Contrast sights vs nights

C

cwhy_9901

Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2015
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Which do you prefer? I think I want to go to the night sights for m&p 9mm fs. Thoughts?
 
Register to hide this ad
Standard white dots are better in 98% of situations, night sights are better in 2% of situations, you'll likely not even use your sights in 100% of your dire situations.
 
McE said:
Standard white dots are better in 98% of situations, night sights are better in 2% of situations, you'll likely not even use your sights in 100% of your dire situations.
Click to expand...

Yes, please cite the source of your information, not only about standard white dots being better, but also not using sights in "dire situations." You probably need to explain your use of "situations" or define the term. Just fyi, I have night sights on my Glocks, a laser on my Shield. In my opinion, many "dire situations" occur in low light conditions where night sights, a flashlight, and/or a laser will be most useful.
 
Last edited:
Inusuit said:
Yes, please cite the source of your information, not only about standard white dots being better, but also not using sights in "dire situations." You probably need to explain your use of "situations" or define the term. Just fyi, I have night sights on my Glocks, a laser on my Shield. In my opinion, many "dire situations" occur in low light conditions where night sights, a flashlight, and/or a laser will be most useful.
Click to expand...

Here's my source: Practical experience. After the first round, when the muzzle flash destroys your night vision, it doesn't matter what sights you're using. Even leading up to the first round, unless it's completely darkroom dark, there's almost always enough ambient light to align any reasonably distinguishable set of sights. If you're using a flashlight, you'll see 'em if they're plain black all the way around . . .
 
Last edited:
I'm still on the fence about night sights. My preference is 3 dot sights. The Ameriglo Classic 3 Dot sights fit the bill as they are basically white 3 dot sights in daylight but glow green in the dark.

Part of my shooting practice consists of shooting instinctually. Yes, I do a lot of shooting actually using the sights but spend some of the time just bringing the gun up and without looking at the sights firing rounds. Through this practice I've found that I can shoot well this way and while there is a slight difference in accuracy my instinctual shots are all pretty decent hits and typically hit center mass somewhere between the throat and naval on a silhouette target.

I honestly don't know if in an SD situation at night I would actually use the sights or just shoot instinctually. Really makes me wonder if I would even use the night sights or not. Guess I need to do some low light/dark shooting and see how that goes (yep, one of those things on the to do list that I just haven't got around to). I imagine that would greatly help with my decision.
 
Based on my shooting experience I believe that night sights are over-rated. Across the gamut of lighting conditions there is only a small window where tritium is bright enough to be helpful without being too bright.

I have also grown to dislike three-dot sights. All three dots are always the same size and usually have the same brightness and color. Since the front sight is farther away it appears smaller, dimmer, and less distinct than the rears. On one pistol the front tritium died out first which made for interesting low-light plinking.

Currently I'm trying fiber optic front/black rear, TFO front/black rear, and an RMR. None of them are "The Answer". The fiber doesn't glow as much as I hoped in anything but outdoor sunlight, the TFO did not survive recoil (the fiber optic rod worked loose), and learning the RMR is a different ballpark.

If I went back to tritium it would probably be something like a Trijicon HD or TruGlo TFX (which is supposedly better constructed) front and a black or Heine Straight Eight rear.
 
The most useful thing about night sites is that they help me tremendously in finding my gun on the night stand in the dark.

Spend $125 on a tactical light before you spend that much on night sites.
 
V0OBWxZS16 said:
I have also grown to dislike three-dot sights. All three dots are always the same size and usually have the same brightness and color. Since the front sight is farther away it appears smaller,....than the rears.
Click to expand...
This may be a little off topic.

There is one gun where this is not true; H&K. The engineers at H&K are just a shade sharper than average. They not only understand how to make three dot sights, they do a marvelous job at it. They actually make the front dot larger so they all appear the same size when aligning the sights. :eek: In fact, their factory sights are gun model specific. For example, you can't just buy sights for a H&K USP. You must specify if it is a full size or compact. This is necessary to get the dots right.

Now, the sights I have on my USP compact are not night sights, but the dots are made correctly. First and only instance I've ever seen of that.

I have mixed feelings about the three dot sights, but that's a story for another thread.
 
My opinion doesn't count worth a hill of beans . . but I was also thinking of changing my sights out on my 9mm Shield. I have decided against it. It may just be me, the size of my hands or whatever . . . but I am finding that the more I shoot my Shield, I am "muscle training" myself to the pistol . .. . i.e. grip is consistent and when I pull up and aim . . . it is becoming more "instinct" shooting than anything else . . . and at SD ranges that I'm shooting . . . I am nailing smaller and smaller groups well within center mass the more I shoot it.

A point is also well made I think that in dark situations, after the initial shot you will have flash and just how much are you going to be seeing your sights after that . . or in reality, in a SD situation either in the light or the dark . . . how much are you really going to use your sights. You are going to be focused on your target . . . who might be shooting at you, advancing on you or moving . . or for that fact . . .multiple targets. In my mind . . that's why it is important to train your grip, stance and muscles to shoot instinctively. Just my 2 cents . . .

And I train with and shoot my carry revolvers the same way . .
 
For me I have blacked out the dots on my rear sight and am waiting on a tritium front sight I ordered from Dawson Precision(it should be here today..... also waiting on my iwb PJ holster
 
I have factory night sights on both my 9Pro and 9c. I like them. The white ring makes them easy to see during the day and in low light I see them better. I may change to Trijicon HD's for the even bigger ring around the front sight.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Bodyguard 2.0 sights & accessories
Replies
10
Views
371
Wheelgunner 642
Wheelgunner 642
M
M&P 9 EZ sights
Replies
5
Views
423
MDillon
M
B
XS Sights Bodyguard 2.0
2 3
Replies
41
Views
4K
agksimon
agksimon
S
40c rear adjustable sights
Replies
4
Views
295
SeaPossum6
S
D
MP Compact 3.6 vs MP Compact 3.6 metal
Replies
3
Views
324
hardluk1
H

Latest posts

Back
Top