Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Tritium sights on an AR?

Anyone done it? Like a ghost ring rear, maybe on a carry handle, with glowy front post.


Heard there's a front post with a combination of tritium and fiber optic but spaced the company's name. Sound familiar? Anyone?

Application will be an 11.5 inch 5.56, night, close, without a "here I am - shoot me flashlight". Otherwise, convince me to buy an Eotech. Astigmatism is affirmative.

Modern lights are not "here I am shoot me", they are, "here, let me blind you while I confirm you are a threat and pump you full of lead.....that you never see coming.....because you are blind...."

They light you up like a target for all to see just like lights always have. Surely they have their place and maybe this rig should have one too.

However, I am not looking for a way to see the target, or blind the target, or burden the target, just see the aiming stuff to shoot the target.


Tritium?

Hit a pothole and the memory kicked in

Blitzkrieg Components, luminescent chevron with tritium dot....

XS sights makes a nice set too, I found the rear to be useless and have a front sight in my parts box. Found it to be distracting with a LPVO and of course it turns black when you hit the weapon light.

There is no substitute for a red dot, astigmatism or not. I found the EOTech to have a sharper dot than an Aimpoint and have been surprised that the Romeo 4 and 5’s are sharper still to my eyes. But basically a red dot is not a target sight, it is a speed sight and if you look at the target and just shoot, they work.

If you want to be stubborn, I’ll make you a deal on the XS front sight but a red dot is the better solution.

Red dot with a weapon mounted light....hell, I would take irons and a WML over some kind of tritium sight.

Ok, you are in Kenosha, the wind turbines freeze, in the fire light you can just make out forms, dark forms, carrying weapons approaching you.... You want to be walking the fuuck around with your flashlight on? JFC

I have spent the better part of two decades chasing bad guys with guns around in the dark....yes, I want a light. I know it seems to be a novel concept, but you know that with crazy technology like momentary switches, you don't actually "walk around with your flashlight on," right?

Weapon mounted lights are infinitely more useful than night sights...any night sights,

I am not seeking a fuucking light. I am seeking advice on sights in low light and dark with an AR pistolish rig. Red dot, gotcha. Flashlight, no thanks. I don't need advise on a fuucking flashlight, I understand the gist of them. They do not illuminate the irons. They illuminate the target. Not what I give a fuuck about. Ok, no irons, red dot red dot.... I am not chasing bad guys. I am shooting chit in the dark. Momentary or not, it ain’t novel for chit, I don't want a fuucking bunch of gawdamned light. Dramatic pause... Past my bedtime. But seriously, I don't need to illuminate the target, if I did, hell yes, a light would be fantastic for the job...

Alright man....there may be a reason no one uses tritium sights on ARs...or maybe you really are smarter than everyone else.

By the way, a WML does, in fact, illuminate your sights.....and one could argue if its dark enough to need to illuminate your sights, its dark enough to need light to ID your target.

Again, you do you. Good luck.

My old National Guard unit had three people with Silver Stars, one person had two. They were all TACPs - Tactical Air Control Party, and had spent a number of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To a man, they came home from deployment and put lights and green lasers on their personal weapons. Each stated emphatically that at one point in the firefight, the fact that they could target and fire not using the iron sights or the red dot was a deciding factor in surviving. Dark room, bad guys, green dot, boom.

I don't need to be in a firefight with a bunch of ISIS guys to learn the lessons of others.

I still practice with my back up iron sights, but have white lights, most of which can pulse, and green lasers on my personal defense weapons.

Gear is cheap, surgery, not so much.

Edited to add: most have pressure switch activation, so there is a light and a green dot when I need/want one, and not when I don't want to be a flashlight in the dark.

MB, If you don't want a light for the scenario's you're describing it's because you don't know what a modern light can do. We're not talking some 1970's 2 cell maglight. 1000 lumens on a momentary switch is a game changer, even when just using them on coyotes out over 200 yards.

Go fuuck yourself.

You are a classy fella, aren't you?

Seems every single person with any modicum of experience has given you advise contrary to what you want to believe...I would definitely ignore them.

