When do TFOs have an advantage over fiber optic sights? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

propellerhead · 05-26-2006, 12:28 PM

It seems like TFOs are the big thing to get for night sights though I'm still not 100% convinced I need them. When would TFO (specifically the tritium part) have a distinct advantage over plain fiber optic ones?

Thanks.

demon · 05-26-2006, 12:34 PM

You can't see plain fiber optic ones in the dark.

that's where the Tridium part comes in.

**Old School** · 05-26-2006, 12:49 PM

As noted, in the dark. If you don't night sights, then a standard fiber optic setup would be fine for you.

propellerhead · 05-26-2006, 12:55 PM

That's the part I don't understand. You can't see anything in the dark. What would you aim at?

My gun is 99.99% gun range duty and 0.01% in case we get some sort of riot or looting going on here. I guess I'll be fine with fiber optic ones.... unless I find a good reason to spend the extra on TFOs.

**Old School** · 05-26-2006, 01:00 PM

It's rare that you are ever in pitch-black darkness where you can't see anything. In most situation, at night, their is ambient light from the moon, street lights, etc. The TRITIUM in the TFO, like all night sights, glows, therefore you are able to pick up your sights when needed.

Being that most confrontations take place within 10 yards, you will see your attacker well before you see your sights. If you need to shoot, you will most likely not remember any of it.

OS

Damon · 05-26-2006, 01:14 PM

It does not have to be totally dark. It can be dark enough that you can not see regular sights but enough light to make out your target.

I've done some shooting in a "dark house" range. Its a indoor range specifically setup for low light shooting. They could very the lighting from totally dark to totally light.

We shot in total darkness with flashlights and low light where there was just enough light to see your target but not enough light to see your sights unless you had night sights.

After that experience I'll always have night sights on my defensive guns. I'll keep using Truglo TFOs because they are bright in both day and night time shooting.

propellerhead · 05-26-2006, 01:23 PM

Wouldn't a tactical light and fiber optic sights do just as good? You need a light to be able to positively ID your target, especially if you're clearing your own house. Wouldn't that be enough light to make the fiber optic sights highly visible?

I'm not trying to be a smartass. I'm just trying to convince myself to pay the extra $$$ for TFOs. Keep in mind that my gun sees 99.99% range duty where there is ample light.

tomk · 05-26-2006, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon

It does not have to be totally dark. It can be dark enough that you can not see regular sights but enough light to make out your target.

I've done some shooting in a "dark house" range. Its a indoor range specifically setup for low light shooting. They could very the lighting from totally dark to totally light.

We shot in total darkness with flashlights and low light where there was just enough light to see your target but not enough light to see your sights unless you had night sights.

After that experience I'll always have night sights on my defensive guns. I'll keep using Truglo TFOs because they are bright in both day and night time shooting.

Any durability issues with the fiberoptic sights? Do they seem to stand up to a normal amount of getting banged around?

Damon · 05-26-2006, 01:46 PM

I think it would depend on what areas of the FO tube is open to the light.

The TFOs are only open on the top and bottom to ambient light. Since the bottom is covered by the slide its just the top that most of the light can come in.

When we were shooting with flashlights there was not enough ambient light coming from above, all the light was in front of us. My TFOs were lit by the tritium and not by the light from the flashlights.

You can tell when they are lit by the ambient light because they are a really bright green color, when lit by the tritium they are a dimmer darker green color.

Damon · 05-26-2006, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomk

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon

It does not have to be totally dark. It can be dark enough that you can not see regular sights but enough light to make out your target.

I've done some shooting in a "dark house" range. Its a indoor range specifically setup for low light shooting. They could very the lighting from totally dark to totally light.

We shot in total darkness with flashlights and low light where there was just enough light to see your target but not enough light to see your sights unless you had night sights.

After that experience I'll always have night sights on my defensive guns. I'll keep using Truglo TFOs because they are bright in both day and night time shooting.

Any durability issues with the fiberoptic sights? Do they seem to stand up to a normal amount of getting banged around?

So far they have held up fine. I have about 2000 rounds through with them on.

