Anyone running irons with tritium?

Member 34319 · Oct 23, 2022

I've got a poverty pony SBR that I run bare bones with irons. Daniel Defense rear sight, fixed gas block front sight. It weighs nothing compared to everything else. I'm not looking to change much with this one. It was pretty inexpensive, but it's likely going to last forever in its form. It eats everything and is simple. KISS type thing.

Anyways, I've been thinking about ways I can make it slightly more "functional". One of those thoughts was how the hell would I shoot it in the dark? So I tried. Using irons and a flashlight. Headlamp and irons. Also a bit before it was just about black with just irons.

It was not great! The flashlight helped, but unlike my handgun (tritium sights) the sights themselves on the AR were close to useless.

So, I'm thinking about buying those tritium inserts for AR15 irons.

Is this even worth it? Anyone run them? Used them at night?

Just curious if anyone has messed with this sort of thing.

Thanks!

Reno

Alexx1401 · Oct 23, 2022

Never seen one but sounds like a good idea to me. Have always liked them on handguns so can't see why they would not be nice for a PCC too.

Nosferatu · Oct 23, 2022

A couple lifetimes ago, I bought a Colt HBAR that had them installed. I wouldn't call it a night-and-day difference, but in the twilight hours, they were definitely better.

I have done plenty of night shoots, but can't remember if I used that rifle, so I can't really comment specifically about their performance with a flashlight.

Andy54Hawken · Oct 23, 2022

We had 'em in the army...and they worked well....in low light , not complete darkness.
Andy

American123 · Oct 23, 2022

What distance are you trying to see, identify and shoot the target?

I'd put a $110 Sig romeo 5 red dot on it before I bothered with tritium iron sights for a rifle, but that is just me.

I would defer to Andy's experience on using them.

I've started to go the opposite direction. I had tritium sights on pistols, but they stick out under night vision so I put together a pistol slide without night sights.

Alexx1401 · Oct 23, 2022

Andy54Hawken said:
We had 'em in the army...and they worked well....in low light , not complete darkness.
Andy

That makes sense. The ones on my hand guns are nothing is complete darkness. They are great if I can see the target but the sights are hard to pick up. For me mainly the front sight in low light. The older my eyes get the more important this gets

Nosferatu · Oct 23, 2022

Alexx1401 said:
That makes sense. The ones on my hand guns are nothing is complete darkness. They are great if I can see the target but the sights are hard to pick up. For me mainly the front sight in low light. The older my eyes get the more important this gets

Flashlight + fiber optic front sight works best for me in darkness.

Andy54Hawken · Oct 23, 2022

Turning on the house lights can do wonders too....

Andy

Alexx1401 · Oct 23, 2022

Nosferatu said:
Flashlight + fiber optic front sight works best for me in darkness.

For my PCC's I long ago went to a light under the barrel. They are light/ laser combo's. They are nice as it matters not how dark it is. My favorite hand guns don't have a rail or I would put one on at least one of them too. Wife's bedside gun does have an under rail with the light / laser. I keep telling myself it makes a good excuse to get another 1911 since I "need" one with a rail :s0140: