Help me understand/choose sights on a defensive handgun

[JCS]

So I recently purchased a g26 to add to my carry rotation (I primarily carry a g19). I can't stand the stock sights and my 19 has Glock night sights that barely light up and are essentially three white dots now. So I'm in the market for new sights. I have some tti fiber optics on a g34 that I use for competition shooting. The 19 and 26 are strictly defensive handguns.

I've started reading various forums and am basically more confused now than before. There's a million different opinions and options. My biggest questions are:

1) do I need a tritium front sight?

I prefer an all black rear sight and like the contrast a fiber optic provides.

2) what are the experts/you running/recommending?

3) skinny or wide front post?

Thanks for your help. I'm sure this has been addressed many times so forgive me for asking. I'm just wanting something that works on both pistols and the logic behind what makes a good defensive handgun sight.

[BillSWPA]

I am not sure what Glock is using for their factory night sights, but you really want tritium inserts made by Trijicon. I have used Meprolight as well as P-T/IWI inserts, and Trijicon lasts significantly longer than either of the others. I had two different sets of Meprolight night sights on my Kimber 1911, and neither lasted more than a few months before there was very noticeable dimming. The Trijicons presently on 3 of my guns are at least 5 years old and still glowing reasonably brightly, although not quite like when new.

I am a big believer in tritium front and rear on a defensive handgun. Most of your problems will occur in low light, and in many light conditions, nothing else will be visible.

I generally prefer something reasonably large overall, with some but not too much white space between the front and rear sights. Beyond that, I am currently beginning to explore what else might enhance visibility under more conditions. I recently learned that Dawson uses Trijicon inserts, and plan to try their sights with a big white circle around the front insert and serrated rear, which I hope might be better at reducing light reflection from the sights as well as aiding visibility of it is not quite dark enough for the tritium to help.

[JCS]

I am not sure what Glock is using for their factory night sights, but you really want tritium inserts made by Trijicon. I have used Meprolight as well as P-T/IWI inserts, and Trijicon lasts significantly longer than either of the others. I had two different sets of Meprolight night sights on my Kimber 1911, and neither lasted more than a few months before there was very noticeable dimming. The Trijicons presently on 3 of my guns are at least 5 years old and still glowing reasonably brightly, although not quite like when new.

I am a big believer in tritium front and rear on a defensive handgun. Most of your problems will occur in low light, and in many light conditions, nothing else will be visible.

I generally prefer something reasonably large overall, with some but not too much white space between the front and rear sights. Beyond that, I am currently beginning to explore what else might enhance visibility under more conditions. I recently learned that Dawson uses Trijicon inserts, and plan to try their sights with a big white circle around the front insert and serrated rear, which I hope might be better at reducing light reflection from the sights as well as aiding visibility of it is not quite dark enough for the tritium to help.

From what I've researched they use meprolight sights. The sights are only 4 years old so that has kinda turned me off from night sights. I don't want to replace my sights every few years so I'm glad to know trijicons last much longer.

I have 4 main ones I'm looking at.

-Wilson combat Vickers combat sights with tritium front
-Trijicon hds
-ameriglo defoor with tritium front(has a very low dot)
-Dawson's with front tritium.

[HCM]

From what I've researched they use meprolight sights. The sights are only 4 years old so that has kinda turned me off from night sights. I don't want to replace my sights every few years so I'm glad to know trijicons last much longer.

I have 4 main ones I'm looking at.

-Wilson combat Vickers combat sights with tritium front
-Trijicon hds
-ameriglo defoor with tritium front(has a very low dot)
-Dawson's with front tritium.

A couple more good suggestions:

Amerigo Pro i dot
Ameriglo Pro Operator or Hackathorns
Ameriglo CAP / TCAP

Warren Tactical sights with standard or big dot front

Both Ameriglo and warren sights use Trijicon tritium vials. It's my understanding Ameriglo does the colored rings on both their own pro glo front sights and Trijicons HD fronts.

I have Trijicon HD's on my Work Glock 17 and Pro i dots on my work G26, both in orange. For duty / carry /defensive use out to 25 yards they are great. My eyes are not what they used to be and I'm a believer in the Tao of Mike Tyson (Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face) so a big bright front I can see without my glasses is a big selling point for me. While the first choice for shooting groups at 25 yards, I had no trouble hitting B/C steel at 75 yards with the HD's.

