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Thread: How Durable are Fiber Optic Sights?

  1. #1
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    How Durable are Fiber Optic Sights?

    Basically what the title says, but more specifically, in the role of iron sights on pistols. They do their job well, but in a hard-use environment - say, thousands of rounds in less-than-ideal conditions and "reasonable abuse" - how well do they hold up? Is there a reason they're primarily seen on competition guns only?
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  2. #2
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    Don't take this the wrong way, but they're used in competition because they work well.

    Worst case the rod breaks and falls out. You're still left with a functional iron "see through" sight. I lost a fiber in the middle of a USPSA stage and while I certainly noticed it was gone it didn't make major difference completing the stage. I replaced it in a few minutes after that stage and finished the match.

    I change mine out when ever it starts to get dim and worn from muzzle blast.

  3. #3
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    Fiber optic rods take no time to change. Once they start feeling loose in the sight, just swap them.

    If they fall out, you still have a steel front sight. I've got probably 15k through two different 10-8 fiber optic sights (.100" front fiber optic, black rear), and never had one fall out. I've dropped my guns, lots of holster work, and a few replacements as they loosened, but never had a rod fall out. I've shot them without the rod a few times, and it doesn't honestly make a big difference in usability. Just feels like having a black front sight.

    They're my go-to's.

  4. #4
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    How are they in low light or use with a mounted light?

  5. #5
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    They are almost black in the dark. They pick up very little light. Same with the weapon light. They don't pick up a ton of light.
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  6. #6
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    The only one I've ever broken/lost was during a 3 gun stage. I'm pretty sure I banged it on a shell carrier in a less than perfect draw. I still finished the stage and match with the black front sight. Replacing the rod is very easy. In my experience in a no/low light class, the sight gathered no light and was difficult to use.

  7. #7
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    I'll echo everyone else and add.. I have seen at least three different diameter pipes used in sights. Know the size you need and get some before yours breaks.

  8. #8
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    My daily carry G19 wears a fiber optic front sight. I have no worries of it breaking on me.

  9. #9
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    I have used them, cussed them, and have now gone back to them. I am the guy that has had them break on me. On two occasions I have broken my front "tube". Once was when shooting at work, unconventional position, shooting through a chain link fence. I broke the front sight tube during recoil on the chain link. That's obviously not a normal scenario, but it happened none the less. I replaced the sights and wrote them off as not durable enough for duty use. Problem is: I REALLY a like them, and live the precision they allow. Fast forward a few months, and I found some of the replacement tubes from Taran Tactical. They are like $2.00 for a couple inches of replacement. I bought 10 of them. :-)
    Next breakage was at a 3gun match. I drew my pistol for a stage and voila, no green dot. No biggie, I was absolutely able to shoot the stage. The front sight was usable. Kind of a shoot through the front hole deal. Cool part was, walk to the truck, install a new little tube, burn ends with Bic lighter, presto, brand new again.

    Here's my take as a guy who shoots a fairly high volume of pistol, say 800-1000 rounds a month: they work, and are amazingly fast to pick up. The green dot is very easy to see and track through recoil, but they are a touch fragile. The easiest solution is to keep spares on hand. You can fix one in about 4 minutes.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Damn_yankee View Post
    My daily carry G19 wears a fiber optic front sight. I have no worries of it breaking on me.
    This. Thousands of rounds through multiple competition pistols.

    T

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