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My mistake, I misread your post. Thought you were talking about a FBI technique only class 🤦🏻♂️. That’s what I get for skimming. But the fact that a FBI only doesn’t make any sense, well I got nothing 🤣
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No worries. I edited for clarity after reading it the way you describe. I should have seen what you saw and fixed it before posting. I mean, c'mon, can't y'all read my mind?
I'm not saying you're wrong at all, but shooting like this sucks.
Personally, I want a light and two hands on the gun. I want hits on target and I want to shoot first and fast.
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Sure and fair points, but you should ask yourself what the situation might look like in a "shoot" scenario looks like moments prior to a draw or that immediate threat.
I think we should be prepared and practice/train for both. Otherwise we find ourselves planning for a best case scenario, within our planning for a worst case scenario.
If you are in the dark and pointing your gun at a threat, without using a light, you will not be able to see your sights. (duh)
Sounds basic and stupid, but when someone is trying to kick in your door (front/bedroom) and you're trying not to give away your position, tritium might make sense over waiting to light up before seeing your sights.
I really like FO for range/comp guns. But I think tritium is still the way to go with defensive use guns, especially with a large bright orange/yellow/green dot surrounding the tritium on the front for speed in day.
FO only visible when there is a strong light present/on. they look almost black to me in low ambient light
I also like 3 dot tritium > 2 dot vertical (which I've owned and trained with extensively) > tritium on front only > FO. It's actually difficult to "mix them up/confuse" 3 dots IMO. I can explain if needed.
For home defense, white light attached > handheld. You can always use a handheld as well, but once it gets action oriented, it's so much easier to shoot with an attached light. Just my opinion. It's worth what was paid for it.
Sounds basic and stupid, but when someone is trying to kick in your door (front/bedroom) and you're trying not to give away your position, tritium might make sense over waiting to light up before seeing your sights.
I really like FO for range/comp guns. But I think tritium is still the way to go with defensive use guns, especially with a large bright orange/yellow/green dot surrounding the tritium on the front for speed in day.
FO only visible when there is a strong light present/on. they look almost black to me in low ambient light
I also like 3 dot tritium > 2 dot vertical (which I've owned and trained with extensively) > tritium on front only > FO. It's actually difficult to "mix them up/confuse" 3 dots IMO. I can explain if needed.
For home defense, white light attached > handheld. You can always use a handheld as well, but once it gets action oriented, it's so much easier to shoot with an attached light. Just my opinion. It's worth what was paid for it.
dsmarty386
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i have to say i think there is no need for tritium sights - i personally think they are gimmicky (sorry!)
Here are all the scenarios i can think of where you are shooting and night sights are never needed:
1) its daytime: you can see your sights
2) its night time, you have a WML: you can see your sights
3) Its night time, you dont have a WML: you better turn the light on because you dont know if thats a family member at the door
4) Target is in your house: you probably wont use your sights (and shouldnt need to necessarily in <5yds)
Ultimately, i dont think its justifiable to shoot at something you cant identify. Therefore, you need a WML. If you need to shoot quickly at close range, you dont need your sights. There is no need for night sights.
Here are all the scenarios i can think of where you are shooting and night sights are never needed:
1) its daytime: you can see your sights
2) its night time, you have a WML: you can see your sights
3) Its night time, you dont have a WML: you better turn the light on because you dont know if thats a family member at the door
4) Target is in your house: you probably wont use your sights (and shouldnt need to necessarily in <5yds)
Ultimately, i dont think its justifiable to shoot at something you cant identify. Therefore, you need a WML. If you need to shoot quickly at close range, you dont need your sights. There is no need for night sights.
I'd go for these and of course a good light in your hand helps. These are my favorites.
FWIW, and YMMV…. The easiest front sight for me to see under the different conditions that can happen, is the Tru Glo TFX tritium fiber optic with the white circle. That combination just works easiest for my old eyeballs.
A good gold bead can still work for me if there is some kind of reflecting light.
With enough practice dry and live fire, in different positions, muscle memory can develop and make a BIG difference.
The red ramp & white outline of the old Smith revolvers still works surprisingly well for me, with some light source & that muscle memory.
Night autoloaders have a light, and I also have handhelds.
Kids are out of the house, but the wife still lives here, so I still have to consider one hand being busy with her or doors, leaving the light on the gun as my light source.
motion activated night lights can help….
Dog(s) can be worth their weight in gold.
Darkness isn't only a nighttime thing. Closets, basements, whatever, can also need lighting to confirm what I see.
Again, those TruGlo TFX’s are magic for me, especially on the pistols designed to make it easy to change sights. The TFX model with that white circle on the front sight, nothing else comes close.
just my thoughts….
A good gold bead can still work for me if there is some kind of reflecting light.
With enough practice dry and live fire, in different positions, muscle memory can develop and make a BIG difference.
The red ramp & white outline of the old Smith revolvers still works surprisingly well for me, with some light source & that muscle memory.
Night autoloaders have a light, and I also have handhelds.