I am not seeking advice on a light. I understand wtf lights are.

Another scenario. Target is illuminated already. It's dark. I want to shoot target. I don't need to illuminate the target. I can either use a red dot tube, reflex, prism, holographic sight or a scope, or? My experience is with scopes. But don't want the critical alignment needed with scope or prism sight. Thanks for the video. Many companies make tritium sights. Many pistols are so equipped. Got one answer, he tried and didn't like on an AR. Got a bunch of nonsense about lights, clearing rooms, law enforcement. Fuuck. Soldier I spoke to about this yesterday suggested I would absolutely not regret buying an Eotech and always have backups. Oh hell, how about tritium backups? Not a good idea? Ok, but it doesn't mean I need a light. I am not saying that it wouldn't have a light either, just don't need it to sight. Dambit

Yes, go fuuck yourself. You want to be a kghunt do it with someone else. I never claimed anything as you indicate. Want to believe? Piss off. Smarter than everyone else? Piss off. There's been four respondents, one indicating experience with tritium sights on an AR. That's valuable and will be useful in deciding if it's something I want to try. Geebus.

You can "what-if" your way into any nonsense decision you want to....

Gotcha, thanks

Fuuck off.

Why is anyone bothering to give MB advice anyway?

Let him run around in the dark and if we all end up in his fantasy KenoshaLand, his mags will be laying around for the rest of us to scrounge.

They’ll probably be Chinese mags.

I don't guess I've had the pleasure until now....If anything, he makes me feel better about me..

I asked about tritium sights on an AR with an Eotech side question. Simply put, one guy answered that he'd tried them and didn't like them. That's appreciated. David added more useful information. Thanks.

Christ almighty a fuucking light is not needed to aim. Good advise taken, the rest is other guys' drivel. The amount of assumptions some guys come up with is pure fantasy, as were the hypotheticals listed. China? For phucqk's sake wtf does that have to do with it?

Possibly I should have just simply asked about the tritium and not given any scenario or use.. Jack rabbit in the headlights, not a scope or prism, maybe. But it is what it is. No decision made. One and only one response with experience noted. BFD

Responses of condescending asshholes noted, per usual. Have you personally tried tritium sights on your irons? Anyone? They are commonly used on handguns no?

To suggest I don't take lessons learned here is incorrect.

Go fuuck yourself you condescending kghunt. Keep making up chit you think other men are thinking, like a woman. Dichead.

I don't use a light to aim. I use it for positive target ID.

Seriously, get a good flashlight and training.

If your light is only telling them to shoot you, you're using it wrong.

I should kept reading, because this nails it.

BTDT, want a fuucking light on my weapon.

Exactly. Thank you. For the kind of use you and AS describe, yes on the light. I doubt you misunderstand, but, for clarity, I am not considering the tritium as the only option. Just curious if anyone actually tried it before. Thinking might just try a front post. I don't want a bunch of Chinky gadgets hanging off the rig and the good chit costs a lot as you know. So when getting looking at lights, possibly I will seek your input. For now I'll work towards buying an Eotech as they've been recommended here plenty.

I have always appreciated that you do not make assumptions as to what others are thinking.... Like making off handed slights to guys as do some of these know-it-all pricks.

Aren't you the guy that makes light (pun) of suicides in other member's families? You too can go fuuck yourself.

Boomer

Most tritium front sights do not have the front vial at the top of the post, it’s generally down a bit in the blade. The two vials in the ghost ring on the rear are centered in the middle of the ring - in the few sets I’ve played with.

Most of us were taught to shot over the tip of the front sight and center up the sight picture through the rear sight.

Using the tritium vials - your sight picture changes slightly as your aim point references change slightly with location of the front sight glow.

At MOA of living room - probably not an issue, but the error will be there as you go out further in range, but you’re not going out far in range, if it’s dark enough to need the tritium.

The front sight “post” is also typically a flat squared blade to hold and protect the vial, and not tapered. IMLE - past 150 meters, yards, whatever - the width of the blade starts to cover up more of the target than I like. If I was going to run tritium on an AR - it would be a house gun only...with a Surefire.

