Tritium Sight(s) for AR-15

[spinmove_]

I've got an AR-15 that I'd like to get some tritium sight(s) for. I do not currently have a red dot/ACOG on it yet and I'm in the process of saving up for a good quality one instead of cheaping out. In the mean time I'd like to get more usable irons. I'm currently running the basic Magpul flip-up BUIS rear sight with a fixed A2 front post. I'm open to suggestion as to going front only tritium or front and rear.

[HCM]

Having used work issued tritium AR sights (Trijicon fronts) I would advise you to save that money towards a quality red dot.

[spinmove_]

Having used work issued tritium AR sights (Trijicon fronts) I would advise you to save that money towards a quality red dot.

Wow. They're generally not that much worth it, eh?

[Chuck Whitlock]

I don't see any utility in having tritium on the rear...too close to the eye.

If you like the idea of more visibility on the front sight, XS offers a few:

http://www.xssights.com/Products.aspx?CAT=8275

One thing to be aware of........they have to rotate 360* to face the shooter.

[HCM]

Wow. They're generally not that much worth it, eh?

They're not bad just a juice not worth the squeeze situation. You are looking at $60 for a front post and $160 is for a tritium rear - $220 is half way to an Aimpoint pro.

The Trijicon fromt was ok but limited the range of adjustment and caused some zeroing issues. We got the back in the 90's when we had niether white lights nor red dots on our carbines.

If you dont have a white light on your carbine it would be a good place to start. You said you have an A frame front - GG&G and Midwest Industries both make small sections of 1913 rail which bolt onto the A frame. Use a little Loctite and mark the screws with paint pen. I used the GG&G version on my work gun for several years. http://www.gggaz.com/the-dually-dual-rail-front-sight-accessory-mount.html

[Lon]

Our SWAT rifles have these:

https://www.xssights.com/Detail.aspx?PROD=993117&CAT=8275

I prefer them to the trijicon front. Rear tritium sights are pretty useless.

[spinmove_]

They're not bad just a juice not worth the squeeze situation. You are looking at $60 for a front post and $160 is for a tritium rear - $220 is half way to an Aimpoint pro.

The Trijicon fromt was ok but limited the range of adjustment and caused some zeroing issues. We got the back in the 90's when we had niether white lights nor red dots on our carbines.

If you dont have a white light on your carbine it would be a good place to start. You said you have an A frame front - GG&G and Midwest Industries both make small sections of 1913 rail which bolt onto the A frame. Use a little Loctite and mark the screws with paint pen. I used the GG&G version on my work gun for several years. http://www.gggaz.com/the-dually-dual-rail-front-sight-accessory-mount.html

I've got a TLR-1s on my forend which is mounted to a section of Magpul rail for my Magpul forend, so I have my light covered.

I know about the Trijicon and XS front sight options, but both of those did strike me as potentially having zeroing issues due to their coarse adjustment nature. The Ameriglo option struck me as one of the initial best options as it appears the blade can be adjusted independently of it's height adjustment. The rear sight idea seems plausible, but just thinking about it makes me think I'd be concentrating way more on the rear aperture than I should which defeats the whole purpose of the system.

If practical application of such a thing really isn't all that practical, then I'll just save my money and not bother. Still debating on an ACOG TA-45, Aimpoint RDS, or Trijicon MRO. I'm nowhere near fully saved up for an optic at this point so I definitely have time to research and debate that option.

[texasaggie2005]

I know about the Trijicon and XS front sight options, but both of those did strike me as potentially having zeroing issues due to their coarse adjustment nature.

FWIW, the Trijicon front post (https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3.php?pid=CP25F) has the exact same adjustment intervals as a standard front post, 5 notches. The blade swivels on the post below it, allowing it to positioned correctly then held in place by the included longer pin.

[HCM]

FWIW, the Trijicon front post (https://www.trijicon.com/na_en/products/product3.php?pid=CP25F) has the exact same adjustment intervals as a standard front post, 5 notches. The blade swivels on the post below it, allowing it to positioned correctly then held in place by the included longer pin.

Which is ok on a personal rifle. On an issued rifle which will be re-zeroed when re- issued not so much. Removing the post and pin every time you have to re-zero is a PITA.

