??Are Night Sights really Night Sights?? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**Ed Ely** · 08-15-2006, 09:52 AM

Night Sights, we all are familiar with the term
but I question if that is really what 'Night Sights"
should be called.

I personally feel that 'Nights Sights' are a mis-
nomenclature. Sure they glow in the dark and use
tritium filled gas tubes for such purpose. But what
the h*ll use is a set of 'Night Sights' if they just
glow in the dark and you cannot see what you are
shooting at because it is dark in the first place.

Granted, you can turn on your flashlight and flash
it around in the dark by holding it in hand or have
it attached to your bedside firearm with the 'Night
Sights', but when you flash it on, "where did the
'Night Sights' go"??

Point here is that I am under the strict impression that
'Nights Sights' are not night sights at all. They should
be called 'Low Level Light' sights, such as 'Triple L', L3,
or some other catchy name. True 'Night Sights' for a
handgun just do not exist in the term that we have
applied and tagged them with.

True 'Night Sights' are another ball game completely.
I am talking about the nighttime intensifiers or such
as 'night vision'.

I will say that most 'Night Sights' that are sold on the
market today are really used more in day light than in
the dark, period. Installed 'Night Sights' can help pick up
on a target much better than a firearm without them, in
most instances, when used in the daytime or low light
level conditions.

What do you firearm owners with so called 'Night Sights'
installed think? Am I opinionated to the left too much or
do you agree with me?

Ed

hytekblue · 08-15-2006, 10:22 AM

well Ed you might be being a teensy bit critical there...They help you align your sights. I use night sights and they work perfect with the streamlite M3

I also usually have a small 1W LED flashlight if I want to illuminate a subject with out pointing a loaded gun at them... I also happen to believe that they work really well in low lihgt situations... I have night sites on four of my hand guns and love them...

soooo what i am saying is I guess I am not an etymologist

as always

YMMV

malkore · 08-15-2006, 02:28 PM

Well, it depends really. If there's sufficient backlighting that you can make out the badguy's sillohuette, then tritium sights will get you a proper bead on em.

if you have insufficient backlighting, then you'll want a night scope, or a flashlight and tritium sights or other effective combo.

since we have a street light outside, and many windows for moonlight to stream in, I opted for night sights. still need a flashlight and rail mount (my sp2009 has NATO rails not picatinny) to complete my ideal setup.

bobsmyuncle · 08-15-2006, 07:30 PM

When I started buying guns it was primarily for sport, never really factored the home invasion idea. I have baseball bat for that, and it has been a proven deterrent in the past. But you make a point, what good is a night sight when you don’t have a good picture in the first place. If it’s nearly blackout condition, and let say your are awaken. I doubt that your eyes would be able adjust to such conditions to get a good sight picture. So even when you see your tritium sight glowing in the dark, what are you pointing at, I guess you can say Marco!

From what I was thought, in such condition your better off with a flashlight. On hand not on the gun, cuz people shoot at the light. Intermittingly flashing it, or put it on low, or colored light.

I have a tritium sight only cuz it came with the gun pre installed! But from what I’ve noticed with professional who do tactical entry. Lasers or a good bomar sight seem to be the way! Or flash light! Besides in home conditions all you really need to do is raise your arm and point! Unless you live in a palace, with a 25 yard corridor! That foe will be most likely arms reach away!

My $0.2

08-15-2006, 09:52 AM	#1
Ed Ely XDTalk 5K Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: 37.65N -84.76W (Elev. 932 ft) Posts: 7,623 Blog Entries: 1	??Are Night Sights really Night Sights?? Night Sights, we all are familiar with the term but I question if that is really what 'Night Sights" should be called. I personally feel that 'Nights Sights' are a mis- nomenclature. Sure they glow in the dark and use tritium filled gas tubes for such purpose. But what the h*ll use is a set of 'Night Sights' if they just glow in the dark and you cannot see what you are shooting at because it is dark in the first place. Granted, you can turn on your flashlight and flash it around in the dark by holding it in hand or have it attached to your bedside firearm with the 'Night Sights', but when you flash it on, "where did the 'Night Sights' go"?? Point here is that I am under the strict impression that 'Nights Sights' are not night sights at all. They should be called 'Low Level Light' sights, such as 'Triple L', L3, or some other catchy name. True 'Night Sights' for a handgun just do not exist in the term that we have applied and tagged them with. True 'Night Sights' are another ball game completely. I am talking about the nighttime intensifiers or such as 'night vision'. I will say that most 'Night Sights' that are sold on the market today are really used more in day light than in the dark, period. Installed 'Night Sights' can help pick up on a target much better than a firearm without them, in most instances, when used in the daytime or low light level conditions. What do you firearm owners with so called 'Night Sights' installed think? Am I opinionated to the left too much or do you agree with me? Ed

08-15-2006, 02:28 PM	#3
malkore XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: eastern Nebraska Posts: 646	Well, it depends really. If there's sufficient backlighting that you can make out the badguy's sillohuette, then tritium sights will get you a proper bead on em. if you have insufficient backlighting, then you'll want a night scope, or a flashlight and tritium sights or other effective combo. since we have a street light outside, and many windows for moonlight to stream in, I opted for night sights. still need a flashlight and rail mount (my sp2009 has NATO rails not picatinny) to complete my ideal setup. __________________ malkore my guns - http://home.neb.rr.com/malkore/firearms.html

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08-15-2006, 10:22 AM	#2
hytekblue XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Great State of Missouri Posts: 288	well Ed you might be being a teensy bit critical there...They help you align your sights. I use night sights and they work perfect with the streamlite M3 I also usually have a small 1W LED flashlight if I want to illuminate a subject with out pointing a loaded gun at them... I also happen to believe that they work really well in low lihgt situations... I have night sites on four of my hand guns and love them... soooo what i am saying is I guess I am not an etymologist as always YMMV

08-15-2006, 07:30 PM	#4
bobsmyuncle XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 166	When I started buying guns it was primarily for sport, never really factored the home invasion idea. I have baseball bat for that, and it has been a proven deterrent in the past. But you make a point, what good is a night sight when you don’t have a good picture in the first place. If it’s nearly blackout condition, and let say your are awaken. I doubt that your eyes would be able adjust to such conditions to get a good sight picture. So even when you see your tritium sight glowing in the dark, what are you pointing at, I guess you can say Marco! From what I was thought, in such condition your better off with a flashlight. On hand not on the gun, cuz people shoot at the light. Intermittingly flashing it, or put it on low, or colored light. I have a tritium sight only cuz it came with the gun pre installed! But from what I’ve noticed with professional who do tactical entry. Lasers or a good bomar sight seem to be the way! Or flash light! Besides in home conditions all you really need to do is raise your arm and point! Unless you live in a palace, with a 25 yard corridor! That foe will be most likely arms reach away! My $0.2