The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Gear and Accessories

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 8, 2008, 02:51 AM   #1
XDGirl
Junior Member
 
Join Date: August 8, 2008
Posts: 11
Are night sights really worth the money

Ive been told that i need to get some night sights. Do i really need them are they that important.
__________________
American Gun Owners To bring Gun owners all across America together for Debates and Discussions: www.americangunowners.net
XDGirl is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 02:53 AM   #2
Playboypenguin
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2006
Location: Great Pacific Northwest
Posts: 11,515
I personally do not care for them. I have guns that came with them but I would not choose them. I think white dot sights are much better. I prefer the highly visible during the day sights over the more visible in the dark sights since I do not see myself shooting in the dark.
Playboypenguin is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 05:00 AM   #3
KChen986
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 27, 2007
Location: Ninja Mall
Posts: 818
Since most defensive shootings take place under 21 feet, at those ranges you don't really need to aim to make COM and even head shots. You will pretty much only need to draw, point and hit the target.

Of course this is assuming that you're interested in night sights for a defensive carry pistol.

So assuming an assailant decides to attack you at night when you're walking home--night sights aren't "really necessary."

The reason I have night sights on my pistol is what if i need to make an accurate aimed shot in low light conditions? I wouldn't want to have to not take a shot because I can't see my sights...
KChen986 is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 07:01 AM   #4
Kreyzhorse
Senior Member
 
Join Date: April 12, 2006
Location: NKY
Posts: 12,463
I think in a CCW gun that night sites are "nice" to have. Not sure that I'd go out of my way to get them installed, but my Springfield TRP has them.

In a SD situation, you aren't going to be target shooting and the gun will be used quickly and I doubt that having night sites will make a difference one way or the other.

If you want them, spend the money. If you don't want them, it is no big deal either.
__________________
"He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson
Kreyzhorse is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 10:49 AM   #5
sholling
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 18, 1999
Location: Hemet (middle of nowhere) California
Posts: 4,261
I've installed night sights on nearly all of my self defense pistols. They're just one of those things that you won't need most of the time but the one time that you do need them you'll really need them. They give you one more edge in a low light situation. Spend the $125.
__________________
Proud Life Member: National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation.
Annual Member: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (Project Appleseed) and the Madison Society.
sholling is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 12:54 PM   #6
AK103K
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2001
Posts: 10,223
Quote:
I've installed night sights on nearly all of my self defense pistols.
Me too.

Like sholling said, they give you an edge, and it doesnt have to be "dark" to take advantage of it. Even in a fairly well lit room, against a dark target, you can still see your sights.

All my sights have a white ring around them, so you still get a visible, pretty much "white" dot during the day. I've been using three dot type sights so long now, I see the dots first and use the blade and notch for slower, precision shooting. No matter what the light is, the dots are always there and I dont have to take even a millisecond to readjust looking for a sight picture of any kind. With the three dots, you get instant horizontal and vertical confirmation of your sight alignment without thought, unlike some of the other set ups.

As far as I'm concerned, there are no "cons" to them being on your gun.
AK103K is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 01:14 PM   #7
nate45
Senior Member
 
Join Date: July 15, 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,746
Get them

I really like them, they work great in combination with a flashlight, in darkness and with or without one in low light situations. In those situations they are the difference between having and not having a sight picture. A lot of us on this forum are constantly stressing the importance of shot placement and you cannot get consistent shot placement without using your sights.

Also they are great for quickly locating you pistol in a dark room. For example laying your pistol on the nightstand. In a very dark room night sights look very bright.

All in all, I don't see any downside to having them on a defensive handgun.
__________________
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."- Thomas Jefferson
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
(>_<)
nate45 is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 01:17 PM   #8
Erik
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 1999
Location: America
Posts: 3,479
"Are night sights really worth the money?"

Yes. Pretty much for the reasons already stated.
__________________
Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective
Erik is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 01:20 PM   #9
Creature
Junior member
 
Join Date: April 8, 2007
Location: Virginia
Posts: 3,769
Absolutely positively yes. I don't consider any pistol a defense pistol until it has night sights...I consider it a sport or target pistol only.
Creature is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 02:06 PM   #10
Playboypenguin
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2006
Location: Great Pacific Northwest
Posts: 11,515
Quote:
Absolutely positively yes. I don't consider any pistol a defense pistol until it has night sights...I consider it a sport or target pistol only.
Why?
Playboypenguin is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 02:19 PM   #11
Wuchak
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 1, 2007
Location: Shawnee, KS
Posts: 1,093
I think so. It was $70 to have the Mepro one installed on my SP101. I get the nice big white dot for daylight and the green dot for low light/night. The sights last 10 years so at $7 a year I think it is worth it for the extra edge that it provides. When practicing night shooting at the range it makes a huge difference in my accuracy and speed. Not as good as a laser but much better than regular sights.
Wuchak is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 02:22 PM   #12
AK103K
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2001
Posts: 10,223
Why for me would be I want a 24/7 weapon that is instantly available. Doesnt matter if its a handgun, rifle, shotgun, or SMG. If it will be used as a "weapon", it will have 24 hour/anywhere capabilities.

