1911 front sight - tritium, or fiber optic?

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ACP

ACP

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for a full-sized carry gun.

Experience? Preferences?

I don't want black on black, or three white dots.

The tritium would have the white ring around it; for fiber optic, red or green.
 
Nice! But I prefer a plain back rear sight.
 
TruGlo sells exactly that setup (fiber/tritium front, black rear) for glock and s&w m&p... maybe ask for the same for a 1911? Or just install the front sight.
 
For a 1911, a domed gold bead front sight is a nice setup.
 
What about the back sight? If no change, then why tritium in just the front at all. Just go with CT laser grips and be done with it.
 
ACP said:
for a full-sized carry gun.

Experience? Preferences?

I don't want black on black, or three white dots.

The tritium would have the white ring around it; for fiber optic, red or green.
Click to expand...

I have two guns (G36 and CZPCR) with a tritium front sight and standard rear sight. I didn't consider fiber optic because of wanting to see the front sight in light so low a fiber optic might not gather enough light to be seen. Plus, tritium sights are usually a bit smaller than fiber optic sights.

I've never tried the combo tritium/fiber optic, so no experience with that.
 
I also prefer a plain black rear and "something" up front. For a strictly game/range gun I prefer FO, but for a carry gun I've found the Trijicin HD sight a very good "compromise". The Trijicon HDs have a large front insert, that's actually very, very bright (rivals FO) in daylight and the rear vials do not have outlines so they're easy to overlook in daylight. While I do carry a light for target ID, there are certain windows/conditions when nightsights come in handy in that I can ID a target, but not see my sights.

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TrijHD-sightpicture.jpg

I've now got 4 sets of them on my defensive pistols.

Chuck
 
Tru-glos are too bright IMO. They wash out the target for me in low-light. Had the same problem with mepros on a 4" Kimber. I've spent most of my adult life on night shift, and unless I need headlights, I'm wearing sunglasses, so YMMV.

The front night sight/plain rear has been my preferred setup for years. I prefer a serrated front over the white dot outline, I've never seen a front sight with both.

I wider U notch in the rear is nice (such as 10-8), but not a requirement for me.
 
Thank you. The low light capability of tritium is a plus since most violent encounters take place in low/reduced light (or so I have read)
 
JTQ, thanks for that link, which I just read, including the comments.

I agree that tritium sights do NOT help ID a target. And I agree that practice and muscle memory are more valuable when it comes to quick hits on a target.
I'm losing my own argument now....

For some years I have taken to blacking out my rear sight and adding a dab of Testors model airplane paint (typically white or hi-viz yellow) to the front sight to help me index faster -- I practice a lot of point shooting and having some big, fat index point out there seems to help me, esp. with my middle-aged eyes. Kinda like the Ashley Express big dots.

My reasons for the post is I am considering purchasing a Springfield Trophy Match 1911, and the sights are black on black (the front sight is smooth, not serrated, unfortunately), and that is probably my least favorite sight arrangement due to that lack of an "indexing" front sight. That's why I thought tritium or fiber optic.

But I supposed nail polish or paint could do...

I did take a point shooting class at S&W several years ago when they had a private academy, and we spent the entire day with masking tape over our front sights...
 
I've got the TFO's on my Glock and love them day or night. During the day they glow bright green and just guide me to the target. At night or low light they just seem to line themselves up. I'll be getting some more for my other pistols.
 
Dawson front fiber optic .110-.115" in width, or a Dawson front night sight no thicker than .125" wide.

Plain black Warren Sevigny comp rear. (.150" width rear notch) Still the best setup out there.


I despise 3 dot sights. The rear dots are always too bright and grab my eye when it's supposed to be trying to find the front sight only.
 
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I say tritium. Its dark 50% of the time on this rock, but bad things happen mostly during this time. FO doesn't really do anything for you in the dark. Anything will work in the light.
 
Zero Defect, what is your opinion of the Heine Ledge rear sight?
 
If you're not familiar with 1911's, note the slide sight cuts for your chosen gun. You'll be limited with after market choices if you're picking the Trophy Match with the adjustable rear sight.
 
oh, yes, I know, thank you JTQ. I am fortunate enough to have more than one 1911, so I can apply all this know-how to other guns! :)
 
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