Crime Statistics and Night Sights

[SpecRacer]

I was thinking of getting a Shield with night sights but they are about $500 as opposed to $330 without. So I did some research

From what I have gathered in a brief half hour of research on the net, 2/3rds of violent crimes take place after dark.

Why would anyone buy a self defense firearm without night sights? And, why do so few manufacturers offer them?

I know I am getting the night sights.

 

[Mister X]

From what I have gathered in a brief half hour of research on the net, 2/3rds of violent crimes take place after dark.

Why would anyone buy a self defense firearm without night sights? And, why do so few manufacturers offer them?.

You're making the assumption that night sights are necessary in the dark/at night. That simply isn't so. WILSON DEFENSE JOURNAL: Sights-What and Why? Gabe Suarez and Rob Pincus

 

[bigwheelzip]

The time to acquire a sight picture in a low-light defense posture, would probably allow an attacker to close on you. Assume a defensive shoot is at close range and practice point shooting. Can be just as accurate as sighted shots and much quicker.

 

[ClayCow]

Try clearing your room by looking through your sights. Youll see that your focus narrowd down to those sights. Try again with just holding your gun but focusing at the room, your sight window opens up.

I like NS because I can see them better but like the link above stated, you probably wont be using the sights in SD situations. Better to save your money imo.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I was thinking of getting a Shield with night sights but they are about $500 as opposed to $330 without. So I did some research

From what I have gathered in a brief half hour of research on the net, 2/3rds of violent crimes take place after dark.

Why would anyone buy a self defense firearm without night sights? And, why do so few manufacturers offer them?

I know I am getting the night sights.

If you want them, do it.

There will never be a valid argument against them.

I highly recommend a front night sight only.

$500 isn't so bad. You can find them for less and have them installed but you will have to determine how much you will save.

Personally I would buy the Shield at $330, find a good front night sight and have it installed.

Something to think about. You may only have time to draw your gun. You may not have time to produce a flashlight too. Ever look through the sights while holding a flashlight? The sights stick out like a sore thumb. So if you cannot produce a flashlight, night sights are you next best tool.

 

[jaymoore]

We used to do night shoots at Ft. Benning. Huge difference getting good hits quick with night sights that suit you. I would often forego a light except in the most "delicate" situations. Even just the front sight being tritium does help.

 

[scooter123]

If you look deeper into the statistics or Self Defense shootings you'll find that typically no more than 3 shots are fired and almost all take place at arms length distances between 3 and 10 feet. At those ranges you won't be using your sights, you'll be point shooting. In addition as someone who can longer focus on handgun or rifle sights I can tell you that with practice it's possible to shoot 50 rounds in rapid fire at the head on a B-27 target at 35 feet and only have 2 misses with a double action revolver. Frankly I think that night sights are way over sold and really not nearly as essential as many newer shooters believe.

 

[Arik]

You're making the assumption that night sights are necessary in the dark/at night. That simply isn't so. WILSON DEFENSE JOURNAL: Sights-What and Why? Gabe Suarez and Rob Pincus

Gabe isn't exactly the guy I'd listen to on gun related topics. He's a good salesman.

The reason most companies don't offer night sights is because the there are so many veriations. Different gights, color, quality, likes/dislikes. It's cheaper for both if they sell you a basic gun and you do all the additional stuff you want.

 

[Old cop]

Street experience has taught me that I would not spend the money on night sights on a self defense gun. Most confrontations will happened within three yards and in seconds, no time to line up your sights.

 

[Triathloncoach]

Let's do a little probability cost analysis. What are the odds you will need to fire your gun in a self defence situation. (Hello winning the lottery type odds, unless you are a drug dealer) X the odds that having night sights will lead to a better outcome for you? .00001% X $150? Use the $150 towards a gym memebership, and actually go. A heart attack will kill you.

With that said I have night sights on my Glockenspiel 19. They look cool.

You could use the same math for everything self defense gun related in a cost benefit analysis. Gee whiz, what % of law enforcement ever fire their gun in the line of duty? Even the inner city cops. And some may say I own an arsenal. Lots or tactical, lots of NFA. Fun, fun, fun! Fun.

And yes I carry, just in case. It's amusing

 

[Mister X]

Gabe isn't exactly the guy I'd listen to on gun related topics. He's a good salesman.

The reason most companies don't offer night sights is because the there are so many veriations. Different gights, color, quality, likes/dislikes. It's cheaper for both if they sell you a basic gun and you do all the additional stuff you want.

So everyone should listen to you instead?

What does Gabe and Rob Pincus say about night sights that you consider invalid?

 

[Inusuit]

I'm an old guy in a rural area. I stay away from crowded venues and bars at closing time. I maintain situational awareness. That said, my Shield has a laser, my first, and I like it for my aging eyes. But I agree that statistics support low light and up close/personal self defense situations and practice point shooting without the laser.

 

[Gamecock]

Let's do a little probability cost analysis. What are the odds you will need to fire your gun in a self defence situation. (Hello winning the lottery type odds, unless you are a drug dealer) X the odds that having night sights will lead to a better outcome for you? .00001% X $150? Use the $150 towards a gym memebership, and actually go. A heart attack will kill you.

