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Fiber Optic vs Tritium sights

9K views 20 replies 12 participants last post by  RobMoore 
#1 ·
Hello all,



I have been trying to figure out what kind of sights I need to replace the stock on my MP 9FS. Almost all the talk I see are of tritium night sights. But there are fiber optic ones out there and I really haven't been able to find a good website discussing pros and cons of both and under what circumstances each are most useful.



So I was almost going to just go with a tritium set before I read somewhere that, those are useful for one shot and that after that, the blinding resulting from the first shot makes it impossible to see the tritium dots for subsequent shots. Is that true in practice?



Anyone with some sage advice on this will be greatly appreciated.



Thanks!



PS: if this has been discussed in the past, I apologize in advance.
 
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#2 ·
No appologizes necessary, there are so many threads on this site it sometimes gets overwhelming. First off, as far as i know most self-defense ammunition uses low flash powder, so unless your pistol has a ported barrel the "night blinding" affect is pretty minimal. To be cetain thought, once you have selected you SD ammo do a little nighttime shooting and test for yourself. Ever ammo is different, and everyone's eye's are different.



As for night sights, if it's on a self defense gun most posters here would agree that night sights are the only way to go.. The drawback to night sights is they can be very difficult to use during the day. Truglow remedied this problem by creating a very popular combo FO/Tritium sight....but they have yet to develop one for the M&P. Another consideration is two dot vs 3 dot night sites and site color. Many people go with green front and yellow rear ans they find all green to be too distraction. Many folks like the two dot (one over another) as it's less math for the brain to do. Some folks even run just a tritium from with a plain rear. It is very much a personal preference thing.



Fiber-optics, on the other hand, are great during the day and for competition. Depending on the rod color and your eyes, you can use FO in very low light conditions. I happened to be one of those people who can see FO in vewry low light conditions, and spend alot of time practicing at the range. I decided to go with FO on my defense gun because I believe that if there is enough light to see the Bad Guy, there is enough light to see the FO. Many will disagree with me, but it works for me. That being said, I added a CTC laser grip to my gun as a training aid and now have the best of both worlds.



Whatever setup you choose, practice, practice, practice. the best sights in the world are no help if you haven't built up the muscle memory.
 
#3 ·
Thanks fireroad! That helps a lot. So before I do anything, I gotta test out some HST/Speer loads under low light first.

Also in future, if I am going to add a CTC, then i should prob go with a FO sight for the day then, rite. My eyesight is normal, so i do not think i will have much difficulty under low light conditions.
 
#4 ·
Fiber optic sights collect and concentrate ambient light. No ambient light, nothing to concentrate.



Tritium sights generate their own light via radioactive decay. The energy from the decay particle causes florescence in material that coats the vial. No ambient light; not a problem.
 
#5 ·
I've got the Bowie/Ameriglo sights on my M&P 9FS and compact. The front is a green tritium vial with a white outline. The rear is a 2 dot yellow with no outline. In lighted shooting situations, the rear dots with no outline (Bowie/Ameriglo Operators) are unobtrusive, basically disappearing in all but low/no light. With the wide notch, the quick sight picture lines up so space on either side of the front is more or less equal and the top of the front lines up with the top of the rear, target is behind the front dot.



I have a FO green front sight and fixed tactical rear from Angus Hobdell on my CZ 75 SP-01. The setup makes for a great sight picture in lighted shooting. There is no "low/no light" capability without a flashlight. With my Surefire 6P LED on a target, I can pic up the green dot and line up the front post in the rear window sight picture



I have the TruGlo TFO Green/Green sights on a HK USP40. The rear sight totally overpowers the front sights. I have no personal report of reliability, because I don't shoot the pistol often anymore because of the USP ergonomics vs. my M&P's and my CZ. Some folks have reported that the FO rods loose their light gathering ability easily from dirt/scratches/solvent. They are not easily replaceable.



Most everyone who uses the CTC lasergrips reports that they are a great tool in nearly all lighting conditions for practice and combat. They are on my to get list for both of my M&P's, but I wouldn't rely ONLY on a battery operated device for low/no light shooting for a defensive/carry piece.
 
#6 ·
Excellent info tremiles and everyone else. Nothing like having tried all the setups on different guns! The sight descriptions are very helpful


So until the TRUglow TFO is available for m&ps, I think I will go with the Bowie/Ameriglo set with a CTC added on later.
 
