Disposing of old night sights.

[Nimrod]

When you change out your night sights, how do you dispose of the old night sights. Since they contain capsules of radio active material, I wouldn't think I could just toss them into the garbage for land fill. How can I properly dispose of them?

[TucsonMTB]

Haven't had to do that yet, but my curiosity would never let me discard them. I would put them on a self in a walk in closet or the garage positioned so that I could see them and watch them continue to decay.

The radioactive material is Tritium gas, so even if you trash them, it will not contaminate the water table.

By the way, some brands can be "re-lamped" by having new cartridges installed, often at a bargain price. So, keeping them "just in case" might be worthwhile.

[Nimrod]

Thanks TucsonMTB. I am still hanging on to them. The old front sight is dark. The old rear sight still glows, but is a little weak. I will not "toss" them until I know that I can do it proper.

[jocko]

When you change out your night sights, how do you dispose of the old night sights. Since they contain capsules of radio active material, I wouldn't think I could just toss them into the garbage for land fill. How can I properly dispose of them?

I dispose of mine by throwing them up in the air and wiith my trust PMJ9 I shoot um when they start to come down, then I try again and again, and again and again. . Just sayin:der:

[TucsonMTB]

It's easier with a 12 gauge, Jocko.

The blast better dilutes the tritium gas too. ;)

[jocko]

humm,,, were wise there WATSON,,,

[mr surveyor]

I like mine with a little sugar and milk:rolleyes:


much adoo about nothing, in my opinion.

[ripley16]

How can I properly dispose of them?

Mail them to Al Gore's mega-mansion in Tennessee. He feeds them into his local nuclear reactors that power his energy gulping homestead. And you thought the TVA was established to power the homes of poor citizens.

[Bawanna]

I broke a set installing them on a Beretta for the department. There was enough that they got strong geiger counter readings from my hands for quite some time. That was long long ago, I'm sure I don't glow in the dark anymore.

And I show no ill signs from it, completely normbal in all respects.

[MW surveyor]

+1 on mailing them to someone you don't like but add some talcum powder in the envelope to get the recipient (hey big word and spelled it correctly the first time) even more paranoid. Just make really, really, really sure that you don't get any finger prints on anything that gets delivered, use self stick stamps and a crayon to write the address.

This is just a joke so please do not come to my house!

[jocko]

I broke a set installing them on a Beretta for the department. There was enough that they got strong geiger counter readings from my hands for quite some time. That was long long ago, I'm sure I don't glow in the dark anymore.

And I show no ill signs from it, completely normbal in all respects.

say when u break that vile, that the material can effect ones brain. so I would imagine, in ur case ur OK. Just sayin:D

[gb6491]

I broke a set installing them on a Beretta for the department. There was enough that they got strong geiger counter readings from my hands for quite some time. That was long long ago, I'm sure I don't glow in the dark anymore.

And I show no ill signs from it, completely normbal in all respects.
Yep.
http://i49.tinypic.com/ixtu7c.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/a24y9v.jpg
http://www.epa.gov/rpdweb00/images/un-radioactive_warning_sign.jpg:)

In regards to Tritium night sights: http://www.alli.wnyric.org/district/documents/msds/files/ckf/ckfdr.html
Regards,
Greg

[Tinman507]

nice!!!

[MW surveyor]

Good one Greg!

[Bawanna]

Crap, maybe I should be worried after all!:eek:

[Bawanna]

Ok, I read the link, I'm not worried anymore. Still curious about the photo but not worried. I'm ok.

[TucsonMTB]

Well, just in case that information understates the risk, can I have your Garand? Pretty please? That is one beautiful rifle!! CMP?

http://i49.tinypic.com/ixtu7c.jpg

[Bawanna]

Yes it was originally CMP. Another guy bought it and I got it from him when he downsized due to divorce or something, don't recall. Friend of a friend type deal.

It of course came in a near perfect walnut stock, that picture is of a Boyd laminate stock I did for it. It's now back in the original. Figured if it could survive the battlefield it could handle some careful handling by me.

It's semi unique in that the back of the receiver is blackened. It was one of the early ones where they were using them to launch rifle grenades. They kept breaking receivers. So they dipped them in molten lead as a last step.
I can't remember the experts name now but I'm sure everyone here would recognize the name.
I thought someone had used it to hold something up to spray paint and was gonna try to clean it off. Fortunately he knew right off what it was and said it was even more desireable as there weren't than many of them.

Kind of a cool little side deal.

Anyhow I'll put your name on it Tucson when I cross the river. Enjoy.

[TucsonMTB]

Awesome!

Actually, given our respective ages, I will be waiting on the other side for you. But, even us old guys like to dream.

But . . . Thanks!! :)

[Bawanna]

Age matters not my friend, it's all attitude and desire.

This is why men die before women usually. Because they want to.

[JERRY]

i bury mine, helps my tomatoes get to about 4-5 pounds each.

[yqtszhj]

In regards to Tritium night sights: http://www.alli.wnyric.org/district/documents/msds/files/ckf/ckfdr.html
Regards,
Greg

Only 9,999 to go then you can maybe do sumpin. Just kidding.

[Nimrod]

Thanks gb6491 for the MSDS link. I guess they are not really a problem. I will just put them in a box. Wrap the box in Christmas paper and add a big bow. Put it in the back seat of my truck and drive down to Walmart, leave the windows down and the doors unlocked, and go inside of a few minutes. I will never see them again.