night sight colors?

[Axis II]

I am in the market for night sights for my M&P fullsize and looking at trijicons but they show all green, yellow front or orange front. Im really not sure what the purpose of the multi color is vs all 3 green. Is trijicon a good brand? Im looking for something similar size to the factory 3 dots.

I'm also in the market for a set of night sites for an M&P shield and not sure of a style or brand on that? I almost got a performance center but I don't like the fiber optics.

 

[JO JO]

I have all green no complaints from me . and yes trijicon is a good brand

 

[Jonesy814]

Purpose of multi color is so you know what you are seeing. If its pitch black and you pull your gun up and see 3 green dots side by side, how can you be sure the middle dot is the front sight?

 

[Axis II]

Purpose of multi color is so you know what you are seeing. If its pitch black and you pull your gun up and see 3 green dots side by side, how can you be sure the middle dot is the front sight?

Ah! that actually makes sense, I never thought of it that way!

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have trijicon's on a couple carry guns, all green, they're very good. I have Truglo Tritium fiber optic on one. The fiber optic doesn't matter but the white outlined front sight helps with my aging eyes.

 

[Sistema1927]

Purpose of multi color is so you know what you are seeing. If its pitch black and you pull your gun up and see 3 green dots side by side, how can you be sure the middle dot is the front sight?

If it is so dark that you can't tell that the dots are your sights then it is too dark to make proper target identification. Nights sights are not NVG's.

 

[JTHunter]

Purpose of multi color is so you know what you are seeing. If its pitch black and you pull your gun up and see 3 green dots side by side, how can you be sure the middle dot is the front sight?

Try it yourself. If the front sight is held too far to either side, you won't see 3 dots, just 2.
That being said, because of my vision, I would prefer 2 green dots on the rear sight and a orange dot on the front as the orange would be more visible against darkness. My light doesn't go on until my finger is on the trigger.

 

[Jonesy814]

If it is so dark that you can't tell that the dots are your sights then it is too dark to make proper target identification. Nights sights are not NVG's.

I didn't say you couldn't tell the dots are your sights. I said you might not be able to tell which one is the front sight. It may not be a legitimate reason for having 2 colors but I bet that's an explanation the manufacturer would use. My only experience with night sights is my S&W model 60 Pro revolver which has a Trijicon vial in the front sight. When I first got it I went in the bathroom at night and turned the light off. I could see the glowing dot but couldn't tell where it was in relation to the rear sight. In a real life situation where adrenalin is flowing and you don't have a lot of time to think it could be helpful to know the front sight is the yellow dot and rear is the green or whatever

 

[viking499]

Purpose of multi color is so you know what you are seeing. If its pitch black and you pull your gun up and see 3 green dots side by side, how can you be sure the middle dot is the front sight?

The spacing of the dots should tell which is the front sight. If there is 2 dots close together, a bigger space and then another dot, you are not lined up correctly.

The different color front sight seems to help more during the daylight. Makes it easier to pick up the front sight in the sunshine.

 

[Sistema1927]

I didn't say you couldn't tell the dots are your sights. I said you might not be able to tell which one is the front sight. It may not be a legitimate reason for having 2 colors but I bet that's an explanation the manufacturer would use. My only experience with night sights is my S&W model 60 Pro revolver which has a Trijicon vial in the front sight. When I first got it I went in the bathroom at night and turned the light off. I could see the glowing dot but couldn't tell where it was in relation to the rear sight. In a real life situation where adrenalin is flowing and you don't have a lot of time to think it could be helpful to know the front sight is the yellow dot and rear is the green or whatever

I still contend that if it is too dark to align your sights it is too dark to be shooting since you will not be in a position to properly identify your target. Night sights are an aid for low light situations, not a panacea for "pitch black" (your words, not mine) situations. I have Meprolight sights on a couple of pistols, all green, and have no problem aligning them in the situations for which they are designed.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

didn't say you couldn't tell the dots are your sights. I said you might not be able to tell which one is the front sight. It may not be a legitimate reason for having 2 colors but I bet that's an explanation the manufacturer would use. My only experience with night sights is my S&W model 60 Pro revolver which has a Trijicon vial in the front sight. When I first got it I went in the bathroom at night and turned the light off. I could see the glowing dot but couldn't tell where it was in relation to the rear sight. In a real life situation where adrenalin is flowing and you don't have a lot of time to think it could be helpful to know the front sight is the yellow dot and rear is the green or whatever

I agree. My Wilson Combat/Beretta 92 Brig Tac only has a night sight on the front, and in the dark, having only one night sight is pretty hard to line up. It's pretty stupid actually. I'm planning to replace the rear sight with a Trij night sight, and I don't care for the Wilson sight that's on it anyway. I tend to shoot that gun low because of that sight.