Kids are out of the house, but the wife still lives here, so I still have to consider one hand being busy with her or doors, leaving the light on the gun as my light source.
motion activated night lights can help….
Dog(s) can be worth their weight in gold.
Darkness isn't only a nighttime thing. Closets, basements, whatever, can also need lighting to confirm what I see.
Again, those TruGlo TFX’s are magic for me, especially on the pistols designed to make it easy to change sights. The TFX model with that white circle on the front sight, nothing else comes close.
just my thoughts….
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I have the CD MCH too and in addition to a nice light it doubles nicely as a hand warmer!! Which is apparently is a "feature" according to CD.
I almost pulled the trigger on a HOG during their BF sale, but they sold out of the PLH-V2 heads......
As for pistol sights I really like the Ameriglo Protector (formerly Hackathorn model) sight sets which has a Tritium front sight with a HUGE high visibility dot surrounding it with basic blacked out rear. Works in all lighting conditions.
Protector Glock Night Sights | AMERIGLO.com
AMERIGLO® Protector high visibility night sights for Glock pistols give the user a faster sight acquisition thanks to a green tritium lamp and ProGlo orange or LumiGreen painted outline on the front blade.
ameriglo.com
Was also looking at that HOG during the BF sale but decided it didn’t “need” it right now.I have the CD MCH too and in addition to a nice light it doubles nicely as a hand warmer!! Which is apparently is a "feature" according to CD.
I almost pulled the trigger on a HOG during their BF sale, but they sold out of the PLH-V2 heads......
View attachment 705260
As for pistol sights I really like the Ameriglo Protector (formerly Hackathorn model) sight sets which has a Tritium front sight with a HUGE high visibility dot surrounding it with basic blacked out rear. Works in all lighting conditions.
Protector Glock Night Sights | AMERIGLO.com
AMERIGLO® Protector high visibility night sights for Glock pistols give the user a faster sight acquisition thanks to a green tritium lamp and ProGlo orange or LumiGreen painted outline on the front blade.
View attachment 705265
As for pistol sights I really like the Ameriglo Protector (formerly Hackathorn model) sight sets which has a Tritium front sight with a HUGE high visibility dot surrounding it with basic blacked out rear. Works in all lighting conditions.
Protector Glock Night Sights | AMERIGLO.com
AMERIGLO® Protector high visibility night sights for Glock pistols give the user a faster sight acquisition thanks to a green tritium lamp and ProGlo orange or LumiGreen painted outline on the front blade.
View attachment 705265
I like those sights, but prefer the version below with tritium in the rears as well. Just my 2 cents, but having 3 dots to adjust elevation is more useful than a single dot floating in dark space. The rear 2 dots always move together, and when they disappear, your muzzle is down. When the muzzle is up, the single dot is floating above the double dots. IME it's kind of hard to "confuse" the 3 together in actual usage in front of you. And honestly at room's distance if all 3 are close together, you're in the ballpark for a torso hit anyway... but again, it's not likely to confuse the shooter in actual usage.
GLOCK Bold Sights by AmeriGlo Gen5 (PKG)
The new GLOCK BOLD sights by AmeriGlo combines the best features of GLOCK sights. A durable, bright-orange outline surrounds a Swiss made green tritium insert, creating a fast, eye-catching front sight. Paired with a serrated, traditional squared-notch tritium rear sight, the BOLD set is ideal...
store.glock.us
5 yards is long way ... I have seen lots and LOTS of complete misses at 5 yards, especially under stress .... you should consider using your sights to aim at 5 yards or even 3 yards
Also, you can still identify targets in low to very little light ... identification can be made by methods other than a fully-lighted facial identification... you can use sound, muzzle flash if that potential target is shooting, etc. ... you do not always need nor should you always rely on light
There is a time and place for most things, including using night sights only and keeping yourself hidden (even when you do have access to a light) ... not to mention, if you have your light on and I don't, and you have not seen me yet, I will likely win the contest ... just food for thought on why nights sights may be worth the 75 bucks
.... and sometimes it might be better to leave the dern thing turned on the whole time, from the instant you sense the need for a weapon to be in your hands ... too many variables to say "there is no need for night sights" as they are a great tool to have if and when you need them
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I also really dig these sites, what few iron site pistols I have, have these on them. They're also super well priced!As for pistol sights I really like the Ameriglo Protector (formerly Hackathorn model) sight sets which has a Tritium front sight with a HUGE high visibility dot surrounding it with basic blacked out rear. Works in all lighting conditions.
Protector Glock Night Sights | AMERIGLO.com
AMERIGLO® Protector high visibility night sights for Glock pistols give the user a faster sight acquisition thanks to a green tritium lamp and ProGlo orange or LumiGreen painted outline on the front blade.
View attachment 705265
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Tim
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I’m wondering how much night shooting, actual shooting vs dry fire, folks are doing? And in what context? Actively moving around or standing square to the target? Timed/stressed or casual?
I know I need more trigger time in the dark.
I know I need more trigger time in the dark.