Question regarding night/fiber optic site colors

[snovvman]

I'm looking at the Truglo TFO, with fiber optic and tritium. I've read good things about it.

I've also read that, the green tritium is the brightest. Where available, the red, orange, and yellow are less bright. Out of the three, orange is the least bright.

Not having seen it, I'm uncertain about the 3 green dots at night (or during the day for that matter). Wouldn't it be easier to quickly sight in on differentiating colors having contrasting colors between the front and rear sights?

On theory, red front and green rear would appear to be ideal, that maybe it would reduce the time to line up the sights. I am concerned about having to line up 3 green dots trying to determine proper alignment.

For an XD application, one can get yellow rear and green front, at a cost of reduced intensity in the yellow.

1) What would be your recommendation?
2) Is it truly an issue trying to line up 3 green dots, day or night, when comparing to contrasting colors? Or, it does not matter at all?
3) Anything else I should know?

Thank you.

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I was concerned about that as I'm about to get some for a carry gun and considered having different colors. But from what I've heard to line them up and have the front outside the rears and still see all 3 the gun has to be REALLY off (to the point it would feel awkward and muscle memory would say "what the heck?").

 

[Rustynuts]

I think you want the front sight the brightest, since that is what you should be sighting on. I have the bi-color TFO (green front, yellow rear) and the yellow is definitely dimmer. Overall my TFO's are pretty dim, even the green. My Kimber's tritium's are much brighter.

 

[NukemJim]

Since the front sight is the most important my instructors have suggested front sight only with tritium or front green (easiest to see) rear whatever differing color you like.

In terms of being confused over 3 green dots, it's never hapaned to me but I've never been in a gun fight ( and hope to keep it that way 0

NukemJim

 

[mainmech48]

To me contrast is good, and more of it is better when it comes to getting a fast alignment.

As a practical matter the front sight is the one you want to stand out most. That's the one that gives you the quickest index on where your muzzle is pointing. It's the one you want to to be able to see best.

For me three greens can be an issue under some conditions. A lot depends on their relative sizes and intensity levels. Where the front dot is markedly brighter they're easier and faster for me to align correctly. When they're all close to the same size and brightness, especially after they have a few years on them and are starting to dim, it gets dicier. May not be as big a deal for those with younger eyes than mine.

Tritium isn't 'forever'. The gas vials in most sights have a half-life of about 10-12 years. They will grow dimmer with time and you should expect to have to replace them eventually.

I haven't enough experience with the Tru-Glo tritium to have a definite opinion as yet, but I like the concept of having an ambient light 'booster' for the tritium. It would seem logical to me that having close to the same brightness and contrast levels under the broadest possible set of lighting conditions couldn't hurt. FWIW, I liked their FO-only set I tried on a pal's XD very much.