Iron Sights & Night Sights for AR15/AR10, Handguns, Shotguns
FREE Shipping On ALL US Continental Orders - No minimum Purchase

Iron Sights

Modern technology has made red dot optics the popular choice, often making us overlook the trusted iron sights that have been around from the start. But don’t write them off just yet. Iron sights remain as reliable and effective as ever. They've adopted some modern features, like tritium/fiber optic inserts, while sticking to their traditional roots, making them a dependable aiming tool in any situation. For hunters and beginner handgun users who need to build foundational aiming and shooting skills, iron sights are great. And Gritr Outdoors offers a wide selection of the best iron sights worth checking out, from handgun sights like Truglo and Trijicon to AR iron sights.

What Are Iron Sights? 

At their core, iron sights are a pair of alignment markers designed to help shooters aim their firearms with precision. Traditional iron sights consist of two parts:

  • Rear Sight: Positioned closer to the shooter, this helps align your view with the target. Rear sights can take various forms, including U-notches, V-notches, or apertures. 
  • Front Sight: Located near the muzzle, the front sight is often a square post, bead, or ring used to center your target.

Iron sights are further categorized into open sights and aperture (closed) sights. Open sights involve a simple notch and post setup, while aperture sights feature a peep or ring-based design, offering increased accuracy.

Fiber Optic & Tritium Sights

Fiber optic sights are brightly colored tubes that gather light, making them easier to spot in daylight. Check options from HiViz, TruGlo, and Trijicon.

Tritium night sights are equipped with glowing tritium inserts or photoluminescent paint, these sights provide excellent visibility in low-light or nighttime conditions. Trijicon, Meprolight, and Night Fision dominate the night sight market, offering reliable options for personal defense pistols, such as Glock 19, Beretta 92FS, or 1911 pistols.

Fixed vs. Adjustable Iron Sights 

The earliest iron sights were fixed, meaning their position couldn’t be adjusted. While durable and reliable for self-defense and military applications, fixed sights lack the versatility to compensate for elevation or windage adjustments. 

Today, we have adjustable iron sights, which allow shooters to fine-tune their aim for improved accuracy. Adjustable sights typically include mechanisms for elevation (front) and windage (rear).

For instance, AR-15 users often prefer adjustable ar15 iron sights for enhanced performance in dynamic shooting scenarios, while military-style M16 iron sights offer tougher builds with fixed options. When seeking the best sights for AR-15, consider what fits your shooting needs and environment.

How to Aim with Iron Sights 

Using iron sights or night sights effectively is quite straightforward once you understand the basic alignment principles. Here are the steps:

    1. Focus on Your Target: Align your vision through the rear sight. 
    2. Match the Sights: For open sights, position the tip of the front post between the rear notches, ensuring the height of the tip matches the notches. For aperture sights, center the front post within the rear ring or peep. 
    3. Fire and Adjust: Once aligned, take a few test shots. Observe how close they land to the target and fine-tune the sights as necessary. 

This method applies universally, whether you’re using pistol iron sights or tritium night sights.

Types of Iron Sights for Different Firearms 

AR Iron Sights 

AR15 and AR10 iron sights are usually lightweight flip-up front and rear sights (might come in a sight set or separately). Rifle irons sights will likely feature no enhancements, while fiber optic AR-15 sights are optimized specifically for daylight shooting. Military-style M16 iron sights and sight posts are often fixed but exceptionally robust, making them ideal for rugged scenarios.

Pistol Iron Sights

Handgun sights vary from simple plain metal sights and painted white dot sights to options enhanced with fiber or tritium, like many aftermarket 1911 sights and revolver sights intended as upgrades from traditional aiming tools these old guns use. Modern pistol platforms, on the other hand, might have a whole ocean of all kinds of specialized aftermarket sights for general use or niche applications. The diversity of options available is often dependent on the platform popularity and its customizability in general. For instance, Glock sights options are literally countless. Whichever model you have, be it Glock 19 or Glock 43x, there’s a Glock sight to your liking.

Shotgun Sights

Most aftermarket shotgun sights are tailored for turkey hunting and are enhanced with fiber optic for better daylight performance.

Here, on Gritr Outdoors, we have a vast collection of iron sights, suited for all kinds of weapons. Whether upgrading your turkey gun, AR15, Taurus revolver, or Glock, everything your heart desires can be found here.

FAQs

Are night sights necessary for self-defense?

They help locate the firearm in total darkness but are less critical if using a weapon-mounted light or red dot, as target identification requires illumination.

How do fiber optic sights compare to night sights?

Fiber optics gather ambient light to be visible in daytime, but unlike night sights, they don’t glow in low light. That’s why fiber optics are often preferred for daytime precision.

Can night sights replace a weapon light?

No, night sights only illuminate the sights themselves, not the target. A WML or handheld light is essential for positive target identification.

Do night sights work with night vision devices?

Under night vision, tritium AR sights often appear overly bright and unfocused, reducing practicality.

Are night sights worth it if I use a red dot optic?

No, the dot’s brightness surpasses tritium in darkness, and WML use washes out night sights. If you want to build a co-witness system, use blacked-out irons, as these minimize distraction.

Can I use night sights in mixed lighting conditions?

Tritium performs well in transitional lighting (e.g., dim rooms), but fiber optic sights paired with a WML often outperform them.

Are there hybrid fiber optic/tritium sights?

Yes, models like Truglo TFO combine both technologies, offering daytime brightness and low-light glow.

What’s the best front sight width for speed?

0.125"-0.150" front posts balance precision and speed. Wider fronts (e.g., "big dot" tritium) prioritize rapid acquisition.

What’s the best sight setup for astigmatism?

Blacked-out rears with a high-vis front (fiber or tritium) reduce visual clutter. Red dots may give starbursts.

What’s the brightest fiber optic color?

Red or green, depending on ambient light. Green often appears brighter in most environments.

Do night sights affect holster compatibility?

Only if the sights are oversized (e.g., suppressor-height). Most standard night sights fit common holsters.

Are there alternatives to tritium for low-light shooting?

Photoluminescent paint (e.g., Glow-On) charges under light but fades. Tritium remains the gold standard.

SIGN UP FOR EXCLUSIVE DEALS & OFFERS