Tritium sights are a scam. Change my mind.

[James Moore]

I've always worn glasses, so I don't know what it's like to wake up in a low light situation with 20/20 vision.
If things are bumping in the night, I'm not reaching for my glasses first. With no glasses I can easily line up tritium sights. Not so easy with blackout sights or fiber optics.

I don't have tritium sights on all my handguns, but the one on my bedside table will always have them.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I can take the same photo, but it does not represent what the eye sees.

And in that photo, where's the target???

If it's dark enough to see the dim tritium glow, you can't see any target. And if there's enough light to see the target, you can't see the tritium glow.

I have not seen any evidence at all that tritium sights actually help in LOW light situations.

I’m reminded of the cliche “shooting in the dark” . Personally I’d advise against pulling the trigger when all you can see is a shadow or silhouette in the dark. That’s how you end up shooting a neighbor, kid, spouse, or your mother in law.

Home defense is probably the most common situation for operating in darkness. When pros clear dark rooms, they have lights. Either cop style with a flashlight in the weak hand or a light mounted on the gun.

Having done dark room CQB training in a shoot house, the purpose of the drill is to not get killed (figuratively of course) and not kill the wrong person. Like someone on your team. Sounds easy. It isn’t.

Shooting what you can’t see is a very bad idea. Night sights don’t help you see your target. I’ll make one exception though. Night vision gear allows you to see what you are shooting at and night sights are very visible using that gear. That’s the original function of night sights. Military use.

 

[GuitarmanNick]

Most of my factory guns are so old, that the sights cannot be changed without modification, so the original iron sights will remain and are adequate under most lighting conditions.

I use tritium sights on my G-26 and G-43 clone builds since they are sometimes carried at night.

Tritium has a relatively short lifespan compared to the actual sight, but has proven it works well for my eyes.

Those guns that can be equipped with fiber optic sights, have had them installed. I find them to be easiest to pick up quickly when some ambient light is present.

 

[Pern]

My S&W 327 Nightgaurd came with tritium sights years ago and they still work.

 

[CECannonJr]

I don't care about the price. I'm not talking about the price. I'm talking about actual beneficial functionality. There is NONE for tritium sights.

They don't do what they are claimed to do. They do NOT increase visibility in low light. They DECREASE visibility in bright light, since the tritium vial occupies space where you could have a white paint dot (or a fiber optic rod).

I'm convinced (after owning many) that they are useless trinkets (which happen to usually cost more).

I prefer the Truglo TFO sights. (Tritium Fiber Optic). The tritium illuminates the fiber optic and the fiber optic is exposed by slots for light gathering in daylight. The best of both worlds.

They are relatively inexpensive from Amazon.

 

[Racer88]

I prefer the Truglo TFO sights. (Tritium Fiber Optic). The tritium illuminates the fiber optic and the fiber optic is exposed by slots for light gathering in daylight. The best of both worlds.

Funny... I saw a review of those somewhere just today saying they are the worst of both worlds. Because the tritium transmits the light through the f.o. light pipes, the tritium is dimmed. And unless in very bright overhead light, the f.o. dots don't work well at all.

 

[Alex]

Where is a good place to buy these?
I keep seeing the plastic ones mostly.

Here's the part numbers for the OEM steel rear sights. They come in plastic or steel, the same 4 different heights of either material.

The steel version of the front sight also comes in 2 heights, juggling the different combos gives me the ability to put fixed steel sights on all of my Glock clones that hit at my preferred "center hold".

The really nice thing about the steel sights is they go on and adjust using a plastic mallet and a block of wood to support the slide. When I take a new parts combo to the range I also bring all 4 sight sizes. I swap the sights around to get elevation where I want it, then tappy tap tap to get the windage correct. Once that is done I never have to touch them again and every Glock clone I pick up shoots to the same point of impact.

Midway USA and Midwest Gun Works are the places I most frequently find these sights in stock but a web search with Glock and the part # you want will also be fruitful.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I bought a Wheeler sight pusher when I was working on my 'vintage' Sig pistols. I swear they install the sights with a 100 ton press. The pusher makes life easier and you dont have to worry about marring the finish on the sight or the slide. It works great on Glocks and just about any other handgun. There are cheaper alternatives but I like the quality finish and design of the Wheeler.

From the There You Go Again Dept: The dovetail cut for Kimber 1911 sights is proprietary. A major WTF. As a result, your choices in sight upgrades is very limited. The are also super tight. A regular pusher can't budge them.

 

[Warhammer]

I've always been underwhelmed by Tritum sights. Now that quality electronic dot sights are pretty affordable, I really don't see their use.

