Fiber optic sights, RED or Green? Poll
- Thread starter bosshoff
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Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
I prefer the green, as found OEM on my Browning BuckMark~!
I have both red and green (both 1911 style pistols). The red one was on my 9mm, it was an improvement from the plain front sight. On my second pistol (.45) the front sight loosened and I asked the gunsmith what he thought about fiber optic front sights. He recommended a green front sight, and said it would be easier to visually pick up. He was right. I like both but the green is a little easier to use. BTW, if you get a chance try both. Let us know how it comes out.
10-Ring
Member
By a slim margin, I prefer the RED
wally
Member
On brighter days I like the green better on overcast days I prefer the red. But its not that big a deal. Either work much better for me that a white dot or plain black blade. I'm only talking about the front sight -- I want a pure black rear sight as I find any dots or bars distracting.
--wally.
--wally.
Darth Muffin
member
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- Nov 9, 2005
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- 184
They're both good, but I chose green because it's closer in color to the greenish night sights on my carry gun.
I don't want to get confused expecting a red dot if I ever need to pull it in a hurry
I don't want to get confused expecting a red dot if I ever need to pull it in a hurry
Clipper
Member
I prefer red for the contrast against the foliage when out in the woods...
Exmasonite
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- Sep 4, 2006
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- 561
What about the option for both? Green rear and red front for contrast.
Clipper
Member
My Remington 141 rifle and my Ruger MKII pistol have peep sights, so the front is all the fiber-optics I have.
Black Majik
Member
Its weird. Green is brighter, so its suppose to grab my attention more, right? Well for some off reason RED picks up on the draw and follow up shots much better than green.
Go for red!
Go for red!
gandog56
Member
Yeah, I've seen that combo and like it. But I like my Crimson Trace Laser Grips better.
bpisler
Member
I prefer green front and red/orange rear
sights.
sights.
OH25shooter
Member
For some reason, my eyes pick up the green much faster. I even use those weird green golf balls when playing golf. I can see them against the blue sky and even on the grass better. Nothing scientific, I just see green better.
D.R. Middlebrooks
Member
Having been the 1st person to put a “Fiber Optic” insert on a Handgun or at least the 1st person to offer it commercially (i.e., Pro-Sight Advantage) I feel qualified to jump in here…
At age 45, all of a sudden, I realized that I couldn’t see my sights clearly anymore. OH, MY GOD!!! It was like someone knocked my training wheels off for the first time. I was in TOTAL PANIC MODE!!!
So, being the Designer/Inventor type of guy I am (always looking for the “Mechanical Advantage”) and a Full Time Pistolsmith, I started looking into how the human eyes sees things.
I discovered that the human eye sees the color spectrum from RED to BLUE. This is why the RED & BLUE lights on the police cars work so well, they cover BOTH ends of the spectrum.
You see, the average person sees RED better. People with Color Blindness see BLUE better (they also have better Night Vision).
My first sight was the “Pro-Sight Advantage Circle Dot” which had a RED Fiber Optic in the front sight on a tall post. The rear had a ½” diameter “Ring” which held a smaller clear glass lens inside with a smaller black ring painted on the glass.
The theory was to use the big outer ring for fast shooting and the small inner ring for precision. Well, a Top Shooter (I won't mention Todd's name ) said it wouldn’t shoot.
Well, it won the NRA Bianchi Cup with Highest Score Ever fired for a Stock Gun that year (1905 out of a possible 1920) and it was on American Shooter with Chad Dietrich as the Stock Gun Champion shooting it.
Matter of fact, it held the Sock Gun record for years and I think Rob Leatham just tied it recently.
Well, anyway, they promptly outlawed the sight and I ended up ceasing production.
But I digress, so back on task we go…
Which color is best? I old you already. But the question really is, what kind of insert is best? I use genuine “Fiber Optic” material that actually has tiny fibers running through it. Some companies use “Light Pipes” made of plastic.
Why am I telling you this? Some folks confuse “LIGHT” with “BRIGHT”. A lighter color may appear brighter in certain light conditions, when in fact a true FIBER OPTIC will work better in most others.
The Bottom Line Rule of Thumb is this: If you are color blind, use a green insert. If not use the red. If you are using light pipes or plastic rods, go with the color you like (it really doesn’t matter).
Respectfully,
D.R. Middlebrooks
www.TacticalShooting.com
At age 45, all of a sudden, I realized that I couldn’t see my sights clearly anymore. OH, MY GOD!!!
It was like someone knocked my training wheels off for the first time. I was in TOTAL PANIC MODE!!! So, being the Designer/Inventor type of guy I am (always looking for the “Mechanical Advantage”) and a Full Time Pistolsmith, I started looking into how the human eyes sees things.
