Microgunner
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I have owned many & still own a couple sets of tritium sights. I agree with omega, they are a waste of money. The only time I buy them now is when they come standard with a new purchase.
night sights: a waste of money
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Bill DeShivs
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They aren't a waste of money, but they certainly aren't the panacea most think they are. Learn to shoot your gun.
I bought a set for my carry Steyr, and a set for my carry XD9SC and XD40SC, too. As a poster said, anything that helps you shoot faster and more accurately is a good thing.
The scene you describe of a BG rapidly approaching from 7 feet away is only ONE possible time you would be forced to shoot. There are many others that I can see being able to draw and properly aim using the sights.
The reason I carry a gun is to protect my and my family's lives any place, any time.
Tritium sights help aim in semi-darkness, and are a boon to combat shooting when you need to draw, sight, and shoot quickly.
As others have suggested, I believe you have little experience with handguns and even less carrying one.
BTW, mine cost $100 and I installed them myself.
The scene you describe of a BG rapidly approaching from 7 feet away is only ONE possible time you would be forced to shoot. There are many others that I can see being able to draw and properly aim using the sights.
The reason I carry a gun is to protect my and my family's lives any place, any time.
Tritium sights help aim in semi-darkness, and are a boon to combat shooting when you need to draw, sight, and shoot quickly.
As others have suggested, I believe you have little experience with handguns and even less carrying one.
BTW, mine cost $100 and I installed them myself.
If it is dark, and you are stupid enough to shoot without CLEARLY being able to see this supposed bad guy, then you are a fool.
Of course, if you live in a house and you have short folk living there, and no close relatives, and you see someone walking from room to room silhouetted buy the moonlight that are big Home invader types with baklava's and assault weapons and stuff, then there is no need for enough light to see your target as you know by simple size that this is a perp and is in your home and needs to be dispatched...
Other than that....
Well maybe, just maybe being a single person, (who cannot mistakenly shoot a loved one by accident because there are no loved ones living there) you can just shoot anyone that comes into your home at night without having enough light to see, because you have tour tritium night sights, other than those instances, I can't see a reason for night sights for Home Defense...
Of course, if you live in a house and you have short folk living there, and no close relatives, and you see someone walking from room to room silhouetted buy the moonlight that are big Home invader types with baklava's and assault weapons and stuff, then there is no need for enough light to see your target as you know by simple size that this is a perp and is in your home and needs to be dispatched...
Other than that....
Well maybe, just maybe being a single person, (who cannot mistakenly shoot a loved one by accident because there are no loved ones living there) you can just shoot anyone that comes into your home at night without having enough light to see, because you have tour tritium night sights, other than those instances, I can't see a reason for night sights for Home Defense...
Tommy Vercetti
New member
obviously quite a few posts on nightsights by people who apparently have no experience with them whatsoever
Troll?... no troll here.
No troll here. Just an old guy that's been through all of the 'is a 9 better than a 45' droll debates before, and always looking for a better conversation.
As a matter of fact, I was just in the process of sending a slide from another new-found Mustang off to Novak's for a better set of sights. And I ask myself, 'self, do you really want to throw away an extra seventy-five bucks to upgrade to tritium?' 'Nah', says self.
And if you took a minute to actually read my post, the waste of money I'm referring to is money wasted to put little glow-dots on another one of my pocket pistols .- . tritium dots that will fade to nothing in about three years. In fact, putting dots on most any self-pointing pocket pistol with a two inch barrel seems kinda' silly. It's really cool, tho, but still not a great investment. In my view. From some of your defensive and curt responses, seems that the poll is split just about fifty fifty on the issue. Like I said, lively conversation.
As a matter of record (merely for the folks that dis my experience with firearms and challenge my right to dabble with the forum ... didn't know I needed a resume to play here) a brief history: I've probably been using and rebuilding nice firearms longer than some of you. I've hunted - when hunting was actually hunting for upland, large and small game - long before laws and PETA and ACLU and the rest of the feds and their regs ruined it. We took our shot guns to school and leaned 'em against the wall in the cloak room, ready to go when the afternoon bell rang. Used to shoot 25/25 trap and wasn't too bad at skeet. I raced IPSC with 1911's just a few points short of master, but had to quit when I blew my ears out. And believe me, Tinnitus sux. Now I just dabble collecting and rebuilding the things - along with so many interests other than guns. And speaking of guns, I own(ed) a few:
Three Mustang .380s (I'm a Colt guy) stainless, two-tone and now nickel
, all but the latest with Novak tritium three dots.