I've heard some say they have broken Ameriglo Fronts and that Trijicons are more durable. YMMV.

Your eyes and what you want to do with the guns will drive your sight choices.

Re: Front sight colors, traffic studies tell us orange is generally more visible in daylight and lime green/yellow is more visible at night. I chose orange because the orange ring on my HD's is for daylight use. At night I'm using the tritium. Your eyes also come into play here. If you have "normal" color vision you will likely prefer orange, if you are somewhat red/green color blind you will likely prefer the lime green/yellow.

[HopetonBrown]

Ameriglo Hackathorn GL433 are $60.75 delivered from OpticsPlanet if you pm Jesse Tischauser on Facebook for a 10%off code, he's a sponsored shooter.

[JCS]

A couple more good suggestions:

Amerigo Pro i dot
Ameriglo Pro Operator or Hackathorns
Ameriglo CAP / TCAP

Warren Tactical sights with standard or big dot front

Both Ameriglo and warren sights use Trijicon tritium vials. It's my understanding Ameriglo does the colored rings on both their own pro glo front sights and Trijicons HD fronts.

I have Trijicon HD's on my Work Glock 17 and Pro i dots on my work G26, both in orange. For duty / carry /defensive use out to 25 yards they are great. My eyes are not what they used to be and I'm a believer in the Tao of Mike Tyson (Everyone has a plan till they get punched in the face) so a big bright front I can see without my glasses is a big selling point for me. While the first choice for shooting groups at 25 yards, I had no trouble hitting B/C steel at 75 yards with the HD's.

I've heard some say they have broken Ameriglo Fronts and that Trijicons are more durable. YMMV.

Your eyes and what you want to do with the guns will drive your sight choices.

Re: Front sight colors, traffic studies tell us orange is generally more visible in daylight and lime green/yellow is more visible at night. I chose orange because the orange ring on my HD's is for daylight use. At night I'm using the tritium. Your eyes also come into play here. If you have "normal" color vision you will likely prefer orange, if you are somewhat red/green color blind you will likely prefer the lime green/yellow.

What is the difference in the I dot and I dot pro? Thanks for the great advice. I think I'm leaning towards the ameriglo now because they use Trijicon lamps and are much cheaper.

[JCS]

Ameriglo Hackathorn GL433 are $60.75 delivered from OpticsPlanet if you pm Jesse Tischauser on Facebook for a 10%off code, he's a sponsored shooter.

I don't see them on their site?

[Gray222]

Guess i should post my review of ameriglos again...
http://www.vdmsr.com/2015/03/ameriglo-cap-defoor-pro-i-dot-glock.html

[JCS]

Guess i should post my review of ameriglos again...
http://www.vdmsr.com/2015/03/ameriglo-cap-defoor-pro-i-dot-glock.html

I actually came across your article on a Google search. Thanks for the in depth review. So it sounds like you would recommend the I dot pros? Second to Trijicon hds? Was the breaking issue enough to turn you off? Thanks!

[Gray222]

I actually came across your article on a Google search. Thanks for the in depth review. So it sounds like you would recommend the I dot pros? Second to Trijicon hds? Was the breaking issue enough to turn you off? Thanks!

I break stuff, its just a fact I've accepted. Most people wont do anything close to what i do with my firearms so Id suggest not considering durability as its not generally an issue.

The pro I dots are good, the new defoor sights though, with the glowing dot at the base seem to be the best of both worlds.

[JCS]

I break stuff, its just a fact I've accepted. Most people wont do anything close to what i do with my firearms so Id suggest not considering durability as its not generally an issue.

The pro I dots are good, the new defoor sights though, with the glowing dot at the base seem to be the best of both worlds.

I'm kind of confused as to the benefit of the low placed tritium insert. Seems it would change poi if you use it? Do you have any insight on that?

Thanks

[HCM]

What is the difference in the I dot and I dot pro? Thanks for the great advice. I think I'm leaning towards the ameriglo now because they use Trijicon lamps and are much cheaper.

The standard i dot has a large white ring around the front, the Pro Glo version has a florescent orange or lime yellow ring like the Trijicon HD front.

