Are tritium nite sights worth it ?
I recently bought a beautiful little Colt Mustang .380.
It has these small sights like you find on a 1911A mil-spec, nothing special.
Is it worth the money for tritium nite sights ? or just normal white dot sights ? or ? and why ?
Artz
It has these small sights like you find on a 1911A mil-spec, nothing special.
Is it worth the money for tritium nite sights ? or just normal white dot sights ? or ? and why ?
Artz
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Well, how good are your eyes?
Can you acquire a fast sight picture with the smaller sights?
Are you worried about certain size or profile sights getting snagged on the draw?
What kind of personal lighting options are you using?
What are you going to do with the gun? How often do you plan to carry it?
It's just one of those things that's very personal and particular.
I personally don't invest in anything for a gun for at least a month or 300 rounds, unless it's real obvious it needs it, like a replacement part.
Can you acquire a fast sight picture with the smaller sights?
Are you worried about certain size or profile sights getting snagged on the draw?
What kind of personal lighting options are you using?
What are you going to do with the gun? How often do you plan to carry it?
It's just one of those things that's very personal and particular.
I personally don't invest in anything for a gun for at least a month or 300 rounds, unless it's real obvious it needs it, like a replacement part.
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#1 my eyes are pretty good. At late evening and nite, they go funky. I have a stigmatism.Euclidean said:
#2 in daytime I have no problems with a fast sight acqusition.
#3 yepper...the standard sights will snag quicker than the millet sights
#4 I use no personal lighting system.
#5 gun will be a full time pocket concealment piece. Front or rear pocket.
#6 ....and the gun shoots flawlessly. Already put over 200 rounds of 95 gr. hardball through her...
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I personally like tritium sights.
I have Ashley's 24/7 big dot on my Rock River 1911 and standard 3 dot night sights on my Kimber CDP Compact.
I find that I shoot tighter groups in low light than I do in the day. It has to do with having that big green light bulb 'yelling look at me'. I seem to concentrate on the front sight better in low light with the tritium sights.
They say that tritium will last for 10 years. After experience with several sets, I find it's more like 6 years. But what the hey, I can live with that.
My .02 worth.
I have Ashley's 24/7 big dot on my Rock River 1911 and standard 3 dot night sights on my Kimber CDP Compact.
I find that I shoot tighter groups in low light than I do in the day. It has to do with having that big green light bulb 'yelling look at me'. I seem to concentrate on the front sight better in low light with the tritium sights.
They say that tritium will last for 10 years. After experience with several sets, I find it's more like 6 years. But what the hey, I can live with that.
My .02 worth.
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521 Posts
I like my night sights. If you could be using your pistol in a low light condition, they would be a great help. I have done some, dry run, house clearing in low light, and they are a huge help finding where the gun is pointing. And fast. I have them on all of my hand guns.
The are not a substitute for a good flashlight but do aid in the in between times when the light is not on.
The are not a substitute for a good flashlight but do aid in the in between times when the light is not on.
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You see , my s&w has factory tritium nite ights on it. I think they are great. My ruger sp101 has crimson trace laser grips.
hmmmmm........I think I have just answered my own question.
Thanks guys, for prodding my noodle and thinking a little bit. :smile:
hmmmmm........I think I have just answered my own question.
Thanks guys, for prodding my noodle and thinking a little bit. :smile:
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25,596 Posts
I like to think I have best of both worlds! My 226 (and 228) have night sights, and - CT grips.
The CT's in very low light would probably take priority but should they fail the night sights could be invaluable. Assuming of course we have time to aquire a full sight picture!!
The CT's in very low light would probably take priority but should they fail the night sights could be invaluable. Assuming of course we have time to aquire a full sight picture!!
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One school of thought is that if you don't have enough light to see your sights, then you don't have enough light to identify your target. If you can't identify what you are shooting at....
But, I have found that there are many light levels that I can't see my sight that I can identify my target. I often shoot in light levels where my sights blend into the dark target and I can't get a good sight picture. Sometimes the night sights help and sometimes they don't - a lot depends on light conditions.
I think night sights fall into the "better to have and not need than to not have and need them".
P95 may have the ultimate set up - night sights and CTs, or at least some kind of laser sight. But as pointed out, neither is a substitute for a flashlight. You can put a night sight or laser sight on a target, but if you can't identify the target, you are shooting blind.
But, I have found that there are many light levels that I can't see my sight that I can identify my target. I often shoot in light levels where my sights blend into the dark target and I can't get a good sight picture. Sometimes the night sights help and sometimes they don't - a lot depends on light conditions.
I think night sights fall into the "better to have and not need than to not have and need them".
