Poll: Night Sights on home defense gun essential?

Are Night Sights Essential on a Home Defense Gun?

  • Yes they are essential and I install them on all home defense guns.

    Votes: 42 27.6%

  • No they are nice to have but not essential.

    Votes: 110 72.4%
  • Total voters
    152
  • Poll closed .
I do like night sights on my bedside pistol but use them as much to direct the hand to the gun while trying to get awake and mobile. As for using the sights when the flash light illuminated the potential target for ID the glowing part of the sights are no longer needed.
 
you need a weapons light

Help me understand the situation in which you need to shoot "something" that you can't see with your night sights. You've never read the stories of guys shooting their wives or a family member who was up in the middle of the night.

I thought one of the cardinal rules of gun safety was to never shoot what you couldn't identify.
 
They are definitely not essential, but they are beneficial.

People were defending their homes with Colt 1911's with all black sights a hundred years ago.

That doesn't mean better sights aren't better. It does mean night sights aren't essential.

If you can swing the cash for night sights, in my opinion, it's worth it.

All my home defense choices have night sights. Not all my guns do though.
 
ferrarif1fan said:
Help me understand the situation in which you need to shoot "something" that you can't see with your night sights. You've never read the stories of guys shooting their wives or a family member who was up in the middle of the night.



I thought one of the cardinal rules of gun safety was to never shoot what you couldn't identify.
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It's very conceivable that the target is visible, but the sights are hard to find. Night sights make sight acquisition instantaneous.

Simply reaching out and pointing a gun is not an accurate way for most people to shoot. Using your glowing sights and aim center of mass is far more accurate, and faster.
 
What you all are saying about the glowing sights making center of mass shots more probable is correct but, I will still flip on the flash light (making the glowing of the sights no longer an issue) before I fire just to be sure it is not somebody I do not need to shoot.
 
It's very conceivable that the target is visible, but the sights are hard to find. Night sights make sight acquisition instantaneous.
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Night sights work in pitch dark, broad daylight, and everything in between. They arent just a pitch black thing.

I get a strong feeling that most of the negative comments come from those who really havent used them in any real capacity, if at all. Most people I know personally that have them, have always spoke of them in the positive. I dont ever remember any of them saying they were a waste, or ineffective.
 
It's very conceivable that the target is visible, but the sights are hard to find. Night sights make sight acquisition instantaneous.
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Visible isn't the same thing as identifiable. There is an extremely narrow window where a target is identifiable; but there is not enough contrast to get a good sight picture at pistol ranges. In that very narrow area, night sights are an advantage. So is a flashlight for that matter; but the flashlight has additional uses (when the target is not identifiable/non-gun usues).
 
Nice but not essential IMO. As my eyes age, I prefer to focus on the target, not the sights - I treat this just like pointing a shotgun - there as well, the focus is on your intended target, not your sights. I can either focus short or focus long, not both. I prefer to see the target. AT HD distances, I can hit COM without using sites but by bringing up the gun and shooting.
 
I tend to think of night sights as more valuable to cops who may be in a stand off situation or directing sighted fire in low light conditions.

For home defense range work even in low light without night sights I have little issue perhaps someday if I had a bigger house?

That said about 1/3 of my guns wear tritium and I find comfort in the glow on the nightstand
 
A few of my handguns wear night sights but I think they are best used for finding the gun on the night stand. The TLR attached to the front of my M&P is far more effective once the gun is up in my hand. The way our home is layed out, there is no hiding or position to give up. I either run into the perp while I'm assessing or it's a baracade situation. Both of which the TLR is far more effective.
 
I prefer them on any defensive pistol. Whether it's for home defense or concealed carry.

I'll put it this way, we carry guns in case we need it. In the whole "it's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it." So my take on this is:

There's no reason to not have them.
 
I voted Nice.

Their presence has helped me to decide to buy a gun. Twice. However, their absence has not stopped me buying a gun. Thrice.

Having said that if I could get them fitted to all my handguns I probably would. I feel the give me an extra edge as, unlike others, I don't think I am a naturally proficient point shooter so I want to know where my sights are and how they are aligned.

That is just me.
 
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