Five or six 1911's, some old some new, some dressed up to race in .38 Super, most of 'em Colt's.
One of those goofy-looking Remington XP100's chambered in .223 for road hunting in the old days
.
Too many shot guns, from 20 O/U, 20 auto, 12's in a variety of configurations (one riot gun with tritium beads), and my favorite old Winchester 97.
Remington 25-06 bolt action long gun (forget the model) and a cute little lever 222Bee.
AR15 in .223 with an EO, and a papered M4 short-barrel 10mm
with Trijicon ring and dot.
So you see, I'm not opposed to night sights. But like my post says, spending good ammo money to put them on a self-pointing pocket pistol seems a bit vain. But by all means, if you want to, go right ahead.
After all, it's your money.
No troll here. Just an old guy that's been through all of the 'is a 9 better than a 45' droll debates before, and always looking for a better conversation.
As a matter of fact, I was just in the process of sending a slide from another new-found Mustang off to Novak's for a better set of sights. And I ask myself, 'self, do you really want to throw away an extra seventy-five bucks to upgrade to tritium?' 'Nah', says self.
And if you took a minute to actually read my post, the waste of money I'm referring to is money wasted to put little glow-dots on another one of my pocket pistols .- . tritium dots that will fade to nothing in about three years. In fact, putting dots on most any self-pointing pocket pistol with a two inch barrel seems kinda' silly. It's really cool, tho, but still not a great investment. In my view. From some of your defensive and curt responses, seems that the poll is split just about fifty fifty on the issue. Like I said, lively conversation.
As a matter of record (merely for the folks that dis my experience with firearms and challenge my right to dabble with the forum ... didn't know I needed a resume to play here) a brief history: I've probably been using and rebuilding nice firearms longer than some of you. I've hunted - when hunting was actually hunting for upland, large and small game - long before laws and PETA and ACLU and the rest of the feds and their regs ruined it. We took our shot guns to school and leaned 'em against the wall in the cloak room, ready to go when the afternoon bell rang. Used to shoot 25/25 trap and wasn't too bad at skeet. I raced IPSC with 1911's just a few points short of master, but had to quit when I blew my ears out. And believe me, Tinnitus sux. Now I just dabble collecting and rebuilding the things - along with so many interests other than guns. And speaking of guns, I own(ed) a few:
Three Mustang .380s (I'm a Colt guy) stainless, two-tone and now nickel
, all but the latest with Novak tritium three dots. Five or six 1911's, some old some new, some dressed up to race in .38 Super, most of 'em Colt's.
One of those goofy-looking Remington XP100's chambered in .223 for road hunting in the old days
.Too many shot guns, from 20 O/U, 20 auto, 12's in a variety of configurations (one riot gun with tritium beads), and my favorite old Winchester 97.
Remington 25-06 bolt action long gun (forget the model) and a cute little lever 222Bee.
AR15 in .223 with an EO, and a papered M4 short-barrel 10mm
with Trijicon ring and dot.So you see, I'm not opposed to night sights. But like my post says, spending good ammo money to put them on a self-pointing pocket pistol seems a bit vain. But by all means, if you want to, go right ahead.
After all, it's your money.
inSight-NEO
New member
I tend to think of night sights as a "supplementary" item. Not really necessary, but certainly of value at given times. I mean, yes, for night time occasions there are the weapon mounted lights (which are useful and cool, but not my preference) and of course, the handheld flashlight (which I prefer). But, if you do not have the first and for some reason cannot get to the second, well...night sights at least allow you to more easily manage your weapon. You just never know. Of course, Im speaking of HD here...not CC.
So, in essence, are they necessary? I dont think so. Are they useful? Yes. Are they a waste of money? For a CCW, I think they may be. For HD duty, Im thinking no (in general).
Either way, for HD considerations, I try to keep my house well lit at night via many "well placed" night lights and keep a Surefire flashlight handy. Both of these can greatly aid with any identification issues and certainly help with acquisition. Still, I like to keep night sights on all of my HD weapons as I simply feel they add another layer of benefit regarding low light conditions.
But, again, I honestly think the best thing for night time occasions (within the home) involves keeping the exterior and interior well illuminated and always keep a strong, dependable flashlight nearby. For shotguns, solid interior illumination (night lights and so forth) along with a front bead night sight should suffice IMHO.
Now, when it comes to CC, Im of the belief that such encounters would happen within such close proximity (and be over so quickly) that night sights would not truly be of much benefit. Therefore, none of my CCW have night sights.
