Thoughts on Fiber Optic Sights vs Night Sights

[pacman225]

Can't decide on replacing the stock sights with Dawson Precision fiber optics or night sights. Any thoughts? I have a CW45 that is a carry gun but I also like spending time at the range with it. Typically night sights aren't all that great in the day time. With the fiber optics, they're great in the day time and still decent in low light situations. Night Sights are great in total darkness..:confused:

[otium]

I have a red fiber optic on the front sight on another firearm and frankly I can barely see the red, so it's pretty much a regular sight to me.

Will have to try replacing it with the supplied green stick to see if it works better than red for me. If not, then I will get some night sights for it.

On another firearm I have the Trijicon night sights and they work great. In light they work like a regular 3 dot sights and at night they light up very well.

Not sure if that answers any part of your post, but thought I'd relate my experience.

[Alfonse]

I like fiber optic sights for shooting clays with a shotgun. They seem to help me there. Other than that, I agree that night sights work fine day and night for me.

[Bawanna]

I've tried several different colors and the fiber optics just don't work for me. I like the XS sights but found I shoot good with some all black sights. Puzzling to me and I'm still trying to figure out why.

I generally believe that night sights are highly over rated especially on civilian guns. If its so dark you can't see your sights you probably can't see the bad guy either, if we even use the sights at all when we take on the elephant.

[Longitude Zero]

It really depends upon the mission and purpose for the gun. Shooitn goutside during the day go fiber. If you feel you might need to shoot in low light go night sights.

[wyntrout]

There's always the "Silence of the Lambs" technique... a bit risky, depending on the backstop... of one round in the general area for illumination, followed quickly with aimed shots using the flashes to stay on target.

Wynn:D

[jeepster09]

I have tried fiber optics and have found they are just to fragile for a carry gun. I love the XS Big Dots, however my new favorite sights are the Trijigicon HD Night Sights.
I have them in both the yellow and orange and find the orange more visable. Only negative is that they don't have them for all guns....yet.
http://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product1.php?id=HDNS

[Bawanna]

There's always the "Silence of the Lambs" technique... a bit risky, depending on the backstop... of one round in the general area for illumination, followed quickly with aimed shots using the flashes to stay on target.

Wynn:D

That's what I figured I'd do. Maybe I should break the magna ported 40 out and shoot it first, be like a star burst and then I can see what I'm shooting at with the 45's.

[JFootin]

That big flash will blind the perp, but you have to remember to close your eyes for a moment just as you fire the gun so it doesn't blind you, too.

[wyntrout]

That's the whole purpose of the first shot... a bright flash! You aren't concerned with night vision... just spotting the bad guy and homing in with your flashes that illuminate him. If you close your eyes, you won't see sh!t and lose the fight! DOH!:rolleyes:

Wynn:D

[wyntrout]

That would be my first choice... the Trijicon HD NS. I have them on my XD45 Tactical and they are great for old eyes... day or night!

I just emailed Trijicon again asking for HD NS sizes and their dimensions to see if there's something I can adapt the sights or my pistol to fit. They now have 1911 sizes and list the dovetail dimensions. I don't know what their height is, though, and whether they can be fitted to my pistols with some "fitting"... altering the dovetail dimensions and/or the sight dimensions.

Trijicon is pretty busy making all of the ones they have listed now and there are delivery delays and waits.

Wynn:)

[Alfonse]

Just smiling wondering if you guys would even carry a flashlight. I suppose if I didn't mind fixing lots of holes in the walls, the "silence" flash technique would be just fine, no flashlight necessary!

[joshh]

i have trijicon night sights on my glock and have decided to go with williams firesights on my pm9 (which is my edc). Not that i dont like the night sights but i dont think they are worth it and i dont plan on shooting in a zero visibilty sitch. even if i did, the fact that i could see my sights but not my target wouldnt help. using a dimmed nightlight in my cellar, the firesights i have on a target gut still picked up more than enough light for me to see them, and they dont get dimmer with age. FattMAtt posted this pic of his pm9 with red firesights. i havent decided if i am going to get the all red or see if williams will send me a set with green rear/red front...
http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/mattsykeny1/NewSights2.jpghttp://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg567/mattsykeny1/DSCN0742.jpg

[pudge]

In my experience, FWIW to you (and my experience comes from actual practice), for a personal protection weapon, get the night sights. Most of them will work about as well as an OEM sight for range work, and some of them are really quite excellent. The fiber optics can work really well when there is light, but personal protection weapons need to work 24/7! I've got a hunting handgun that has a green front f/o sight and I love it. But all my carry guns or house guns have night sights.

