Suppressors Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

[cinosbus]

All of the ranges near me close at dusk, so I cannot try this for myself. The best I can do is turn out the lights in the house and try to see my current sights - which I can't.

Is there a real benefit to having night sights on a pistol for defensive purposes?

Can you actually line up the "dots" or "bars" well enough to hit a man silhouette well out to 25yds?

Tritium in just the front sight? Front and rear? Dots? Bars? XS Big Dots? Colors? Anybody been here and done this got the t-shirt? What actually WORKS?

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Yes to all. My Nighthawk GRP sights glow like little cat eyes. They let me see through walls if I squint real hard.

 

[Guest]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Well, here is the question:

Can you correctly identify the threat in the dark at 25 yards?

If you can't you don't need to worry about sights because you shouldn't be shooting.

There is a benefit to it, but in a defensive situation it's not what I would call a "must". Given that for home defense and personal defense, most shootings are at ranges where you're probably not going to see the sights (for several reasons).

For a duty weapon, I feel that it is a must.


Tritium sights do offer quicker sight acquisition in lower light situations. However, it is not meant to be a substitute for weapon mounted lights or effective flashlight technique. I wouldn't be overly dependent on them as they are like every other tool and can still break.

The bar/dot, dot/dot, vertical bar/dot are just really up to you and your preferences.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

I think a front night sight is useful, while a rear is distracting. And if the target is 25 yards away, you should have brought the shotgun.

 

[JoeRe]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Seeing the sights does not mean seeing the target. Cool drill at a course I took had shooters acquire and engage targets in pitch dark by using available light from the muzzle flash. First round lights up target and rapid fire keeps it lit well enough to hit it repeatedly with a bit of practice. Even works on movers.

 

[Chucky]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

I would get a good light before I bought night sights. I can pick up my black sights easily on my shotgun, rifles, and pistols when I activate my light.

And if you were going to possibly shoot I would want to have absolute positive ID before I shot. Once you pull that trigger nothing is bringing that bullet back.

Chuck

 

[cinosbus]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Thanks for the input.

I guess what I'm looking for is a good comparison of these sights and different configurations without having to buy and try them all myself.

Lights are great, but they're also bullet magnets... if you can see your target, but your gun is in the dark, then what?

I'd take a handgun over most shotguns at 25yd.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

My G21 has Meprolights and my G30 has Trijicons, the Meps have bigger dots, both are easy to find in the dark, Meps are cheaper the Trijicons.

 

[UKDslayer]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

You need to take this beyond just night sights. If your talking self-defense, and most bad things happen in low-light and the dark, train how to use a flashlight with your gun if you don't have one attached to your gun - there are several techniques.

 

[Spazz.]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Night sights are very handy when shooting in low light. For shooting at night, you need a light. In order to be effective at any range in the dark, you need to train with a light. While I would agree with a light being more useful (when you learn to use it correctly) in low light than night sights, I love my night sights and I believe they definitely help with sight picture in low light. Necessary? No. Helpful? Very.

By the way, I'll take my shotgun at 25 yards over any handgun, thanks. Take 3 shots with a .45 at 25 yards and 3 shots with a 12 gauge loaded with 00 and see how many holes you have at 25 yards with each of them.

 

[Downzero]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spazz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">By the way, I'll take my shotgun at 25 yards over any handgun, thanks. Take 3 shots with a .45 at 25 yards and 3 shots with a 12 gauge loaded with 00 and see how many holes you have at 25 yards with each of them.

</div></div>

That was my point.

 

[cinosbus]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

So has anyone done a comparison of just a front sight vs a 3 dot system and/or bar & dot system to see if accuracy and speed are different?

 

[Spazz.]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

I really think that's more up to the shooter than the sights. Some people do really well with Straight Eights, some people do well with 3 dots, some people do well with plain rear with front dot... I do well with 3 dot night sights. I'm not a fan of the Straight Eights or bar/dots, so I wouldn't shoot as well with them without practice. I'd say the style of sight is more up to you. As long as you get a good set of sights, they're going to glow in the dark, and you'll be able to see them.

 

[fasteddie565]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

You have received some good guidance here, I will try and summarize:

Shooting in low light requires assistance, night sights, flashlights etc. personally, I do not own a gun that I keep loaded that does not have some sort of low light assistance.

Some schools of thought say to illuminate the Target to make sure its not the drunk neighbor but if it is an intruder then engage with the use of night sights so you do not mark your position for the intruder.

Others state to use the light and engage the target while illuminated. In this case the black sights suffice. if for some reason you cannot use your light or the situation forbids it, you are now at a tactical disadvantage. I train to use this tactic myself, however, I do it with night sights in the event my light fails / I cannot use it. I also train with just the night sights and no light at all.

The other question begging to be asked is what type of light. Hand held or pistol mounted? I use and train with both. Flashlight hand held for CCW, pistol mounted for the nightstand.

