So I got Fiber Optic thinking they were night sights!

baddarryl · November 30, 2012, 06:08 PM

Ooops! Bought a brand new Gen 4 G19 the other day and had the shop throw some HiViz fiber optics on it. Thought it looked great as I have seen these sights at the range. Get home, turn off light, nothing. Nada, zilch. Nothing like wasting $100. I am hoping they will take them back. What should I get for true night sights without all this fiber optic hocus pocus crap? Thanks.

DasGuy · November 30, 2012, 07:04 PM

There are a lot of good brands. Trijicon and Meprolights are probably the most popular, as 3 dot sights go. There are other styles such as Heinie straight 8s and XS dot sights as well.

alex0535 · November 30, 2012, 07:06 PM

tritium glows pretty reliably, its glow is produced by radioactive decay... In 11 or 12 years from its production it will be half as bright due to half of the tritium being decayed.

Its a safe amount of radiation, but it will glow in the dark for a decade.

It a whole different sort of "hocus pocus" that relies on nuclear decay but it is a very reliable process that will make your sight glow for a decade.

DasGuy · November 30, 2012, 07:19 PM

Also what alex said. The sights you want are the ones that have tritium inserts as the dots.

WeedWacker · December 1, 2012, 07:41 AM

Fiber optic sights are good for tactical target shooting. Bad if you intend to be in dark rooms without a light source. In pitch black you won't be able to see your FO's. But if you are anywhere you need night sights it might be prudent to have a weapon light of some kind. I keep thinking about our low light scenario shoot this last league. Night sights were a must if no flashlight was available, but even then a flashlight (weapon mounted even better) without night sights may have been a better choice. Try it in a realistic scenario where you have enough light to identify your target and see if you can't pick up those sights.

baddarryl · December 1, 2012, 03:32 PM

I put a set of Trijicon's on it and that is what I wanted. It is my main carry gun. I also shoot IDPA with it. I think for pure comp those HiViz are the way to go and when I finally get a dedicated comp gun those will be on it. But for carry being the main purpose I think the Trijicons will be the way to go. I can certainly use them at the range too.

As for check the HiViz in low light, I honestly think the factory Glock sights are better in dusk type light.
Thanks everyone.

November 30, 2012, 06:08 PM	#1
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	So I got Fiber Optic thinking they were night sights! Ooops! Bought a brand new Gen 4 G19 the other day and had the shop throw some HiViz fiber optics on it. Thought it looked great as I have seen these sights at the range. Get home, turn off light, nothing. Nada, zilch. Nothing like wasting $100. I am hoping they will take them back. What should I get for true night sights without all this fiber optic hocus pocus crap? Thanks.

December 1, 2012, 07:41 AM	#5
WeedWacker Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2006 Location: Body: Clarkston, Washington. Soul: LaCrosse, Wisconsin Posts: 1,591	Fiber optic sights are good for tactical target shooting. Bad if you intend to be in dark rooms without a light source. In pitch black you won't be able to see your FO's. But if you are anywhere you need night sights it might be prudent to have a weapon light of some kind. I keep thinking about our low light scenario shoot this last league. Night sights were a must if no flashlight was available, but even then a flashlight (weapon mounted even better) without night sights may have been a better choice. Try it in a realistic scenario where you have enough light to identify your target and see if you can't pick up those sights. __________________ - Jon Disequilibrium facilitates accommodation. 9mm vs .45 ACP? The answer is .429

November 30, 2012, 07:04 PM	#2
DasGuy Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Posts: 318	There are a lot of good brands. Trijicon and Meprolights are probably the most popular, as 3 dot sights go. There are other styles such as Heinie straight 8s and XS dot sights as well.

November 30, 2012, 07:06 PM	#3
alex0535 Senior Member Join Date: November 4, 2012 Location: Georgia Posts: 908	tritium glows pretty reliably, its glow is produced by radioactive decay... In 11 or 12 years from its production it will be half as bright due to half of the tritium being decayed. Its a safe amount of radiation, but it will glow in the dark for a decade. It a whole different sort of "hocus pocus" that relies on nuclear decay but it is a very reliable process that will make your sight glow for a decade.

November 30, 2012, 07:19 PM	#4
DasGuy Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2011 Posts: 318	Also what alex said. The sights you want are the ones that have tritium inserts as the dots.

December 1, 2012, 03:32 PM	#6
baddarryl Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: Cape Fear! Posts: 1,683	I put a set of Trijicon's on it and that is what I wanted. It is my main carry gun. I also shoot IDPA with it. I think for pure comp those HiViz are the way to go and when I finally get a dedicated comp gun those will be on it. But for carry being the main purpose I think the Trijicons will be the way to go. I can certainly use them at the range too. As for check the HiViz in low light, I honestly think the factory Glock sights are better in dusk type light. Thanks everyone.