My personal preference is a night sight up front with a black rear sight with a generous sighting notch, and I especially like the rear sights with the bottom of the sight notch rounded as opposed to the flat bottom. I personally do NOT like three dot sights, although I have a set of night sights where the front is green and larger diameter than the two smaller amber rear colored dots. It works pretty well, and it's easy to know which is the front sight. In my experience, fiber optic sights are no better than regular sights after dark.

[pacman225]

Well, I decided to go with the Dawson Precision tritium front sight for now. I 'm going to install it myself and leave the rear sight as is for now. I think later I'll go with the DP black rear. Thanks for all the input.

[pudge]

IMO, Good Choice!!

[CJB]

Got fiber optic on my .22 target 1911... they're of no particular advantage

[wyntrout]

Be careful with the Tritium sights. They are well protected in their tunnels, but too much stress can break those vials! :eek: After an 11 month wait, my first P380 with NS arrived with the front NS dead and both sights had marks like someone was in training or "winging it". It went back to the factory the next day, unfired.

Wynn:)

[kerby9mm]

My p238 Equinox came with front Fiber Optic/ Night Sight so they can be both Fiber Optic and Night Sight.

[1R26]

All very interesting. See my post in the new member section entitled "Choice Made". I'm LE and night sights are a must. I've seen lots of different forums regarding night sights on CM. Trying to decide on PM or CM. EIther way gotta have night sights. Prefer Big Dot. Will have to look at the Trijicon HD mentioned above. Would appreciate info.

[wyntrout]

I heard back from Trijicon... nothing I didn't expect:

Good Morning

Thank you for your interest in Trijicon products. We do not offer any sighting solutions for KAHR at this time and it would be quite unlikely that we would produce HD sights before adding to our Bright & Tough line, which is only under consideration at this time. KAHR is a customer of ours and like many other manufacturers, provides sight assemblies ready for us to install our tritium lamps and return for firearm installation and/or distribution. We do not have a listing of the dovetail dimensions of our sights as there are many and each is referenced by application to specific firearms. Also, any modification to a sight would void the warranty and please contact us if we can assist in another capacity.

Respectfully


Eric Lockhart
Customer Service Representative


Trijicon, Inc.


<Sigh>


Wynn:(

[jeepster09]

I have TFO night sights [tritium fiber optics], XD Big Dots and Trigijicon HD's and by far my favorite is the HD Orange. [I also have the yellows on my Glock].

[wyntrout]

I have the HD's on my XD45 starting with post#18:

http://kahrtalk.com/showthread.php?t=10232&highlight=XD45+Tactical&page=2

I would like to have them on my Kahrs with less than bright NS or none at all... P40, P380#2, and 8-year-old P9. TFO's would work, but I don't know of any that fit Kahrs.

Wynn:)

[fiddlers]

Tough call. I favor Dawson Front fiber optic and a black rear sight for target and and XS Sights or Trijicon HD for EDC. However, a good compromise for versatile shooting and my choice are 3 dot night sights. Novak, Trijicon and Meprolite all make good ones. I put Meprolite on my Kahr PM9. My S&W 952 has a Dawson front fiber optic sight.

[wyntrout]

With a choice of Tritium sights, I would always pick Trijicon because they will re-lamp THEIR OWN sights when you need that, for a reasonable price. I had my 12+year-old K9 NS re-lamped by them for just $54, which included return shipping(Summer 2010). I sent them the slide USPS Priority for $7 or $8 and the turn around was about 3 weeks. This is a lot cheaper than other manufacturers who want to sell you a new set plus installation and shipping both ways!

I'm thinking long-term use and want bright night sights for easy acquisition.

Green Tritium sights have a half-life of 12 years... the warranty given by Trijicon, too. Orange is only about 5 years.

Wynn:)

[tigwelder56]

I've had both Trijicon and the Meprolight brand are superior by far. Of course that's my opinion but I'm sticking to it!! The Meps have a white lining inside the actual sight case. I imagine that's one reason for the additional brightness and I've also found the Meprolight brand to last far beyond their 12 year lifespan.

Aside from that bit of information I wanted to ask your opinions on the New Big Dot Tritium sights? I've enjoyed the dot the I stock sights that came on my PM 45 but saw the Big Dot Tritium model and wanted them right away. Like everything, if I can get a heads up from a current or former user, it's probably a good idea to ask!! While I'm asking I'd like to know if any of you have tried the Williams Firesights? I've used something similar on Ruger Mk III's and liked them for daytime target practice but for a defense weapon I'm not sure it would be the best choice. Again I'd like some opinions if anyone has one to share! Thanks for your help!! ;)

[ltxi]

I'm not fond of the Big Dots, although I understand why some are. I've never liked light tubes. My current, late life, preference has come full circle back to gold bead.

