night sights?

[newlife12176]

What would be the best night sights for my SA XD sub comp. 9mm. I was thinking of either Trijicon or Meprolights?

[lunchbox]

ameriglo

the glass is made by trijicon but is cheaper

[Oldgringo]

I have a couple, or more, quality CCW's; however, I don't go out much at night - by choice.

I've asked myself, and am now asking y'all, should I go to the store or somewhere else at night, why I would need night sights. What good are illuminated sights when the BG is wearing dark clothes in the dark (etc) ? Are the illuminated sights giving away my position?

Someone help me out with this dilemma? What don't I understand and/or know about night sights?

[The Annoyed Man]

I have a couple, or more, quality CCW's; however, I don't go out much at night - by choice.

I've asked myself, and am now asking y'all, should I go to the store or somewhere else at night, why I would need night sights. What good are illuminated sights when the BG is wearing dark clothes in the dark (etc) ? Are the illuminated sights giving away my position?

Someone help me out with this dilemma? What don't I understand and/or know about night sights?

Night sights won't do you any good if you can't see your target. But if you can see your target, then night sights make it easier for you to get a good sight picture with sights properly aligned.

[Oldgringo]

I have a couple, or more, quality CCW's; however, I don't go out much at night - by choice.

I've asked myself, and am now asking y'all, should I go to the store or somewhere else at night, why I would need night sights. What good are illuminated sights when the BG is wearing dark clothes in the dark (etc) ? Are the illuminated sights giving away my position?

Someone help me out with this dilemma? What don't I understand and/or know about night sights?

Night sights won't do you any good if you can't see your target. But if you can see your target, then night sights make it easier for you to get a good sight picture with sights properly aligned.

Thanks. That's kinda' what I thought. None of my pistolas have night sights now and I think I'll forgo the $100 + upcharge on any future purchases.

Now then if I had a flamethrower, I wouldn't need night sights...hmmm?

[newlife12176]

I've asked myself, and am now asking y'all, should I go to the store or somewhere else at night, why I would need night sights. What good are illuminated sights when the BG is wearing dark clothes in the dark (etc) ? Are the illuminated sights giving away my position?

Take your pistol into a darkened room, but not completely dark. Try and see the end of your black gun in the dark. You wont be able to very well. If you cant see the end of your pistol, you probably wont be able to put the sights on your target. Night sights glow in the dark and make it possible to see the end of your weapon. They wont give away your position because they are small and face the opposite way of your target. Only you can see them. Your enemy wont be able to. If you ask anyone who trains in self defense or teaches self defense and handgun classes, they will tell you they are a must.

By the way, I bought Trijicon night sights yesterday for $99 installed in 5 min. Meprolights are just as good from what I've been told, but Trijicons hold their illumination for years. Meprolights dont last as long.

[Oldgringo]

Thanks. Anybody tried Nitesiters?

[SCone]

I find the best solution is a good quality flash-light. It makes you handle two items unless you can add a light to your gun (had one on my Sig), but I get a better sight picture. And not only can I see the BG, the BG gets a whole lot of blindness.

[Excaliber]

I find the best solution is a good quality flash-light. It makes you handle two items unless you can add a light to your gun (had one on my Sig), but I get a better sight picture. And not only can I see the BG, the BG gets a whole lot of blindness.

Lights attract bullets from the bad guys, and should be used sparingly for target identification. The user should then immediately turn off the light and move to another position.

Night sights allow you to get a sight picture on a figure that can barely be seen in semidarkness once positive identification has been made without further giving away your position or attracting bullets with light. The times when these circumstances come together for civilians are generally few and far between.

I have tritium night sights on my guns because I came to really like them during my years in law enforcement. I would not rate them a "must have" for civilians, although I would give them a "nice to have" rating.

The Night Sighters are toys, and should not be considered for serious defensive use.

[Oldgringo]

I find the best solution is a good quality flash-light. It makes you handle two items unless you can add a light to your gun (had one on my Sig), but I get a better sight picture. And not only can I see the BG, the BG gets a whole lot of blindness.

Again - I wonder what good the night sights are going to do against a black (totally) background. I hope I never have to find out.

