Night Sight Decision

[l8apex]

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.

I believe you are looking a lot deeper into the comment than what is meant. I'd rather have the OP explore what's available than the canned, Triji/Mep route. 'You don't need this, you don't need that'.

With RB1s and 10-8s in the same price range, it's worth to consider.

So your saying that you don't need to shoot with precision in your home? Think about that statement for a moment and it should dawn on you that, the most important place to have precise shots will be around your loved ones.

There isn't a set of Trijicons/Meps that will allow me to shoot faster than RB1s, Warrens or 10-8s as the rears can be ordered in different widths. However there are ton of sights that will allow me to shoot more accurately than the Trijicons/Meps - and last time I checked, precision is what counts.

[drifts1]

^^^ I respectfully disagree to an extent depending on your definition on precision for self defense. To me center mass is precision enough for home defense, speed is important is the bg is armed and/or there is multiple bg's. Bullseye type precision is for no stress range trips & friendly competition.

[LBDamned]

^^^ +1

It's hard to argue that precision will never be a thought in an imminent life or death situation... and the reality is - that situation will almost certainly be at such close quarters that precision means zero. Center mass will get the job done and sights likely wont be used.

Just my .02 - I hope to never be part of the stats (but won't hesitate if forced to be).

[l8apex]

We all have different paths of training and requirements of speed and accuracy. To each his own. Keep your mind open to new ideas/equipment and don't fall for the prescribed marketing as found in gun rags, there is better out there if you are willing to seek it. I don't subscribe that precision means zero at any distance, I subscribe that one can less precise as distance closes, but no one can predict the distance or set the terms of a gun fight in a reactionary defensive standpoint. What you think will be CQB can change to 20-25 feet in a split second where the assailant(s) only gives you a head shot.

I've felt the same way as mentioned in the past. Why, because Trijicon/Meps had NS and that was the way we fought back then. Now, there are only 2 times out of the day that NS are useful. Dusk & dawn. Otherwise you can see your sights in the daylight and you can't see the threat at night unless illuminated with light which eliminates the need for them.

The way we train now is a blacked out rear medium to wide notch and a FO(fiber optic)/NS thin front sight.

It will sooner or later progress to RDS on pistols.

Learned early that if I checked my ego, I could learn a whole lot more. YMMV.

[LBDamned]

^^^ I can't speak for anyone else, but with all due respect - my mention was not based on "gun rags"... and the "open mind" you speak of is universal (you might try it)...

night sights work perfectly fine in lit conditions... however non-illuminating are not as advantageous in the dark... I'd rather have 'em...

I respect your method of approach - however, I also expect that you do the same.

Cheers

[Riffplayer88]

Have both trijicon hd's and TFO's on my glocks. The TFO's have outperformed the hd's

[drifts1]

Many folks think NS are limited to dusk/dawn or total darkness. They are not, they are for low-light conditions which can be found in many places at all hours of the day. Even in complete darkness they may prove useful; you can use them to locate your gun on your nightstand quickly. If im walking down a dark street, alley, whatever and I see muzzle blasts directed at me & bullets are whizzing at me. You bet im going to draw, line up my NS, and return fire. NO , I WILL NOT be scrambling for my flashlight attempting to "identify" the target.

[44fred]

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.

I don't necessarily agree with all those statements either. I was just passing on what I have read and learned over the years. The fact is most don't need tritium sights in their HD handgun. The most convenient gun I pick up is probably going to be a hand gun. Hopefully if I must pull the trigger, it's going to be my shotgun.
I do agree if you have bad guys in front and behind you, you're in a world of hurt. Not sure what that means. Are you saying it can't happen or are you saying just give up? Or????
I do think most modern tritium sights are way too bright. Kind of distracting the darker it is. Again, training in low light situations is key. I believe in flashlights with pressure switches

[Shankin swine]

I run the truglo tritium "brite site" night sights. Cheap, bright, and easy to pick up. Good range or hd sights IMO.

[Malaprop14]

So your saying that you don't need to shoot with precision in your home? Think about that statement for a moment and it should dawn on you that, the most important place to have precise shots will be around your loved ones.

Read what I said again. Precision shooting and defense aren't the same thing. NOWHERE did I say that you don't need to be accurate when shooting and the HDs are still more than accurate enough for target shooting IMHO. At the range, I can take my time to line sights up, check stance, grip, breathing, wind, whatever, because there's no stress and I have all the time in the world. In a situation where I'm defending myself or my family, I will be focused on ending that situation quickly and definitively, not whether or not I can hit a button on their shirt. Double tap high center mass. Part of where I'm coming from with that is that my CCW instructor said quite frankly, what you learn and practice at the range can get you killed on the street. Putting holes in paper does not prepare you to defend yourself. For personal defense, you practice defensive techniques, not hitting a bullseye.

^^^ I respectfully disagree to an extent depending on your definition on precision for self defense. To me center mass is precision enough for home defense, speed is important is the bg is armed and/or there is multiple bg's. Bullseye type precision is for no stress range trips & friendly competition.

Exactly.

^^^ +1

It's hard to argue that precision will never be a thought in an imminent life or death situation... and the reality is - that situation will almost certainly be at such close quarters that precision means zero. Center mass will get the job done and sights likely wont be used.

