XS Big Dot competitors?

[Magnum]

Besides the very pricey XS big dot sights, are there any others that are similar without being $120? And are there fiber optics that are worth using, I’m not sure I like tritium having such a short half life that I’ll be replacing my sights in 10 years. The ones I’ve seen all look like the rods are overly exposed to impact and by design create a shorter sight radius. I want a large diameter front sight, and all the fiber optics I see look like smaller dots, and the closest thing to big dots I’ve seen that were far more affordable were night fissions at $40 for just the front. I can’t tell the diameter though, and they don’t spec it on their website. 4mm/0.166” is what the big dots measure in at. And to be clear we are talking about for the purposes of a defensive carry gun, to minimize sight picture acquisition time.

 

[Vigilant]

In a word, no. Trijicon HDs are close to the Big Dot fronts, but the rear is totally different, and they are as much, or more than Big Dots. 10-12 years on tritium vials, is too short? I can guarantee you won’t get near that from fiber optics. Spend once cry once(every 10-12 years). That’s $10-12 per YEAR?

 

[Magnum]

Do fiber optics decay as well?! I thought the rods collected ambient light and essentially magnified it, and consequently there’s nothing to break down or decay?

 

[Vigilant]

Do fiber optics decay as well?! I thought the rods collected ambient light and essentially magnified it, and consequently there’s nothing to break down or decay?

No they break and fall out. They also don’t work without some ambient light source, so they are potentially less effective in the dark than tritium(i black out my rear sights anyway).

 

[BehindBlueI's]

What's the purpose of the pistol (or are we talking shotgun?) That'll make a difference in what's suitable. You're unlikely to find new tritiums of any brand much cheaper, though.

 

[CZ evo3]

Do fiber optics decay as well?! I thought the rods collected ambient light and essentially magnified it, and consequently there’s nothing to break down or decay?

I wouldn't say that they Decay, but the front sight starts to get dull rather quickly in practice sessions. You have to be careful not to get cleaning products on them, as some will eat the rods.

 

[MCgrease08]

What model of gun are you looking to put them on? I just took a set of Big Dots off my Glock 19. They are about 3 years old and plenty bright.

If you have a 9mm Glock pistol I'd be willing to pass them along for cheap.

 

[vangurley]

I like Trijicon HD’s on my carry guns but that’s just my opinion. Not sure if that helps you since the pricing may not be what your looking for but they are great sights and very durable.

 

[croy]

I like the Ameriglo hackathorns. Theyre about $80.

For me, the HDs are great for daylight shooting, but when the lights are out the rear tritium become to busy and my front sight isnt as easy to pick up. The hackathorns are essentially an HD front sight and blacked out rears.

 

[Vigilant]

I like the Ameriglo hackathorns. Theyre about $80.

For me, the HDs are great for daylight shooting, but when the lights are out the rear tritium become to busy and my front sight isnt as easy to pick up. The hackathorns are essentially an HD front sight and blacked out rears.

Black out your rears with a sharpie, it dulls them enough to make the front sight very bright in contrast.

 

[BrianT]

Truglo Tritium Pros are very nice.

 

[bgcatty]

Get the XS Big Dot. You can’t beat it for a defense gun in low light conditions. I’ve got a set on a CZ75B and target acquisition is instantaneous particularly in low to no light situations. Like the other commentator said, buy once and cry once. Peace!

 

[Chase515]

I have xs big dot on a glock 23 and trijicon xr hd's on a glock 19 and a m&p 2.0. I bought the sights in the order I listed them and will continue to buy the trijicon hd's for future handguns. Yes the xs big dot is great for speed but I am not accurate enough with them for any precision. The hd's if I can see it I can hit it where I want to and I've shot 4" square plate out to 70 yards with my glock 19. I wouldn't even attempt that with my 23.