Night Sight Decision

[Matt P]

Since you are looking for opinions...
I assume you are wanting to increase the effectiveness of your defensive firearm.
I suggest money spent on some form of a laser would be significantly better as an accessory.
Not in the form of using it to enhance your aiming although you can do this, but more so in the projection of your potential force.
Night sights help you acquire the sights in low light situations. Do you shoot at night quite a bit? Would night sights have made a difference in your last gun fight?
For most handgun owners the answer will be no.
A laser can project hundreds of feet in low light your intent to protect your self with that level of force.
If I can get a potential use of lethal force to end with pressing a button instead of a trigger, I suggest that option is filled with win.
How many people do you personally know who have been in a gun fight? How many do you know who presented a firearm and had the problem go away?
Based on my experience the latter should be greater, but possibly not by much. It is just very uncommon to have to point guns at persons as a civilian.

I own a few handguns. Not one with night sights. In fact those that I had them on years ago I removed them and replaced with Warren Tacticals Fibers.
Maybe I am too practical. I love shooting for shooting sakes. I want to enjoy the highest degree of accuracy with a handgun I can get. Big blocky night sights typically do not allow for this as easy as a black rear and a thin front.
In LE work I wanted them. But I also ran a weapon mounted light.

For my daily carry gun I have a laser on it. No interest in night sights.

Remember, laser should be seen as a force projection. You will find that trying to find the light during day can be very difficult. I found that even in night shooting/training use between night sights and a laser, a laser was faster. The laser helped me orientate the gun quicker to where I wanted to shoot so I could get on the sights and fire.

Lasermax and Crimson Trace are 2 of the big names in this accessory option.

[k1dude]

I've tried a lot of night sights. Not all, but most.

My fav's are the Ameriglo Spartan Tactical (Glock only) with yellow rears and the Trijicon HD.

Both are similar but the Ameriglo costs much less. The big glowing front sight just pulls your eyes to it. Both are very quick on target and the rears are basically black during daytime and don't confuse you at all - but at night they are there when you need them.

[BamBam-31]

When we did low light training, we used handheld lights. Your sight picture would basically be the sights silhouetted against whatever you lit up. The Heinie night sights on my G17 did help. You can pick them up in your periphery quicker as you raise your weapon. I didn't think they were completely necessary, however. The light was. Definitely indispensable gear.

As said, you almost never shoot in complete darkness or you're breaking Rule #4.

To answer the OP's question: Get the nights sights that are serrated. I know the Trijicons are, I can't recall if the Mepros are also. The serrations help reduce glare so you get a nice flat black sight picture.

[Tok36]

Since you are looking for opinions...
I assume you are wanting to increase the effectiveness of your defensive firearm.
I suggest money spent on some form of a laser would be significantly better as an accessory.
Not in the form of using it to enhance your aiming although you can do this, but more so in the projection of your potential force.
Night sights help you acquire the sights in low light situations. Do you shoot at night quite a bit? Would night sights have made a difference in your last gun fight?
For most handgun owners the answer will be no.
A laser can project hundreds of feet in low light your intent to protect your self with that level of force.
If I can get a potential use of lethal force to end with pressing a button instead of a trigger, I suggest that option is filled with win.
How many people do you personally know who have been in a gun fight? How many do you know who presented a firearm and had the problem go away?
Based on my experience the latter should be greater, but possibly not by much. It is just very uncommon to have to point guns at persons as a civilian.

I own a few handguns. Not one with night sights. In fact those that I had them on years ago I removed them and replaced with Warren Tacticals Fibers.
Maybe I am too practical. I love shooting for shooting sakes. I want to enjoy the highest degree of accuracy with a handgun I can get. Big blocky night sights typically do not allow for this as easy as a black rear and a thin front.
In LE work I wanted them. But I also ran a weapon mounted light.

For my daily carry gun I have a laser on it. No interest in night sights.

Remember, laser should be seen as a force projection. You will find that trying to find the light during day can be very difficult. I found that even in night shooting/training use between night sights and a laser, a laser was faster. The laser helped me orientate the gun quicker to where I wanted to shoot so I could get on the sights and fire.

Lasermax and Crimson Trace are 2 of the big names in this accessory option.

Interesting stuff, and thanks for the sig link.

[Malaprop14]

I agree to some extent on the laser. I have one on my HD pistol and a light that is not mounted. Mounted or not, the light isn't going to light up your sights so night sights help there. The laser is intended to get you on target quickly and I definitely agree with the fact that it is a huge deterrent as well. It ISN'T any more accurate than sights though, but in a situation where you don't have the luxury of time to bullseye aim it will definitely work. It is another tool, not a replacement for good sights and practice, practice, practice.

[SDM44]

Get whichever sights you like best, and whichever works best for your eyes.

Me personally, I like the Ameriglo Spartan Operator sights. They're the same as Trijicon HD sights except they're almost half the price and they're not as tall on the slide (which I prefer them not being as tall for POA). Plus, you can get them with yellow tritium rears, and for my eyes that really helps when fast alignment of the 3 dots at night.

[Citadelgrad87]

I guess my question is, why do you want them?
Different schools of thought.
Why would you shoot something you can't see? If you can't see your target, sight picture is a non issue.
If bad guys are behind you in pitch dark, they can see your position.
In most HD scenarios it's up close and personal, point and shoot instinctively.
I can't see worth a darn without my glasses. That's really a scary one. How will you ID your target?
On and on----
That said, my old Springfield 1911 has tritium sights that are still glowing lightly after 20+ years. Just perfect for me now. I won't replace with tritium.
My carry gun has them because they came with the gun used. I actually like the new Gen4 Glock sight picture better that my Glock tritium sights.