[tigwelder56]

I'm not fond of the Big Dots, although I understand why some are. I've never liked light tubes. My current, late life, preference has come full circle back to gold bead.

Yes Sir I'm rather fond of gold myself! I don't care if it comes in a bead or a brick though, hopefully the latter if I've got the choice! It helps to have the bigger, brighter front sight I'm told, because at my age I'm hoping that great big bright light at the business end of my pea shooter will really help make my day and if need be, it will assist me in ruining someone elses!

[pappy42]

For self defense, my preference is XS big dot with tritium only in front sight.

[tigwelder56]

I was leaning toward the big dot sight myself. I wish there was a simple way to install the tritium sights yourself. Purchasing a sight pusher is a bit expensive and so is shipping! Are there any solutions for the cash strapped?

[Glock23]

I was leaning toward the big dot sight myself. I wish there was a simple way to install the tritium sights yourself. Purchasing a sight pusher is a bit expensive and so is shipping! Are there any solutions for the cash strapped?

This is what I used...

http://www.sightpusher.com/

[Barth]

I've used traditional three dot NS, Ameriglo I-Dot Pros and XS Big Dots.
Most all my handguns have been converted to XS Big Dots.
They are advertized as 24/7 sights - meaning all light conditions.
ANd I find that to be accurate.
Not as target sights.
But as Close Quarters Combat sights - they excell.

Have Big Dots on the following;
Glock G27 40
Sig P239 357
Sig P220 45
HK P30 40
HK P2000 357 (2)
HK P2000SK 40
HK45C 45
S&W 342 ti 38 +P
S&W 640-1 357

That said, for reasons I can't explain,
I really like the factory Kahr three dot NS on my MK40 Elite.

And really like the non NS factory iron sights on my;
S&W 629-2 44 Mag
S&W 65-3 357 Mag
Arsenal SLR-106U 5.56 NATO

[Bawanna]

I was leaning toward the big dot sight myself. I wish there was a simple way to install the tritium sights yourself. Purchasing a sight pusher is a bit expensive and so is shipping! Are there any solutions for the cash strapped?

Shipping isn't bad if you just mail the slide only.

I like the XS sights myself, I prefer the standard dot except on compacts where I use the big dot.
I like that they have a nice ring around the tritium so you can see them in the daylight too unlike many other night sights.

I actually like the standard non night Kahr sight, post and dot. It works well for me.

[Sage]

I have TFO's on my M&P45 which is my home defense weapon and stays on my nightstand. It is the weapon I would most likely be using at night. I'm much less likely to need night sights on my carry weapon which is my PM9. The TFO's work very well in all light however.

[tigwelder56]

This is what I used...

http://www.sightpusher.com/

Thank you Sir! That was a nice find on your part. Do you remember which clamping block set worked best for your Kahr? I think it would be wise to purchase the gunsmith set for the price. I know several folks that would be interested in using an item like this as well. The price to have a set installed by any of the area gunsmiths here runs in the neighborhood of $40-$50, which isn't terribly friendly in my opinion for what's involved. :cool:

[ZardozCZ]

I like TFOs. Fiber optic night sights. Works great with my aging vision in all conditions.

[jeepster09]

After having TFO's, XS Big Dots and others, my new favorite is Trijicon HD sights; only draw back is they don't make for as many applications as XS. Out of the 2 colors, orange and yellow, I can see the orange better.

[tigwelder56]

I appreciate all of the tips! If possible, would you make mention of the specific sight referred to? Seems each manufacturer makes a half dozen or more of the same thing (or close)! The one fallback to the orange tritium sight seems to be half the life of the green or yellow gas tube. I'm curious about the trade off when choosing the tritium/fiber optic combo versus the singular models. Do you give up a little of each to obtain both or do they seem to provide an acceptable 24 hour sight picture? :confused:

[TheTman]

I like a laser at night. Beats the hell out of any night sights I've tried. I have a green fiber optic front sight that I really like, daylight or at the indoor range it seems to function well. The rear sights are white dots. It's not that great at night with a flashlight.

[tigwelder56]

I've got a red laser on a Bersa Thunder 9 UC I have (Lasermax Mini) and some generic add on red laser that I placed on my Mossberg 500 12 ga that sleeps with me. I agree they make a nice difference at night, but red lasers suck for daytime use and while green lasers are coming down in price, a quality model is still very pricey. Do you have your green laser attached to a Kahr? I haven't seen a model designed for the Kahr yet, at least not for my PM 45. I'm just getting started so this is a good place to start compiling the info. Thanks!

:Amflag2: