As a 21-year-old seeking a career in law enforcement, I didn’t yet understand the struggle to see firearms sights several “old guys” wrote about in gun publications of the time. But I do now. The discovery of tritium, and its application to handgun and rifle sights starting in the 1980s, revolutionized the ability of law enforcement and private citizens to defend themselves in low-light conditions.
XS Sights for Low-Light Visibility
If you struggle to see your handgun sights in low-light conditions, XS Night Sights could be the upgrade you need. XS has long been my very favorite handgun (and rifle) low-light iron-sight system. I currently have XS Sights, proudly made in Texas from solid steel, on four of my primary self-defense handguns.
As my eyesight has changed with age, I’ve come to appreciate XS Sights’ innovation even more. The XS Sights R3D 2.0 Orange (GL-R201P-65) delivers an improved sight picture, making it easier to line up shots quickly in self-defense or low-light scenarios. Designed to provide high-visibility tritium night sights with a bright orange glow dot for fast target acquisition — whether in daylight or darkness — these tritium night sights are a top choice for concealed carry, home defense and tactical shooting.
Front sights from XS today feature a tritium vial paired with a high-visibility glow dot in either orange or green, ensuring quick target acquisition in any lighting condition. In daylight, the glow dot makes the front sight stand out, naturally drawing your eye for a sharp sight picture. In low light, it remains visible, especially when briefly exposed to ambient light or a flashlight. The rear tritium lamps, if present, further enhance alignment, allowing for a fast, intuitive three-dot sight picture even in total darkness.
About XS R3D 2.0 Sights
My .40 Glock 27 had a set of XS DXT2 PRO sights for several years. The XS DXT2 PRO rear sight is a shallow V-shaped trough with a vertical stripe in the center on which the front bead sight is balanced on forming a “lollipop” target picture. The DXT2 PRO is easy and quick to use. However, I was looking to upgrade to an orange glow dot, which would offer the highest level of front sight visibility under all conditions.
The requested sights arrived in short order along with a surprise: an additional set of R3D Orange Dot Glock Suppressor Sights. These sights add the additional height necessary to provide a clean sight picture over the top on an attached suppressor can. Other than the increased height, they are identical to the standard R3D sights.
I really like the R3D sight setup. The rear sight has its corners cut off at an angle so there are no sharp corners to snag clothing during the draw from a concealed position. The two rear Tritium vials — glowing or not — bracket the front sight nicely, providing a quick three-in-a-row sight picture even under bright sunlight. I found the orange glow dot front sight to be more visible than a green or yellow one.
Installing the R3D 2.0
Like AR-15s, Glock pistols, especially the original series, have plenty of aftermarket parts available and are relatively easy to work on. XS includes a small front sight wrench with their sights. However, in order to do a proper front and rear sight removal and installation, you will need a rear sight pusher tool and may need a full-length Glock front sight wrench if replacing an aftermarket front sight held in place with thread locker. XS has bundle options with the sight of your choice if you don’t already have these tools. XS also offers installation services. Just send XS the slide of your semi-auto gun (that already has the proper slide cuts), and they will do the work. Complete instructions are available on the XS website.
Is the XS R3D 2.0 the Best Tritium Night Sight for You?
I have used XS Sights for enough years now that I don’t bother with any other iron sight system unless they were already installed on a test gun. If you are like me and have racked up a lot of miles on your eyeballs over the years, consider XS Sight Systems as an upgrade for your handguns. The change in sight picture for my Glock 27 made rapid sight acquisition under reduced-light conditions even easier for me. Now my Glock 27 is all ready for some deep-woods walks in northern Michigan woods this summer, loaded with the right .40 caliber ammo in case any unwanted creatures should appear.
XS Sights: XSSights.com