I have night sights and/or red dots on most all my long guns that fit this need too, not just my handguns. I dont see how you can be serious about this if you dont.
AK103K is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 02:29 PM   #13
Playboypenguin
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2006
Location: Great Pacific Northwest
Posts: 11,515
Quote:
Why for me would be I want a 24/7 weapon that is instantly available. Doesnt matter if its a handgun, rifle, shotgun, or SMG. If it will be used as a "weapon", it will have 24 hour/anywhere capabilities.
Devil's advocate would ask....and in a situation where it is too dark to see your sights and the distance is great enough to require them, you think it is safe to be firing your weapon? Seems a little tacti-cool to me.
Playboypenguin is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 02:53 PM   #14
hkg3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 1999
Location: Kalifornia, on my way to Arizona
Posts: 1,149
I like mine.

A few years ago I was taking a class at Gunsite. During the night-shoot portion of the class, I was the only student who got ALL his shots on target. I was also the only one who had tritium sights, besides the two instructors.

__________________
"The next time I shoot somebody I could be arrested."
- Lt. Frank Drebin, The Naked Gun
hkg3 is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 03:30 PM   #15
Erik
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 1999
Location: America
Posts: 3,479
"Devil's advocate would ask....and in a situation where it is too dark to see your sights and the distance is great enough to require them, you think it is safe to be firing your weapon? Seems a little tacti-cool to me."

There are numerous occassions where the combination of time and lighting is such that hunting for dark sights on a dark target is a needless disadvantage compared to immediately registering tritium sights under identical circumstances. And no, point shooting cannot solve everything, just as aimed shooting cannot. There's a time and a place, and night sights help solve a traditional draw back for half of that equation.

And... as hkg3 noted, the proof is often in the training pudding. Off the top of my head, I find people training with night sites to be faster and more accurate than the majority of their standard sight bretheren. (If pushed, I'd say 5% faster and 15% more accurcte.) Of course, everyone posting here is the exception, but not everyone is so lucky...
__________________
Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective
Erik is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 03:31 PM   #16
Playboypenguin
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2006
Location: Great Pacific Northwest
Posts: 11,515
Quote:
There are numerous occassions where the combination of time and lighting is such that hunting for dark sights on a dark target is a needless disadvantage compared to immediately registering tritium sights under identical circumstances.
What are these situation? Should a person be shooting at distant targets in the dark? How likely is someone to face this decision?
Playboypenguin is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 03:48 PM   #17
AK103K
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2001
Posts: 10,223
Quote:
Devil's advocate would ask....and in a situation where it is too dark to see your sights and the distance is great enough to require them, you think it is safe to be firing your weapon?
Seems like a judgment call on the part of the shooter to me, and no one else. If the devil is out there, he's fair game too.

Quote:
What are these situation? Should a person be shooting at distant targets in the dark? How likely is someone to face this decision?
Ask the boy who was shot just down the road from us last April.(from what we're hearing, he deserved it, but thats for the jury to decide) Shot from the road in the dark at close to 200 yards. He really didnt have a chance, but whos to say he wouldnt have, if he did. Then again, he was back lit and an easy shot for a high power rifle with a scope in experienced hands. How about you, if the first shot missed, what would you have done? We dont have 911 here, and police response is usually at least half an hour or more away. I know where I'd be, and it woundnt be in that death trap of a house if given the choice. I can see my sights in the dark, where it is dark, I dont need a back light.


Quote:
Seems a little tacti-cool to me.
If it turns you on to be so, its VERY tacti-cool, I'm sure.

I'm more into "utility", and for those of us who get to be out after dark or maybe in places that they might be handy, they work very well. Some of us actually might have use of what we have in our real day to day lives. Might be critters or it might be something else.

Most city people that come out here dont like to be out in our yard after dark, scary noises and things moving around they cant see dont ya know. Most never stay out long enough to let their eyes get used to the dark. Hell, most wont go out unless a light is on, like thats helping them.

I've had a fair amount of experience to know what its like trying to shoot at things in the dark with a gun that doesnt have sights you can see, how about you? Does the devil hold your flashlight?
AK103K is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 03:51 PM   #18
Erik
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 1999
Location: America
Posts: 3,479
"What are these situations?" - Too numerous to list. Any time the lighting is such that the sights are difficult to see superimposed over the threat/target. Both parties could be in low light; the shooter may have entered the shadows from the bright day light creating the impression of low light others already inside do not perceive; the threat/target could be in well lit conditions and the gun in poor ones; etc.

"Should a person be shooting at distant targets in the dark?" - The threat does not have to be distant or in the dark (see above). Many train to get on their sights quickly, and the threats/targets need not be defined as "distant." But, in low light tritium sights afford the ability to register them much faster under low light conditions.