On a carry gun I want night sights, and having the front sight be a different color would only be a benefit.

I still contend that if it is too dark to align your sights it is too dark to be shooting since you will not be in a position to properly identify your target. Night sights are an aid for low light situations, not a panacea for "pitch black"

I also agree with this. On a home defense gun I still want the same setup, but I've realized now that I added a Streamlight TLR-7 to my HD gun (VP9) that if your light is working properly, and adequately bright, then the night sights are washed out anyway, and you are essentially using a partridge front sight. Certainly adequate for a HD situation.

 

[Jonesy814]

The spacing of the dots should tell which is the front sight. If there is 2 dots close together, a bigger space and then another dot, you are not lined up correctly.

The different color front sight seems to help more during the daylight. Makes it easier to pick up the front sight in the sunshine.

Ok, sure the spacing can help you determine which is which, but under a high stress life or death situation are you going to be thinking about a little space and a slightly bigger space? Also, yes in patch black you shouldn't be shooting but I still believe the idea for 2 colors is a quick and easy way to tell which sight is which in a high stress, low light, not much time to think about it situation.

 

[Varminterror]

The “which dot is the front sight” stuff above is baloney... if that confusion were ever possible, it would be an indicator of a larger systemic failure, such the shooter was so unfamiliar with their pistol and sight picture, they have no business employing it for defensive use. The spacing of the dots is a dead give away - a big f’ing gap between any two dots would tell you you’re way off of the reservation...

In tritium sights, green is the brightest color, such it should ALWAYS be the color of the front sight. Most of mine (over 60 sets at last tally) are all green, but I do have some with orange rear dots which I like a lot. The orange is much dimmer than the green, so it helps me better focus on the front dot, and eliminates that tendency of the 3 dots to sort of melt together into the same plane.

So for me, Rule number one is ALWAYS green front sight, and subsequently, all green, or green front, orange or red rear.

 

[Jonesy814]

The “which dot is the front sight” stuff above is baloney... if that confusion were ever possible, it would be an indicator of a larger systemic failure, such the shooter was so unfamiliar with their pistol and sight picture, they have no business employing it for defensive use. The spacing of the dots is a dead give away - a big f’ing gap between any two dots would tell you you’re way off of the reservation...

In tritium sights, green is the brightest color, such it should ALWAYS be the color of the front sight. Most of mine (over 60 sets at last tally) are all green, but I do have some with orange rear dots which I like a lot. The orange is much dimmer than the green, so it helps me better focus on the front dot, and eliminates that tendency of the 3 dots to sort of melt together into the same plane.

So for me, Rule number one is ALWAYS green front sight, and subsequently, all green, or green front, orange or red rear.

Why always green for the front sight? It shouldnt matter if confusion isn’t possible

 

[bullseye308]

Trijicon TFO’s on my Glock 17. See them very well day or night.

 

[shoobe01]

Varminterror got it. The colors have different brightness based on the efficiency of the phosphors, and the spectral response of our eyes:

(can't you resize images? this doesn't need to be that big)




Me? I am happy with night front only as you are probably very close so a front sight only is good, or you have some ambient light, a white light to silhouette, etc. so can line up a black rear once you are oriented with the glowing front.

For the guns I have that come with three dots, I just put a sharpie over the back ones to dim them enough I am not blinded.

If ordering new ones, it's no serious extra cost, and you want three dots, certainly get green for the front, and a dimmer color (blue, red...) for the back sights.

NOTE: the color is of the phosphor. This doesn't change the half life of the tritium or anything.

 

[GBExpat]

I have OEM Glock tritium night sights; 3 identical green spots.

My ideal setup would involve a different-size/-color front sight but I am not willing to pay what they want for such things ... and they were not on massive mark-down sale like the OEM Glock night sights were when I bought them.

Rather than training to line-up these night sights in the dark the normal way, I have trained myself to line-them up with the front sight a bit higher than the rear. I have found that to be better.

