I will be buying another 9mm shield. I will not be buying the performance shield bc I do not like the ported barrel. Now just need anyone's input on the tritium night sights. I have figured out trying to find a smith and Wesson 9mm shield with tritium is hard to find in stock. So are tritium night sights really worth it?
Night sights YES or NO?
- Thread starter Emalone5
- Start date
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I like them. They are great for low light situations. If a low light condition is possible for you, in my opinion I would try to get them. Necessary? No.
IMO, night sights are essential on a pistol carried for self-defense. I would put them on revolvers too, but that's not always practical.
Most self-defense situations occur in low light. Tritium sights are a huge plus in this case. If they have a white ring around the tritium cell, they also provide contrast against a dark target, in all light conditions.
Most self-defense situations occur in low light. Tritium sights are a huge plus in this case. If they have a white ring around the tritium cell, they also provide contrast against a dark target, in all light conditions.
Arik
Member
I like them and have them on most of my guns
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk
Hunter8282
US Veteran
YES. I bought I new Shield to drop the thumb safety and ADD night sights!
Tradewind36
US Veteran
I'm far from an expert but I say they're almost worthless in a low light up close SD situation. Gotta agree with Mr X
I'm so torn on yes I get the shield with the tritium night sights or no I don't. What I see is yes I can see the glowing night sights but if it's so dark and I can't see my target then how will the night sights help me? I know I'm getting the 9mm shield but just can't decide on the night sights. It's about a $80 difference. Maybe it will be worth it in the long run but night sights don't last forever so one day down the road they will need to be replaced.
I had them on a Glock 19 and got involved in two shootings at night and never looked at them as it was too quick, just point and shoot.
However, if the time allows a second or two to get tactical they are worth it.
Better to have and not need it than to need and not have it.
For the small expense, they could be worth their weight in gold. Plus they add value to the gun.
However, if the time allows a second or two to get tactical they are worth it.
Better to have and not need it than to need and not have it.
For the small expense, they could be worth their weight in gold. Plus they add value to the gun.
JayinAZ
Member
Carry a small flashlight and learn how to shoot with it, whether or not you have night sights. Night sights do not help you identify your target.
Hunter8282
US Veteran
Agreed, you still need to carry a small light.
Hunter8282
US Veteran
It would likely cost more to add them aftermarket so just get them now!
Ranger17
Member
I guess for me if a gun had them on then fine but so far it hasn't been a need for what i have purchased. I feel if it's so dark i cant see stock sights, then the target likely is in the same lighting conditions and hard to view. And as noted by others, that's where different aiming and/or lighting techniques can come into play.
I know this may be an odd comparison, but i see this as similar to when I used to bowhunt and the evening light was dissipating (esp in the woods). I had deer in my range at those times, but if I couldnt clearly make out the needed target I would not draw the bow. And if I wouldn't shoot a deer in questionable lighting, in most circumstances I wouldn't pull the trigger on my Shield either.
I feel if night sights give an owner more confidence then that may be worth it, but regardless of sights used there should be training involved to make sure one understands how to handle poor lighting along with all the other variables that can pop up in a SD moment.
The above is strictly my 2 cents
I know this may be an odd comparison, but i see this as similar to when I used to bowhunt and the evening light was dissipating (esp in the woods). I had deer in my range at those times, but if I couldnt clearly make out the needed target I would not draw the bow. And if I wouldn't shoot a deer in questionable lighting, in most circumstances I wouldn't pull the trigger on my Shield either.
I feel if night sights give an owner more confidence then that may be worth it, but regardless of sights used there should be training involved to make sure one understands how to handle poor lighting along with all the other variables that can pop up in a SD moment.
The above is strictly my 2 cents
Night Sights
- Nice to have: YES
- Necessary: NO
Expect under stress and duress, it'll most likely be intuitive/instinctive/point shooting. The target will most likely be moving and so will the defender, front sights and rear sight alignment/acquisition during these events (unlike at the practice range) is exponentially more difficult. It takes a huge amount of training to maintain composure and acquire target with speed and accuracy using iron sights in a life or death situation especially when there's return fire involvement.
At the end of the day, if an add-on allows more confidence then I say why not.
- Nice to have: YES
- Necessary: NO
Expect under stress and duress, it'll most likely be intuitive/instinctive/point shooting. The target will most likely be moving and so will the defender, front sights and rear sight alignment/acquisition during these events (unlike at the practice range) is exponentially more difficult. It takes a huge amount of training to maintain composure and acquire target with speed and accuracy using iron sights in a life or death situation especially when there's return fire involvement.
