Night Sights - Help Me See The Light
- Thread starter predecessor
- Start date
TacticalDefense1911
New member
This is not a false statement from a tactical standpoint; in total darkness you cant see your target so who cares if you can see your sights. Therefore there is no benefit to night sights in total darkness, unless you have a flashlight which would make it a low-light situation.
Ok, so the three dot addition does not add to quick target pick up in light settings? And i dont care where you are, except maybe a photo darkroom, you can see your target in low to no light situations in real world situations. So it is false. There are plenty of benefits to these sights over stock sights.
GetYerShells
New member
I am not sure I understand what you are saying. I always thought photo rooms had a low intensity red light in them. Isn't "no light" the total absence of light? If so it would be impossible to see a target in total blackness situations.
All i am saying is in a real world situation when are you in a NO light situation? I cannot think af any place i have been other than a room intentionally made for NO light. These sights are enough to pick up a target in any real situation you would face. Most of the time if you are in an extremely low light condition you can see a figure of the target. But for someone to say these sights have NO benefit they obviously have not used them much.
TacticalDefense1911
New member
You've never walked through a dark room at night with no moonlight coming through the windows? No light situations are when you are walking with your arms out in front of you so you dont run into something. Night sights aren't going to help you here; only a flashlight will. I can think of plenty of times I've been in this situation.
There is no need to get in a ******* match over it; I'm agreeing with you that they are a benefit in low light situations which is what you are talking about, not no light. I've shot plenty in low light situations and plenty in no light; with the latter you have to use a flashlight to illuminate your target, plain and simple, no matter what your sights are.
Not trying to bash you either. I just think there are more situations that these sights are a benefit and worth the $ you pay for them. The stock red ramp sights on alot of the revolvers are junk IMO, along with stock sights on most bottom feeders. The design of the three dot tritium sights are a huge improvement in these cases no matter what the light level. I was not trying to start an argument with you but i wanted to make sure the thread starter knew what you are saying.
No disrespect intended.
No disrespect intended.
"This is not a false statement from a tactical standpoint; in total darkness you cant see your target so who cares if you can see your sights. Therefore there is no benefit to night sights in total darkness, unless you have a flashlight which would make it a low-light situation."
Not true and I see this faulty logic over and over again on every board whenever night sights are discussed. Why is there an assumption that you and the target are in the same light? Just because you are not in a lighted area doesn't mean your target isn't. You might be in a dark hallway while your target is in the brightly lit kitchen.
It's also not always necessary to see anymore than the figure of the person to know it's a bad guy. My wife and I are the only ones who live in my house, all of our family is 1300 miles away, and nobody but us has a key to the doors. If she's in the bedroom behind me when I walk down the hall any other figure of a person I see in my house is someone who has no legal business being there.
Not true and I see this faulty logic over and over again on every board whenever night sights are discussed. Why is there an assumption that you and the target are in the same light? Just because you are not in a lighted area doesn't mean your target isn't. You might be in a dark hallway while your target is in the brightly lit kitchen.
It's also not always necessary to see anymore than the figure of the person to know it's a bad guy. My wife and I are the only ones who live in my house, all of our family is 1300 miles away, and nobody but us has a key to the doors. If she's in the bedroom behind me when I walk down the hall any other figure of a person I see in my house is someone who has no legal business being there.
TacticalDefense1911
New member
I'm not assuming anything; what if you are in the light and you target is in the dark. If you cant see the target you cant see the target, that is all I'm trying to say. In your example you can see the target because they are in the light; this would not be a "no light" situation. Even if you didnt have night sights, which would help in your scenario, the light from the kitchen would give you the ability to see your sight regardless; not very well but still visable even if you dont have night sights.
Once again, no advantage to night sights in daylight situations obviously (not talking 3-dot vs. no dot here since there are several different types of night sights) since you can see your sights anyways, and no advantage to them if your target cant be seen. Yes they are a great advantage in low light situations. Beating a dead horse here, I dont see this to be that difficult to understand
There's almost no such thing as "total darkness". If, say, you properly ID'd a threat in dim light (living room?) and the threat moves to a darkened area, I believe night sights would serve very well--they already have on many occasions.