[JCS]

The standard i dot has a large white ring around the front, the Pro Glo version has a florescent orange or lime yellow ring like the Trijicon HD front.

Thank you!

[Gray222]

I'm kind of confused as to the benefit of the low placed tritium insert. Seems it would change poi if you use it? Do you have any insight on that?

Thanks

Still to be determined how useful it is. So far it works well enough

[rob_s]

Sight choice is as personal as holster choice, with the difference that people will throw numbers around to justify their sight choice when they leave holster explanations up to "feel".

My take is that's sights need to first be there when you need them. You may laugh, but I've seen people draw guns that were missing front sights, or had front sights turned 90 degrees, or rear sights drifted .25" to the right, or fiber optics that fell out, etc. a lot of this may be user error on the install, but durability and prop installation is job 1 for sights in my book.

Second they need to be visible. This is where the subjectivity comes in. Glowing or not, how much glowing, width, width relative to each other, width relative to slide length, etc. but you have to be able to see the sights and (most would agree) be able to focus on the front sight when you want to. For me, I don't often get a hard front sight focus, so I want a sight I can still see even when it's not my focus.

My choice, given all of the above, is the Trijicon HDs, except on a game-only gun where I use a set of Vogel sites, and I see he's now making his own so I'd buy these today. Basham said (paraphrasing) find someone that does what you want to do at the highest level and copy them until you have a reason (i.e. Are good enough) not to.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01BLV1QQI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01BLV1QQI&linkCode=as2&tag=thespoorpit-20&linkId=5RDHLD32NDHF3B6U

[Nephrology]

Guess i should post my review of ameriglos again...
http://www.vdmsr.com/2015/03/ameriglo-cap-defoor-pro-i-dot-glock.html

just as another vote of confidence, I have 2 pairs of Ameriglo Pro I Dots installed on my carry guns now (M&P Shield and G4G19). Have Hackathorns on 2 others (G3G19 and G26). Both are excellent sights. If I could snap my fingers and replace them all with the Spartan setup (2 tritiums in the rear) I probably would but frankly the 2 dot setup works just fine in dim light and I don't really feel like spending the cash. If you have the money though, I'd get either Trij HDs or Ameriglo spartans and never look back. Pro I Dots are not a bad compromise if you want to save ~$40.

[CSW]

I've been running the Ameriglo CAP sights in green for a while now, have them installed on all my G17's.
Pros:
Daylight, they are like beacons, the lime really pulls your eye to the front sight. Very quick acquisition.
They are a low profile sight, about the same height as Glock plastics.
With a little ambient light or sunlight, the sights will glow brightly when transitioning from outdoors to indoors.
The front Tritium insert is bright, and just about the right size.
Cons:
No rear Tritium if that is what you desire, such as the Pro I or straight eight.
the rear horizontal bar can be distracting to some.
The front sight is a square green, as opposed to a round green. [if you are accustom to the Trij HD, or Ameriglo Protector series, or Pro I.

Up close, say to 15 yds, you can drive the dot, and have great accuracy. Beyond that I split the bull. They've been working great for me.

The 3x5 was 7 yards, with cheap Perfecta 115gr ammo.

I tried the Pro I dot in orange, didn't care for it.
The Ameriglo Protector series shot high for me inside 15 yards.

I run a G26 Gen 3 with a 10-8 .156 rear and a lime HD .215 front. Like that setup alot.

[HCM]

CSW,

Several of my co-workers have the Cap Front with the Ameriglo wide notch two dot rear (operator?) for those that need rear tritium. I think it will also work with the Ameriglo DeFoor rear (plain black).

[ssb]

I'm kind of confused as to the benefit of the low placed tritium insert. Seems it would change poi if you use it? Do you have any insight on that?

Thanks

As I recall, the idea was to provide a clean black-on-black sight picture up top. The tritium was for some sort of military contract requirement that required tritium (apparently Defoor is not a fan), but it serves to give you a quick reference in low light for close shots.

In practice, POI has been at about the second serration from the top for me and my ammo so I'm not sure that using the tritium would drastically change POI.

[JCS]

The tcap have me intrigued as well. Just a thinner front post than that cap sights.


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