"How likely is someone to face this decision?" - Likely, should the need to defend yourself with a firearm arise at all. But, the idea is to prepare yourself, and afford yourself the ability through equipement and training to quickly register your sights and use them as needed across a broad spectrum of lighting conditions.
__________________
Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective
Erik is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 03:52 PM   #19
hkg3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 1999
Location: Kalifornia, on my way to Arizona
Posts: 1,149
Quote:
How likely is someone to face this decision?
Hopefully never, however I know I’ll have the tools for the job should the need arise.
__________________
"The next time I shoot somebody I could be arrested."
- Lt. Frank Drebin, The Naked Gun
hkg3 is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 04:01 PM   #20
Playboypenguin
Junior member
 
Join Date: February 27, 2006
Location: Great Pacific Northwest
Posts: 11,515
Quote:
"What are these situations?" - Too numerous to list
Then ask yourself, how many situations exist where white dot sights would be more advantageous and quicker with which to get an accurate sight picture. I know my white dots are far superior in daylight to my nite-sights.

I will not chose or reject a gun based on either set of sights, but I will not pay extra for night sights.
Playboypenguin is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 04:14 PM   #21
AK103K
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 1, 2001
Posts: 10,223
Quote:
I know my white dots are far superior in daylight to my nite-sights.
You must have the wrong night sights.

Quote:
I will not chose or reject a gun based on either set of sights, but I will not pay extra for night sights.
Hey, this is where everyone assesses their own personal needs and makes a choice. I personally would reject a gun that was not night sight capable (if it was equipped with sights), and gladly pay the small premium they require to get them.

As with anything else, the first time you REALLY need something and dont have it, is usually the last time you'll do without it, when at all possible. If there is a next time that is.
AK103K is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 05:04 PM   #22
hkg3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: October 9, 1999
Location: Kalifornia, on my way to Arizona
Posts: 1,149
Quote:
Then ask yourself, how many situations exist where white dot sights would be more advantageous and quicker with which to get an accurate sight picture. I know my white dots are far superior in daylight to my nite-sights.
My tritium sights are bright white during the day. I have no problems seeing them.

Any advantage white dot would have over tritium during the day would be more than offset by the advantage tritium would have at night.



Unfortunately I can't get my camera to focus on the front sight.
__________________
"The next time I shoot somebody I could be arrested."
- Lt. Frank Drebin, The Naked Gun
hkg3 is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 05:46 PM   #23
sholling
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 18, 1999
Location: Hemet (middle of nowhere) California
Posts: 4,261
Quote:
What are these situation? Should a person be shooting at distant targets in the dark? How likely is someone to face this decision?
How likely is it that you will be pointing a gun at somebody? Why be 1/2 way prepared?
__________________
Proud Life Member: National Rifle Association, California Rifle & Pistol Association, and the Second Amendment Foundation.
Annual Member: Revolutionary War Veterans Association (Project Appleseed) and the Madison Society.
sholling is offline  
Old August 8, 2008, 06:28 PM   #24
Erik
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 24, 1999
Location: America
Posts: 3,479
Another "my night sights are white" in the light comment.

"Any advantage white dot would have over tritium during the day would be more than offset by the advantage tritium would have at night."

Agreed.
__________________
Meriam Webster's: Main Entry: ci·vil·ian Pronunciation: \sə-ˈvil-yən also -ˈvi-yən\, Function: noun, Date: 14th century, 1: a specialist in Roman or modern civil law, 2 a: one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force b: outsider 1, — civilian adjective
Erik is offline  
Old August 9, 2008, 02:24 AM   #25
3 gun
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 23, 1999
Location: N41 24.283 W81 43.370 N.E.Ohio
Posts: 561
We did a night shoot a while back and I was surprised at how far away you can see the glow from night sights in true total darkness. You could even clearly see the one guys face when he held the pistol in a firing position. Even with the NS you still need to find the front sight in the rear for good hits. Not always easy. As NS go I like the ones that use different shapes or colors or both to help you tell which one is the front or rear. XS big dots work nice. Even they will go dim over time just like all the rest.

I prefer a laser myself. No glow to give you away. No alignment issues, just place the dot on target. You don't even have to be behind the pistol to aim, allowing you to use cover more completely. Some will even claim that putting the dot on target can keep you from having to shoot since the bad guy knows where you are aimed. Sure you have to replace batteries but that is cheaper than replacing NS every 10 or so years. The Crimson Trace grips come on when you grip the the pistol, no extra switch to flip. You can keep the laser off by just slacking your grip slightly. I have three sets already and looking for a fourth for my CZ.

Low light shooting is tough. Any edge you can get is worthwhile.
__________________
Change you can believe in... Pre-65 US silver coins
NRA RSO & Certified Instructor in rifle, pistol, shotgun.
An unloaded pistol is a paperweight.
Opportunity knocks..Trouble kicks down the door.
3 gun is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:09 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.08410 seconds with 10 queries