Kind of an insecure night sight dilemma/question

[Doug S]

My current primary handgun arrangement is a G26 for CCW and a G17 for home defense. The G26 is my favorite Glock, and if I had to choose only one, it would be the G26. That said, I like the grip size and handling characteristics better on the G17, and think that it makes an all around better house gun (especially for the wife) than the G26. Now forgive me for the long winded post, but here is my somewhat silly insecure dilemma... I have a couple of quick access safes. One sits bedside. I’ve made a habit of using the bedside safe for my CCW G26 because it is convenient at the end of the day to just take the G26, and place it in this safe. As a result, the G26 ends up being the gun that I would most easily access if something goes “bump in the night”. The G17 in contrast sits in another fast access safe, about 10ft from the bed. I’ve decided for a number of reasons, but the two most primary being, mag capacity and comfort, to switch the location of these two pistols so that the G17 sits bedside. My dilemma is this, I like the fact that the G26 is equipped with night sights (the G17 is not). I like the night sights in low light conditions. I also like the fact that if I decided to leave the safe open during the night that I can easily ascertain the location/position of the gun because of the glowing sights, without an outside light source. Other than the night sight issue, I’d much prefer the new arrangement. I know that I could have night sights put on the G17, but I like the factory Glock sight picture. My question is, other than what I’ve already mentioned, is there really any significant advantage to night sights in a home defense scenario? I know that night sights are supposed to help you more easily acquire a sight picture in a darkened scenario, but I wonder if this is really necessary. Also, I’ve wondered if the night sights could in fact give away your location. I figure the likelihood of this would be remote, but it would seem possible nonetheless. I would appreciate your opinions of the “necessity” of night sights on a defensive house gun, as well as, your opinions on the new arrangement of my guns. I’m leaning toward thinking the pros of the new arrangement outweigh the night sight issue. Do you view night sights as necessary, or really beneficial? I would appreciate your thoughts, Doug.

 

[Majic]

It's not what we think, but what gives you the warm fuzzies. If you really like the night sight concept so much then why not have them installed on the G17? They are not that expensive.

 

[Kor]

If you like the factory G17 sight picture, AND you shoot better with it than the 3-dot tritium G26 sights, you could simply cut to the chase and attach a high-intensity compact flashlight or "tactical light" to the G17, and make that your primary night-time gun. Using the light will both allow you to identify your target(friend vs. foe) AND acquire a nice, sharp, silhouetted sight picture in the beam. Tritium sights are excellent in low-light, and are almost indispensable on a CCW gun that usually won't be carried with a light mounted on it(like your G26), but tritium sights cannot help you discern whether an unidentified shape is friend or foe.

Of course, it's easiest if your G17 is a new-production gun that has the "light-rail" already molded as part of the frame forward of the trigger guard, but you can also make do with a special bracket that mounts to the bottom of the magazine and holds a flashlight.

Bottom line, you can either spend $100-120 on tritiums for the G17, or $60(low-end) to $250(high-end) for a "tactical light."

 

[saspic]

If you like the GLOCK's "U" shaped rear sight, consider adding a front night sight only.
I don't like the ball in bucket sight picture, so I put Meprolight 3 dot sets on mine. But when they wear out, I'll leave the burned out rear sight on and just replace the front. That way I'll have the 3 dot sight picture I like in daytime, and a single glowing dot to focus on at night.

 

[Doug S]

Thanks for the responses. You've given me something to think about. I've considered a Glock light, but for now I do keep a Surefire 6P with the G17. I also like the idea of maybe having only the front sight changed.

 

[DougW]

All 3 of my Glocks have the XS 24/7 Big Dots. On my only 3rg gen G19, I used to use a Surefire Z2 light for night time stuff, until something went "bump" big time one night. Handling a light in one hand with the G19 in the other was not my idea of a high stress technique with the adrenaline dump I had (turned out that a picture hook broke in the living room causing the picture to fall, this the "bump").

Thee next day, I bought a Glock light for the G19. I am totally comfortable with the light on the rail now. I also carry the Z2 (in the nightstand), and it will be employed for general investigation situations. The 3rd gen G19 is the night time weapon, but as I said, the 2nd gen G19 and the 1st gen G17 all have the same sights. I am a strong proponent of a weapons light and some sort of tritium night sights.

 

[Doug S]

Handling a light in one hand with the G19 in the other was not my idea of a high stress technique with the adrenaline dump I had

I figured as much. I only had to search once with a light. At the time I only had a Mag light, so my preoccupation at the time centered on the fact that I couldn't see anything very well. Shortly afterward, I bought my first Surefire, and it is drastically better. I weapons light sounds nice, but I've read that some Glocks are not as reliable with a mounted light, and this has contributed to my hesitation in buying one. Sounds like most people don't have any problems with them though. I'll probably buy one.

 

[mljdeckard]

I have put night sights on all my carry guns, including my G-22, and any time I give advice, I tell people that night sights are critical, not a luxury. The majority of defensive shootings occur in low-light conditions.

A light is always a good idea, but it has only been recently that Surefire has developed lights that are consistently reliable enough to depend on. The Mag-Lights I used in the 80s are iffy on their reliability, even if they are indestructible. I believe that while any electronic device should not be considered a primary defensive tool, I am ready to switch out one of my magazines for a Surefire flashlight.

 

[another okie]

I also keep a 17 in a quick safe by the bed. It does have a light attached. In researching the attached lights, I found reports of problems with the .40 caliber Glocks, but no reports on the 9mm Glocks. The light does change the stiffness of the frame during recoil, which is probably the explanation, if it's not just the extra weight.

To test it for myself I used the 17 in our monday night bullseye league for a few weeks, which is 50 rounds plus warmups and fun shooting afterwards, so I've put about 300 rounds through it with the light, no problems.

 

[Doug S]

another okie,

Thanks for the info on the light. I wasn't sure, but I thought I remembered the problem being with a caliber other than the 9mm.

I'm somewhat surprised, but the consensus seems to be that some sort of night sight or attached light is necessary on a HD gun. I thought more people would rely on a flashlight.

 

[Quintin Likely]

I'd hang a light on the end of your 17 if it's gonna be a house gun instead of buying night sights.