[Excaliber]

I find the best solution is a good quality flash-light. It makes you handle two items unless you can add a light to your gun (had one on my Sig), but I get a better sight picture. And not only can I see the BG, the BG gets a whole lot of blindness.

Again - I wonder what good the night sights are going to do against a black (totally) background. I hope I never have to find out.

The simple answer is - NONE. Night sights are only useful when you can make out at least a silhouette of a target that has been positively identified as an adversary. They're not a replacement for a flashlight.

The conditions where unilluminated sights won't work and night sights will are very narrow. If your standard sights have white dots that can be seen in moderate low light, the night sight advantage conditions are even narrower.

Night sights are really nice to have if you are faced with those very specific conditions, but don't consider yourself poorly prepared if you don't have illuminated sights on your guns. In 95% of the situations faced by civilians, they will not be a decisive factor.

[flintknapper]

Lights attract bullets from the bad guys, and should be used sparingly for target identification. The user should then immediately turn off the light and move to another position.

Absolutely! Whenever possible "illuminate, turn off AND MOVE". It's good to remember that your flashlight beam is a "target indicator" for the BG. A flashlight that is constantly on...lets them know exactly where you are.

Night sights allow you to get a sight picture on a figure that can barely be seen in semidarkness once positive identification has been made without further giving away your position or attracting bullets with light.

Again, correct. Folks need to remember the purpose of night sights.

The times when these circumstances come together for civilians are generally few and far between.

I don't agree with this (completely). Statistics show that the vast majority of shootings occur under low light conditions. This holds true for civilians as well. The real advantage of night sights though...is only realized under a fairly narrow spectrum of light conditions.

I have tritium night sights on my guns because I came to really like them during my years in law enforcement. I would not rate them a "must have" for civilians, although I would give them a "nice to have" rating.

Agreed, nice to have. I do not own a handgun without them.

[flintknapper]

I find the best solution is a good quality flash-light. It makes you handle two items unless you can add a light to your gun (had one on my Sig), but I get a better sight picture. And not only can I see the BG, the BG gets a whole lot of blindness.

Again - I wonder what good the night sights are going to do against a black (totally) background. I hope I never have to find out.

Obviously none. This is a clear case where the object needs to be illuminated...and not the purpose of night sights.

Even if you had night sights....as soon as you illuminate the target (with any GOOD flashlight), your night sights will "wash out". I find the best use of night sights to be when YOU are in a darker environment than your target. If the opposite is true, then expect the usefulness of your night sights to decrease.

You need to first "identify" your target (this may require illumination) before taking advantage of the night sights.

If you want to see their real worth...borrow a weapon with good night sights. In the evening time...go to a room in your home that doesn't receive much residual light and turn out the lights. Look out into a dimly lit room (one that has enough light to clearly identify a person though). You will find that the night sights stand out prominently. Now, reverse the order...and you will see that you need to illuminate your target.

Remember, night sights can NOT help you see your target (they don't project light). But...they are excellent when YOU are in low light and your target (identifiable) is in at least the same amount of light or more.

Of course, it could be asked... will you even look at your sights (night sights or plain), if forced to respond to a threat quickly? Maybe, maybe not depending on your training and the circumstance. But, I see no disadvantage to night sights and have them on every handgun I own.

[Oldgringo]

Good commentary and explanation of/on night sights!

Thanks to all above and Happy Thanksgiving.

[SCone]

OK, I'll give everyone the plan.

First, hear the noise. Grab the 45 & the flashlight. With flashlight in left hand, 45 in right, raised and ready, begin slowly searching property in the dark. If BG encountered, hit the "instant-on" button on flashlight while saying, "STOP, I HAVE A GUN!"

The instant the bright light hits the intruder, the decision to fire must be made. Is it a BG and did the BG make a move? Is the BG fleeing or making a move toward me? Or is the BG one of my son's friends raiding the fridge that I had no idea was staying the night?

With the light on, I can tell not only what's about to get shot, I can see what's behind, beside and around what's about to get shot.

Yes, it could get me shot by an intruder. But the only other choice is firing at a shadow.