YMMV

Yeah, I give stick a lot of crap, but only after he called my son a retard when I posted a family fishing pic.

As for you, well, you've demonstrated an amazing ability to ignore the people with real-world, shoot people who shoot back, in the dark experience.

Congratulations.

You're proof that ignorance can be cured with education, but stupid is forever.

I’ll be stupid and give a little more input.

The tritium front post is not bright enough to get fast accurate hits in the dark unless it’s so dark you can’t see your hand in front of your face. I’ve tried Trijicon and XS, both made me focus on the sight, then double check my center, then the target, then back to the sight and then shoot. If there was any ambient light around me, the tritium was worthless. Talk about getting centered with a scope or a prism sight, that peep sight is a lot smaller to get behind.

Given the perfect scenario I’m sure someone could make a case for them but there are much better options.

The best choice is always gonna be a red dot. Always. I just sold my EOTech yesterday and will probably replace it with another Aimpoint. Either one of these will serve you well in your shooter in the dark scenario. Some, most of the cheaper red dots will be visible from the front. One reason the EOTech and Aimpoints cost more.

Now regular irons and a light work better for me in the dark than they do in the daylight. They stand out bolder and in focus with the light in front of them. But don’t blow your top because I mentioned a light. Just trying to expand on what lillysdad said. Shooting in the dark without a light for me would be red dot followed by a good LPVO that gathers light. I wouldn’t even consider rigging up irons alone on purpose.

We have some good people here that share info trying to help. Sometimes things get lost in the translation but there’s no need to twist off, it’s just the internet. Heck me and lillysdad had a difference of opinion just the other day. It wasn’t a big deal, he has his experience and I have mine. I’m only about an hour away from him, I guess I could’ve drove over and showed him where he was wrong but different aspects help you see past yourself. Quit taking stuff personal, it’ll be a lot more fun.

I’ve shot low light with tritiums and I think they work great.

Not ideal in 2021, but perfectly serviceable if it’s all you want to spend.

Thanks, appreciate the details. MOALivingroom ain't too interesting. And you have cleared up to me why tritium sights are less fitting on ARs than handguns - that's my take at least. Golden. That's two NOs and zero GOs from the 'Fire stating hands on....

I like the simplicity of the AR pistol with irons. I suppose I can put my big ass predator light on one and try it some then go from there. Sounds like it (tritium) might not even be worthwhile cept possibly as a BU. Guy that mentioned the Blitzkrieg chevron, a former LEO, had used one to complete a training after his Sig RD puked.

Fuggers on this AR forum cost me more than the fuggers on Hunting Rifles ever did!

Did you once say Eotechs sucked balz? Been meaning to ask, but, know how busy you are....

Awesome thanks for the details. I value your input. Doesn't sound good at all. And I have a SOPMOD buttstock because of your previous input, so there's that.

I value you, about, almost, as much as a wad I shot on some nameless slut's face twenty years ago. Almost.

Yes.

You couldn't give me an EoTech.

I'd suggest a fleshlight.

There's the hands-on experience you've been looking for 'Boomer.

I think I saw that in Penthouse.

I just picked up one of those FSP for my magpul backups. They are GREAT. They work exactly as advertised.

Saw more than I did before so will add...

It gets fuucking old when guys do the off-handed slights, the rude bitchassed comments shrouded in they're just trying to help BS. I know damned well when guys are being dics. There's folks here who give advice, share information even critique without being asses, like ASniper, Shane, David W, you, etc. Then the pepetual, yet knowledgeable fuucks like yonderdoosh that can't get two sentences out without condescending. Others in between. Not all knowing but I have been around here near daily for a while and know how some folks roll....

I like to have fun. I am learning about new stuff. I have zero interest in being a faux operator or Five-O. I live in a pretty benign place - dohhh - not really - a LEO was fired upon nearby last night. Another killed a few years ago just down the road. Very unprepared, truthfully. Just glad I am not over the road, through the "big" cities anymore... Our World has gone to hell.