 

[SharpDog]

I am in the market for night sights for my M&P fullsize and looking at trijicons but they show all green, yellow front or orange front. Im really not sure what the purpose of the multi color is vs all 3 green. Is trijicon a good brand? Im looking for something similar size to the factory 3 dots.

I'm also in the market for a set of night sites for an M&P shield and not sure of a style or brand on that? I almost got a performance center but I don't like the fiber optics.

1. Trijicon is the best
2. The reason for multiple colors is to identify the front dot vs. the others during quick acquisition.

 

[Varminterror]

Why always green for the front sight? It shouldnt matter if confusion isn’t possible

Read my post, as you were too focused on your rebuttal such you completely missed the point I made. Green is the brightest color or tritium by an order of magnitude. Any other color would not be as bright.

 

[Varminterror]

1. Trijicon is the best
.

Best is subjective. Meprolights are brighter. Trijicons are considered more durable and are better finished (both typically legitimately so). Personally, I buy tritium for the illumination, so most of mine are meprolights - I would say 2/3. Either of them are good to work with if the lamps get too dim (typically unusably dark long before the 12 shelf life in any color but green), and most folks haven’t owned tritium sights for the 12yrs to see them fade and fall, but the larger diameter of the mepros and the passive glow of the white lamp housing lets them glow longer, more often.

I have also had the optical adhesive fail on a trijicon, holding the lens, failing the sight. While it’s slightly more clear - albeit smaller - than the mepro’s, the entire lens on the mepro is bonded, so it’s not going anywhere.

Trijicon definitely has the best marketing, and best finish.

 

[Deus Machina]

I can see certain limited situations in which you might not be able to identify which sight is the front--backed into a dark alley, assailant is wearing a black shirt. Unlikely, possible.
Mostly it's because having them different colors may be quicker, or follow previous training. Same reason a lot of fiber optic sights use different colors. Or just why you often see painted sights in different colors.
I was fine with the Meprolights I had, particularly since the front looked slightly smaller and was nice and sharp.

 

[JTHunter]

shoobe01's chart on the color spectrum explains something to me. About 2 years ago, I was looking for a laser to go on my PMR-30. At a local gun show as well as multiple stores, I had tried red, green, and even blue lasers. Even in the light inside the arena for the gun shows, the red and esp. the blue lasers were hard to see. Then I got lucky and found a relatively new Academy store selling lasers for half price, both red and green. With this green laser, I can see the dot at ~100 feet in full sun.
Thanks to those charts, now I know why.

 

[Wichaka]

The “which dot is the front sight” stuff above is baloney... if that confusion were ever possible, it would be an indicator of a larger systemic failure, such the shooter was so unfamiliar with their pistol and sight picture, they have no business employing it for defensive use. The spacing of the dots is a dead give away - a big f’ing gap between any two dots would tell you you’re way off of the reservation...

We have a winner!

Confrontations happen unexpectedly and extremely fast...just cruise the videos of shootings.

Your body likes to find symmetry, balance etc. I agree with Varminterror on the statement "...if that confusion were ever possible, it would be an indicator of a larger systemic failure, such the shooter was so unfamiliar with their pistol and sight picture,"

If you train enough with said firearm, finding center and the sights will be there every time without thought. I don't agree with the term "Muscle memory", its really your subconscious taking charge. If your conscious has trained your brain correctly, there will be no problem.

Best example, the first time you drove a stick shift vehicle...remember how a bit awkward that was? Now one can drive around a business or residential area looking for an address while up or down shifting and not think a thing about it. That's your subconscious taking charge in that dept., while your conscious looks for the address.

I recommend a bright color be applied around the glow tube on the front sight. It helps pick up the sight fast when its too light to see the glow, but dark enough to need help in finding the front sight.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

The last set I bought were Ameriglo, green front and rear. The front sight has a larger white ring around it which gives a good sight picture. I’ve never used the different colors sights because green has always worked for me, on or off duty.

 

[wally]

With my presbyopia they are such a blur I need different colors on the front and rear otherwise its hard to tell which is the front sight! For this reason I'm not really a fan of night sights.

In theory the green should be most visible as that is where your color vision is most sensitive, but red had the least effect on your retina "night vision" adaptation which is what you are likely relying on if you needed night sights.