Night Sights

[scottydude003]

Where can i get night sights for a 686? Im guessing to this revolver i will need to use paint on sights. Can someone post a link? Thanks

 

[Andy Taylor]

I have a set of meprolights on a M25-5. They replace the rear blade and the red insert in the front sight.

ETA: looks like they have two versions, one like I have for guns with the red ramp front sight and one for guns that have a pinned in front sight.

http://www.meprolight.com/default.asp?catid={27C69B99-4C45-44D9-9AC7-0085255AF055}

 

[scottydude003]

those look like the ones i want. whats the site that you bought them from?

 

[snowman]

Sir,

I have Mepros on two of my 686s. It's been about seven years since I bought and installed them, and so I'm not sure I can remember where I got them; but I'm thinking I just ran a search for "Meprolight", and several places came up.

Andy

 

[Andy Taylor]

those look like the ones i want. whats the site that you bought them from?

I've had them on the gun since about 1997 or so, and they still work good. I ordered them at the gunshop where I worked at the time. I was only vaguely aware that the internet existed at that time.

 

[luangtom]

XS Sights has front and rear night-sights for most S&W revolvers. They are at XS Sight Systems - Home and have price-lists for all revolvers and semi-autos. The have the BigDot and the RegDot.

 

[Neumann]

I put the Meprolite kit on my 686, replacing the red insert. I feel more comfortable with those green dots on my nightstand, and the white cell outlines are easy to see in the field or on a range.

Next time, I will probably replace the entire pinned blade. You need a 1.5 mm roll pin punch and a #54 drill for installation.

 

[scottydude003]

thanks guys

 

[Infidel]

I recently installed a set of the Meprolights on a 3" 686+ and I'm very pleased with them. Make sure you follow the instructions and don't lose any of the little parts.

 

[Alx]

Seriously, I have never seen the usefullness of glow-in-the dark night sights. Unless you are ambushing someone. For these sights to be effective, you need to be in the dark, but if its all dark, you can't see what you are shooting at ... not a good idea. If your target is in the light, and you are hiding in the dark, you probably shouldn't be shooting at him/her/it.

 

[scottydude003]

Seriously, I have never seen the usefullness of glow-in-the dark night sights. Unless you are ambushing someone. For these sights to be effective, you need to be in the dark, but if its all dark, you can't see what you are shooting at ... not a good idea. If your target is in the light, and you are hiding in the dark, you probably shouldn't be shooting at him/her/it.

You forgot hunting and any LOW LIGHT conditions... they are very useful.

 

[Alx]

'Didn't forget hunting ... that's what scopes are for, and light low enough to see the glow dots is too dark to clearly see the bad guy.

 

[scottydude003]

Ok. Your opinion is completely up to you. However i disagree. They have helped me out in many conditions.

 

[ScottJ]

Do you have pictures of your revolver with these installed? I've thought about putting a set on my 66 but worry about how the front blade looks after you put their insert in.

I have a set of meprolights on a M25-5. They replace the rear blade and the red insert in the front sight.

ETA: looks like they have two versions, one like I have for guns with the red ramp front sight and one for guns that have a pinned in front sight.

Meprolight, Smith & Weston

 

[scottydude003]

no the only handgun i have night sights on is an M&P. They work great!

 

[FranklinD]

Midway carries the Meprolights.

Red ramp replacements:
Meprolight Tru-Dot Adjustable Sight Set S&W K, L, N-Frame with Red Insert Front Sight Steel Blue Tritium Green - MidwayUSA

Pinned front replacements:
Meprolight Tru-Dot Adjustable Sight Set S&W K, L, N Frame with Pinned Front Sight Steel Blue Tritium Green - MidwayUSA

 

[John F.]

Usefulness of night sights...

"Seriously, I have never seen the usefullness of glow-in-the dark night sights. Unless you are ambushing someone. For these sights to be effective, you need to be in the dark, but if its all dark, you can't see what you are shooting at ... not a good idea. If your target is in the light, and you are hiding in the dark, you probably shouldn't be shooting at him/her/it."

I first experienced the need for night sights on a pistol back in the '80's.
My wife's defense gun at the time was a nicely-tuned Colt Detective Special, and I'd gotten her some Glaser Safety Slugs for it. At that time I was a poor college student, and these things cost $3.00 each... and that was a heck of a lot more than $3 will buy now, plus my finances were stretched. I fired a couple on paper at different distances to verify the zero. Then, I waited till dusk to test it on a 4-lb Win. 452AA powder can full of water, to see both how it performed, and how much flash it generated. As many crimes occur in low light, this was a good simulation of a likely self-defense scenario.

The (large, round) can had a white label and was plainly visible at 7 yards, but the sights were not. Aiming as carefully as I could, I squeezed off a $3.00 round, and to my shock, promptly missed the whole can!! As a former bullseye pistol shooter, it was no trick to put 5 rounds into a tiny hole at that range in good light, and I could easily see the can, but I'd missed completely in deliberate, slow fire! The lesson was clear, and I've been a believer in night sights ever since!

Hope this helps,

John

 

[Neumann]

You can see an intruder clearly in light far to low to see ordinary sights. Black sights are hard to see against a black target even in a well-lighted range with centered (combat) sighting. Meprolights have a white ring around the tritium cell, making them visible at all light levels.

 

[Sportsterguy]

I have the Meprolights on my 1911's, but JUST on the front sight. Going to do the same with my 66. Still have a Surefire ready to light em up, blind em and acquire the FS for accurate shots.

 

[Stainz]

I am afraid I have to side with Alx here... but it could just be me!

