Tritium Handgun

For handguns, which do you prefer, Tritium, or fiber optic sights, and why?

please explain the differences between these two types of sights, and which one you like

A fiber optic sight needs some kind of light source. In other words, in a totally dark environment it will not “glow”. However, the amount of light necessary to make a fiber optic sight visible is very little – even a distant street light or the typical reflected light in the nightsky of an urban setting (city) is enough.

A tritium sight is actually a small bead of glass filled with phosphorus paint which contains tritium which is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen and will glow without the need of any outside light source. The problem with tritium sights is the half-life of tritium is 14 years meaning in 14 year from the time of manufacturing of the tritium it will only glow half as bright. But you will have a hard time seeing the glow within 10 years and remember that the sight itself may not have been made in the same year the tritium was made. Typically, you would need a new tritium sight in about that time frame.

If you opt for tritium, get the green color ones because human eyes detects green better in darkness.

Personally, I would get the fiber optic because as we age, our eyes loses some capacity to detect dim lights and the tritium is not all that bright to begin with. And if you do live in a place that has no ambient light at night – like in the countryside, just get a tactical light. You will need a light any ways to identify your target. Remember the golden rule in firearm – always identify your target.

Nitesiters Better Than Tritium? Hand Gun Night Sights