#7 ·
TFOs in my experience are not worth it. More of a gimmick than a useful product. The rear sight overpowers the front in low light conditions. The fiber optic isn't as effective in lighted conditions compared to a dedicated fiber optic, and it is harder (sometimes impossible) to replace the rod WHEN (not if) it falls out.



My suggestion is if you have a need to shoot in the dark (carry gun or IDPA competition) get regular night sights. I like to wave the "warren tactical" banner because I like the 2 dot arrangement for its speed, and the fact that the front dot is bigger and brighter, naturally drawing my eye to it.
 
#8 ·
My suggestion is if you have a need to shoot in the dark (carry gun or IDPA competition) get regular night sights. I like to wave the "warren tactical" banner because I like the 2 dot arrangement for its speed, and the fact that the front dot is bigger and brighter, naturally drawing my eye to it.


Warren Tactical 2-dot is a great choice. It's the first time that shooting with both eyes open has come almost automatically rather than a concentrated forethought.
 
#9 ·
I'll put in my two cents here. If you are going to go with the laser grip which is best low light sighting device, why not go with the Fiber optic front for the best daylight sighting device. If you ask me this gives you the best sighting for both situations.



I personally have had problem with the laser sight in day light when there isn't much contrast between target and backgound, it can be had to find the laser and found it was much easier to use the sights in this case.
 
#13 ·
I'll put in my two cents here. If you are going to go with the laser grip which is best low light sighting device, why not go with the Fiber optic front for the best daylight sighting device. If you ask me this gives you the best sighting for both situations.



I personally have had problem with the laser sight in day light when there isn't much contrast between target and backgound, it can be had to find the laser and found it was much easier to use the sights in this case.


This was my original thinking. Fireroad above said the same thing.



@Robmoore : Yeah TFO's might not be that great after all from the reviews on the web.



I have to think about this more and figure out what situations I might need it in(though how can anyone ever know
).
 
#17 ·
This was my original thinking. Fireroad above said the same thing.



@Robmoore : Yeah TFO's might not be that great after all from the reviews on the web.



I have to think about this more and figure out what situations I might need it in(though how can anyone ever know
).


I agree with Dan, FO and a CTC gives you the best of both worlds. FO is just so much easier to see during the day, and if you get a SSS FO you can change the color rods regularly which adds a unique twist to your training.



The way I look at it...Unless you are an LEO or work the night shift, the overwhelming majority of your practice shooting will be done during the daytime. Practice is what's going to build muscle memory, which is what your instincts will revert to in a self defense situation. Why not make practice easier with a nice FO, then upgrade to night sights or a CTC.



FWIW, this deer season , while hiking in an hour before legal shooting light, we had a feral hog charge us. We could hear him coming but we couldn't see him until he was 15 yds away (and vice versa judging by his reaction). He ended up being a little guy that turned tail and ran, but I could see that FO clear enough that if it he didn't stop I would have had no problems stopping him.
 
#14 ·
I went with Fiber I can see this GREAT in the day light and at night its about the same as the sights that came with it. I have noticed that night sights work great in total darkness but when lights are in the back ground it can be difficult to locate the Tritium front sight.



But thats just me.

 
#15 ·
I went with Fiber I can see this GREAT in the day light and at night its about the same as the sights that came with it. I have noticed that night sights work great in total darkness but when lights are in the back ground it can be difficult to locate the Tritium front sight.


Which FO sight you went with and did you needed to do any fitting?



Thanks.
 
#18 ·
I use the Ameriglo sights from David Bowie.I added a piece of red tape (with a hole for the Tritium capsule) to the front so they work better in daylight.

You can find the how to install this on Pistol Training.com.I believe the subject is Jon O's sights.

http://pistol-training.com/articles/the-jo...ity-front-sight



Having said all the above,my IDPA club just had a lights out match (NO light,not low light)and many members felt that with their flashlights on non-tritium sights were fine.

I personally liked the 3 bright dots against the illuminated target.
 
#19 ·
I find that fiber optic sights are great for hunting when it is almost dark, that front sight stays bright right to the end and makes for perfect sight, having said that I will only have Trijion night sights on my guns, as others have said, when there is no light the fiber optic is black, the sight simply dissappers. Both have there strong points just not on a side arm that is carried 24-7.
 
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