I discovered that the human eye sees the color spectrum from RED to BLUE. This is why the RED & BLUE lights on the police cars work so well, they cover BOTH ends of the spectrum.
You see, the average person sees RED better. People with Color Blindness see BLUE better (they also have better Night Vision).
My first sight was the “Pro-Sight Advantage Circle Dot” which had a RED Fiber Optic in the front sight on a tall post. The rear had a ½” diameter “Ring” which held a smaller clear glass lens inside with a smaller black ring painted on the glass.
The theory was to use the big outer ring for fast shooting and the small inner ring for precision. Well, a Top Shooter (I won't mention Todd's name
) said it wouldn’t shoot. Well, it won the NRA Bianchi Cup with Highest Score Ever fired for a Stock Gun that year (1905 out of a possible 1920) and it was on American Shooter with Chad Dietrich as the Stock Gun Champion shooting it.
Matter of fact, it held the Sock Gun record for years and I think Rob Leatham just tied it recently.
Well, anyway, they promptly outlawed the sight and I ended up ceasing production.
But I digress, so back on task we go…
Which color is best? I old you already. But the question really is, what kind of insert is best? I use genuine “Fiber Optic” material that actually has tiny fibers running through it. Some companies use “Light Pipes” made of plastic.
Why am I telling you this? Some folks confuse “LIGHT” with “BRIGHT”. A lighter color may appear brighter in certain light conditions, when in fact a true FIBER OPTIC will work better in most others.
The Bottom Line Rule of Thumb is this: If you are color blind, use a green insert. If not use the red. If you are using light pipes or plastic rods, go with the color you like (it really doesn’t matter).
Respectfully,
D.R. Middlebrooks
www.TacticalShooting.com
Crawlin
Member
Middlebrooks
I don't supose you have a picture of that type of sight do you?
I don't supose you have a picture of that type of sight do you?
OH25shooter
Member
I won't disagree with D.R. But these green (Tru-Glo) night/fiber optic sights work great for me. And I'm not color blind.
D.R. Middlebrooks
Member
Hey, if it works for you, use it!
Rick Simes likes the Green also. Yet Jerry Barnhart and I both like red. It all really depends on YOUR eyes and what point on the color spectrum YOU see better...
I was told that the reason some people see better at night is because they have some degree of color blindness. We probably all vary a bit one way or the other on this...
Rick Simes likes the Green also. Yet Jerry Barnhart and I both like red. It all really depends on YOUR eyes and what point on the color spectrum YOU see better...
I was told that the reason some people see better at night is because they have some degree of color blindness. We probably all vary a bit one way or the other on this...
lycanthrope
Member
Both red and green were too bright for me when I started shooting. I'd catch the glow and my eye would draw to it...before it was boxed in the rear notch adequately. So......I used Yellow.
After I learned some visual patience I was able to use red...because it glows brightest for me.
Oh...and please don't get gouged by dealers for replacement fiber.
http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Flourescent.htm
After I learned some visual patience I was able to use red...because it glows brightest for me.
Oh...and please don't get gouged by dealers for replacement fiber.
http://www.fiberopticproducts.com/Flourescent.htm
dragongoddess
member
well my eyes are going bad. An age thing they tell me. So I'm putting green sights on the front and maybe red on the rear. Anyway I live in the desert and most things are some form of brown with the occasional green thing.
warmrain
Member
My smith told me that the red tend to "wash out" in bright daylight... I 'm using green. They approximate the color of my night sights so I am used to seeing green...
RNB65
Member
There's a simple eye test you can take at DMV offices in many (most?) states which shows whether you're more sensitive to red or green light. I'm sure there's an on-line version around somewhere if you look. It might help decide which fiber sight is better for you.
ewb45acp
Member
I can't use either...
I had a Ruger MKIII hunter with the fiber optic sights for a short time. It seemed like a good idea at the gun shop. Those sights really jumped out at you. At the range it was a different story. I could not get my eyes to focus on those sights. the bright red and green would just go all blurry on me every time. After a dozen or so trips to the range (with the same results) I traded it for a Vaquero.
I had a Ruger MKIII hunter with the fiber optic sights for a short time. It seemed like a good idea at the gun shop. Those sights really jumped out at you. At the range it was a different story. I could not get my eyes to focus on those sights. the bright red and green would just go all blurry on me every time. After a dozen or so trips to the range (with the same results) I traded it for a Vaquero.
dragongoddess
member
of course a fluorescence hot pink may be just as good.
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