J.W. Ramp captured a series of images of pistol sights under various lighting conditions.Some of these photosshows you the different conditions and the pistol sight picture.
Posted on 04/12/2018 9:43:24 AM PDT by w1n1
J.W. Ramp captured a series of images of pistol sights under various lighting conditions.
Some of these photosshows you the different conditions and the pistol sight picture.
Recently a discussion came up in the Primary & Secondary Discord chat server regarding recommended pistol sights for defensive use.
The two non-red dot suggestions that seemed the most popular were Tritium-based "night sights" (either front-only or all around) and a fiber-optic front sight with blacked-out rear.
Having a handful of different sight setups on a few of my Glocks, I figured it’d be handy to compare them side-by-side in various lighting conditions in a consistent manner. While I had my own feelings going into it, I found it interesting how similar the tritium and fiber options were with blacked out rears.
Granted that was just when the tritium front sight came with a day-glo orange ring around it for extra highlighting, but I had expected the narrow fiber sight to have a clear advantage in all situations other than completely dark . Read the rest of this pistol sights lighting condition here.
Ever try to use plain iron sights with a flashlight in the dark? You can see your target, but have a hard time picking up the outline of the sights. That's where tritium really 'shines.'
I’m curious what shooters on FR (which seems to be most of us) think of holographic pistol sights. I’ve been looking at the Trijicon RMR, and other small holographic pistol sights, and I’d like to hear what others on FR think of them. I already have a Glock with Meprolight tritium night sights, and a 1911 with a Crimson Trace laser, but I’ve been thinking that holographic may be the way to go.
Just replaced my stock Sig night sights on a 2022 with TruGlo TFO fiber/Tritium sights. Big difference. I will probably replace the sights on all my handguns with the TruGlo.
Tried the Crimson Trace laser on my brother-in-law’s Ruger, but found they were off and all the groupings were low and to the left.
Have not used the RMR or any red-dot system yet, but I would think they could be cumbersome if mounted on a self-defense handgun. Like the laser, there is that extra step of having to turn them on before acquiring a sight-picture. Great for the range, not so good for self-defense.
They're great for old eyes, no lie. That said, I don't think they're appropriate for a carry piece unless they're motion-activated, because you don't want a response delay while you're turning your sight on.
I have two that I like a lot: the Burris Fastfire III, and the Vortex Venom. These are low-profile sights that don't affect the balance of the pistol very much if at all. I've used larger ones that do, and one of the cheap ones in particular was like putting a laptop on top of the receiver. That one didn't last very long.
The really high-priced spread includes sights that don't require a battery - Trijicon in particular - these use tritium ampules and are always "on". The downside to that is the half-life means you'll be replacing them every ten years or so and their expense; the upside is that they're really, really good sights.
The cheap ones also don't take recoil very well, or very long - either they lose zero or go out altogether. If you're mounting them on a moving slide that's something to consider. You will need holsters that accommodate the change in profile.
Ah - when I said you’ll be replacing them every ten years or so, I meant the ampules, which the company will do for you at a nominal expense, not the entire sight. Which is a good thing because the one I’m lusting after at the moment comes in just south of a grand. :-o
For later.
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Thanks!
I was able to adjust my Crimson Trace so they are spot on. It took me a few tries to figure out that their instructions “clockwise for left” mean to turn the Allen screw clockwise to move the laser spot to the left and not to move the point of impact to the left, but I got there.
For the RMR, I was going to go with the dual-illumination/tritium version specifically so I don’t have to turn it on. I agree completely on the extra step being a big negative.
The Burris Fastfire was the other one, besides the RMR, that I was looking at seriously. A positive vote means a lot there. I’m not going to go cheap. Decades ago, my Dad told me never to buy cheap tools. Being stupid, I ignored him a few times before I learned that he was right. Again. And I don’t buy cheap tools. Guns are tools, so I don’t go cheap for guns, sights, holsters, etc. I’ll get the best I can afford, at least to the extent that the extra money buys better performance or durability, which puts me in the Burris to Trijicon range.
Which optic is that at close to $1k for a pistol sight?
Does anyone here have any thoughts regarding high visibility sight paints? My vision is fading and I’d like to “enhance” the sight image on a couple of guns (Bersa Thunder CC and a Ruger LCP).
At the other end of the scale, I put the Fastfire (full disclosure - I own two of them now) on a Browning Buckmark .22 for a bit of league shooting over the winter. Made a lot of difference. That one does not mount to the slide but even with a .22 it loosened when I didn't torque it down enough.
With some pistols you lose the use of the irons but they're still there, with some you actually have to remove the rear sight to mount the optic. With an AR, co-witnessing is pretty easy once you find the right riser, with a pistol, it seems to be pretty rare, although Baby Bro tells me he's managed it with his Sig. He's a custom smith with a full machine shop, though. I haven't seen how yet.
In Army basic training at Ft. Polk in 1968, we trained in “night fire”. It was a dark night and there was just enough light to make out the outline of the silhouette target at 50 meters. I couldn’t see through the peep sight on my M-14, but fired 10 rounds basically instinct shooting. When my target was examined afterwards, all 10 rounds hit the target in a group that could be covered by my hand. Confidence counts.
Correction. It was 1967.
That’s good shootin’.
But I think the profile here is self-defense using a Glock, in total darkness. I’d be careful about shooting in such a situation, especially if I knew there were other people in the area. Never mind lead flying into houses and such, if outside.
It sounded like an ACOG. That makes sense. As for loosening, I’ll be giving that a lot of thought - correct torque, Loctite, etc.
You might be better off going with the true Trijicon sights rather than the paint. I bought mine for $100 and had the gunsmith install and zero them in for another $40. I did supply the sight pusher as the Sig SP series uses a different sight pusher. Since it is my everyday carry piece, I wanted to make sure everything was right, so it was worth the extra money.
Having contrast sights on my P320 and the Trijicon on the 2022, the ability to get on target is much easier/faster with the Trijican TRO sights.
If you’ve never tried them, find someone who will let you compare. Next to the red-dot, I think it’s the best combination going forward and you don’t need to worry about a battery.
Just my 2 cents.
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