So after a 15 hour shift, might not have been the time to ask a not so well thought out question... My interest in tritium sights goes a little beyond the AR defensive role, but, nonetheless, with the details shared, not just blanket comments, it's obvious they're not ideal on a carbine against bad guys. Now the guy in the video AS posted, he'd been a damned easy target all lit up... LOL Fairly stubborn here.

So, I appreciate your help and inputs. I sold all the BCA 'good enough' stuff. Things are sparse. I have now, or on order, 3 Toolcraft and one Rubber City BCGs, new barrels from SOLGW, FN, BA, Criterion and Green Mtn, parts from MWI, Seekins, SOLGW, YH, Areo, BCM... Not bragging, just showing I do actually listen some, within reason and budget... Hope a couple of the builds satisfy and I can learn how to better work them, seriously so.

I'll be looking to get at least one US made red dot, or Swede, astigmatism be damned as 4th point suggested months ago. And yes some kinda wiz bang wonder light. Cumbaya.

Phucqk, I knew it! LOL I'm getting one!

That was my thought placing the order. Pretty steep for a post, but in the end it was worth it.

I have not charged the luminescent part and pretended to be GI Joe running around my house at night, but for a daylight it’s much more precise.

I almost hesitate to step into this [bleep] storm, but.... At one time, circa 1989 in Panama, most if not all of the M16A2s in the 193rd Infantry Brigade were equipped with NSN tritium front sights. I had them on all of the rifles in my arms room, carried them in my Tech Supply, and used them heavily on night fire courses at short ranges out to 25 meters. With the build-up of forces, units from 7th and 5th ID happily equipped their rifles with the sights.

As a side note, they were common (front and rear) on Finnish Valmets, standard on Israeli Galils, and are present on my Galil Ace.

The hell you say? LOL

Thanks for the details.

The man asked to sell him on a tritium sight or an EOTech. Which one would you suggest?

They both suck enough that he will need an Aimpoint and a BFA light.... But, for those following along, the tritium is going into BU mode...

Is an Aimpoint PRO a worthy investment?

Plan now is to buy an Aimpoint PRO now and maybe later a micro, a Eotech 518 and a Blitzkrieg green luminescent chevron with tritium dot, which, btw, one man here has seen in person.... And a DBAL.

Cant knock it, but it’s heavy. It works, battery lasts, etc. I’d recommend a Trijicon MRO instead. Lighter, larger FOV, and amazing battery life. You may get one from LaRue with their mount for like $460. I swapped my first battery out around 6 years.

I will take a look at those too. Thanks. Just ordered a Blitzkrieg. Latest update, despite 'Flave no likey, I want to try an Eotech before an Aimpoint or Trijicon....


If anyone wants to further continue making up chit claiming what I use, despite zero knowledge to base it upon, or even better, what I am actually fuucking thinking tonight, it'd be a good time for it.

Holly phucqk! Don't Google Fleshlight....

Pro is fine.

I've beat on two of them through multiple classes with no issues.

The included mount works, but the knob sticks out more than I'd like.

Mrs Walter shot the shot with an Aimpoint Pro at the Thunder Ranch Precision Urban Rifle course last November.

She’s a very good shot, and was making shots at 200 and 300 yards with her red dot that I was missing with my 1-6.

She loves hers, and it has many thousand rounds fired on her DD 5.56, and it works fine.

I'm not an EoTech fan, had a couple go down on on personal rifles, and a lot more on rifles in patrol rifle classes. I like the reticle, but they just don't instill confidence....and they eat batteries.

Aimpoints are bulletproof. Period. The MRO, from what I have seen, is just about as good.

I have seen some very good service from the Sig/Holosun sights. I have a Romeo 5 with the AAA battery on a 10.5 AR that has been beat to hell, and it's been completely trouble free. There are a lot of the Holosun MRD sights on duty pistols in my circle, and they are surviving the beating they get riding a slide just fine.

I really like the compact tube sights as opposed to the EoTech style full-size holographic sights.

I have a PRO in a DD mount cause I hate the factory mount and just ordered an H2 yesterday.

I’ve a bit of experience with the Romeo 5 and a 4m and both of them proved to be pretty good at least for a game gun.