So, in essence, are they necessary? I dont think so. Are they useful? Yes. Are they a waste of money? For a CCW, I think they may be. For HD duty, Im thinking no (in general).
Either way, for HD considerations, I try to keep my house well lit at night via many "well placed" night lights and keep a Surefire flashlight handy. Both of these can greatly aid with any identification issues and certainly help with acquisition. Still, I like to keep night sights on all of my HD weapons as I simply feel they add another layer of benefit regarding low light conditions.
But, again, I honestly think the best thing for night time occasions (within the home) involves keeping the exterior and interior well illuminated and always keep a strong, dependable flashlight nearby. For shotguns, solid interior illumination (night lights and so forth) along with a front bead night sight should suffice IMHO.
Now, when it comes to CC, Im of the belief that such encounters would happen within such close proximity (and be over so quickly) that night sights would not truly be of much benefit. Therefore, none of my CCW have night sights.
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I like on front sight only .The 3 dot is to busy for my old eyes and make it a night sight 3 dot is worst. I have tried the 2 color set and that still not as good for close up as just front sight only .
You aren't suppose to shoot till you can ID target so that pretty dang close with out a light . No need for them on a pocket pistol or a laser either
You aren't suppose to shoot till you can ID target so that pretty dang close with out a light . No need for them on a pocket pistol or a laser either
I don't know about the rest of you but when I practice shooting in low or almost
no light, I shoot considerably better with night sights than without. Now factor in a high stress defensive situation, I don't know if I will even notice the sights, glowing or not. But maybe it will help, so why not ?
no light, I shoot considerably better with night sights than without. Now factor in a high stress defensive situation, I don't know if I will even notice the sights, glowing or not. But maybe it will help, so why not ?
For the most part, I agree with the original post. Here's my support: I took a close quarter combat handgun course at a national training center. The first thing we were required to do was put duct-tape over our sites. The tape didn't come off until the course was over. The point was driven home that in a sd situation there is no time to use your sites. If you have the time to acquire your sites, then acquire your target with the sites, you have most probably just committed murder.
Microgunner
New member
I just love the charge leveled by some folks that if you don't like tritium sights you have to be inexperienced with handguns and/or self defense. Best chuckle I've had all week.
inSight-NEO
New member
True that. However, Im betting that most circumstances surrounding CC would involve being so close/in direct contact that neither a light and/or night sights would be of much use.
HD..now thats a different situation.
A bit off topic, but...
Well....I would tend to think of such a situation as a blessing. I mean, say someone breaks in your home at night...and you KNOW it is not a friendly. You are lying in wait (not going Rambo throughout the home). The intruder comes near you, you identify/call out the individual, he/she raises a weapon, you raise yours..sight in and fire. Murder? No way. There are just too many variables to consider.
It only takes a second or so to acquire a solid sight picture (with enough practice). The hard part is doing it while under extreme duress. Ditto for low light conditions.
But, you mentioned SD (assuming CC). But, even so, I have heard of several accounts where a "true" sight picture was made prior to firing. Now, is this likely? Given the time constraints of such a situation, probably not. Hence, point shooting (such as what you seemed to reference) is certainly a skill to acquire. But, then again, there are different levels of point shooting. Are we speaking of merely bringing the weapon up to waist level an firing? Are we speaking of using a "stress fire" type aiming where only the front sight is over the "target" with the rear sight being of no real concern?
Either way...whether or not you had the time to acquire a "proper" sight picture would most likely not be the deciding factor as to whether or not you are tried for murder. Besides, a "true" sight picture could be the difference between you ending up six feet under or stopping the BG in his/her tracks.
But, I will admit that learning to shoot a weapon (without relying upon weapon mounted lights, lasers or whatnot) is of paramount importance. All else is simply on an "as needed"/preferential basis. One should not feel completely helpless without them.
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Why would your neighbor be in your home????
Secondly... It's likely pretty hard to hit something the size of a fist in the middle of someone's chest during a Home Invasion as night in low light conditions, so, Aiming with sights along with the adrenalin is likely not going to ever come into play.
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inSight-NEO
New member
Good Grief...
Night sights simply aid in weapon trajectory management/orientation under low light conditions. They are not meant for target identification or even target acquisition (in the truest sense of the word). Lets at least learn to separate these ideas.
Ill just sum up my last posts with this: NIGHT SIGHTS ARE NOT A WASTE OF MONEY! They are like any other accessory...you weigh the benefits vs. the negatives and decide for yourself on whether or not you need them. Also, keep in mind what night sights are for and dont expect more out of them than what they were designed to do. The rest is up to your own discretion/ability/circumstance(s).
