Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Gun, shooting and equipment discussions unrelated to CHL issues

Moderator: carlson1

Post Reply
Abraham
Senior Member
Posts: 8406
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:43 am

Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by Abraham »

I've finally decided to take the plunge and get Truglo fiber optic/tritium sights for my Glock 19.

One decision problem though...

They can come with rear & front green or rear yellow/front green - however the rear yellow aren't as bright as the green according to the mfg. and I don't know why or if later this might present a problem.

Anyone have experience with these sights and have any idea why the yellow glow is less bright or if it presents any sort of problem - like down the road as the brightness diminishes with age, will the rear have to replaced sooner and is the yellow less bright because if it's as bright as the front it will somehow present a visual problem or ...?

Thanks!

P.S. I'm interested in the contrasting sight colors as it seems to me (and I could be very wrong) target acquisition would be enhanced.
User avatar
Excaliber
Moderator
Posts: 6199
Joined: Tue May 27, 2008 9:59 pm
Location: DFW Metro

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by Excaliber »

Abraham wrote:I've finally decided to take the plunge and get Truglo fiber optic/tritium sights for my Glock 19.

One decision problem though...

They can come with rear & front green or rear yellow/front green - however the rear yellow aren't as bright as the green according to the mfg. and I don't know why or if later this might present a problem.

Anyone have experience with these sights and have any idea why the yellow glow is less bright or if it presents any sort of problem - like down the road as the brightness diminishes with age, will the rear have to replaced sooner and is the yellow less bright because if it's as bright as the front it will somehow present a visual problem or ...?

Thanks!

P.S. I'm interested in the contrasting sight colors as it seems to me (and I could be very wrong) target acquisition would be enhanced.
Use of contrasting colors is intended to prevent confusion over which dot is on the front sight and which are on the rear during rapid target acquisition under low light conditions. In this configuration, the front sight unit is typically brighter to make it stand out, and the rear sight units are deliberately made to be a bit dimmer.

I favor using all bright green tritium vials on both front and rear sights because:

1. I've never had a problem with figuring out which sight was which. I don't need a solution to a problem I don't have.

2. When I tried the contrasting sights, I found it much harder to pick up the rear sight quickly during rapid target acquisition in low light.

3. Tritium vials in colors other than green lose their luminosity much faster than the green ones. The ones I had were orange, and they became virtually unusable in just a couple of years.

I'd suggest that you both types in very low light before you buy. If front sight identification is an issue for you (eyesight differs from person to person) the contrasting color option may be worthwhile despite the shorter effective lifespan. If you don't have a sight confusion problem and durability is important, stick with the bright green sights.
Excaliber

"An unarmed man can only flee from evil, and evil is not overcome by fleeing from it." - Jeff Cooper
I am not a lawyer. Nothing in any of my posts should be construed as legal or professional advice.
User avatar
OldCannon
Senior Member
Posts: 3061
Joined: Sun Jan 17, 2010 11:19 am
Location: Kyle, TX

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by OldCannon »

I've had both. Yes, the yellow ones are dimmer, but functional. The green ones are nicely brighter. Having had both, my preference now if for all green. Of course, in a real live-fire situation, yellow/green or green/green doesn't matter after you fire the first shot :mrgreen:
I don't fear guns; I fear voters and politicians that fear guns.
User avatar
gwashorn
Senior Member
Posts: 689
Joined: Sat Apr 25, 2009 10:14 pm
Location: Alvin, Tx

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by gwashorn »

OK, I am the odd ball. I have yellow rear green front on my XDs. I like the contrast and brighter front draws my eyes there. Besides, I can't focus on the rear anyway so it does not matter. but I do love them. Fiber optic Bright in sun and the yellow tridium at night shines brightly.

Gary
Gary
AGGIE '74
NRA, TSRA, TFC
Team Trainwreck
User avatar
A-R
Senior Member
Posts: 5776
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:01 pm
Location: Austin area

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by A-R »

I have yellow rear/green front Ameriglos on one of my Glocks and orange rear/green front Meps on another. I like the contrast. But do appreciate Excalibers views on longevity. I've only had mine for about a year each, so no data on longevity.

