Tritium fiber optic sights are quickly becoming more common. Once an exotic upgrade for select firearms, these high-visibility accessories are now not only available but highly accessible. No company represents this trend better than Hi-Viz, whose sights adorn several of my guns, including my Ruger GP100 revolver, which we’ll discuss today.
That’s right. Tritium isn’t just a “tacticool” thing anymore. You can even put them on your trusty wheel gun. Some Hi-Viz sight packages come with the front and rear sights together, but the Ruger revolver sights are sold separately. That’s because Hi-Viz has a rear sight that fits all Ruger revolvers except the SP101 and LCRx, while the front sight is more model-specific. But we’re reviewing them together because it just makes sense to do so. We’ll specify which sight we’re talking about whenever necessary, but let’s start with some specifications.
Hi-Viz GP100 Sights Specs
We’ll break these into front and rear for best clarity.
Front Sight
- Fits Ruger GP100 models with spring plunger retained front sight
- Ultra Bright Encapsulated LiteWave H3 Tritium (Green with White Outline)
- All Steel Construction
- Fits Standard Holsters
- Standard Factory Blade Height of 0.27 inches
Rear Sight
- Fits all Ruger revolvers with factory adjustable rear sights, except the SP101 and LCRx
- Interchangeable LitePipe Design (Green and Orange)
- All Steel Construction
- LitePipe Diameter 0.07 inches
- Windage and Elevation Adjustable
The Hi-Viz LiteWave H3 System
I’m quite familiar with Hi-Viz sights since I run them on one AR-15, an AK-103, a Ruger 10/22, and a Henry Golden Boy. This is my first Hi-Viz-equipped pistol, but the principle is the same: They’re built around the proven Hi-Viz LiteWave system. This system is obviously based on tritium fiber optic technology, but many Hi-Viz products also feature interchangeable LitePipes, which are small inserts that are easily swapped in and out.
The rear sight features these LitePipes, allowing you to choose between green and orange. I’ve chosen to go with green for my GP100, but I can literally change my mind in a couple of minutes if I want; the LitePipes are that easy to change. Hi-Viz even includes a handy tool to help, but any similar sized punch will do.
And if the LitePipes start fading over time, as tritium eventually does, you can buy more LitePipes for next to nothing without replacing the entire sight. The front sight does not have LitePipes. Instead, it has an encapsulated green tritium insert that is not interchangeable. Hi-Viz offers a 12-year warranty against tritium failure under normal conditions.
One advantage of the sights being sold separately is that you may only want the front sight. I have a similar setup on another gun, with the tritium front sight and factory rear notch. The Hi-Viz front sight will work just fine like that since it matches the factory Ruger front sight’s height. That also means that the front sight will fit your GP100 holster.
But I admit to liking the front-rear combination, as I have on my 10/22 and Golden Boy. The front sight is easily discernable from the rear since it has a prominent white outline, whereas the rear LitePipes are smaller and single-hued. It’s a nice setup.
Running the Hi-Viz GP100 Sights
First, these are not cheap plastic sights. They’re all steel, and they are solid. The rear sight is easily adjustable for windage and elevation with a standard flat-head screwdriver. I had my gunsmith install them. Your skills may be superior to mine, but Hi-Viz recommends professional installation. It cost me $35, which I count as money well spent.
Like my other Hi-Viz sights, these allow me to lay my Ruger on target a bit more quickly. Proper fundamentals are obviously required, but my eyes acquire these sights instantly, which is a big improvement for my less-than-stellar vision. I’ve sometimes compared tritium fiber optic front sights to red dots in that they naturally draw my eyes. Many of us have been taught to focus on the front sight, so I appreciate that extra help as my eyes get older. I honestly prefer sights like the Hi-Viz to optics on my handguns, and I shoot more confidently than with factory iron sights.
The H3 tritium front sight glows brightly in daylight, low light, and even in pitch dark. The rear LitePipes are easily acquired in daylight, but the darker it gets, the harder they are to see. But I’ve found that I’m on target as long as I can clearly see the entire front sight. The LitePipes do not show up in darkness, but since I don’t habitually shoot in full darkness, that’s not an issue. My GP100 is a daylight gun. I have other guns for nighttime use.
Final Thoughts
I think it’s clear that I like my Hi-Viz sights. I like them on my other guns, and I like them on my GP100. No, they aren’t traditional, which is a comment I got about my Hi-Viz-equipped Golden Boy. I like traditional-looking guns as much as anyone. But I also like to shoot my best. My eyes aren’t what they used to be, so I’ve embraced technology that helps me, even on my more “traditional” guns.
The Hi-Viz sights are bright and easily acquired. I like that the LitePipes are simple to replace and inexpensive, should I want more. I also like that I get to choose between green and orange after I buy the product, not before. And I can run them head-to-head to see which I like better, changing colors as I choose. I love that flexibility.
I’ve been very happy with every set of Hi-Viz sights I’ve bought, including these GP100 sights. To me, there’s really nothing not to like. Maybe you’ll agree. So, if you’re considering upgrading your sights, maybe give Hi-Viz a look. You won’t be disappointed.