I didn’t have any problems with my last EOTech. It was an EXPS2-0 born in Feb 2017 after L3 sent their engineers down to revamp the company. But I always trusted Aimpoint more and I had an offer that I could not refuse so I sold it, which is why I ordered the H2 yesterday.

Mtnboomer, i put a set on my truck ar on general principle. It’s not carried at the ready but lays in the back, never have to the check batteries, and one less thing to snag on as in real life there’s other chit in the truck. Some year the tritium will fade, but it won’t “fail” as a sight. Admittedly, an aimpoint is nearly indestructible, is small, and looong battery life, and is faster, but wanted a setup as simple and care-free as possible for this, so tritium irons was the result.

As someone pointed out, sure, the illum is a bit down the post, but so is it on pistol front sights, too. To my mind, it’s a peripheral cue to draw my eye, not an aim point; same way i use pistol illum front sight. At close range, it just isn’t a factor imo.

Thanks for the response. In spirit of having fun, I hereby un-GFY you. I have a couple few rigs to set up. I figure red dot and WML on one, go with the flow. Money is non-existent for a while so I have time to look into it more.... Can't believe I paid $70 for a little post, some fancy glo in the dark lines and a tube of dying hydrogen. LOL But, KISS, kinda as SC mentions below.


In my ignorance, reports of strong lenses (works when cracked) and possibly a better dot with astigmatism on the Eotech caught my attention, but, failures sounds suck.

Appreciate the responses guys. Will be back later.

Open to light advise, with momentary switches, maybe with laser onboard too. I'm no way ordering a fleshlight...

These are the gun options. No more, if this doesn't cover it, it won't be covered. I am not buying any more....

10.5" 556 A2 post and carry handle. Pretty damned ok as is. Gawd it's fun and tears chit up.
11.5" 556 Mlok
16" 7.62x39 (this will be a Sub/Super/suppressed open sight rig, if plan works, just because I have cases of ammo, lol)
16.5" 556 Mlok (toss up between this and the 11.5" for the defensive night gun maybe?)
18" Wyde, don't think I have a handguard for this yet. Hmmm, 3X Prism or Scope
18" 6.5 Grendel, Scoped hunter
20" 556 Mlok Hmmm, 3x Prism or scope, leaning scope
16" 308 M&P Sport

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard that, I could buy a fleshlight.

I'm not going to dignify that with a response.... Because, mainly, I am not wanting to Google Fleshlight - again - to determine the price, in order to evaluate the accuracy of your comment.... Never again I tell you!

Curious what makes you want to try to Eotech?

The new Trijicon has the donut dot reticle.

I thought I liked the multiple aiming points on the eotech, but after discovering the 37yard (or whatever Shawn Ryan came up with), I prefer a single dot with that zero. You’re basically point and shoot out to 300 yards.

Astigmatism mostly, eg, to try a holographic sight. Compact tubes (like a Sig Romeo 5 type for example) and open reflex sights I have tried left me dissatisfied. Durability, takes a licking... I have ordered a 512 to see for myself. Single dot, but the 1moa seems small. But 'Flave said he hates them. US Made. Possibly not crap. I buy AAs in bulk.

Trijicon MRO looks great, but, I am royally turned off by reports of hugeass parallax.

Meprolight, cool but 1 year warranty is a concern.

Ordered an Aimpoint PRO as well. To see for myself...

Sounds like you have your bases covered.

I’m gonna have to check my parallax now I guess.

I will take a look. Thanks.
Well, giving a couple a try at least. I will have to make it a point to check more out when I get somewhere that has them...


The glowy post should be here, and tomorrow I should have the parts for the 11.5" build.
I got my Cerakote operation up and running again..

Thanks for this link. Very interesting data.

Cliff notes?

He recorded the observed parallax shift of multiple model red dot optics (multiple samples of each) as made by numerous reviewers. Each reviewer's observations were tracked across optic platforms/individual samples and across the entire study. This helped to demonstrate sway and bias.

Now you did it...




Anyone have a Thesaurus?

LOL

🦫

Thanks kingston. Better source than a random comment on a PewPew YouTube video then.

