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Scary! My G23 needed Night Sights.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 12:28 pm
by NuBee
Hi all!
I had a scary situation the night before last when the dogs next door started barking, I hear a noise next to the house and I see some young kid with a white tank-top walking away, and down the street. This happened about 12:15 in the morning when I was getting ready for bed as I had fallen asleep on the couch.
I get my G23 and sit in the dark I can still hear dogs barking in homes around me and different guys whistling back and forth to each other. Maybe just kids playing but why next to my house and this time of tne morning.
As I am sitting on the couch, kind of nervous, I notice that I cannot even see my sights or even my gun at all. So then my nervous level increases because every gun range "expert" or gun-magazine "expert" has warned about the dangers of "point shooting" or "spray and pray".
Thank God nothing bad ever happend that night after staying awake until almost 2am because I just was not sleepy at all and this whistling and dogs barking went on for at least 25 minutes.
But this realization that my G23 and 12 gauge HD shotgun are
SIGHTLESS in the dark.
This is a huge hadicap in my opinion. There is some light from the outside that comes inside but not enough to illuminate my sights.
I started this thread to inform, and warn others. Also inorder to get some advice about the best way to correct this
HORRIBLE HANDICAP.
Does your HD configuration have night sights?????
Thanks in advance!!
NuBee.
Re: Scary! My G23 needed Night Sights.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:18 pm
by pbandjelly
NuBee wrote:Does your HD configuration have night sights?????
Thanks in advance!!
NuBee.
nope, but it's got a laser grip.
gitcha a tac-lite, or a tac-lite/laser combo, or just a laser.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:23 pm
by AV8R
Next time that happens, turn on a light.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:34 pm
by NuBee
Thanks for the speedy info guys.
My rookie thinking was to keep the lights off so that I would not create a they can see me but I can't see them scenario if someone was peeping thru windows. Of course I have learned that this puts my gun in the dark as well.
Also I thought that I would have the element of suprise on my side, not theirs, by me sitting in the dark with my telephone and G23.
Is it true that tac-lite/lasers do or can interfere with the proper cycling of a semi-auto
I'm going to price some tac-lite/laser now. Thanks.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 1:43 pm
by seamusTX
Please consider tritium night sights. I think they're effective, and they don't need batteries.
If I am in the dark, inside my house, I can see out more easily. I would not turn on a light with an unidentified threat. That highlights the person turning on the light.
Relevant story in reverse: Late one night recently (10 p.m.-ish, while I was still up) someone rang the doorbell. I have a window that overlooks the porch. I turned off the light in that room, and when I looked out, my visitor was departing.
- Jim
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 2:47 pm
by NuBee
Thanks again guys.
I have just telephoned a couple of gun shop/ ranges and I can have tritium, Trijicon tritium or Meprolights, etc installed between $100.0 and $200.0 depending on what make or model is finally chosen.
Can someone with hands on knowledge please recommend a
specific (brand name, model number)set of nightsights for me.
Do any of the aftermarket nightsights interfere with holstering??
Hey, I'm a Nubee so I have to ask.
Thank you in advance.
NuBee!
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 2:51 pm
by pbandjelly
night sights should not, they are the same size, and I second this recommendation. they are nice, and there are some others that have an optic thing on them that gathers light. they are longer, but not taller.
Trijicon is a name that I have heard good things about from folks.
I personally don't have any night sights....... yet.
and +1 on leaving the lights off.
Considering you have a Glock, I would still look at getting a TacLight. having a flash light can also temporarily blind someone, while you gather info on them (ie. do they have a weapon, are they a child, or a man, clothes), as well as allowing you to see other things without lighting up the whole room (and yourself, as well).
sure they use batteries. so do smoke detectors. replace them when they need to be replaced.
ETA: I don't see why any of these mods would affect the cycling action of an SA gun. only an internal laser (one replacing the guide rod) would change any of the mechanics of the gun.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 3:05 pm
by seamusTX
There are two problems with a flashlight mounted on the weapon: It gives away your position and makes you a target, and you have to point your weapon where you want to look.
All these arguments have been rehashed a thousand times.
NuBee, you can check the Glock forums for specific information about brands and horror stories.
- Jim
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 5:28 pm
by Venus Pax
Do you keep lights on around your house?
When I need to see what's going on outside, I make sure the lights are off inside, but the outside lights stay on. The outdoor lights provide enough residual light to help you see some sights.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 5:29 pm
by NuBee
Thanks gents
I have already Googled and searched a few Glock forums and it looks like the Trijicon tritium is the best way to go for now. This will be a great start for a novice anyway.
I have decided to stop by my local gun shop tomorrow and get this done. Why wait???? I was told that it would take about a week for me to get my slide back.
This incident took me by surprise totally and is a lesson learned in "you just never, ever know when the poop may hit the fan". So never get caught without your boots.
NuBee
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 5:41 pm
by The Marshal
NuBee,
I don't have the Trijicons, but I do have the Meprolights on one pistol, and the TruGlo Tritium Fiber-Optics on two more.
The TruGlo TFOs is what I would suggest! They are simply fantastic, regardless of midnight, noon or dusk lighting.
No, not any brighter than the Trij or Meep sights, but
during the day they are far more visible.
One thing about when you get the night sights. Then you to can joke with your friends that "I can't see what I am shooting, but I got it lined up!"
~Bill
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 10:21 pm
by Skiprr
The Marshal wrote:One thing about when you get the night sights. Then you to can joke with your friends that "I can't see what I am shooting, but I got it lined up!"
Yeppers. It's great to have glowing sights, but ya still need to see what's
beyond the sights. And a good light can be both a deterrent and a weapon: if the bad guy's eyes are dark-adjusted, a flash of 65+ lumens in the ol' retina will temporarily blind him.
I also don't think weapon-mounted "tac" lights make much sense on civilians' handguns. On a shotgun or carbine, the story is a little different because it ain't easy to handle a flashlight in your off-hand while you rack a Remington 870.
But having a quality hand-held light is important. You can easily go over $300 for an excellent TIS (Tactical Illumination System, an acronym I rank right up there with TCTU: Tactical Caffeine Transfer Unit...or as some of us call it, a coffee mug
), but you can get good ones under $100. I'd start looking at Surefire and Streamlight brands.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 10:33 pm
by txinvestigator
seamusTX wrote:There are two problems with a flashlight mounted on the weapon: It gives away your position and makes you a target, and you have to point your weapon where you want to look.
All these arguments have been rehashed a thousand times.
NuBee, you can check the Glock forums for specific information about brands and horror stories.
- Jim
Uhh, a flashlight in your hand gives your position away. And in the dark you need target illumination as much as you need sight illumination.
A light on the weapon means you can shoot as you practice, and if you need a hand you don't lose your light.
This and Trijicons work for me.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 10:48 pm
by kwf2006
Re: This and Trijicons work for me.
Posted: Tue May 08, 2007 10:50 pm
by txinvestigator
Use that while shooting. ROFL.