Some other questions, Is your house 25 meters long? where must you defend yourself that you need to make a 25 meter shot? if you are just using that as general metric, I understand. I also think your age and eyesight have a lot to do with it. I have recently A, turned 50 and B, gone to a very large front dot and a smaller rear post, both with trijicon lamps, the front being presented from the end and the rear, standing on end from the side. Kinda like this:

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[SmokeRolls]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Most of this was already covered but I will chime in to agree on certain issues.
The Shotgun with 00buck is the most devastating weapon for self defence for guarding your family / home / close range combat and these can be equiped with a light as well...

Frequently I use weapon mounted lights at night and I highly recommend them and that is on many different weapon setups. I like night sights during low light situations but identifying your target at night you need a light and you need to practice with it to become proficient. It is better to see than to be blind.

You can take measures to safeguard your position (You know your house and can walk thru it without lights ((Yes????)). An assailant does not know your house like you do.. If he has a light use it to your advantage (You can see exactly where he is)

Get very familiar with whatever you use. You don't have to have a range at night to practice all night time situations. You can get familiar with identifying targets and handling your weapon at night and dry firing (Just make sure your kids and wife are well aware of you doing this and are no-where to be found and please make sure you have no bullets when you do this...Hahahaha)

Have fun and be safe...............SmokeRolls

 

[MinorDamage]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Most everything has already been said. As to which type to choose...you need to get behind a couple and see. I always had three dots because that is what most pistols came with from the factory. I did fine with them. However, once I got behind a bar dot setup, I realized just how much better I felt with them. Spazz likes it the other way around.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spazz</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I really think that's more up to the shooter than the sights. Some people do really well with Straight Eights, some people do well with 3 dots, some people do well with plain rear with front dot... I do well with 3 dot night sights. I'm not a fan of the Straight Eights or bar/dots, so I wouldn't shoot as well with them without practice. I'd say the style of sight is more up to you. As long as you get a good set of sights, they're going to glow in the dark, and you'll be able to see them. </div></div>

Just like purchasing a firearm, you need to get what suits you best.

Josh

 

[Double-edged]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Night sights are WAY overrated. They let you see your sights but it's your target that you need to identify.

After years of running every configuration of night sights on a variety of handguns and training in low light, I realized that night sights don't really do anything for you. If you have enough light to see your target, you have enough light to see your sights. If the target is close, as most are going to be in a defensive situation, your ability to index the weapon consistently trumps night sights.

If you are talking distance shots in a low light situation (and that means those 25 yard shots), then you probably shouldn't be shooting unless there's enough light to see your target and, again, if there's enough light to see your target, there's enough light to see your sights.

I've had single-dot, two-dot, three-dot, bar-dot, etc. configurations in the past and, at this point in time, I could care less if my handguns had night sights or not.

 

[Lindy]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Night sights are WAY overrated.</div></div>

I agree with every single thing you say.

There is one thing which night sights are excellent for, though - and that's finding your pistol in the dark. Just make sure the handgun is oriented so that you can see the glow of the sights in a dark room. I wear glasses, so I put my glasses on top of the handgun, so I can easily and quickly find both without turning on a light.

Of course, that means that in the dark, someone behind you can see the sights, too.

 

[Graham]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

Here's why night sights are overrated:

1) You, and you alone, know where your pistol is.

2) If it's too dark to properly see the sights, then it's too dark to properly see the target. You will need to identify the target before using your sights. If you need light, turn on the light or use a flashlight.

3) If you don't need light, then your NPA will be primary at all reasonable engagement distances.

4) Once you start shooting, night sights are even less useful. You should be able to identify your front sight in the muzzle flash and adjust accordingly.

For me, anything but black on black is a tourist trap.

 

[Zebra644]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

When I went through the academy 6 years ago, and today we practice low light shoots with handguns. Our statistics state 7 yards 4 shots 7 sec, or less. With that said you will be allmost to the stage of point shooting, and you will be able to see the threat. The few times I have had to point a weapon at someone was no more than 15 yds. If a threat is at 25 yds. why are you using a handgun and how much of a threat is there? Are you able to disengage? Or find a safe place or more tactically sound place? Remember in a civil law suit its preponderance of evidence when they sue. I have found its a matter of personal pref. Nights sights can be one of those things that are better to have and not need than need and not have. If you go with them make sure the front sight is brighter than the rear to help you line them up. My duty pistol has a TLR 2 laser light. I have that so when I am clearing a building or home I can pull my gun in tight to me and not allow someone to grab it as easily and its one hell of an intimidation factor so when I catch lil juvenile johnny in trouble he is more apt to comply and it allows my other had the ablity to open doors ect. Just my 2 cents worth

 

[Dusty]

Re: Shooting handguns in low light - night sights?

I took a concealed carry course several years back from a retired state trooper firearms instructor. He also sold crimsone trace lasergrips. To make his point we done our qualifying shoot in his barn with the front door giving the only available light. It was to our back and we where between the light and the target. Most people had problems finding their sights against the shadowed target. I had night sights on my Sig 220 and had no problems. When I shot my revolver for qualification I just used the muzzle flash to see my target. People who where less experienced had alot of problems that would have been helped by night sights or laser grips, but nothing that couldn't be remedied with good training.