Interestingly, I have pretty strong stigmatisms in both eyes. The only red dot optic that has a clear well defined reticle for me is the same one that had the least amount of observed parallax in this study.

Very interesting study. Looks like an EXPS3 might be worth a try.

Didn't expect reticle to look dot matrix, however, no Starburst... Not correct fit on this as of current configuration. Will be looking (pun) where to stick it... First US made optic I have purchased in a while.

Thanks dudes.




That's better.


Or here.





Whorey hell's bells I got to use the mill. Wayyy better than the Makita....






And BSA would be proud of my gas tube blow! Never say never! AGB lines up for easy access.

Both of my AR's have Dueck off set sights with a XS Big Dot tritium in the front. It is fast and I can pick it up quickly in the house when the lights are out. I just look at it over the top of the peep aperture if close and in a hurry. Once one gets use to it they are plenty accurate for close u head shots and center mass past 25 yards. I go to a MRO or scope for distance. No light on my AR. Like a light on the 870 when it is in the tent and loaded with slugs. Darn brown bears.

I'm not sure why you would be shooting at anything in your house "when the lights are out?"

Dogs, kids, wife, this seems fraught with peril.

That's why I like lights and lasers.

Heidi Smith (Thunder Ranch) says "every bullet fired has a lawyer attached to it."

Why release lawyers in your own home?

“Sarcasm font” I’m not sure why anyone would pay for training when so much valuable info can be found here for free. “Sarcasm font”

As Stick is fond of saying “the ultimate arbiter of skill is trigger time.”

I have such limited GAF right now, but, have zero doubt of the existence of times when a target can be clearly identified yet irons not. Tank you. Tank you very much. [/s]I kid you not! [/sarc]


Next up for the money drain....
Reasonable, but, high utility WML recommendations?

I'm am completely sure I will get roasted....but I'm a Surefire slut. Full stop.

In all my years, Surefire lights are the only ones I have developes complete faith in. They aren't cheap, they don't have eleventy eight modes of moonlight, but they work. Period. Every time.

So, on a shorty carbine (sbr/pistol AR) a WML, possibly with a green laser, a remote momentary switch(es) at the fore grip is the genetrally accepted approach?


Such as for this one.. . .

I’ve never had the expensive Surefires but the cheaper ones have worked for me with an LED or Cree bulb change.

But I’ve got more Streamlights and like them. TLR1-HL and the Pro-Tac rail mount are what I’m using mostly now.

I don’t trust tape switches.

As close to the muzzle and as close to 12:00 as possible.

Seems like a big ass push buttonon the back end would be handy if so mounted.

Absolutely...the Surefire Scout is my favorite rifle light, but a regular old Surefire light in a pic rail mount works just fine in a pinch.

Ok. We're making progress.

Soooo. On the shorty shown above. I will not have the suppressor dedicated to it. Can't.

Possibly, I should skip it, so my (Duty lol) rig will be the the same, every time? Any thoughts?

Answered my own question. I'll take and mix some stuff around making a 16" or 18", (maybe) fixed butt stock, unsupressed, night HD/shtf, fixed gas block, legal vertical grip, WML, with the EoTech or Aimpoint, fixed offset irons (with glowy post), sling. That won't get changed around...

Pro Tac rail looks affordable and good.


Thanks

Big ol push button works just fine.

Isn't that an ACog?

No se? Eotech pictured above



Got the Aimpoint PRO in today. Pretty damned good. I would possibly like a bigger dot. I think it will be on the primary, 16". Minimal startburst below the two brightest settings. Reaks of quality.

Eotech stays as shown above, as I managed to strip out the head of the mounting screw already. Farmer tight +P 😭



Sure cool to be able to swap components around on these things... BCM buttstocks are impressive, solid..


Appreciate all the input. (Well, mostly!)

Hard to go wrong with the aimpoint. If you’re still looking at sights, check out Blitzkrieg sight posts. I like their luminescent chevron, which is available with a tritium option.

LOL

That is the whole genesis of the thread! I got the green luminescent with tritium dot . ... 😁