See if you can (be practical about it) create a situation where there's total darkness where you couldn't even glimpse Bubba's shadow. Not likely. A closet is one of the few places the may qualify. If you're in ther with Bubba, then, admittedly, NS's would be of little use.
What night sights don't do in near darkness is ID the target for you. If the target is ID'd (and it must be) they tend to work as designed.
Interesting how a laser sight can illuminate things in "total darkness" so it isn't "totally dark" anymore.
Last edited:
what is the usable life?
I only have night sights on one of my pistols: a CZ75BD 9mm that came with factory night sights.
I've heard that after a certain amount of time, they fade and the "night sight" no longer works.
Does anybody know what the average usable life of night sights is, before they quit being effective?
I only have night sights on one of my pistols: a CZ75BD 9mm that came with factory night sights.
I've heard that after a certain amount of time, they fade and the "night sight" no longer works.
Does anybody know what the average usable life of night sights is, before they quit being effective?
TacticalDefense1911
New member
Most companies say 10 years I believe, but as Creature has said they can last longer.
Practicality is the key, if you can afford it, go for laser sight; it’s at least a conversational piece of equipment at the range. In night situations i always used my weapon in one hand and light in the other with a cross hand stance.
I never use a light in tactical situations unless i absolutely have to, your light gives away your position. I TRY to become part of the darkness and work it to MY advantage.
The front white dot on the Glock (my weapon of choice) is great for close combative situations (<15 feet) picking up the front sight to put on the target spontaneously in stressful conditions.
Home intruders are at a disadvantage in darkness in your home, they don't know the layout... i.e. stairs, steps, obstacles, so they are more likely to use a flashlight and give themselves away, if they don't need a flashlight to move about, then neither do you. If you have to use a flashlight, use a strong one with blinding effect.
I personally don't have the need for a Laser sight or a flashlight attachment for my weapons (Guns) I’ve always concentrated my training on close combat encounters (<!5 Feet) where slow sight alignment aiming is NOT need it, therefore laser and flashlights are just not practical, for me.
I have seven or so small hand held flashlights placed around my house for emergencies.
I never use a light in tactical situations unless i absolutely have to, your light gives away your position. I TRY to become part of the darkness and work it to MY advantage.
The front white dot on the Glock (my weapon of choice) is great for close combative situations (<15 feet) picking up the front sight to put on the target spontaneously in stressful conditions.
Home intruders are at a disadvantage in darkness in your home, they don't know the layout... i.e. stairs, steps, obstacles, so they are more likely to use a flashlight and give themselves away, if they don't need a flashlight to move about, then neither do you. If you have to use a flashlight, use a strong one with blinding effect.
I personally don't have the need for a Laser sight or a flashlight attachment for my weapons (Guns) I’ve always concentrated my training on close combat encounters (<!5 Feet) where slow sight alignment aiming is NOT need it, therefore laser and flashlights are just not practical, for me.
I have seven or so small hand held flashlights placed around my house for emergencies.
Where to start?
TruGlo Hands down the best invention since sliced bread (which I do not buy, I like thick toast!) First, which has already being stated, eyes open from deep sleep, pistol id no question, 18" away, the handle is under the back two dots!
The TruGlo are the brightest I have seen, and in bright day light the fiber optic feature is incredible, so much so that swinging the pistol to follow your eyes to a target in day light, these sights are so bright as your focus on the target (which you do!) still allows the three green dots to be clearly seen, they are superimposed on the target.
And last but certainly not least, your brain can align 3 bright green dots much easier than the traditional front post inside a box, with the tops in a straight line, gap of light equal on each side of that post.
TruGlo Hands down the best invention since sliced bread (which I do not buy, I like thick toast!) First, which has already being stated, eyes open from deep sleep, pistol id no question, 18" away, the handle is under the back two dots!
