Night Sights on Handguns

[feralmerril]

My tritium sights on the 66-3 went dim a lot faster than that 12.5 years. I never bothered to get them redone. I think the feature has been totally useless for a long time now. Think I bought the gun around 1986.
Seems I read that the largest % of gun fights are at night. If I was to work night shift guard duty again or a cop working nights I would want them on my gun. The first night set up I seen was back in about the late 1960`s or early 1970`s. A guy had them at a gun show. They were on a model 19. It had battery's under the grip with a button on the grip that you would naturally press with your third finger soon as you gripped the gun. It had a black wire that was epoxied down the rib to the front sight. It glowed bright red. He had his demo gun set up in a dark box to check out. He would only put them on LE guns. I wanted one!

 

[Arik]

I don't want to use a flashlight. I don't need one. All I need is to see where the barrel of my gun is pointed and to easier align the sights

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[Fastbolt]

I don't want to use a flashlight. I don't need one. All I need is to see where the barrel of my gun is pointed and to easier align the sights

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

Nice to be able to avoid situations and circumstances where a hand-held light source isn't needed. I'd always opt for only having to use sights in the best of clearly illuminated circumstances, given my druthers.

Unfortunately, having had to work within darkened buildings & structures (even at 'high noon', when windows were covered or the building lacked windows), I've had to use different size flashlights in conjunction with my handguns over the years. Just another skillset to acquire, refine and maintain.

The use of hand-held lights & night sights can still make for a very effective range of options in seeing your surroundings and seeing/aligning the night sights.

Different strokes for different strokes.

 

[Arik]

I'd you are referring to other people in the house .......well if there is someone besides me in my house, especially in the middle of the night then they are definitely trespassing

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[formernuke]

One of the plus's for me is being able to pick the gun easily from inside the dark safe drawer etc. The contrast is nice too against the target. My favorite so far are the Heinie straight eight sights.

 

[sac-gunslinger]

I have a question. If it is so dark that you cannot see your sights, how can you see your assailant? How can you make the decision to employ deadly for force? Remember that most times that people use deadly force for self defense, he or she will be called upon to explain (and defend) his or her actions, and that will include the question "how did you know the deceased person was attacking you?" "Oh, I jiust knew he was attacking me!" Ain't gonna cut it.

When I was instructing, we spent 20% of our time dealing with shooting in dark conditions. We taught use of flashlight and positively identifying attackers. Remember, if you are having trouble seeing your alleged attacker, he is having trouble seeing you.

Don't earn yourself 10 to 20 years at the Graybar Hotel becuase you assumed a person was an armed attacker and shot.

 

[Kanewpadle]

I have a question. If it is so dark that you cannot see your sights, how can you see your assailant? How can you make the decision to employ deadly for force? Remember that most times that people use deadly force for self defense, he or she will be called upon to explain (and defend) his or her actions, and that will include the question "how did you know the deceased person was attacking you?" "Oh, I jiust knew he was attacking me!" Ain't gonna cut it.

When I was instructing, we spent 20% of our time dealing with shooting in dark conditions. We taught use of flashlight and positively identifying attackers. Remember, if you are having trouble seeing your alleged attacker, he is having trouble seeing you.

Don't earn yourself 10 to 20 years at the Graybar Hotel becuase you assumed a person was an armed attacker and shot.

Well said. This was the point I've tried to make. Doesn't matter if we do or don't use night sights. And it doesn't matter whether we think one is better than the other.

What does matter is how/if we identify an intruder. Night sights cannot identify an intruder or determine if they are a threat.

We all know that even in your own home, we have an obligation to identify the threat and at the same time determine if they need to be shot. We can argue the point about shoot or no shoot in another thread. But as for night sights, they are not a necessity. They are personal preference and may be necessary for some, but not all.

 

[Fastbolt]

I have a question. If it is so dark that you cannot see your sights, how can you see your assailant? How can you make the decision to employ deadly for force? Remember that most times that people use deadly force for self defense, he or she will be called upon to explain (and defend) his or her actions, and that will include the question "how did you know the deceased person was attacking you?" "Oh, I jiust knew he was attacking me!" Ain't gonna cut it.

When I was instructing, we spent 20% of our time dealing with shooting in dark conditions. We taught use of flashlight and positively identifying attackers. Remember, if you are having trouble seeing your alleged attacker, he is having trouble seeing you.

This is an obvious subject to LE folks, but then they've been required to learn the laws involved in the use of force (including deadly force), including recerts & legal updates as may be needed. This is one thing that appeared to be an eye-opener for many private citizens when the state revised its CCW licensing back in '99 and applicants (including renewals) had to be exposed to some training involving state laws.

The use of hand-held lights is also pretty commonly understood within the LE field, although it's been a bit dismaying how some younger folks have taken the advent of the weapon-mounted lights to somehow mean the hand-held lights aren't of value anymore.

After you start to see broken switches & other parts from weapon lights accumulate on armorer benches ... and people started to realize there's a bit of added complexity to manipulating some of the lights under stress (different activation methods) ... and the hand-held lights have started to become significantly smaller and more powerful (almost every month, it seems) ... it still makes sense to consider that hand-held lights are still very practical, and you have to see what you need to see when using good judgment to make proper decisions.

Still need headlights to see where you're going in conditions of darkness when driving a motor vehicle, right?