For a CCW....I somewhat agree, but still its rather subjective and based on preference. For HD? I disagree completely as the word "best" leads to much too strong of a conclusion.
Based on what statistics? And "handle most CCW gunfights easily"? I mean, the comment about "high viz sights" aside, whose to say that most of us would be able to effectively "stop" an attack at anything beyond 3 yards or so with a handgun sans sights (much less at night) while under extreme stress? Keep in mind, Im not just speaking of hitting someone...but stopping someone. Personally, I think Gabe (Suarez) is assuming way too much here.
Sure, it could be done with enough practice; but then again, I could also just toss a hand grenade at the BG and forget about guns altogether.
While I usually agree with this, I must add the following: Even under extreme stress, muscle memory does come in to play. Hence, you are likely to resort to those things reinforced through hours of practice (good or bad) vs. simply "winging it." Of course, you never know just how one may react given such circumstances. But, even so, you would be amazed at what constant repetition can do (again, good or bad). In essence, reinforced bad habits would probably result in resorting to such habits under stress. Good habits, well....you get the idea. Regardless, I feel its more a case of timing/time available (for aiming) and/or muscle memory/acquired habits vs. simply succumbing to stress.
Sure, you indeed may not have the time to use the sights for a "true" picture, hence the need for implementing "point shooting" techniques within ones practice routine. After all, one should not rely on one vs. the other (for CC especially). Rather, both should become routine enough to where compensation can be made without a thought. Even so, while this sounds ideal in theory, in reality it is not easy to accomplish without extensive practice. Ever try hitting a target from 2 to 3 yards out (where it would effectively "stop" a BG) without "aiming"... and doing so with consistency? Its not easy.
I wont even bother mentioning (once again) how night sights can factor in to the equation. But, again, to me night sights have more bearing upon HD vs when implemented on a CCW platform.
Night sights simply aid in weapon trajectory management/orientation under low light conditions. They are not meant for target identification or even target acquisition (in the truest sense of the word). Lets at least learn to separate these ideas.
Ill just sum up my last posts with this: NIGHT SIGHTS ARE NOT A WASTE OF MONEY! They are like any other accessory...you weigh the benefits vs. the negatives and decide for yourself on whether or not you need them. Also, keep in mind what night sights are for and dont expect more out of them than what they were designed to do. The rest is up to your own discretion/ability/circumstance(s).
For a CCW....I somewhat agree, but still its rather subjective and based on preference. For HD? I disagree completely as the word "best" leads to much too strong of a conclusion.
Based on what statistics? And "handle most CCW gunfights easily"? I mean, the comment about "high viz sights" aside, whose to say that most of us would be able to effectively "stop" an attack at anything beyond 3 yards or so with a handgun sans sights (much less at night) while under extreme stress? Keep in mind, Im not just speaking of hitting someone...but stopping someone. Personally, I think Gabe (Suarez) is assuming way too much here.
Sure, it could be done with enough practice; but then again, I could also just toss a hand grenade at the BG and forget about guns altogether.
While I usually agree with this, I must add the following: Even under extreme stress, muscle memory does come in to play. Hence, you are likely to resort to those things reinforced through hours of practice (good or bad) vs. simply "winging it." Of course, you never know just how one may react given such circumstances. But, even so, you would be amazed at what constant repetition can do (again, good or bad). In essence, reinforced bad habits would probably result in resorting to such habits under stress. Good habits, well....you get the idea. Regardless, I feel its more a case of timing/time available (for aiming) and/or muscle memory/acquired habits vs. simply succumbing to stress.
Sure, you indeed may not have the time to use the sights for a "true" picture, hence the need for implementing "point shooting" techniques within ones practice routine. After all, one should not rely on one vs. the other (for CC especially). Rather, both should become routine enough to where compensation can be made without a thought. Even so, while this sounds ideal in theory, in reality it is not easy to accomplish without extensive practice. Ever try hitting a target from 2 to 3 yards out (where it would effectively "stop" a BG) without "aiming"... and doing so with consistency? Its not easy.
I wont even bother mentioning (once again) how night sights can factor in to the equation. But, again, to me night sights have more bearing upon HD vs when implemented on a CCW platform.
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trigger happy
New member
where can I get one of those? never heard of one but now I'm curious
mddevildog
Inactive
I just want to know where I can get one of those self pointing handguns.
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