Fiber Optic Sights

[whipkiller]

I just picked up a Browning Buckmark that has a FO front, and I was a little surprised that it seemed to wash out a little outdoors in bright sun, where it was super visible and bright inside with just the ambient light.

These are my first FO sights, is this normal? It's a green one if that means anything.

Would the red be any better, or does the quality of the FO's vary depending on mfg.?

I was thinking abut changing to Fiber Optic on my CZ, but now I'm not so sure.

Thanks in advance, Whip...

[L84CABO]

Seems weird to me. I have a green FO on one of my 1911's and it's my favorite sight bar none. The sight post itself washes out a little in very bright sunlight but that green bulb is as sharp as can be. No mistaking it.

[Aldemar]

I've got a set on 2 of my handguns from Dawson Precision. Single green in front and 2-dot rear in red. Can't misalign this way. I can't speak to the wash out issue but they will get a bit brighter as the lighting does.

[whipkiller]

I've got a set on 2 of my handguns from Dawson Precision. Single green in front and 2-dot rear in red. Can't misalign this way. I can't speak to the wash out issue but they will get a bit brighter as the lighting does.

That was my assumption. I guess I should actually do some shooting with it before making judgment.

[9mmepiphany]

The only reason they'd "wash out" outdoors is if they had the sun reflecting off them. Is the rear bulb buried in the rear face of the front sight?

Fiber optic gets brighter as the tube gathers more light from the sides. In very bright light (outdoors) the end of the tube should shine like a laser.

[Gryff]

I prefer red because my eyes find it much faster than green. Also, I find the sight brighter outdoors than inside.

[whipkiller]

I think I just figured out the (non) issue... I'm an idiot

I think when they were (not) washing out, I may have been standing inside but looking out into the bright sunlight.

So in effect they were competing with the bright sunlight but not gathering any light from it.

I just went outside and waved my new pistol around in the back yard and they looked pretty good.

[railroader]

woo hoo. Just kidding. Glad you figured it out.

[larasatinening]

nice...

[Aldemar]

Every time I've let someone shoot one of mine with the FO sights, the first thing they say is "wow, nice sights, where did you get these".

[whipkiller]

So what setup do you guys prefer?

Black rear with FO front? (This is what my new Buckmark has)
FO's front & rear of different colors, ie; Green front w/2-dot red rear?
Other?

I hear Dawson's name thrown around a lot, are they the favorite?

Do you change colors back and forth, or decide which you like and stick with it regardless of shooting conditions?

[Aldemar]

So what setup do you guys prefer?

Black rear with FO front? (This is what my new Buckmark has)
FO's front & rear of different colors, ie; Green front w/2-dot red rear?
Other?

I hear Dawson's name thrown around a lot, are they the favorite?

Do you change colors back and forth, or decide which you like and stick with it regardless of shooting conditions?

Find a color combo that you are comfortable with and stick with it going forward. I use a green front with red rears. Personally, I find the different colors very easy pick up and align. At my age (61) I can't pick up a front sight thru a plain black bladed rear with any kind of speed anymore.

[Vin63]

Black rear with a green or red front. Everyone's eyes are different, so try both colors and see what works for you.

[whipkiller]

Find a color combo that you are comfortable with and stick with it going forward. I use a green front with red rears. Personally, I find the different colors very easy pick up and align. At my age (61) I can't pick up a front sight thru a plain black bladed rear with any kind of speed anymore.

yeah, I'm getting there (52 next month)

If I could just hold the gun (or book, or dinner menu, etc.) a little bit further away...

[CGT80]

Dawson FO sights are great. Mine are set in a bomar cut in the slide so they are closer to the bore axis. They have held up very well and the gun gets handled like a tool. I sometimes bump into barricades or get it hung up on things when I have it holstered and break down stages (it is carried unloaded, for competition use).

The red FO is easier to see. The two green dots on the back are easily seen, but the red draws my eye in, and you want your eye drawn to the front sight. My 10/22 is the same color setup. My Benelli Super Sport shotgun has a green FO front sight from the factory. I actually never see that one when I shoot as I am watching the target. My smith 460 XVR revolver has a black rear and green FO front. It works well, but I like red better. My Ruger MkIII Hunter has a red FO front and the back was a v notch black sight. I hated the v so I got a square notch blade. Now it is awesome.

I have to change the fiber in the front sight once in a while on the XD. It gets burned from the hot gasses and powder and doesn't glow as well. I have had it break and fall out once. It is cheap to buy the filament and replace it yourself, with any color you want. My other guns have little shaped lite pipes that lock in with a spring. The guns came with a few pipes but I have not had any break or lost any. They are not as hard on sights. The 460 has a beefy sight to handle the fireball and blast from the comp. It has held up well, but I do have to clean it off once in a while so it is bright again.

There is nothing like having a high quality FO sight set that has an adjustable rear. People's eyes vary a bit for sight alignment and different loads make even more difference in POA/POI. The only time I could see using fixed sights is on a carry gun. The rear sight on my XD can get caught on clothing or objects. They have adjustable sights that are more profiled to help with this. Fixed sights are small and shouldn't ever fail. The adjustable dawson sights haven't shifted on me, but some people might not want to take even the smallest risk of having something happen to a more complex sight.

People who don't have FO sights are always thrilled with how easy it is to see them, once they take a sight picture with my guns. Some think it is almost like cheating or playing a video game. They obviously haven't used my AR 15 or my parents' competition pistols with Cmore red dots on them. That is like playing a video game. I thought about a red dot for my XD, but a frame mounted dot sits too high for my taste and I really like using the FO sights. If/when my vision gets worse I will consider a dot. That is why my parents have red dots. My mom had problems seeing the sights on her XD, even though it has the same sights as mine. I bought a frame to mount a cmore over the top of her iron sights. She can use both and she does well with the dot. It looks a bit like a space gun though with the short gun and extra height. I think she wears bifocals. I have single prescription glasses and can see one step better than 20/20 on a good day, so irons still work for me.

Dawson also has adjustable FO sights to fit into the standard dovetail of many pistols, so you don't have to get your slide machined if you don't want to.