This doesn't make any sense to me. I can see well enough to identify targets in far darker conditions than I can see my sights let alone form a sight picture. I don't point shoot, and will use sights at anything more than arms length.

How can a bad guy behind you see your sights? I can't think of any presentation of a weapon where a person behind you can see the back of your sighs, your body will block the view,and, furthermore and far more important, if you're in a home defense situation and the problem is behind you, you're in a world of hurt.

[Citadelgrad87]

Since you are looking for opinions...
I assume you are wanting to increase the effectiveness of your defensive firearm.
I suggest money spent on some form of a laser would be significantly better as an accessory.
Not in the form of using it to enhance your aiming although you can do this, but more so in the projection of your potential force.
Night sights help you acquire the sights in low light situations. Do you shoot at night quite a bit? Would night sights have made a difference in your last gun fight?
For most handgun owners the answer will be no.
A laser can project hundreds of feet in low light your intent to protect your self with that level of force.
If I can get a potential use of lethal force to end with pressing a button instead of a trigger, I suggest that option is filled with win.
How many people do you personally know who have been in a gun fight? How many do you know who presented a firearm and had the problem go away?
Based on my experience the latter should be greater, but possibly not by much. It is just very uncommon to have to point guns at persons as a civilian.

I own a few handguns. Not one with night sights. In fact those that I had them on years ago I removed them and replaced with Warren Tacticals Fibers.
Maybe I am too practical. I love shooting for shooting sakes. I want to enjoy the highest degree of accuracy with a handgun I can get. Big blocky night sights typically do not allow for this as easy as a black rear and a thin front.
In LE work I wanted them. But I also ran a weapon mounted light.

For my daily carry gun I have a laser on it. No interest in night sights.

Remember, laser should be seen as a force projection. You will find that trying to find the light during day can be very difficult. I found that even in night shooting/training use between night sights and a laser, a laser was faster. The laser helped me orientate the gun quicker to where I wanted to shoot so I could get on the sights and fire.

Lasermax and Crimson Trace are 2 of the big names in this accessory option.

Can you provide any evidence that a non Leo situation, someone knowing a laser was on them worked? Not saying it didn't, and I'm not sure if I think it would, but if we know it did, that settles it.

I have done a lot of night shooting, and have night sights on my HD weapons.

[stormvet]

My guns are like my sharks, got stinking lasers on them.

Cool gimmick, but if it's not giving me a range distance I don't need it.

[l8apex]

Open your research into other sights i.e. 10-8s, RB1s, AmeriGlo etc. I'm not personally fond of Trijicon / Meps as I find the front sight too wide. YMMV. Lasers, RMRs etc on pistols are a whole different thread.

[LBDamned]

I couldn't find a thread regarding this question, so forgive the question.

I'm deciding between Meprolights and Trijicon. I've heard they're both excellent sights.

I'm just looking for opinions.


Thanks.

I have Trijicon on several guns and Mepro on a USPc... the Mepro are bigger and glow brighter (none are that much older than the other - not more than a year or so)...

The Mepro are not as pretty... they are a little crude - but for function I prefer them over the Trijicon... however I use both and would recommend both.

I have an XD-S waiting for 30 days to pass... intend to get TruGlo TFO for that gun... haven't used 'em yet, but like the concept and they get great reviews.

I also need to replace the crappy glow in the dark sight on HK P30... will probably use Trijicon or maybe TFO on it (it's gonna be cerekoted and is a fun gun not SD/HD so looks matter on that one - otherwise I'd probably get Mepro)

ETA: If/when I use Trijicon again - it will be the HD sights... I use them on Shield (big orange front sight) and like much better than the normal smaller all green dots

[glock_this]

I have Trijicon on several guns and Mepro on a USPc... the Mepro are bigger and glow brighter (none are that much older than the other - not more than a year or so)...

The Mepro are not as pretty... they are a little crude - but for function I prefer them over the Trijicon... however I use both and would recommend both.

I have an XD-S waiting for 30 days to pass... intend to get TruGlo TFO for that gun... haven't used 'em yet, but like the concept and they get great reviews.

I also need to replace the crappy glow in the dark sight on HK P30... will probably use Trijicon or maybe TFO on it (it's gonna be cerekoted and is a fun gun not SD/HD so looks matter on that one - otherwise I'd probably get Mepro)

ETA: If/when I use Trijicon again - it will be the HD sights... I use them on Shield (big orange front sight) and like much better than the normal smaller all green dots

My XD-Sc with TFO's on it big fan of the TFO's.

[Malaprop14]

Open your research into other sights i.e. 10-8s, RB1s, AmeriGlo etc. I'm not personally fond of Trijicon / Meps as I find the front sight too wide. YMMV.

Too wide for what? Not like it is going to cover up a person unless you're shooting at someone about 100yds+ away. They aren't called HD because they have 4000 lines of resolution; they're intended for fast acquisition, not fine precision.

Yes, different people will have different opinions on that, but again, it also depends on what you're using them for. I wouldn't use the HDs for precision shooting, which is why they're on my primary Home Defense pistol.

[tacticalcity]

Both will serve you well. Used both and they worked fine.

My current favorite is Ameriglo Spartan night sights. They are basically Trijicon HDs...for slightly less money.

[stormvet]

Only the front sights are similar on the Spartans and HD's, the rears on the Spartan are low profile and square notched. The HD's are higher and U notched as well as serrated.
Second and third from the left HD's, fourth Spartan...