Gunfighter

Semper_Fi

I have Tritium sights on my pistols and they work well in total darkness but in low light situations they do not illuminate.

I'd appreciate feedback on which daylight/low-light/no-light pistol sights our Forum members use and experiences with TruGlo sights www.truglo.com

M.W. · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 136 Location: inside the loop

Semper,our mutual IDPA friend Dale Hunnicutt turned me on to the Tru-Glo TFOs (Tritium Fiber Optic) sights about a year ago and I have had good luck with them.

They do not need a light source to "charge" them as the Tritium simply glows all the time,even in pitch blackness and the other good feature is that they cannot be seen by the target.
I have no trouble seeing the front sight even in bright daylight or low-evening light and moving on several targets at speed is no problem.

Hope that helps,we also like the Front green/Rear yellow combination because in some matches the rules say that 35 yard shot scenarios are allowed. Don't see those often but the FG/RY seems to help at longer ranges than greens front and rear. Either works fine really, I have both...greens for carry,the other for competition.

Here is the TFO link - http://www.truglo.com/content/products/firearm/handgun_sights/handgun_sights.asp

wichaka · Joined: 27 Jul 2007 Posts: 80 Location: Washington State

I can see a good use for the Tru-Glo's, unfortunately I see they don't make them for 1911's. I have sent en email asking that they make them for the Novak dovetail, as many 1911's these days come with them.

Until then, I paint the front sight around the vial white. It helps being able to pick up the front sight when it's not dark enough to see the tube glow, but light enough to easily be able to pick up the front sight.

Semper_Fi

Thank you for the info gents; very helpful.

yellowdog762 · Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 46

I know several people that have broken their TFOs, including at least one Hoffners Shooter. He broke sights on two guns, apparently at about the same time.

I almost bought some about year ago but they only had a one year warranty vs ten years from everyone else.

I saw someone shoot a really good score on a night course in a local IDPA match. He had factory sights and said that if you just hold your flash light back a tad farther than most people do you will illuminate your sights just fine.

I keep forgetting to try so I am not speaking from personal experience.

M.W. · Joined: 12 Jul 2007 Posts: 136 Location: inside the loop

Yes,yellowdog762, I have had a problem with certain gun cleaners on my TFOs and had to send them back to get new ones.
Sprays in particular, but now they have a new synthetic GunScrubber that I use.

That is the only hiccup I have had and if you are careful then that will not happen. Other than that for the wide variety of light levels we shoot in they do quite well.

Further, you are correct about the flashlight hold on black iron sights and some guys swear by them. They are usually 1911 shooters and TFOs are not available for now for them.
Also realistically I cannot always guarantee to have a flashlight with me.

Trade offs,always trade offs,lol

Semper_Fi

I've ordered a set of yellow back, green front TFO's and will give a 30 day report to the Forum with my findings.

Thank you M.W. and Yellowdog for the input and I'll keep the (petroleum based) Hoppes solvent away from the TFO sights.

Note also that Truglo corporate advises that 'dovetail' TFO sights will be available in early 2008 for 1911's and can be ordered now.

yellowdog762 · Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 46

TFOs do not strike me as suitable for full time combat weapons. If I did what you do for a living, I would not use them on my overseas carry weapon. For people that carry where replacement and/or back up parts are readily available and/or shoot in “games”, they are probably fine.

I have a Truglow front sight on one pistol and it is always falling apart. My eventual goal is to have almost all my pistols setup the same way, except maybe for a full time “game-gun” if I get to that stage in my life. I’d like to have them all set up where they have sights that will last as long as the pistol with reasonable care.

Semper_Fi

Appreciate the note yellowdog. Over the past weeks I've visited with competitive shooters and seasoned LE officers who are also comptetitive shooters and have decided to stay with fixed tritium sights on my carry weapons which are the same weapons I compete with.

The TFO's are destined for a G35 used stateside only and I appreciate your input and that of our Forum faithful.

Semper_Fi

The latest generation of TFO sights (yellow back, green front) have been on my Glock 22 and 35 for a year and have been flawless in training and remote location field use.

The newly designed front and rear protective housings keep the TFO elements safe from impact and I give these new generation TFO sights a thumbs up for heavy field use.

Red loctite was used on the threads during installation.