Hobbies And Interests
Tritium
Tritium is a low-grade radioactive substance that glows in the dark. The advantage of tritium is that it is self-contained and glows naturally; unlike a laser or flashlight, it does not require any kind of activation. As the natural light diminishes, the tritium becomes easy to see even in total darkness. Tritium is also used to illuminate the reticles in the advanced combat optical gunsights (ACOG) combat scopes.
Available Colors and Sight Longevity
Rear sights are available in green, yellow or orange, with green being the most prominent; all front sights are produced in green. According to Trijicon, one of the foremost makers of night sights, the effective lifespan of green and yellow tritium is 12 years, and lifespan is five years for the orange. Trijicon warranties their night sights for those periods of time, but will only honor the warranty if the sights were installed by an authorized professional.
Sight Construction
The tritium is sealed within small glass tubes which are surrounded by a thin layer of aluminum and further protected by a robber cushion. The tubes are sealed into the sight with a small, polished sapphire window. The polished sapphire protects the tritium tubes from trauma and evenly disburses the glowing light of the tritium. Night sights have white outlines for daytime use.
Night Sight Aiming
Aiming a handgun with night sights is done in the same way that you would with conventional open sights. You center your front sight on the desired location on your target, and align the dot of the front sight between the two dots of the rear sight.