At the end of the day, if an add-on allows more confidence then I say why not.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
I own 2 polymer semiautos - a Sigma 40F and a M&P 40c. I have a set of night sights (Ameriglo?) on the Sigma as they were cheap, and made out of steel, rather than the stock plastic sights) the stock rear sight would slide side-to-side in the dovetail. I have a set of Truglo TFOs on the M&P:
http://www.truglo.com/firearms-hand...m-fiber-optic-handgun-sights-green-yellow.asp
I really like the Truglo sights. They were about $80.00, and cost about another $20.00 for installation at the local GT Distributors. If I had bought the sights from them, installation would have been free.
Good luck,
Dave
http://www.truglo.com/firearms-hand...m-fiber-optic-handgun-sights-green-yellow.asp
I really like the Truglo sights. They were about $80.00, and cost about another $20.00 for installation at the local GT Distributors. If I had bought the sights from them, installation would have been free.
Good luck,
Dave
I was looking at some Truglo sights (the all green ones) yesterday at my local gun shop. The Shield sights were out of stock/on order or I might have had him install them on the spot; I will have them installed next week when he gets them in. I like the fact that they are fiber-optic for moderate to low light situations as well as Tritium for night use.
kthom
Member
My long time experience has caused me to be in agreement with the two men quoted in the article Mister X posted a link to in his post. I have tried just about all available sights. I started out preferring plain black sharp sights front and rear. I still prefer them. I have all kinds and use them, but find the thoughts presented by these two men to be a correct assessment of the situation, especially for personal protection needs and use.
As I have gotten older and my vision acuity has diminished, I find that a wider opening in the rear sight is helpful for me and I have modified some of my rear sights accordingly. If I feel I need something extra on completely black sights, I will paint the front sight white or green for a better reference point. I can also easily remove that if I wish to do so. I do not like any sights or dots on my rear sight. I have blackened the dots on my rear sights and left the white dot in place on the front sight on my guns with three dot sights.
The fiber optic sights (green for me) show up really well for me in daylight on the front sight if the front sight is shaped properly around and above the plastic tube. These sights tend to be a bit more fragile than others. Most of my night sights have been in place long enough to begin to lose their strength. The best thing about night sights is they generally let me find my gun in the dark to pick it up!!!
My practicing these days involves shooting at a small paper plate of about 8 or 9 inch diameter. If I can keep my rounds in the flat bottom of that target at any personal protection distance, I'm good to go. I still practice a bit of shooting at 25 yards and out, using the same target and paying more close attention to my sights, but none of the three focals in my glasses allow me to have a really crisp sight picture. I can still keep my rounds on the plate, however. If your gun fits your hand well, if you hold it correctly in relationship to your body (one handed or two), and if you pratice and maintain good trigger discipline, you can do good personal protection work regardless of your sights!
I also carry and use a small flashlight that uses two AA batteries and produces about 100 lumens of light for target identification in the dark as well as for a multitude of other uses. Gotta know for sure who your target is and where it is in the dark!! These things are what work for me. You gotta figure out what works best for you!!!
As I have gotten older and my vision acuity has diminished, I find that a wider opening in the rear sight is helpful for me and I have modified some of my rear sights accordingly. If I feel I need something extra on completely black sights, I will paint the front sight white or green for a better reference point. I can also easily remove that if I wish to do so. I do not like any sights or dots on my rear sight. I have blackened the dots on my rear sights and left the white dot in place on the front sight on my guns with three dot sights.
The fiber optic sights (green for me) show up really well for me in daylight on the front sight if the front sight is shaped properly around and above the plastic tube. These sights tend to be a bit more fragile than others. Most of my night sights have been in place long enough to begin to lose their strength. The best thing about night sights is they generally let me find my gun in the dark to pick it up!!!
My practicing these days involves shooting at a small paper plate of about 8 or 9 inch diameter. If I can keep my rounds in the flat bottom of that target at any personal protection distance, I'm good to go. I still practice a bit of shooting at 25 yards and out, using the same target and paying more close attention to my sights, but none of the three focals in my glasses allow me to have a really crisp sight picture. I can still keep my rounds on the plate, however. If your gun fits your hand well, if you hold it correctly in relationship to your body (one handed or two), and if you pratice and maintain good trigger discipline, you can do good personal protection work regardless of your sights!
I also carry and use a small flashlight that uses two AA batteries and produces about 100 lumens of light for target identification in the dark as well as for a multitude of other uses. Gotta know for sure who your target is and where it is in the dark!! These things are what work for me. You gotta figure out what works best for you!!!