I just wish TruGlo would sell a front-only TFO option because the more and more I shoot (especially at matches) the more I like non-glowing white only rear dots or even just black-only no dot rear sight with a bright front sight. Friend has two guns set up with plain rear sights and Dawson Precision red fiber sights and I can pick up that configuration faster than anything else. On my G17 that I use for competitions I'm debating between a Dawson front sight or just go ahead and get a TFO set and not use the rear sight. I really like the U-notch stock rear sight on Glocks too.
User avatar
Lumberjack98
Senior Member
Posts: 1281
Joined: Thu Jul 07, 2005 4:15 pm
Location: Katy

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by Lumberjack98 »

I thought I wanted the contrast until I shot a pistol that had the yellow rear / green front. I ordered all green for mine and have never regretted it.
NRA Lifetime Member
TSRA Lifetime Member
Abraham
Senior Member
Posts: 8406
Joined: Tue Aug 14, 2007 8:43 am

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by Abraham »

Thanks everyone!

Your input has helped greatly.
User avatar
MoJo
Senior Member
Posts: 4899
Joined: Thu Dec 23, 2004 6:10 pm
Location: Vidor, Tx
Contact:

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by MoJo »

My favorite is green front black rear. In a night time situation I want to see the front sight. With my old eyes the rear is a blur in the dark anyway. :cryin
"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."
George Mason
Texas and Louisiana CHL Instructor, NRA Pistol, Rifle, Shotgun, Personal Protection and Refuse To Be A Victim Instructor
User avatar
The Annoyed Man
Senior Member
Posts: 26892
Joined: Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:59 pm
Location: North Richland Hills, Texas
Contact:

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by The Annoyed Man »

Excaliber wrote:
Abraham wrote:I've finally decided to take the plunge and get Truglo fiber optic/tritium sights for my Glock 19.

One decision problem though...

They can come with rear & front green or rear yellow/front green - however the rear yellow aren't as bright as the green according to the mfg. and I don't know why or if later this might present a problem.

Anyone have experience with these sights and have any idea why the yellow glow is less bright or if it presents any sort of problem - like down the road as the brightness diminishes with age, will the rear have to replaced sooner and is the yellow less bright because if it's as bright as the front it will somehow present a visual problem or ...?

Thanks!

P.S. I'm interested in the contrasting sight colors as it seems to me (and I could be very wrong) target acquisition would be enhanced.
Use of contrasting colors is intended to prevent confusion over which dot is on the front sight and which are on the rear during rapid target acquisition under low light conditions. In this configuration, the front sight unit is typically brighter to make it stand out, and the rear sight units are deliberately made to be a bit dimmer.

I favor using all bright green tritium vials on both front and rear sights because:

1. I've never had a problem with figuring out which sight was which. I don't need a solution to a problem I don't have.

2. When I tried the contrasting sights, I found it much harder to pick up the rear sight quickly during rapid target acquisition in low light.

3. Tritium vials in colors other than green lose their luminosity much faster than the green ones. The ones I had were orange, and they became virtually unusable in just a couple of years.

I'd suggest that you both types in very low light before you buy. If front sight identification is an issue for you (eyesight differs from person to person) the contrasting color option may be worthwhile despite the shorter effective lifespan. If you don't have a sight confusion problem and durability is important, stick with the bright green sights.
What he said. I had contrasting color tritium sights from Meprolight on a USP Compact for a while, green front and orange rear, and the rear sights were nearly invisible right out of the box. Swapped both of them out for a set of green Trijicons, and they were beautiful.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, "Those Who Remain"

#TINVOWOOT
User avatar
garcia946
Senior Member
Posts: 919
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:48 pm
Location: Sachse/Garland , TX
Contact:

Re: Truglo Yellow Vs. Green Rear Sight

Post by garcia946 »

I have all green myself on all my glocks. On two of my glocks I have the TFO Night Sights from Tru Glo and really like them.
NRA Instructor/RSO
Glock 27 .40 , Sig P229 .40
Right To Carry CHL
Post Reply

Return to “General Gun, Shooting & Equipment Discussion”