The TruGlo are the brightest I have seen, and in bright day light the fiber optic feature is incredible, so much so that swinging the pistol to follow your eyes to a target in day light, these sights are so bright as your focus on the target (which you do!) still allows the three green dots to be clearly seen, they are superimposed on the target.
And last but certainly not least, your brain can align 3 bright green dots much easier than the traditional front post inside a box, with the tops in a straight line, gap of light equal on each side of that post.
The point about finding the gun itself in the dark is a good point. When I look over on my nightstand, the only thing I can see are the nite sights glowing on my Glock.
Three things made me a big believer in nite sights:
If you take a formal training class, they usually have at least one night portion of the class. You will quickly discover that shooting at night is hard enough without also not being able to see your sights. It is possible to use yoru handheld flashlight to see the target and the sights, but this takes more dexterity than I can manage. Nite sights eliminate this problem.
Second: I shot a night IDPA match. This brought out the points above as well as a different twist on the same theme. We had one senario where we were in a shoot house but the targets were outside. The senario is that you hear a noise outside. You open the door to see what is going on and three guys are robbing your shed. When you light them up, they turn and open fire on you. That particular night there was a very bright moon and you could see the targets easily and distinctily. However, since you were inside the building, you couldn't see your sights. Again, you could clearly ID the targets without a flashlight. It was bright enough outside to see the scoring rings on the targets. But, you, being in the buidling couldn't see your sights at all unless you had night sights. This might be the same situation if you were lighting up your target with a flashlight, or if the target was lighting himself up with a flashlight, or the target was clearly illuminated with light coming in the windows BUT, you are standing in the darkness of your bedroom door.
You often read on these boards about never shooting a target you can't identify and if it isn't light enough to identify the target then you shouldn't be shooting: what these people don't realize (because they never tried it) is that it is easily possible to have the target clearly visible while you are standing in the dark.
Lastly, I have done a lot of jack rabbit shooting at night. We light up the rabbit with a spotlight but again, you are not standing in the light of the spot light. You are well off to the side and can't see your sights. This is just a variation of everything said above but further drove the point home to me.
One more thing: if you have nite sights, this gives you just one more option/advantage. If you don't need them, there is nothing negative about them. You just use them like any other factory iron sight. But, if you need them, they are there.
Three things made me a big believer in nite sights:
If you take a formal training class, they usually have at least one night portion of the class. You will quickly discover that shooting at night is hard enough without also not being able to see your sights. It is possible to use yoru handheld flashlight to see the target and the sights, but this takes more dexterity than I can manage. Nite sights eliminate this problem.
Second: I shot a night IDPA match. This brought out the points above as well as a different twist on the same theme. We had one senario where we were in a shoot house but the targets were outside. The senario is that you hear a noise outside. You open the door to see what is going on and three guys are robbing your shed. When you light them up, they turn and open fire on you. That particular night there was a very bright moon and you could see the targets easily and distinctily. However, since you were inside the building, you couldn't see your sights. Again, you could clearly ID the targets without a flashlight. It was bright enough outside to see the scoring rings on the targets. But, you, being in the buidling couldn't see your sights at all unless you had night sights. This might be the same situation if you were lighting up your target with a flashlight, or if the target was lighting himself up with a flashlight, or the target was clearly illuminated with light coming in the windows BUT, you are standing in the darkness of your bedroom door.
You often read on these boards about never shooting a target you can't identify and if it isn't light enough to identify the target then you shouldn't be shooting: what these people don't realize (because they never tried it) is that it is easily possible to have the target clearly visible while you are standing in the dark.
Lastly, I have done a lot of jack rabbit shooting at night. We light up the rabbit with a spotlight but again, you are not standing in the light of the spot light. You are well off to the side and can't see your sights. This is just a variation of everything said above but further drove the point home to me.
One more thing: if you have nite sights, this gives you just one more option/advantage. If you don't need them, there is nothing negative about them. You just use them like any other factory iron sight. But, if you need them, they are there.
Stevie-Ray
New member
I love the Mepros on my Kimber. I'm going to purchase sets for both my Glocks, as well. I don't think brand will matter.