 

[CECannonJr]

Funny... I saw a review of those somewhere just today saying they are the worst of both worlds. Because the tritium transmits the light through the f.o. light pipes, the tritium is dimmed. And unless in very bright overhead light, the f.o. dots don't work well at all.

I completely disagree with that review. My experience has been the exact opposite. I own 4 sets of them.

 

[Racer88]

I completely disagree with that review. My experience has been the exact opposite. I own 4 sets of them.

Well, there ya go. The only "review" that really matters is your own experience.

I did look at them (online) and considered trying them a while back.

 

[Stephen G]

Glow in dark finger nail polish works about as well and cost $1

 

[Bobster]

As I have decent night vision, I am of the "hide in the dark aiming at the flashlight holding perp" with tritiums camp...

 

[Bongo Lewi]

As I have decent night vision, I am of the "hide in the dark aiming at the flashlight holding perp" with tritiums camp...

I wouldn't shoot someone in the dark who has a light. It's most likely a cop. Or a kid. Or maybe your plumber.

A lot of people say they wont use a torch because it gives them away. This is a popular opinion - among those who have no training in these situations. In other words, 98% of gun owners. . There's a reason guns with lights are standard issue with pros performing any sort of close quarters tactical duty. They aren't afraid of being seen by the bad guys.

On the other hand, I have heard some claim that they have a setup where they can turn all the lights in the house on from their bedroom. That would eliminate the need for a light. I can do that outdoors but elected to not do it inside the house. I can light up my property like Friday night football. With about 60 yards of flat, clear space all around the house. No place to hide. Cameras with night vision and motion detection that can identify human vs animals. Even face recognition, but that doesn't always work well. Coming or going, any intruder in that zone is dead meat after ignoring one warning. I have a loudspeaker out there. I can make an announcement thru the camera app on my phone.

You know those doorbell camera commercials where some suburban Mom says "Hey! Stealing is not nice. Please put that package back"? My message is, "Hey asshole... I have you in my sights and I'm about to blow your fucking head off". I think that would make an excellent commercial. I don't know why I haven't been asked.

I have always had a flair for tact and diplomacy. So far, nobody has tried a burglary or home invasion.

 

[One Ping Only]

I myself have purchased many of them in different forms/brand.

I do find them helpful in the low light vs the black sights on my new .45 which will be my new CC once broken-in- Completely worthless in low light. Ymmv.. I think if LE and Mil finds them useful, they have merit. I’m not here to convince anyone otherwise… too tired. Ymmv.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Tritium knives. What will they think of next?

Glow Rhino | Everyday Carry | EDC Gear | Everydaycarry | EDC Items

Glow Rhino EDC makes Tritium EDC Gear for your every day carry. Glow Rhino's products contain Tritium, a self-powered light source that doesn’t require batteries to glow. Locate your EDC items in the dark! Your source for tritium knives, tritium key fobs, tritium keychain, tritium pry bars and...

glowrhino.com

 

[brian]

Tritium knives. What will they think of next?

Glow Rhino | Everyday Carry | EDC Gear | Everydaycarry | EDC Items

Glow Rhino EDC makes Tritium EDC Gear for your every day carry. Glow Rhino's products contain Tritium, a self-powered light source that doesn’t require batteries to glow. Locate your EDC items in the dark! Your source for tritium knives, tritium key fobs, tritium keychain, tritium pry bars and...

glowrhino.com

I've got a Hogue OTF knife with a tritium dot on the button ...

 

[Bongo Lewi]

I’m waiting for knives with holographic sights that tell you where to stab and slash.

I have a few automatics and assisted. I like Benchmade and CRKT in the pocket folder genre.

My favorites for defensive type use are the balisong and the karambit.

 

[Bongo Lewi]

The techniques for using a karambit are very different but not terribly hard to learn. I believe very firmly after going thru some instruction that if you face someone who knows how to use a karambit, you better have a gun. It's a slashing weapon. The dude teaching the class was an expert in the Filipino marshal arts, using knives, which is sometimes called arnis or kali.

A lot of edged weapons experts say stabbing is far more effective than slashing. I wont argue with that not being an expert on the subject. But personally I find the slashing style the karambit was designed for to be extremely disabling to an attacker. Ive never been a mugger, but if I were and you slashed the tendons in my arm or cut my face open I would probably retreat vs. carry on the fight.

 

[One Ping Only]

Update-had Thumper out for its inaugural outside here in the country. Two magazines with Hornady 200gr JHP's... 14 rounds were ate like some eat crayons. No misfeeds, or any glitches. But this was at twilight tonight making some July 4th joyful noise into a backstop and targets. I sure wish I would have had some better sights than these all-black units. YMMV.... I did manage a standing offhand grouping of 8" at 10+ yards but the lighting sucked.

In Contrast, my GST-9 with I-Dot Tritiums were certainly easier to see.