I did have one set that the front FO tube was not glued in place well and was loose when I got it. It caused the front sight to be very dim in the dark, in the day light it was fine. I sent it back to Truglo and they repaired it by putting a new tritium insert and a new FO tube in.

Truglo told me the FO tube is very durable but the glue used to hold it in place can be damaged by solvents. They did not specify what solvents.

05-26-2006, 12:28 PM	#1
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,653	When do TFOs have an advantage over fiber optic sights? It seems like TFOs are the big thing to get for night sights though I'm still not 100% convinced I need them. When would TFO (specifically the tritium part) have a distinct advantage over plain fiber optic ones? Thanks. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three models, three purposes, no compromises.

05-26-2006, 12:49 PM	#3
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,776	As noted, in the dark. If you don't night sights, then a standard fiber optic setup would be fine for you. __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

05-26-2006, 12:55 PM	#4
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,653	That's the part I don't understand. You can't see anything in the dark. What would you aim at? My gun is 99.99% gun range duty and 0.01% in case we get some sort of riot or looting going on here. I guess I'll be fine with fiber optic ones.... unless I find a good reason to spend the extra on TFOs. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three models, three purposes, no compromises.

05-26-2006, 01:00 PM	#5
Old School XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Illinois Posts: 7,776	It's rare that you are ever in pitch-black darkness where you can't see anything. In most situation, at night, their is ambient light from the moon, street lights, etc. The TRITIUM in the TFO, like all night sights, glows, therefore you are able to pick up your sights when needed. Being that most confrontations take place within 10 yards, you will see your attacker well before you see your sights. If you need to shoot, you will most likely not remember any of it. OS __________________ Visit www.pistolgear.com for all of your XD needs!

05-26-2006, 01:14 PM	#6
Damon XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 354	It does not have to be totally dark. It can be dark enough that you can not see regular sights but enough light to make out your target. I've done some shooting in a "dark house" range. Its a indoor range specifically setup for low light shooting. They could very the lighting from totally dark to totally light. We shot in total darkness with flashlights and low light where there was just enough light to see your target but not enough light to see your sights unless you had night sights. After that experience I'll always have night sights on my defensive guns. I'll keep using Truglo TFOs because they are bright in both day and night time shooting. __________________ XD-9 Service TruGlo TFO Sights Don's Guide Rod Canyon Creek Trigger Job Canyon Creek Fusion Slide Finish Firearms Academy of Seattle FAS-2 x2 Graduate Firearms Academy of Seattle FAS-4 x2 Graduate

05-26-2006, 12:34 PM	#2
demon XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SE Tennessee Posts: 514	You can't see plain fiber optic ones in the dark. that's where the Tridium part comes in.

05-26-2006, 01:23 PM	#7
propellerhead XDTalk 3K Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Foat Wurth, TX Posts: 3,653	Wouldn't a tactical light and fiber optic sights do just as good? You need a light to be able to positively ID your target, especially if you're clearing your own house. Wouldn't that be enough light to make the fiber optic sights highly visible? I'm not trying to be a smartass. I'm just trying to convince myself to pay the extra $$$ for TFOs. Keep in mind that my gun sees 99.99% range duty where there is ample light. __________________ XD-9 Tactical for IDPA, XD-40 Subcompact for concealed carry, XD-45 Service for home defense. Three models, three purposes, no compromises.

05-26-2006, 01:46 PM	#9
Damon XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 354	I think it would depend on what areas of the FO tube is open to the light. The TFOs are only open on the top and bottom to ambient light. Since the bottom is covered by the slide its just the top that most of the light can come in. When we were shooting with flashlights there was not enough ambient light coming from above, all the light was in front of us. My TFOs were lit by the tritium and not by the light from the flashlights. You can tell when they are lit by the ambient light because they are a really bright green color, when lit by the tritium they are a dimmer darker green color. __________________ XD-9 Service TruGlo TFO Sights Don's Guide Rod Canyon Creek Trigger Job Canyon Creek Fusion Slide Finish Firearms Academy of Seattle FAS-2 x2 Graduate Firearms Academy of Seattle FAS-4 x2 Graduate

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