[Boats]

As some of you may well know, I have been bitten by the wheelgun bug despite being left-handed and a lifetime pistol fan. I am currently searching for the right six-shooter, (yes, 6).

What I am asking you six-gun vets is this:

Are night sights a waste of money on a fire-spittin' revo? They might be useful for a first shot, but then I can't imagine they'd be much use after a fireball.

What is your opinion?

[charleym3]

If you have Hydroshoks or some other load that throws a fireball the size of a volkswagon then no. You might as well use a TC Contender because you will be deaf and blind after the first shot. On the other hand, if you have a low flash load then you bet they are useful.
I do night shoots with a GP100 and Meprolight night sights. It's a good combination with a lowflash powder like V V N-340 or Hogden Tite-Group or maybe some others. I load my own defence loads and shoot them in competition.

[Abner]

You are definately right about the fireball messing up your night vision with certain rounds. However, like you said "they might be useful for a first shot". Isn't the first shot the most important??

For that reason I am going to get night sights installed in my S&W M65 when I get the money. I have not decided upon getting just the front sight or the front and the rear.

[bpisler]

With the right load night sights can be very usefull on a revolver,i'm
ordering a replacement front sight for a 625,it's a pinned sight so it
should not be hard to replace.

[VictorLouis]

at night? How many have been hit it the face with the beam of a flashlight? Did that brief strobe cause some God-awful, disorienting, panic-inducing night blindness? :rolleyes: I'm tired of reading how certain loads, or muzzle porting(no matter your feelings about it) are somehow going to be the end of you at night. I suggest that you all try to get outdoors at night, or convince your indoor range operator to shut-down the lights for a shot or two. I's a momentary distraction, and nothing more.

Now, since that 'fireball' is in front of the front sight, you'll still be able to discern the little green orb, or the color du-jour of your sight. It helps, yes, but not with target identification.

[Mylhouse]

...agree with VictorLouis.


Can anyone site ONE instance where muzzle flash blinded an individual in a deadly encounter, causing that person to die or lose the gunfight?

I have done ALOT of shooting at night, sometimes with Power Pistol handloads, and it was never more than a momentary distraction. Blinded? No. Harder to call shots? Yes, slightly.

[charleym3]

Can anyone site ONE instance where muzzle flash blinded an individual in a deadly encounter, causing that person to die or lose the gunfight?
I have done ALOT of shooting at night, sometimes with Power Pistol handloads, and it was never more than a momentary distraction. Blinded? No. Harder to call shots? Yes, slightly.

My first night match I started with a full house load of either Unique or Bullseye, can't remember which. After the first target's double tap, I couldn't find the next target much less my night sights. I switched to a load of 231. Much better except for the smoke due to the lead bullet lube. Then I switched to the N-340 load. No more problems.

Yes it can be a big deal.