Just my .02 - I hope to never be part of the stats (but won't hesitate if forced to be).

Amen to that. I'm sure we all hope we never have to deal with, but being prepared goes a long way to making sure we get through it in the event it does.

We all have different paths of training and requirements of speed and accuracy. To each his own. Keep your mind open to new ideas/equipment and don't fall for the prescribed marketing as found in gun rags, there is better out there if you are willing to seek it. I don't subscribe that precision means zero at any distance, I subscribe that one can less precise as distance closes, but no one can predict the distance or set the terms of a gun fight in a reactionary defensive standpoint. What you think will be CQB can change to 20-25 feet in a split second where the assailant(s) only gives you a head shot.

I've felt the same way as mentioned in the past. Why, because Trijicon/Meps had NS and that was the way we fought back then. Now, there are only 2 times out of the day that NS are useful. Dusk & dawn. Otherwise you can see your sights in the daylight and you can't see the threat at night unless illuminated with light which eliminates the need for them.

The way we train now is a blacked out rear medium to wide notch and a FO(fiber optic)/NS thin front sight.

It will sooner or later progress to RDS on pistols.

Learned early that if I checked my ego, I could learn a whole lot more. YMMV.

See, this makes a lot of sense to me because you've got reasoning behind your statements, which you did not have in your first response, and it is good info so thanks for that. We are talking about small details of the same thing though. I have a thread in the sights forum asking what people thought for a EDC gun Tritiums or Fiber Optic since I have a Novak FO setup on my 1911 and I really like it, but is it the right thing for defense since I live in a rural area where low light is guaranteed. Thus my interest in tritium sights. On the same note, you might want to check that ego again, because I think it is back.

[Citadelgrad87]

I don't necessarily agree with all those statements either. I was just passing on what I have read and learned over the years. The fact is most don't need tritium sights in their HD handgun. The most convenient gun I pick up is probably going to be a hand gun. Hopefully if I must pull the trigger, it's going to be my shotgun.
I do agree if you have bad guys in front and behind you, you're in a world of hurt. Not sure what that means. Are you saying it can't happen or are you saying just give up? Or????
I do think most modern tritium sights are way too bright. Kind of distracting the darker it is. Again, training in low light situations is key. I believe in flashlights with pressure switches

No, I'm not saying give up, I'm saying I am not going to choose sights (or, more accurately, not choose sights I find useful) based on a scenario that seems physically impossible, because my body will block the view behind me, AND is not only seemingly impossible, but highly unlikely. I know there are some guys who won't use striker fired pistols because they might get a FTf and they want a second strike capability from a da. I don't choose that route. I'm not ridiculing those who do, but in HD, I'm not going to clear the house, so they aren't going to be behind me anyway.

My HD handguns all have night sights, and I've trained in near dark and full dark with Harries, etc. I have no railed pistols. I wouldn't carry a CCW that didn't have night sights, based on the probability that any shooting will be in low light.

My preferred HD weapon, like yours, is a shotgun with a very bright surefire 9v light on a pressure switch.

But I guess my point is night sights can do anything a set of non target type sights can do, AND provide a good sight posture in very low light. Why wouldn't anyone want them unless it's just a matter of cost?

[1CavScout]

I do think most modern tritium sights are way too bright. Kind of distracting the darker it is. Again, training in low light situations is key. I believe in flashlights with pressure switches

Night sights allow you to see your sights in low light. Even if you are illuminating a threat with a flashlight, you won't be able to pick up your sights in the dark without night sights. I carried Trijicon's on all my handguns when I was an LEO. I now have both Trijicon and Meprolights and various guns, and they both work well.

Go take a tactical handgun class that includes low light training and you will quickly see how useful night sights are. Guys I worked with refused to spend the money on night sites, and during low light training their shooting went to crap.

[Justintoxicated]

hmmm my meprolights are certainly not too bright. My HK's glow in the dark sights on the new VP9 are much brighter (actually a little easier to use) while they are glowing (They are just glow in the dark not true night sights). Because of this I also find them easier to use in the daytime (less focus is required).

Those TFO's look pretty sweet, I don't think those were out when I purchased mine.

Green is the brightest color tritium, yellow is fairly bright as well, then I think white... After that I can't remember except that blue and red are not very bright. If I did it again I would want yellow / gree, combo if anyone makes that. I htink 2 color helps with fast target acquisition. Then again how much will you be aiming with them in a stressful situation I'm not sure.

I'm a sucker for tritium devices though. Always wanted one of these too http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sho...reading-lights

[stormvet]

I have a set of green front yellow rear TFO's on my G17 rtf2, while they are very bright night or day. There are a couple reasons why I will not buy another set or have them on a carry gun.
The front blade to rear notch is too tight, not enough air between them. For me this slows down my target acquisition, also they are not the most durable of sights. They are great for the range but I would not have much confidence in them on a hard use gun.

[yankee-pete]

Any brand that uses a true tritium insert lamp is gonna work well in the dark. The biggest difference is how the sight look in the day. My Trijicons on my 1911 are very small and hard to pick up in daylight. Bigger dots would probably be better.