P95 may have the ultimate set up - night sights and CTs, or at least some kind of laser sight. But as pointed out, neither is a substitute for a flashlight. You can put a night sight or laser sight on a target, but if you can't identify the target, you are shooting blind.
I vote in favor of tritiums. In fact, usually it's the only modification I will make to a carry gun, the exception being grips. But for my aging eyes, tritiums are a must!
About ten years ago, I was taking a nighttime stroll with my wife around our Coral Gables neighborhood. At that time, I was carrying a Beretta M84 .380. Well, to be more precise, it was my wife's gun, I had possession that night. Suddenly out of nowhere a dog came snarling and snapping at my wife. She yelled and I drew. I did not fire primarily because I couldn't see my sights and the animal was too close to risk a shot. I was about to pounce on the dog and simply screw the barrel into it's ear before I began pulling the trigger. At that moment, the dogs owner rushes out and pulls the dog away apologizing profusely. As he did so, I swiftly reholstered. He never saw the gun.
My wife did. She knew the situation and she was glad I hadn't had to kill the pup. She immediately asked me to sell her gun and get her a Colt Commander 45 with tritiums. She surely is a keeper! We did that and it's been perfect, ever since.
About ten years ago, I was taking a nighttime stroll with my wife around our Coral Gables neighborhood. At that time, I was carrying a Beretta M84 .380. Well, to be more precise, it was my wife's gun, I had possession that night. Suddenly out of nowhere a dog came snarling and snapping at my wife. She yelled and I drew. I did not fire primarily because I couldn't see my sights and the animal was too close to risk a shot. I was about to pounce on the dog and simply screw the barrel into it's ear before I began pulling the trigger. At that moment, the dogs owner rushes out and pulls the dog away apologizing profusely. As he did so, I swiftly reholstered. He never saw the gun.
My wife did. She knew the situation and she was glad I hadn't had to kill the pup. She immediately asked me to sell her gun and get her a Colt Commander 45 with tritiums. She surely is a keeper! We did that and it's been perfect, ever since.
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Ex,
I had a similar experience except it was in daylight. Huge dog broke open a storm door and charged me and my dog (Tangle). I began moving me and Tangle as far across the road as I could get.
In that mental state that seems like "instantaneous assessment", I decided to draw if the dog came into the road, and the instant I perceived he was a threat, the shooting would begin. The dog charged into the street, I had already drawn my gun - nerves gave in early. Just as it was time, I heard the owner (a woman) yelling he won't bite. I trusted her; thank goodness she was right.
She new I had a gun - out. I got back to my mother-in-laws ASAP and called the police and told them the story. I didn't want the owner calling in and reporting some guy pulled a gun on them.
I'm sure glad I had night sights on my gun when that happened, otherwise this post would be drifting off topic.
I had a similar experience except it was in daylight. Huge dog broke open a storm door and charged me and my dog (Tangle). I began moving me and Tangle as far across the road as I could get.
In that mental state that seems like "instantaneous assessment", I decided to draw if the dog came into the road, and the instant I perceived he was a threat, the shooting would begin. The dog charged into the street, I had already drawn my gun - nerves gave in early. Just as it was time, I heard the owner (a woman) yelling he won't bite. I trusted her; thank goodness she was right.
She new I had a gun - out. I got back to my mother-in-laws ASAP and called the police and told them the story. I didn't want the owner calling in and reporting some guy pulled a gun on them.
I'm sure glad I had night sights on my gun when that happened, otherwise this post would be drifting off topic.
On a Colt Mustang you want to carry all the time? I'd just get the actual tritium sights myself rather than the paint. Reason being is the sights will last a lot longer.
The sights on that used Sig I picked up still glow and that thing's been around.
Plus that's a nice gun. I'd want to do it right. If it was I don't know a Llama or something I might try the paint.
The sights on that used Sig I picked up still glow and that thing's been around.
Plus that's a nice gun. I'd want to do it right. If it was I don't know a Llama or something I might try the paint.
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I never used paint. thanks for the .02 's worth. :yup:
I'm not the type to spend for a decent, pricey gun and get chenzy on its accessories, especially dealing with my lifes on the line.
Its time to order a set of millet tritium's.
Anyone recommend a better set ?
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now....what configuration ? I like the rear sight bar; front sight dot configuration.
My 10mm has the three dot set-up... think its better to keep them all the same ???
I'm not the type to spend for a decent, pricey gun and get chenzy on its accessories, especially dealing with my lifes on the line.
Its time to order a set of millet tritium's.
Anyone recommend a better set ?
--------
now....what configuration ? I like the rear sight bar; front sight dot configuration.
My 10mm has the three dot set-up... think its better to keep them all the same ???
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