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.
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:
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 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.
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.
Using iron sights or night sights effectively is quite straightforward once you understand the basic alignment principles. Here are the steps:
This method applies universally, whether you’re using pistol iron sights or tritium night 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No, night sights only illuminate the sights themselves, not the target. A WML or handheld light is essential for positive target identification.
Under night vision, tritium AR sights often appear overly bright and unfocused, reducing practicality.
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.
Tritium performs well in transitional lighting (e.g., dim rooms), but fiber optic sights paired with a WML often outperform them.
Yes, models like Truglo TFO combine both technologies, offering daytime brightness and low-light glow.
0.125"-0.150" front posts balance precision and speed. Wider fronts (e.g., "big dot" tritium) prioritize rapid acquisition.
Blacked-out rears with a high-vis front (fiber or tritium) reduce visual clutter. Red dots may give starbursts.
Red or green, depending on ambient light. Green often appears brighter in most environments.
Only if the sights are oversized (e.g., suppressor-height). Most standard night sights fit common holsters.
Photoluminescent paint (e.g., Glow-On) charges under light but fades. Tritium remains the gold standard.