Night sights vs. Fiber sights

[Dean1818]

After having night sights on a few of my past pistols, I was looking to add a set to my M&P 45 compact that I bought a few months ago

After thinking about it, I wonder if I should also consider a set of fiber optics

Here is my logic (I would love some input)

For home defense

If it is 100 percent dark, I would NOT shoot my weapon, as I couldnt tell what/who I am shooting at. The nights sights would be on, but not possibly not effective.

If it is lowlight, I think the fiber set would work.

(I keep a light near the gun, for these situations)

Any thoughts?

 

[FullEffect1911]

I like fiber optics personally. They work well in low light. The biggest issue is in complete darkness using a flashlight. It is useful to hold the flashlight in such a way that it illuminates the fiber optic. In my experience it is just a matter of possibly changing how you would use the flashlight to maximize your sights.

It works for me and to be honest I vastly prefer fiber optics for daytime use.

 

[340PD]

This is easy.

I put these on my XDm .45 home defense gun. They fill both of your requirements.

http://www.truglo.com/IW_Products.m4p.pvx?;PRODUCTS_NO_TREE?cat=30500?company=TGI

Another low cost option for night sights

http://www.nitesiters.com/Nitesiters_Handgun_Night_Sights.html

 

[Loosedhorse]

+1 Get BOTH: Truglo TFOs--best SD sights I own.

 

[Zengunfighter]

best of both worlds. Tru-Glo's TFOs. Tritium AND Fiber Optic. Bright in any light. Yet have a 'traditional' profile that allows precision aiming.

 

[rcmodel]

Tru-Glo's tritium warranty sucks chunks.

Don't know if they will glow as long as Trijicon or Meprolite in actual use, but I know they won't replace them free for 12 years.

They only warrenty for 5 years according to the email answer I got from them when I ask some time ago.

rc

 

[BCRider]

I guess you'd need to define what "low light" really is. I find the fiber sights don't really work all that well at the fairly dim indoor range where I often shoot. The lighting is OK all around except right in the actual stall. Due to that the fiber's weak glow is lost against the brighter lighting downrange on the target.

In a home defense situation where the room light might be from an adjacent room and you may be using a flashlight to light up the area in front of you this same lack of brightness contrast could result in the fiber optic sights being dim and hard to make out against the brightly lit area of focus you're lighting up with the flashlight.

To see what I mean dim down a room or light it dimly using the light from a hallway coming in the door or archway depending on your house. Then light up a section of wall with a flashlight and see what the FO sight looks like. If you're standing in a dimly lit shadow area I think you'll agree that the FO sight isn't that bright.

Mind you under that sort of situation I'm not sure that tritium sights will glow brightly enough to really make then jump out either. It all comes down to the lack of RELATIVE brilliance between the sights and the area you're looking into.

The solution would be to mount an LED booklight on the receiver to light up the FO's. But I can't seem many of us doing it that way...

 

[340PD]

I have three popular brand night sights on various revolvers and pistols I own. I find the "dots" on the TFO's are much better than anything I own.

The fiber tubes on the TFO's are easy to replace and are relatively low cost compared to a whole new set of sights. If you are nervous about recoil dislodging the tubes, put a drop of superglue on each end and you are good to go.

 

[ShadyScott999]

IMO, fiber is useless in any but bright light. I run them on my competition guns, but wouldn't on any defensive gun.

 

[Loosedhorse]

Tru-Glo's tritium warranty sucks chunks.

Wouldn't know. I've never had one break.

IMO, fiber is useless in any but bright light.

My experience is the exact opposite. In bright light, black sights are best. Near sunset, the fiber optics glow great. And at night, tritium. The TFOs are the only sights I know that do well in all three.

YMMV

 

[orionengnr]

I have "normal" Trijicon three dot sights on several of my carry handguns.
I have the Tru-Glo TFOs on one handgun. They work very well.

I cannot speak to their long-term durability, as I've only had them about three years.

I cannot speak to their warranty, as I have had no occasion to use it.

 

[R.W.Dale]

IMO, fiber is useless in any but bright light. I run them on my competition guns, but wouldn't on any defensive gun.

I disagree. I've had both and in low light I'm always amazed at fiber optics light gathering ability. They're easily discernable in all but pitch black.

In other words if there's enough light to see the target there's enough for fiber optics to do their thing

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[Waywatcher]

In my opinion, there are three good choices for sights, or put otherwise, three choices I would pick from:

1. Black rear with Fiber front. Great in the light, not in the dark.

2. Black rear with Tritium front. Decent all around, but hard to index rear in the dark.

3. Tritium three dot sights, ala Trijicon. My preference, same sight picture day or night. For readers of gun literature, this also is Massad Ayoob's preference.

I don't care for the the fiber three dot because the rear sight draws way too much visual attention on account of it being so bright. There are legitimate times of lighting where night sights really do excel, here are some examples:

Shooter is a dark spot; like a dark room or shadow, aiming into a lighted area like a streetlight or lighted room. (Or lighted doorway)

Shooter is transitioning from dark to light areas, especially going back and forth.