My 60 Pro and Governor both came with tritium Night Sights. It could just be my eyes - or those sights, but neither is discernible in very low light levels - only seemingly no light. I have found that big orange ramp on my 2 5/8" PC627 UDR is discernible in very low light level - as is a fiber optic tube, a la my 3" 63's OEM front sight. As it is, I'd trade either Night Sight I now have for a HiViz.

I still think Bob Munden's comments on 'instinctive shooting' are important. At 2-3yd, the typical 'BG in the bedroom' distance, that should suffice. I have tried it, on an otherwise empty secondary range, at 2-7 yd with my 625MG in .45 Colt (250gr GDJHP's), 642 (158gr LHPSWC +P's), and a 296 (200gr GDJHP), listed in decreasing accuracy order. Up to 5 yd, I could hit, in decreasing accuracy and 'from the hip', inside the abdomen/torso of a BG target - sometimes barely, especially with the latter two. I feel that is faster than acquiring a sight. 'Situational awareness' is important - know where the 'good guys' are. In my case, if my wife is alongside me, anyone else rummaging in the dark likely isn't there to witness to me...

Stainz

 

[WardenRoss]

Night Shooting

I may be speaking out-of-turn here, but many years ago I attended a night shooting class at a major police academy. Back when revolvers were standard issue.

We were taught, in a complete darkness scenario, to shoot from the close-ready position (two-handed grip, just BELOW the visual plane and close to the torso) and aim for the assailant's knees. At fifteen-yards, you will actually hit the target in the central mass area (chest).

In every practical range test I completed, I put the rounds into the target's chest area even though I thought I was pointing the pistol toward the imaginary knees. We practiced at night (complete darkness) with a spot light shining on the B-21 target. They would then douse the lights and we had to draw the pistol and fire at the target (at fifteen-yards).

We were taught never to use the pistol's sights as the muzzle blast would ruin our night-vision. We were also taught to do a double-action double-tap, then pause to reevaluate the situation and to conserve our rounds.

Side note: We were never allowed to fire single-action. Period. This was considered a bad and unsafe procedure. I'm sure that philosophy was intended to develop good muscle-memory skills for future high-stress situations.

Last word: EVERYONE that considers a pistol for self-defense should practice shooting in darkness. You have to experience it for yourself to realize how difficult it is. Also, how intense the muzzle-blast/forcing-cone flame can be.

 

[nawilson]

To each their own... personally I like night sights. I find them helpful even in light conditions that are low but not pitch black (think twilight). If you sit outside in the evening, you can watch as it gets too dark to see the sights. They are also helpful if you walk inside during a bright day.

 

[scottydude003]

You can see an intruder clearly in light far to low to see ordinary sights. Black sights are hard to see against a black target even in a well-lighted range with centered (combat) sighting. Meprolights have a white ring around the tritium cell, making them visible at all light levels.

i agree 100%

 

[JT]

I am afraid I have to side with Alx here... but it could just be me!

....I still think Bob Munden's comments on 'instinctive shooting' are important. At 2-3yd, the typical 'BG in the bedroom' distance, that should suffice. I have tried it, on an otherwise empty secondary range, at 2-7 yd with my 625MG in .45 Colt (250gr GDJHP's), 642 (158gr LHPSWC +P's), and a 296 (200gr GDJHP), listed in decreasing accuracy order. Up to 5 yd, I could hit, in decreasing accuracy and 'from the hip', inside the abdomen/torso of a BG target - sometimes barely, especially with the latter two. I feel that is faster than acquiring a sight. 'Situational awareness' is important - know where the 'good guys' are. In my case, if my wife is alongside me, anyone else rummaging in the dark likely isn't there to witness to me...

Stainz

Re: Stainz and WardenRoss. Nothing takes the place of instinctive shooting in low light or the dark. Delta team members at Bragg do not use night sights, but practice enough in all conditions to be deadly accurate even without using the sights. Tritium sights could also possibly be used to mark your position at varying angles.

 

[WardenRoss]

Nothing against night-sights...

I have nothing against night sights and can see why folks feel they need them. To each his own.

I was just trying to emphasize, from my LEO experiences, that one really needs to be more concerned with practicing shooting in darkness, than just spending money on night sights.

Shooting in complete darkness is a whole new game.

Many years ago, we were instructed that the following probabilities may come into effect in an emergency confrontation using firearms (I'm old and worn out, so this is from memory):

1. It will be at night.

2. The assailant will be approximately seven yards from you, or closer.

3. They will be a right-handed male.

4. They will be unrecognizable (impossible to later identify, positively). So, keep you attention focused on their hands.

5. Do not extend your weapon for traditional aiming, keep it close to avoid the assailant from charging you and grabbing your weapon. Referred to as "reactionary distance."

6. Give loud verbal commands. You voice should give the appearance of you being confident and in-control.

7. Never count your rounds. If you shoot, at first chance, dump and reload immediately (remember these were the revolver days).

8. The incident will last only three seconds. Therefore, be aware of how fast your decision making process must be honed.




I'm sure that some of that training is now considered obsolete. But it's worth noting.

I had a chance to use it one night as I was confronted on a dimly lit porch as a burglar nearly ran into me. I had to quick-draw and hold him at gunpoint with only a three-feet distance between us. He had a crow bar but dropped it when he saw my .357 model 66.

All that repetitive training paid off, I was in automatic mode and never blinked an eye. It's funny though, and I hate to admit it, my verbal command was "FRONT SIGHT, SQUEEEEZE!" That was what my first training officer used to yell as we cadets were learning to shoot at the academy!

It worked well in this case. Even that "crack-head" knew what I was about to do.