In the 1990s I carried pistols with tritium sights. That is until I found during CQB night drills with USMC F.A.S.T marines I was working with that the sights light you up in the dark, aka night bulls-eye. I don't use them on my carry guns anymore for this reason. Instead I practice live fire drills every morning including instinctive pointing drills in low light conditions etc. Anyone else here feel the same way about tritium sights, if not why not?:bier:
Tritium Sights Light You Up
1 - 20 of 62 Posts
Joined
·
319 Posts
Moral: If you're going to shoot at marines with night vision, night sights aren't good.
Since that's not my circumstance, I'll take the night sights whenever available.
Joined
·
2,470 Posts
I don't plan on pulling my firearm during dark sky events. More likely it will be in a city street or my house.
I think the +'s of night sights outweigh the -'s.
I think the +'s of night sights outweigh the -'s.
Joined
·
236 Posts
I go along with the idea that tritium sights make great illumination for night vision.
On the other hand, I doubt that any night street mugger will be using night vision.
Dark night, dark alley, sights might be needed. I'm going to compromise and have slide milled for just the front sight.
Front sight, press.
2/3 less light back scatter.
On the other hand, I doubt that any night street mugger will be using night vision.
Dark night, dark alley, sights might be needed. I'm going to compromise and have slide milled for just the front sight.
Front sight, press.
2/3 less light back scatter.
Joined
·
2,331 Posts
LOL... I have heard this one before. And obviously it comes from ignorance. They do not throw any illuminating light.
They simply glow in the tubes they are in, which are buried into the sight itself. So that if you can get a look directly at them you can see them. Sort of like the illuminated hand of a watch.
Joined
·
236 Posts
Take your gun into a totally dark bathroom.
Aim at the mirror.
You will see a "glow" of your face, particularly if you use eyeglasses.
[my son has an Ultra CDP and has done this]
Whether it would be seen at 10-200 yards by an enemy without night vision, don't know. But if the enemy has night vision, I'm pretty sure you face would light up with visible light. Of course, IR would probaby show you too.
Bad guy street thugs in civilian settings not likely to be using night vision and IF I have to shoot in a dark place I want the advantage of my sights working.
Right now, I have solid steel plain black Heinie sights installed 20 years ago. I will install a front sight only to try it out in night shooting.
Aim at the mirror.
You will see a "glow" of your face, particularly if you use eyeglasses.
[my son has an Ultra CDP and has done this]
Whether it would be seen at 10-200 yards by an enemy without night vision, don't know. But if the enemy has night vision, I'm pretty sure you face would light up with visible light. Of course, IR would probaby show you too.
Bad guy street thugs in civilian settings not likely to be using night vision and IF I have to shoot in a dark place I want the advantage of my sights working.
Right now, I have solid steel plain black Heinie sights installed 20 years ago. I will install a front sight only to try it out in night shooting.
Joined
·
4,254 Posts
One: If it's so dark you have to worry about your night sights illuminating you then you shouldn't be shooting anyway because you won't have proper target identification.
Two: I'm not drawing my firearm until I'm ready to shoot so the threat will already be recognized and addressed long before I have to worry about my night sights.
Three: My husband and I have tried this with BRAND NEW tritium night sights in a pitch black room and neither of us noticed any illumination of ourselves.
Four: This ranks right up there on the level of ridiculousness with the moonlight shining on your stainless barrel giving your position away in a civilian environment.
Five: I'm keeping my night sights.
Two: I'm not drawing my firearm until I'm ready to shoot so the threat will already be recognized and addressed long before I have to worry about my night sights.
Three: My husband and I have tried this with BRAND NEW tritium night sights in a pitch black room and neither of us noticed any illumination of ourselves.
Four: This ranks right up there on the level of ridiculousness with the moonlight shining on your stainless barrel giving your position away in a civilian environment.
Five: I'm keeping my night sights.
Joined
·
128 Posts
I have Glock factory night sights and they will glow through a shirt in the dark so I can imagine they could light my face some. I should test that for myself.
That said, I only got them because there wasn't one without them in the store. I think they have a role somehow and I like that I have them but I truly do not think I will be looking down the sights directly in a SD situation. I only practice with my peripheral vision noticing the sights in the overall picture. When I am in fight mode I try to take in as much of the view as possible and often find that being aware of everything around you kinda prevents something finer like focusing on your front sight and a target. I can't do both. Just something I noticed about myself - not saying this is how anyone else should practice.
I would still be happy with my Glock if it had come with no nightsights but I'm glad I have them.
That said, I only got them because there wasn't one without them in the store. I think they have a role somehow and I like that I have them but I truly do not think I will be looking down the sights directly in a SD situation. I only practice with my peripheral vision noticing the sights in the overall picture. When I am in fight mode I try to take in as much of the view as possible and often find that being aware of everything around you kinda prevents something finer like focusing on your front sight and a target. I can't do both. Just something I noticed about myself - not saying this is how anyone else should practice.
I would still be happy with my Glock if it had come with no nightsights but I'm glad I have them.
Joined
·
10,988 Posts
Night drills are one thing. Low light is something else. Most civilians will be in low light, not out doing maneuvers in the pitch dark of night.
Furthermore, the BG will usually be close, and able to see you. You are not "giving away" your position by using night sights - you're just better able to see your sights.
Different mission, different tools. If I was hunting an enemy in the dark, I would also not want anything giving off a glow, nor anything reflective, nor anything that rattled or made any noise.
Are you going to duct tape your keys together to go to the store at 10pm? Yea, didn't think so.
Don't overthink this. Just get night sights.:wink:
Furthermore, the BG will usually be close, and able to see you. You are not "giving away" your position by using night sights - you're just better able to see your sights.
Different mission, different tools. If I was hunting an enemy in the dark, I would also not want anything giving off a glow, nor anything reflective, nor anything that rattled or made any noise.
Are you going to duct tape your keys together to go to the store at 10pm? Yea, didn't think so.
Don't overthink this. Just get night sights.:wink:
Joined
·
2,331 Posts
Nuff said! :35:
Joined
·
543 Posts
how about: night sights or not, if you shoot at marines you die period.
Joined
·
148 Posts
I agree! I discussed this on another post about Laser vs. Night sights. I went into the bathroom with all light turned off and my G26(Glock Night Sights) position in my STuck IWB the same way I will be carrying. I didnt not see any illumination reflecting in the mirror. I didnt see anything illuminating from my shirt as I looked at spot where the sight was positioned.
__ In the average real life scenario I do not believe Night Sight spotting will come into play, unless the perp is specifically looking all over your body before the attack closely to see if he may spot a gun(unlikely). Maybe he is a ex-special forces that went bad and has some Night Vision Goggles, etc. I think you would have to be wearing some really thin clothes for that light to show through, or either be carrying OWB and BG standing behind you closely to see the recessed light.
Joined
·
148 Posts
+1 :dead:
Joined
·
19,539 Posts
Count me in with Lima. Night sights lighting up your face is about as nasty (and tactically important) a problem as a radium dial on your wristwatch.
Joined
·
50,596 Posts
Concealed carry would eliminate anyone spotting your night sights, even IF they had 'eagle-eye' vision...but night sights can't be seen from the front of your pistola, so who is going to see them (if they could...which they can't)?
When my firearm leave its cover for serious business, the 'flash' is going to be considerably brighter than the night sights, but it will be too late by that time.IMHO:22a:
When my firearm leave its cover for serious business, the 'flash' is going to be considerably brighter than the night sights, but it will be too late by that time.IMHO:22a:
1 - 20 of 62 Posts
Join the discussion
Join now to ask and comment!