Three Dot vs. Single Dot Sights

[NaOH]

I'm looking for some input by people with experience with this type of sight setup.

I've always liked three dot sights, wether it was day or night sights. All my night sights have been Trijicons with the white outline.

The Bowie/Ameriglo night sights have two options: standard three dot and 'Operator' with a dot on the front vial and none on the rear. The idea is that you should be focusing on the front sight so why would you want to make your rear sight stand out? In low light you still have the three dots for aiming.

This makes sense to me but I've never tried a front dot only setup. I'd like to hear some experienced opinions to help me decide which sights to buy, standard three dot or 'Operator' front dot.

 

[Sambaru]

I think preference is going to be key here but I can say from a scientific standpoint, the 1 dot up front and blacked out rear makes the most sense. As you mentioned, that is what should be drawing your focus so it should be far more prominent than the rear sights. In addition, anyone who has knowledge of the human eye/vision will tell you if you want to line something up, lining up 3 circles is counter-intuitive to how the eye works. It would have made more sense if it was 3 boxes or 3 horizontal lines or something. These points make sense to me and align with how my eyes work so I prefer the dot up front with a blacked out rear. Of all the sight combinations I have tried, this works the best for me by far. Next is a dot over dot system. I personally dislike 3 dot sights and any handguns I have which still have factory sights that are 3 dot have the rear blacked out with paint.

But as I said at the start of this post, preference is key and I know there are many people who love 3 dots and it works for them despite the science.

I would do a little experiment to see how it works for you. Whatever handgun you have, use some small pieces of electrical tape to black out the rear sight and try shooting and see how you like it.

 

[Sambaru]

One thing I should add is how you shoot as well. Any sights would be adequate whilst standing still and shooting slowly. It's when you start shooting faster, more dynamically, and under stress (like say an IPSC course of fire or similar) that the difference can be seen.

I would keep this in mind when getting advice as well.

 

[NaOH]

I'm a practical/dynamic shooter, not a target shooter. I was thinking I should have added that to my original post.

 

[BCRider]

I shoot speed focused matches with most of my handguns. I found that the couple I've had with rear sight dots that I was able to get a faster sight picture for my first shot and when transitioning between targets when I darkened over the two spots or the white "U" around the notch on the rear sight. The front blade white spot or fiber sight I left on the guns with them as I find these actually aid me in getting a faster sight picture and in re-aquiring the picture for the second shot in a double tap.

The true advantage of white dots or Trijicon glowing sights occur in dim to darker conditions where you can't see the black sights easily. That's when the three white or glowing dots can be lined up and the middle dot put on the target. But since up here in Canada it's simply not at all a regular thing to use our handguns in dark conditions other than the very occasional stage at an IDPA match I found that I was better off to tailor the sights for regular daytime use.

Since you are obviously showing a preference for dots or glow spots I suspect that you like what you like and won't change. But if you do shoot in speed related matches you could try some times for a draw and first shot situation. Do a bunch with the dots exposed then some practicing over a session or two and re-run your test. Then cover the front up as well and after a couple of sessions of practice run a test with all black sights.

 

[mildot]

I run Heinie "straight eights" on all of my pistols. The ability to line up the "dots" vertically is presumed to be faster. I like them.

 

[NaOH]

Mildot, any issues with shooting high/low with the dot over dot method? I would think that three horizontal tritium dots would be better since they align left/right/up/down. This question is only in regards to low light shooting.

 

[mildot]

The only exception was the G19, which I think? I may have to try a tall front post? for POA/POI.
The idea is that it's faster to line up the dots vertically than horizontally, I believe I've heard a similar argument with the HK diopter sight.
It all comes down to what works. I tried them and I haven't gone back to the 3 dot. YMMV

For me they shoot POA/POI, they do take some getting use to though.They are "combat" sights and not marksman sights. I sit the front dot on top of the rear and pull the trigger.
Seems to work for me. They are fast. However that may not be the case for everyone?
I run the "night sight" version, however I don't shoot indoors with my personal guns.

 

[tjhaile]

For daylight only sights, my preference is for a dot or red paint on the front sight only. For night sights, the rear dots can be blacked out with a marker and still be visible in low light while retaining the front-dot-only sight picture for broad daylight. I do not care for the three-dot configuration for non-Tritium sights.