Night sights on AR? Looking at XS and trijicon

stgdz · September 17th, 2008, 01:59 PM

Looking at these two

XS tritium white stripe front and tritium rear
www.xssights.com/store/tactical.html
Trijicon tritium setup
www.opticsplanet.net/trijicon-night-sight-sets-for-ar15-m16-cp25.html

The trijicon is half the price but uses a dot front, instead of the stripe. Will go on a HD gun. Are the dots faster to acquire?

SIXTO · September 17th, 2008, 02:18 PM

I'd skip them. I had a set on one of mine and hated them... they didnt really help much in low light, and didnt allow a precise shot like the standard sights do.

OPFOR · September 17th, 2008, 02:20 PM

I also have no use for them whatsoever. If you want to be able to see your sights at night (and in the day, and to shoot better/faster in all conditions) get an EOTech or similar. Night sights on a rifle are a waste, in my opinion.

Bob The Great · September 17th, 2008, 09:23 PM

Well, I guess I'll break with the crowd. I have an XS tritium front sight post on my AR, and I like it just fine.

Actually, it's not the tritium glow I like most - it's the white stripe. I just pick it up quicker against a complex background than the normal black post.

If you do buy one, I say get the front sight post only. The ring is too close to your eye to even really see a glow, and if you have a good cheek weld, it'll be in the same spot every time.

A red-dot optic is definitely the way to go, but I decided to try this out as a way to improve my irons as a backup. No real complaints about it thus far.

Shizzlemah · September 17th, 2008, 10:25 PM

I have the trijicons. They do glow, no issues there.

If you are using them in the pitch black, they will be so bright that you can't see your target. I have some 10 years old that are juuuust about right for brightness. IMHO, of course.

MikeGoob · September 20th, 2008, 12:45 AM

Ive read before that the issue with the AR night sites is that the glowing dot is not close enough to the tip on the trijicons and XS sights. Making accuracy much harder. IF you have to go with glowing sites, ive heard the 'Tru Glo' is the best for this reason--it puts the dot RIGHT at the tip and also utilizes fiber optic for low light situations too.

KSJustice · September 20th, 2008, 01:52 AM

The OP said that this would be used for a HD gun. Call me crazy but I don't see myself trying to acquire a good sight picture on someone if I hear a crash in the night and have to clear my house. I would much rather have the EOTech or just rely on the 'point and shoot' technique. Most times you are going to have a tactical light if you need to light up a target anyways.

Janq · September 20th, 2008, 03:07 AM

I'd invest in a good and reliable illumination device either a handheld or a firearm mounted system (e.g. hard mount to foregrip with remote activator), before thinking about an illuminated front sight.

Seeing what you'll target is more important than targeting what you can't see.
This falls under the Ten Commandments of Firearm Safety and the NRA Gun Safety Rules.

Quote:

'Know your target and what is beyond.'
Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
Source - NRA Gun Safety Rules

Quote:

'BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET AND WHAT’S BEYOND IT'
No one can call a shot back. Once a gun fires, you have given up all control over where the shot will go or what it will strike. Don’t shoot unless you know exactly what your shot is going to strike. Be sure that your bullet will not injure anyone or anything beyond your target. Firing at a movement or a noise without being absolutely certain of what you are shooting at constitutes disregard for the safety of others. No target is so important that you cannot take the time before you pull the trigger to be absolutely certain of your target and where your shot will stop.
Source - http://www.nssf.org/lit/fsdoy.pdf

What you will want and need to do is verify your target, which is paramount.
Where there is light there will be your front sight be it plain black, white, or tritium.
Don't be caught in the dark.

- Janq

September 17th, 2008, 01:59 PM	#1
stgdz Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Buffalo, MN Posts: 84	Night sights on AR? Looking at XS and trijicon Looking at these two XS tritium white stripe front and tritium rear www.xssights.com/store/tactical.html Trijicon tritium setup www.opticsplanet.net/trijicon-night-sight-sets-for-ar15-m16-cp25.html The trijicon is half the price but uses a dot front, instead of the stripe. Will go on a HD gun. Are the dots faster to acquire?

September 17th, 2008, 02:18 PM	#2
SIXTO VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Here and There Posts: 10,077	I'd skip them. I had a set on one of mine and hated them... they didnt really help much in low light, and didnt allow a precise shot like the standard sights do. __________________ In a land of sheep, even a toothless wolf is king. Wake Up! The zombie invasion has begun years ago.

September 17th, 2008, 02:20 PM	#3
OPFOR VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Baghdad Posts: 2,453	I also have no use for them whatsoever. If you want to be able to see your sights at night (and in the day, and to shoot better/faster in all conditions) get an EOTech or similar. Night sights on a rifle are a waste, in my opinion. __________________ "It makes no difference what men think of war, said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be. That way and not some other way."

September 17th, 2008, 09:23 PM	#4
Bob The Great Distinguished Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Slidell, LA Posts: 1,452	Well, I guess I'll break with the crowd. I have an XS tritium front sight post on my AR, and I like it just fine. Actually, it's not the tritium glow I like most - it's the white stripe. I just pick it up quicker against a complex background than the normal black post. If you do buy one, I say get the front sight post only. The ring is too close to your eye to even really see a glow, and if you have a good cheek weld, it'll be in the same spot every time. A red-dot optic is definitely the way to go, but I decided to try this out as a way to improve my irons as a backup. No real complaints about it thus far. __________________ "A well-educated electorate, being necessary to the continuance of a free state, the right of the people to keep and read books shall not be infringed." Is this hard to understand? Then why does it get unintelligible to some people when 5 little words are changed?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

September 17th, 2008, 10:25 PM	#5
Shizzlemah Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 724	I have the trijicons. They do glow, no issues there. If you are using them in the pitch black, they will be so bright that you can't see your target. I have some 10 years old that are juuuust about right for brightness. IMHO, of course.

September 20th, 2008, 12:45 AM	#6
MikeGoob Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 103	Ive read before that the issue with the AR night sites is that the glowing dot is not close enough to the tip on the trijicons and XS sights. Making accuracy much harder. IF you have to go with glowing sites, ive heard the 'Tru Glo' is the best for this reason--it puts the dot RIGHT at the tip and also utilizes fiber optic for low light situations too.

September 20th, 2008, 01:52 AM	#7
KSJustice Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Armpit of the World Posts: 29	The OP said that this would be used for a HD gun. Call me crazy but I don't see myself trying to acquire a good sight picture on someone if I hear a crash in the night and have to clear my house. I would much rather have the EOTech or just rely on the 'point and shoot' technique. Most times you are going to have a tactical light if you need to light up a target anyways.