Day/Night Savings

XS Sights announced the second generation of its R3D day/night sights (R3D 2.0) in July 2023, which got me thinking about iron sights on a pistol. I believe day/night sights are the best choice for handguns intended for defensive use, and the earliest ones I can think of also came from XS Sights circa 1996, the famed Big Dot and V-shaped rear blade.

I think a clarification is in order. As I’m using the term “day/night sights” for handguns, know that these can be used in any gradient light, day or night. These sights have glow-­in-­the-­dark tritium inserts for use in no/low light, and a luminescent ring on the front sight that increases visibility from dawn to dusk.

The XS Sights Big Dot was inspired by the express sights used on some dangerous game rifles. The rear sight was a shallow “V” with a vertical white line — available with or without a tritium capsule oriented vertically — stretching down from the center of the V. The front sight was big and round with a tritium capsule in the center. Subsequent versions introduced white, orange, or greenish-yellow rings around the capsule. Big Dot sights are simple and quick to use; put the dot at the top of the shallow V, “dot the i,” as some say, and pull the trigger.

Back in the day, I wasn’t much of a fan of these sights because of how big and imprecisely round the front sight is. I preferred a traditional flat-­topped front sight I could align with a standard rear notch. I remember getting into a loud, enthusiastic discussion with the late YouTuber James Yeager about these sights 10 years ago. Yeager was a big fan of the XS Sights Big Dot, and now that I’ve got some years under my belt, I realize he was right. At realistic defensive distances, as long as that big front dot is on the bad guy, rounds will land on target. The older I get — and the older my eyes get — the more I need a big, easy-­to-­see front sight to aim with.

Here I am at the point where we need another point for clarification. Since red dots on handguns are increasingly popular, we will soon see people at the range who have only ever aimed handguns using optics — not irons. When using iron sights on a pistol, your focus should always be on the front sight; it should be crisp and centered in the rear sight. With irons, the rear sight is like a window frame; you should be looking through it, not at it. Anything on the rear sight that draws your eye away from the all-­important front sight is generally bad. If there are marks on the rear sight, such as dots, lines, etc., then whatever is on the front sight should be bigger and brighter. That’s exactly what we get with the XS Sights Big Dot, but I wasn’t the only person who wanted a highly visible front sight with a more traditional profile. Several companies have since responded.

Most companies selling day/night sights offer both an orange/red- and a yellow/green-color front sight option. Some shooters prefer the orange/red because they have deuteranopia and are unable to perceive “green” light, or are used to looking for a red dot in electronic optics. Technically, the yellow/green color appears brighter to most people’s eyes on the color spectrum, and it stays visible longer in lower light. When it’s dark, the concept is backed up by tritium inserts that glow for about 10 years.

It was in the 1970s and ‘80s when manufacturers started equipping pistols with prominent sights featuring marks, most commonly in the form of a three white-dot arrangement. The problem with most three-­dot sights is that the front dot is often the same size as the pair of dots to either side of the notch on the rear sight. This means that the front dot appears smaller than the rear pair, given that the front sight is several inches farther away from the eye. That’s the exact opposite of what you want in an iron-sight setup. Rear sights should not distract your focus from the front sight. You can agree with me, or you can be wrong.

Day/night sights are now mainstream, and it seems most gun enthusiasts accept them as the best choice for a defensive handgun. Consider the FBI’s current duty pistols, the Glock 17M and 19M. Whoever spec’d these guns knew what they were doing, a pleasant surprise when referring to a government agency. In addition to a reduced trigger pull weight and a built-­in magazine well, these guns come with day/night sights, the front sight having a tritium insert surrounded by a bright orange ring. The FBI’s guns also feature a serrated rear sight with tritium inserts to either side of the U-­shaped notch.

Allow me to come full circle, back to XS Sights R3D 2.0. XS Sights still offers several variations of the Big Dot and, in my view, I don’t know that there’s a better choice for a day/night handgun sight. This is especially true for subcompact pistols that would likely be used in defense at conversational distances. But if you are one who prefers the more traditional post/notch sight setup, the R3D 2.0 sights provide that. The R3D 2.0 sights were engineered to be a little stronger than the first generation, and are designed to install easier with its leading beveled edge. Whether you choose orange or that greenish-­yellow hue, the bright ring around the tritium insert in the front sight is photoluminescent paint. Ultraviolet light, such as that from the sun’s rays, energizes the molecules in the paint. No matter the lighting condition you may find yourself needing to defend yourself, you’ll be able to see your sights. XS Sights offers a solution for just about every pistol made. Worth noting, XS Sights developed an easy-­to-­use sight installation tool — also available as a bundle with a set of R3D 2.0 sights — so you can DIY at home. Learn more at xssights.com.

Sound Off

Are you sticking with analog sights, or are electronic optics the way for you? Maybe both? Let us know by emailing gaeditor@outdoorsg.com using "Sound Off" in the subject line.

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