Durability of fiber optics

patriotthad · October 14th, 2009, 01:11 AM

I am considering mounting a HI-VIZ front sight on my Kimber Pro Carry. I have a Williams Fire Sight on my Mini-14 and love it. But, I have heard different "Horror stories" regarding fiber optics breaking, falling out ect. Does anyone have a FIRST HAND experience they would share?

jualdeaux · October 14th, 2009, 07:34 AM

I use FOs on all my hand guns of some sort. I have TFOs on my 19 and 34 and other on my M&P Pro and Springfield Loaded. The Pro and 34 are my competition guns and have been used quite a bit and the 19 is my EDC. Okay, I grant you that I haven't used the Loaded much at all yet. I'm moving to that next season. But they are fine on all the rest. Never had a problem.

I will say that if this is going to be an EDC that I'd look into night sights instead, or in addition to, FOs. I think they make TFOs for the Kimbers. it is always nice to see those sights in the dark.

goawayfarm · October 14th, 2009, 11:57 AM

I like the visibility of fiber, they really stand out.........BUT I have to replace the fiber way to often! I have to keep .040 & .060 pieces to replace when they break. I even carry a small piece in my wallet in case it breaks while I not at home.

I have even changed the fiber on my Les Baer Premier TWICE in the last week. One broke while shooting & the other must have broke when holstering the firearm.

I'm still looking for one that will hold up on my 1911s............

Vic303 · October 14th, 2009, 12:08 PM

I have TruGlo TFO's on a pistol. At the range one day, the front sight fiber fell out, never to be seen again. I went to visit TruGlo (local enough to me to drive to) and they replaced the sight in an hour gratis.
So far, no probs on the replacement. If they fail again, I will have XS 24/7 big dots installed instead.

Janq · October 14th, 2009, 12:50 PM

I had a Dawson Precision FO front sight installed on my SA 1911-A1 as by the suggestion of S&W shooter Tom Yost.
He runs the same sight on his guns including 1911s and the S&W M&P9 and M&P9 Performance Center guns I lately most often see him running.
I'd talked to him about fiber life just last month on the phone and then again direct as we were SOs at a S&W employee product shoot event.

He burns through a _lot_ of ammo per month between training and competition.
His suggestion to me as related to Dawson FO in specific was that with exposure to sunlight and recoil force in specific that tubes will grow and I quote; "Dull". They will lose their luminescent quality over time and require replacement which he detailed for me how to do even as the package came with such instructions.
He went on to say expect to have to replace the fiber every year (12 mos.).
Before I'd bought them I talked to him about holster wear and he noted he has never had a problem with them as with an otherwise standard fit holster. My experience has been same with all but one of my own holsters.
The outlier being my Bandera 'Beltster' which is a slide type holster system.

It's also generally advised to not get cleaning fluids on to the sight tube/fiber optic.
I've had mine installed since July and thus far have been quite pleased.
I'll remember to bump this thread if my tube happens to get brittle and break or fall out (!) as opposed to go dull and require a change out.

BTW this is one amongst my carry guns. I have no dedicated competition gun as I have little mindset toward competition in specific. I largely shoot IDPA for the trigger time.
I generally would not carry this gun at night not though because of the FO sight but more so because if I'm out at night it's to a club or pool hall or dancing or some other place where maximum concealment capability is required. In that case I bring along my Colt Defender, which has XS Big Dot sights w/ tritium inserts.
At home though it is paired with a flashlight which when used properly provides more than enough sight picture illumination to make at the very least a combat accurate shot. I've tested this on a darkened range.
A lot of people note that FO is wrong for night time use. Untrue.
All sights are wrong for night time use. UNLESS you have a illuminator of some sort which in low light/no light conditions should be mandatory be you walking the dog at night or in your bed at home.

- Janq

patriotthad · October 14th, 2009, 05:45 PM

Thanks, I will go with XS Big Dot!

retsupt99 · October 14th, 2009, 05:59 PM

I put a fiber optic front site on my 30-30 rifle because it works so well with a little light or on a bright day, but it's not for a SD pistol.

Chances are that the preditors will come out in dim or no light...then what? I want a glowing front site for point shooting...OMOYMV

BDKnow · October 14th, 2009, 06:16 PM

I use a Trijicon M&P Night Sight on my Smith & Wesson for almost two years. The illumination never faded and it stayed center the whole time. The gun and sight have been close friends ever since.

Superhouse 15 · October 15th, 2009, 03:46 PM

All my Glocks have TFOs and some see a lot of use, no issues yet. I have installed over a dozen sets for customers I guess. I saw one side of a rear sight die, no problem with the fiber optic part, just a failure of the Tritium vial, and Tru Glo replaced it free.

10thmtn · October 15th, 2009, 10:24 PM

TFOs on my G26 - love 'em. No issues.

October 14th, 2009, 01:11 AM	#1
patriotthad New Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MO Posts: 3	Durability of fiber optics I am considering mounting a HI-VIZ front sight on my Kimber Pro Carry. I have a Williams Fire Sight on my Mini-14 and love it. But, I have heard different "Horror stories" regarding fiber optics breaking, falling out ect. Does anyone have a FIRST HAND experience they would share?

