Handguns are the overwhelming favorite for personal protection, but many wear a serious shortcoming for the mission. Criminals attack fast, often at night, so I posed a question to an expert about target acquisition. Are black sights best for self-defense?
Pliny Gale, marketing manager for TRUGLO, provided some insight.
GJS—Are black sights best for self-defense or is white or color a better option?
PG—Simply put, bright dots attract the eye. A bright-colored sight is easier to find in low light. Even in full daylight, the increased contrast of a bright color makes it easier to properly focus on the sight. Bright white lines or dots increase contrast, but certain colors can improve visibility even further. Ultimately, it is the same reason tennis balls, warning signs and even things in nature like flowers or poisonous insects use bright colors—to be seen easily and quickly.
GJS—Is there any advantage to certain colors in different atmospheric conditions?
PG—This is a question of brightness versus contrast. The human eye is most sensitive to green and green fiber tends to gather a lot of light, so it typically is the brightest at dawn/dusk. When shooting during the day, any color fiber is generally very bright so many shooters prefer to look for contrast. A red front sight easily contrasts brown dirt, green foliage and blue skies—making it the preferred option for most competitive target shooters of all varieties.
[Readers considering a laser for their pistol, should read my interview with experts on the advantages of green over red.]
Tritium and Fiber-Optic
GJS—Why tritium?
PG—Unlike reflective materials, photoluminescent paints and fiber-optics, tritium vials create their own light. Tritium does not require any light exposure to glow and shooters don’t ever have to worry about batteries running low or getting cold. If you want to see your sights in low light or complete darkness without needing an “on” button, tritium is the way to go—delivering reliable brightness for about a decade.
GJS—Why is a fiber-optic tube better than just paint?
PG—Bright paint is great, but with a single reflective surface it will only be as bright as the light around it. Fiber-optics are reflective on the inside, which means they gather light along the entire length of the fiber and channel it to the ends. Looking at the end of a cut fiber-optic optic will be brighter that its surroundings. Fiber-optics are a great passive way to increase brightness.
GJS—Is there anything you’d like to add?
PG—TRUGLO owns the patent to, and to is the exclusive manufacturer of TFX® technology (Tritium + Fiber-optic Xtreme). This technology combines the daylight benefits of fiber-optics with the night-time benefits of tritium to produce a dot that is bright both day and night. The fiber-optic and the tritium vial are sealed together in a capsule for strength and durability that endures far more than other fiber-optic sights.
Are black sights best for self-defense? Gale’s answers make it obvious: If you’re a new handgun owner and your sights are dark and dank, up front and at the rear, it’s time to consider and upgrade.