Best sight for low light shooting

[MikeyMike]

I finally got around to shooting my Shield 9mm and I think I made the right call, love it! However, my range has piss poor lighting (dim and old yellow lights) as if I were in a basement. Although I love the shield factor stock sights in the light, they don't seem to be the best for me at the range. What are the best that we be easily visible? Also, some of these are not cheap i noticed from the start of my searching (ie Trijicon). That said, is it possible and okay to just settle for a front sight and not a rear, or do you highly recommend getting a complete set? If it is highly recommended, I don't have a big problem spending some extra money in this case. I just want something that great in low light.

For example, I bought HiViz red/green front sight for me 22mm MP, and at the range, it is also not great although excellent outside for example. That said, I don't want the same thing to happen with something I splurge on.

Thanks for your guidance!

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Capt_Destro]

They are pricey, but the new TFX seem good for almost any lighting conditions.

Direct Sunlight- As bright as a laser beam in the dark.
Mid Light- The White O on the front dot stands out very well.
Low Light- They Glow pretty bright.

Sorry for the bad pics

I like them better than my IDOT Pros. They should be shield compatible.

A review http://www.xdtalk.com/threads/truglo-tfx-sights-xdm-40cal-3-8-compact.265474/


IDOT Pros were good in bright light.
So-So in the dark.

Buds had them for 109, XDMAN sells them for $149 with included installation. I opted for Bud's since I had a sight pusher.
They didn't do much good in middle-dim light.

 

[MikeyMike]

Thanks for the quick response. Do these have to "charge" though to be bright in little or no darkness, similar to a watches lum? If so, I don't understand this as it doesn't seem convenient or efficient in an emergency situation.

 

[DocSunShine]

They are pricey, but the new TFX seem good for almost any lighting conditions.

Direct Sunlight- As bright as a laser beam in the dark.
Mid Light- The White O on the front dot stands out very well.
Low Light- They Glow pretty bright.

Sorry for the bad pics

I like them better than my IDOT Pros. They should be shield compatible.

A review TRUGLO TFX Sights XDm 40cal 3.8 compact | XDTalk Forums


IDOT Pros were good in bright light.
So-So in the dark.

Buds had them for 109, XDMAN sells them for $149 with included installation. I opted for Bud's since I had a sight pusher.
They didn't do much good in middle-dim light.

Those look interesting, however 2 changes need to be made to put them in the Triji HD's league.

1. The need a ledge for 1 handed manipulation

2. Rear sights should be yellow not green, making it easier to draw your eyes to the front sight.

 

[Capt_Destro]

Believe they will be releasing a yellow rear.

 

[DocSunShine]

Believe they will be releasing a yellow rear.

I might try them out of they release a yellow rear. It's my only gripe with the Triji HDs, I can live without the ledge if they get the rear sights right.

 

[ATF]

Trijicon HD's are excellent but it all depends what you like, maybe you prefer the 3 dot Truglo style. The Trijicons immediately put your eye on the front sight in daylight or lowlight which is what I like. They are the best I've tried bar none. The only exception would be if you need a thinner sight for distance.

 

[Txsblues]

I also have a Shield and put on some standard 3 dot Trijicons (Non- HD). Seems I have gained night vision yet traded it for less visibility in daylight. There is a thin white ring around the perimeter of the dots but I have a hard time acquiring them in daylight. Also the glass tubes reflects light if behind me and all I see is a mirrored image of what is behind me and cannot pick up the white ring around the perimeter.



Another problem I did not anticipate with night vision is when I acquire my target at night I see two sets of sights (one set aligned from my dominant eye and a second set out of alignment from the non dominant eye). I have to close the non dominant eye to ensure I am properly aligned on the dominant eye. Anyone else have this issue?



I'm beginning to think a laser may be a better choice for low light conditions in my case.

 

[ATF]

The standard Trijicon's don't come close to the HD's in any light. The only standard night sights I've liked have been Signite sights. They are big glass globes that are easy to pick up night or day.
I always close my left eye because I'm right handed even though my left eye is slightly dominant. Otherwise you're looking through the sights at an angle. I even close my left eye with red-dots. I've never felt comfortable shooting with both eyes open but there's plenty of people who do it.

 

[Ron AZ]

I put TFO sights on both home defense guns. Work great in all light, can see them great in the dark and low light. Seem to work a little better in low light than just straight tritium sights I have on other guns. I've not had to consider anything else. Green fronts and yellow rear sights as someone else mentioned.

 

[Txsblues]

In regard to your question of do these sights need to charge before they glow the answer is no. These sights are glass vials filled with a luminescent radioactive gas that glows normally as one of its properties. I work with radioactive sources on a daily basis so I have access to measurement equipment. I was unable to detect any level of radiation with my survey meter set to its highest sensitivity. Its safe for use because the activity of the gas is too weak to penetrate your skin. It has a half life of 12 years meaning that it will have decayed enough over a decade that you will need to replace them because they have dimmed too much to see them very well.


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