October 14th, 2009, 07:34 AM	#2
jualdeaux Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waponi Woo Posts: 931	I use FOs on all my hand guns of some sort. I have TFOs on my 19 and 34 and other on my M&P Pro and Springfield Loaded. The Pro and 34 are my competition guns and have been used quite a bit and the 19 is my EDC. Okay, I grant you that I haven't used the Loaded much at all yet. I'm moving to that next season. But they are fine on all the rest. Never had a problem. I will say that if this is going to be an EDC that I'd look into night sights instead, or in addition to, FOs. I think they make TFOs for the Kimbers. it is always nice to see those sights in the dark. __________________ Unreasonable men are ever unreasonable, and only become more so when threatened. Truth always threatens the false-hearted.

October 14th, 2009, 11:57 AM	#3
goawayfarm VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Fork Union, Virginia Posts: 2,276	I like the visibility of fiber, they really stand out.........BUT I have to replace the fiber way to often! I have to keep .040 & .060 pieces to replace when they break. I even carry a small piece in my wallet in case it breaks while I not at home. I have even changed the fiber on my Les Baer Premier TWICE in the last week. One broke while shooting & the other must have broke when holstering the firearm. I'm still looking for one that will hold up on my 1911s............ __________________ Quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est.-Seneca "If you carry a gun, people will call you paranoid. If I have a gun, what do I have to be paranoid about?" -Clint Smith "An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." -Jeff Cooper

October 14th, 2009, 12:50 PM	#5
Janq VIP Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 4,519	I had a Dawson Precision FO front sight installed on my SA 1911-A1 as by the suggestion of S&W shooter Tom Yost. He runs the same sight on his guns including 1911s and the S&W M&P9 and M&P9 Performance Center guns I lately most often see him running. I'd talked to him about fiber life just last month on the phone and then again direct as we were SOs at a S&W employee product shoot event. He burns through a _lot_ of ammo per month between training and competition. His suggestion to me as related to Dawson FO in specific was that with exposure to sunlight and recoil force in specific that tubes will grow and I quote; "Dull". They will lose their luminescent quality over time and require replacement which he detailed for me how to do even as the package came with such instructions. He went on to say expect to have to replace the fiber every year (12 mos.). Before I'd bought them I talked to him about holster wear and he noted he has never had a problem with them as with an otherwise standard fit holster. My experience has been same with all but one of my own holsters. The outlier being my Bandera 'Beltster' which is a slide type holster system. It's also generally advised to not get cleaning fluids on to the sight tube/fiber optic. I've had mine installed since July and thus far have been quite pleased. I'll remember to bump this thread if my tube happens to get brittle and break or fall out (!) as opposed to go dull and require a change out. BTW this is one amongst my carry guns. I have no dedicated competition gun as I have little mindset toward competition in specific. I largely shoot IDPA for the trigger time. I generally would not carry this gun at night not though because of the FO sight but more so because if I'm out at night it's to a club or pool hall or dancing or some other place where maximum concealment capability is required. In that case I bring along my Colt Defender, which has XS Big Dot sights w/ tritium inserts. At home though it is paired with a flashlight which when used properly provides more than enough sight picture illumination to make at the very least a combat accurate shot. I've tested this on a darkened range. A lot of people note that FO is wrong for night time use. Untrue. All sights are wrong for night time use. UNLESS you have a illuminator of some sort which in low light/no light conditions should be mandatory be you walking the dog at night or in your bed at home. - Janq __________________ "Killers who are not deterred by laws against murder are not going to be deterred by laws against guns. " - Robert A. Levy Monday, March 12, 2007 -- Op Ed -- The Washington Post

October 14th, 2009, 05:59 PM	#7
retsupt99 VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Central Florida Posts: 22,715	I put a fiber optic front site on my 30-30 rifle because it works so well with a little light or on a bright day, but it's not for a SD pistol. Chances are that the preditors will come out in dim or no light...then what? I want a glowing front site for point shooting...OMOYMV __________________ "That I cannot do." "Give this to, uh, Clemenza. I want reliable people, people who aren't going to be carried away. After all we're not murderers in spite of what this undertaker thinks." *********************************** NRA Life Member

October 14th, 2009, 12:08 PM	#4
Vic303 Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: NTX Posts: 20	I have TruGlo TFO's on a pistol. At the range one day, the front sight fiber fell out, never to be seen again. I went to visit TruGlo (local enough to me to drive to) and they replaced the sight in an hour gratis. So far, no probs on the replacement. If they fail again, I will have XS 24/7 big dots installed instead.

October 14th, 2009, 05:45 PM	#6
patriotthad New Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: MO Posts: 3	Thanks, I will go with XS Big Dot!

October 14th, 2009, 06:16 PM	#8
BDKnow Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Dallas Posts: 44	I use a Trijicon M&P Night Sight on my Smith & Wesson for almost two years. The illumination never faded and it stayed center the whole time. The gun and sight have been close friends ever since.

October 15th, 2009, 03:46 PM	#9
Superhouse 15 Distinguished Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,508	All my Glocks have TFOs and some see a lot of use, no issues yet. I have installed over a dozen sets for customers I guess. I saw one side of a rear sight die, no problem with the fiber optic part, just a failure of the Tritium vial, and Tru Glo replaced it free.

October 15th, 2009, 10:24 PM	#10
10thmtn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Posts: 654	TFOs on my G26 - love 'em. No issues. __________________ The People ARE the Militia, and have a DUTY (not just a right) to be both armed and proficient in the use of said arms. Ex-Army officer; Hurricane Andrew Relief, FL, 1992; Operation Restore Hope, Somalia, 1993 NRA Life Member; Range Safety Officer Glock 26, CT Laserguard, Smartcarry

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