Henry Rifle Forums

Anyone use a fiber optic front sight?
If so ya like it? Hate it? What rear are you using it with?
All reviews & opinions appreciated!

For hunting or any low light shooting, I think fiber optic front sights are great. They really do make that front sight more visible in low light. I don't like them for my target work, though. Much prefer the shop out line of a blade with no distraction of a fiber optic element. Personal preference, though.

My public defender has it. When shooting the defender, it's close in and I don't really use the sights.

When I got my first William's receiver sight, for a 336, it came with fiber optic front sights.
The line for the silhouette swingers is open and in the sun. The sights were a help.

The main firing line is covered and in that situation they are no different than regular sights.

For a while I seemed to hit the range only on cloudy days and the fiber optics didn't help them either.

Yea I kind of got on this fiber optic ‘kick’ when I looked at a friends pistol the other day with a set. I am planning on a new set of sights for my 1911 and got to thinking about going to a set for it and discovered Williams makes handgun sights and has what looks like a fairly decent set - at about 1/3 the cost of LPAs - so I might do this.
Then I got to looking at fiber optic front sights for rifles and thought one MIGHT work well with my receiver rear sight. I might have to find some of the ‘replacement’ fiber optic rods (hopefully cheap) and maybe superglue one on to the top of the front blade on my Henry as a ‘mock up’ and see what it looks like - and maybe get a few test shots off before it breaks off.

The only experience I have with the fiber is my H001(HiViz) with original buckhorn rear. I didn't like them at first, and still feel like the tube is too big, but after getting used to it, I am shooting better.

Below, is a 3x3 target shot at 30 yds resting on a towel. Not NCG or RR stuff, but this is ME shooting open sights. i couldn't shoot that well with the original FAT blade, so they are staying for now. BTW, that dirt stain up high is just that. The floater is high just out of the black for 10 shots.
Also no Kentucky windage here, the sights are centered.

I have fiber optic sights on a few of my guns. I like them on the front, especially with a buckhorn or semi buckhorn rear...I find I can aim much more quickly than I can with a bead front, without having to resort to a pair of 'cheater' glasses. With a peep sight on the rear, it is not as big of a difference. They look out of place on a lever gun, though.

I have used TruGlo, Hi-Viz, and Williams. I find the Williams front "Firesights" to be the smallest diameter, and often the brightest as well. Hi-Viz usually includes red and green fiber optic replacement inserts, as well as a plain white one for the front when you buy a set.

I like fiber optic sights myself. But like NCG said they take some getting use to and are a personal thing. I think they are like red dot for me. I find it easy to focus on the fiber optic sight and forget the target. That usually causes one to miss.

My Mossberg turkey gun has front and rear fibre optic sights. Two red dots in the rear, and on green up front. I love them. Super fast target acquisition in any light. Rangerpoint Precision has their cloverleaf peep sight with f/o dots in it as an option.

I love the visibility, especially on a turkey gun. My only complaint is that most of them are fragile or at least not as bulletproof as a gold or ivory bead.

My only complaint is that most of them are fragile or at least not as bulletproof as a gold or ivory bead.

Hmm... this could be a problem...

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[updated]
As shared earlier, my defender has one. The defender recoil is painful. The sight has not broken, cracked nor come loose. If the sight is made of polycarbonate (or better) it should [not] break or crack.

Shawlerbrook wrote:I love the visibility, especially on a turkey gun. My only complaint is that most of them are fragile or at least not as bulletproof as a gold or ivory bead.

Well I may start out with a fiber optic front and try it out on a couple of my lever guns.
A 1911 I am currently looking at (and will most likely buy) has a fiber optic front and hopefully it works well. I really like the brightness of them outside but have only looked at them and never shot with one so I am hoping it works for me.
The William's fiber optic fronts are pretty cheap so it's not a lot invested if I don't like it - but really hoping I do.

Not as concerned with recoil as much as bushwhacking through thickets. Look for the ones that have three bands( one in the middle) holding them onto the base. I have them on my bow and generally have to replace some every few years.

Mistered wrote:Anyone use a fiber optic front sight?

we have an orange reflective front sight on our Ruger Redhawk and a green one on the Remington 11-87

Mistered wrote:What rear are you using it with?

the rear sight on our Redhawk has a reflective, white outline around the notch .... the rear sight on the 11-87 is a brass bead on the ventilated rib

Mistered wrote:If so ya like it? Hate it?

the sights on our Redhawk are fine but I prefer the Aimpoint red dot .... the green sight on the shotgun has proven to be an exceptionally effective upgrade .... I wouldn't want to go without it

Mistered wrote:

My only complaint is that most of them are fragile or at least not as bulletproof as a gold or ivory bead.

Hmm... this could be a problem...

I drag my turkey gun through a LOT of thick brush in pretty mountainous terrain. 4 years of spring and fall hunting seasons with no issues so far.