Definitely get the Big Dot Tritium. I recently had an Ashley Express Big Dot Tritium front sight installed on my Kimber Pro Elite. The standard Kimber three-dot night sights were good but I was having a hard time focusing on them clearly. This was really a problem for me when the dark sights were against a dark background. It may just be my 45 year old eyes and my bifocals!
I purchased the Ashley Express Big Dot Tritium sights from Tac Pro Shooting Center in Mingus, Texas. Bill Davison of Tac Pro installed the sights while I waited. He also replaced the Kimber rear sight with the Ashley rear sight (a VERY shallow V with a single vertical white line in the middle).
From the first shot with the new sights, I could see the advantage of the Big Dot. I couldn't help but focus on the front sight! I was shooting more accurately right away. It was MUCH easier to focus on the front sight and there was much more contrast between the front sight and the target. I can actually focus on the Big Dot better WITHOUT my glasses than I can focus on the standard black sights WITH my glasses!
I was shooting low with the Big Dot at first. I was actually shooting over the sight. Once I got used to putting the dot over the target area, everything was great!
I used this pistol with the Big Dot sights during a Primary Pistol Class at Tac Pro. We fired 850 rounds over the three day class. By the end of the class, my shooting had really improved. Most of this improvement was due to the things I learned in the class. The sights were also a big help!
One interesting thing I noticed: When we were forced to shoot FASTER (we were timed) during some of the close-range drills, my groups actually improved. I didn't have time to aim and line up the rear sight precisely. I just pointed the gun, got a quick sight picture and put the Big Dot on the target area. At close range, this was enough!
I highly recommend these sights for use on a defensive pistol. They may not be ideal for long range shooting, although I was hitting consistently with them at 30 yards by the end of the class.
I would not recommend the rear tritium sight. The standard sight has a thick, vertical white line. It shows up well in dim light. If you are in a situation where you can't see the rear vertical white line, you are practically in the dark. You should only be shooting at close range in this situation and only if you are sure of your target. For short distances, just place the Big Dot Tritium front sight on the target. You will hit the target.
Enjoy!