With that said I have night sights on my Glockenspiel 19. They look cool.

You could use the same math for everything self defense gun related in a cost benefit analysis. Gee whiz, what % of law enforcement ever fire their gun in the line of duty? Even the inner city cops. And some may say I own an arsenal. Lots or tactical, lots of NFA. Fun, fun, fun! Fun.

And yes I carry, just in case. It's amusing

As I have said many times, the best self defense bargain is the Fanner 50. Yeah, Fanner 50. Fifteen bucks. Be sure to remove the orange nipple if it is a later model that has it. For home use, only; could get you in trouble if you roam the streets without the play toy orange. (Can you carry a Fanner 50 without the orange nipple if you have a concealed carry license? What great ironing it would be if you could carry a real gun, but not a toy!)

NRA reports that in over 99% of confrontations where a firearm is produced, the conflict ends without a shot being fired. The mere appearance of a gun ends the conflict. Therefore, the most critical attribute of a firearm is that it be visible. A big, hulking, chromed Fanner 50 is perfect!

 

[Arik]

So everyone should listen to you instead?

What does Gabe and Rob Pincus say about night sights that you consider invalid?

I consider Gabe invalid. He himself at one point said he'd sell anything he's paid to. He has sold products as the end all be all only to turn around and call it garbage when another company paid him to sell their products. He's don't this with mags, guns and gear. First it's the best then it's not worth a penny. It's one thing to find a better product bet a different story when you sell it and then bash it when paid more by someone else. Let's not forget the little prison sentence for attempted murder and fraud

That other dude from Tennessee does this too. His opinion of the 1911 is that it's absolutely garbage and he's made plenty of videos saying it....until Kimber paid him and now 1911s are the best thing ever.....only if it's it's a Kimber though every other 1911 is still garbage.

 

[aarontart]

If you want them, do it.

There will never be a valid argument against them.

I highly recommend a front night sight only.

$500 isn't so bad. You can find them for less and have them installed but you will have to determine how much you will save.

Personally I would buy the Shield at $330, find a good front night sight and have it installed.

Something to think about. You may only have time to draw your gun. You may not have time to produce a flashlight too. Ever look through the sights while holding a flashlight? The sights stick out like a sore thumb. So if you cannot produce a flashlight, night sights are you next best tool.

Installing only a front night sight is very good advice. If you have both the front and the back you may struggle to line them up in a defensive situation which can delay your shot. Only having a front dot gives you something to quickly acquire before you pull the trigger. I have had instructors give me this advice in the past and it always made sense to me.

 

[Gamecock]

We used to do night shoots at Ft. Benning. Huge difference getting good hits quick with night sights that suit you. I would often forego a light except in the most "delicate" situations. Even just the front sight being tritium does help.

Military environment is different than self defense.

 

[APS]

If it's not cost prohibitive I put tritium sights on my carry guns. On some, like my 642 it would be cost and time prohibitive to have a tritium vial inserted in the front sight. So I am happy with my crimson trace grips and lasermax weaponlight. Triathaloncoach makes a good point about cost analysis.
Some examples: when I setup my Shields I knew from shooting them that I wanted the apex carry kit. That hs2000 guy would install any sights you sent if you bought the kit from him and had him install the usb from the kit or something to that effect. I purchased the ameriglo two dot sights and had him install them along with the usb from the kit. When I purchased my HK P30SK for appendix carry the LE version already came with tritium sights and an extra magazine for ~$100 more so I purchased it. The magazine alone is about 40.
On the flip side, my Beretta PX4 Storm Compact that I was going to setup for appendix carry has a "shoot the dot" sight picture which I hate. The Compact has limited tritium options and the Trijicon HDs are over $150. So I am holding out to see what the Langdon model might come with.

 

[Gamecock]

There will never be a valid argument against them.

Can they reveal your position?

 

[Mister X]

I consider Gabe invalid. He himself at one point said he'd sell anything he's paid to. He has sold products as the end all be all only to turn around and call it garbage when another company paid him to sell their products. He's don't this with mags, guns and gear. First it's the best then it's not worth a penny. It's one thing to find a better product bet a different story when you sell it and then bash it when paid more by someone else. Let's not forget the little prison sentence for attempted murder and fraud

That other dude from Tennessee does this too. His opinion of the 1911 is that it's absolutely garbage and he's made plenty of videos saying it....until Kimber paid him and now 1911s are the best thing ever.....only if it's it's a Kimber though every other 1911 is still garbage.

Ad hominem arguments are not a rebuttal to the points they made. Tell me why what they specifically said about sights/night sights is invalid. The truth is still the truth no matter what mouth speaks it.

 

[Arik]

Ad hominem arguments are not a rebuttal to the points they made. Tell me why what they specifically said about sights/night sights is invalid. The truth is still the truth no matter what mouth speaks it.

But the truth will be different if I paid him more money.

Then why bother having sight at all? Seriously what's the point. Cheaper to make guns without them. Less machine work and less parts. Just cause some instances you don't need them doesn't mean you never need them.

Plain black sights? Great idea. I can't seem them on a black target at 20 yards. Black on black doesn't work. Or should I wait till the target gets closer