 

[bigride]

Well...I have nightsights...which evidently means that I also think flashlights are obsolete and that I like to shoot at every unidentified object or creature that crosses my path. I didn't realize the conversation was one or the other. Near to me in my home, I have a flashlight which helps me see/blind a potential intruder. Near to me in my home is a firearm with night sights which help me quickly find gun in dim conditions and locate front sight in dim conditions. I am not clearing abandoned warehouses. I am trying to keep uninvited guests out of my bedroom. I realize that night sights don't suddenly make me an invincible imbecile. Night sights are not a shortcut. Night sights are just another tool to use...or not...in making proper decisions.

Just pretend this is witty.

 

[Kilibreaux]

Got to talking to a few friends at the range, some how it got around to "night sights on handguns" WHY? To me a self defense gun is for...in close. What are some pros / cons about it??????? Thanks beng

Night sights sound great.
But if you cannot SEE the person you are about to shoot, perhaps you should not shoot them?
The point is, an illuminated sight seems great until you realize the sight does NOTHING to help you ID the person you're about to shoot!

 

[PR24]

A light on the gun is nice. A light in your hand is a must. However, out of six fundamentals of marksmanship what are the two most important? Sight alignment & trigger control. Night sights are VERY important for self defense guns.

 

[PR24]

Absolutely one must see what one is shooting at & ID the target. But, to hit said target one has to see the the sights. I have night sights on duty, off duty, back up (S&W 638), duty AR15 w/ optics & another auto I use in the sticks.

 

[luangtom]

Amen to night-sights. Y'all haffta pick up the sight in order to put it on target and in low-light, these do their job. If it is on the bed-side table at night, it helps ya find yer firearm.

 

[jent]

I take a bit of a different view on night sights. I have two dot night sights, with a plain back (warren tactical, very happy with them). It's not that I see myself being in a situation where I will have to absolutely rely on night sights. They are only an aid in low light conditions.

Having the two different colors, in a low light condition it helps with getting that front sight in view from the rear sight. It's not that they will be the only indicator for sight alignment, just an aid.

I am interested in the 3 dot vs 2 dot arguments from people. I like the 2 dot because it helps in that general alignment. And when shooting in the daylight (which is 99% of what I do), it keeps the back simple and thus draws the eye to the front sight. But I warrent that if you are shooting off ONLY the night sights, 3 dots would probably be more accurate (but in general you should not be shooting off the dots).

 

[nawilson]

Not to be too argumentative, but why is it that some people seem to think that night sights and flashlights are mutually exclusive? You can own, and use, both.

I prefer night sights on my defensive guns. A casual observation reading this thread is that most of the cops also prefer them. In my experience, it is nice to know exactly where your sights are prior to lighting up a dark hole with your flashlight. Stand outside on a clear night with a full moon, you can see pretty clearly, but black sights at arms length tend to fade. Though most citizens won't be involved in a high risk traffic stop, I've done a few. There was enough ambiant light to see the suspect, but the glowing sights on my Glock were a great tool.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Not to be too argumentative, but why is it that some people seem to think that night sights and flashlights are mutually exclusive? You can own, and use, both.

I prefer night sights on my defensive guns. A casual observation reading this thread is that most of the cops also prefer them. In my experience, it is nice to know exactly where your sights are prior to lighting up a dark hole with your flashlight. Stand outside on a clear night with a full moon, you can see pretty clearly, but black sights at arms length tend to fade. Though most citizens won't be involved in a high risk traffic stop, I've done a few. There was enough ambiant light to see the suspect, but the glowing sights on my Glock were a great tool.

This thread progressed to where it is now because people either can't read or don't bother to read each and every post before spouting off.

Nobody ever said that nights sights are no good. And nobody said that a flashlight is better. Some of us prefer a flashlight rather than night sights. Some prefer a flashlight in addition to night sights.

There is no right or wrong. The only problem I have is when people think that nights sights are a replacement for a flashlight.

 

[DR505]

There is no right or wrong. The only problem I have is when people think that nights sights are a replacement for a flashlight.

Personally, I prefer both a flashlight and night sights. If it was an either/or proposition, the flashlight gets the nod.

 

[BobC357]

In my case, the M&P FS 9mm sights just disappear in dim to dark light -- especially with a dark subject to aim at. I want that first shot to count. I'll be putting night sights on as soon as I can. Yes it is a personal preference but I really like to know where the bullet is going to hit before I pull the trigger.

 

[Frizzman]

If someone is stupid enough to shoot without identifying the target, it doesn't matter what kind of sights they have. They shouldn't have a gun at all...I worked many hours in dim light where I could clearly identify the target without casting a light on it. I couldn't see the sights on my issued M10/64. I would have loved illuminated sights on my revolver. Pointing any light at someone who is willing to shoot at you, makes one a focal point for their fire...It isn't "cave dark" anywhere in my house at night and my night vision is excellent unless I blind myself with intensive white light. It does reflect back from the object illuminated by it...I qualified Distinguished Expert on the police course but NOT when trying to shoot the same course in poor light with plain sights...It doesn't do any harm to have them and I want as many options that can aid effective fire in a lethal situation...I like my flintlocks. There are some who tried to argue that the rock scraper is superior to caplocks...Those guys never had to depend on their flintlock to eat or stay above ground. One can be a luddite if one wishes. I like whatever proves to be a step forward if it can help me survive.

 

[Lt JL]

It's actually pretty simple. Always have a flashlight when you have a gun. Most cops don't yet have holsters that will accommodate weapons with lights. But they always have a couple of flashlights. Night sights are actually helpful even with a weapon mounted light; if you leave the light on too long, the other guy shoots you. a quick blast of light, then use your night sights to do your work.