[rob_s]

Tritium on the AR is a non-starter IMO. With the cost of passable red dots competing with the cost of tritium sights, and actual good quality red dots (http://www.amazon.com/Aimpoint-Carbine-Optic-ACO-Sight/dp/B00OQ6ALHQ) not too much more, it's even less worthwhile. I'd rather paint a stripe on the stock front sight post with fingernail polish than go with tritium (and have done so on more than one set of irons).

[texasaggie2005]

Which is ok on a personal rifle. On an issued rifle which will be re-zeroed when re- issued not so much. Removing the post and pin every time you have to re-zero is a PITA.
The post & pin doesn't have to be removed to be re-zeroed. Just use the tool to fully depress the pin to spin the entire post, then use the tool to depress the top notch, which allows the blade only to spin and be aligned. The post has two sets of notches, one is perm attached to the post, which adjusts zero. The other set of notches is on the blade spinner and allows the blade to be repositioned.

[HCM]

The post & pin doesn't have to be removed to be re-zeroed. Just use the tool to fully depress the pin to spin the entire post, then use the tool to depress the top notch, which allows the blade only to spin and be aligned. The post has two sets of notches, one is perm attached to the post, which adjusts zero. The other set of notches is on the blade spinner and allows the blade to be repositioned.

We have some which are bottomed out and still wouldn't zero. They zero'ed fine with a standard post. Just did not find then useful.

[Hauptmann]

Tried them. I think they are a waste of money. Save you money for a reflex/reddot.

[El Cid]

I guess I don't see the utility for most of us. In self defense and LE use, most I expect will be using a white light prior to taking a shot. The white light will most likely wash out the tritium (or white outline).

Now in a military setting where a person may be able to shoot at figures without need of a white light... I could see tritium being useful. But even then I'm talking about an irons only long gun. I know some squared away folks who apply this principal to their LE pistols. They use all black or gold/brass bead sights for daytime knowing the weapon light will turn their tritium sights into a black silhouette.

[Hauptmann]

I guess I don't see the utility for most of us. In self defense and LE use, most I expect will be using a white light prior to taking a shot. The white light will most likely wash out the tritium (or white outline).

Now in a military setting where a person may be able to shoot at figures without need of a white light... I could see tritium being useful. But even then I'm talking about an irons only long gun. I know some squared away folks who apply this principal to their LE pistols. They use all black or gold/brass bead sights for daytime knowing the weapon light will turn their tritium sights into a black silhouette.

It would be interesting to know if anyone involved in an OIS has ever mentioned actually using their night sights when discharging their weapon under stress at a threat.

[John Hearne]

It would be interesting to know if anyone involved in an OIS has ever mentioned actually using their night sights when discharging their weapon under stress at a threat.

One of the more famous ones is the Andy Lopez shooting. Frequently cited as an argument for point shooting, Lopez was DPS trooper who came under fire while working an interdiction stop. The portion everyone shows takes place in front of the camera. Lopez draws and shooting one handed moves to the left without hitting anyone. If you watch the whole video, the fight continues. Lopez moves to the back of his car and re-engages the bad guy. In the interview Lopez says (paraphrased) "I saw my night sights glowing and I thought to myself, if I use those I'll hit him and I did."

[spinmove_]

I guess I don't see the utility for most of us. In self defense and LE use, most I expect will be using a white light prior to taking a shot. The white light will most likely wash out the tritium (or white outline).

Now in a military setting where a person may be able to shoot at figures without need of a white light... I could see tritium being useful. But even then I'm talking about an irons only long gun. I know some squared away folks who apply this principal to their LE pistols. They use all black or gold/brass bead sights for daytime knowing the weapon light will turn their tritium sights into a black silhouette.

The same argument can be made and pistols with tritium sights. Of course, as a civilian, I have to use light in some capacity to identify the threat. However, if I don't have to use white light to identify the threat, but the transitional light makes it ridiculously hard to see my front sight without tritium or using a white light, then that puts me at a disadvantage. Just because it's a rifle for home defense doesn't mean I'm guaranteed to use it in pitch black conditions.