Proper use of night sights???

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Calhoun321

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I have my first pistol with night sights. The front sight has a green dot and the rear sight has 2 green dots. In the dark I find it difficult to line them up instinctively. I wear glasses (which may or may not be contributory) and I often visualize more than 3 dots. I also find that I focus on the dots and not on the target. I tent to think a single dot on the front side would probably be more useful. I wish the front was at least a different color.

Anyway, while experimenting I noticed that if I keep the gun slightly below my line of sight I can at least visualize all 3 dots independently to know the exact direction I am aiming. This would not make for a precise aim by any means.

Is there a specific technique to effectively using these sights?
 
Many people have trouble with the 3 dot system. Some solutions are only having an illuminated front sight, Using different colors on the front and rear sights, i.e. green on the front sight and red on the rear, or the bar-dot system where the vial of tritium in the rear sight is horizontal across the bottom of the notch in the rear sight.

I also find that I focus on the dots and not on the target.
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The front sight should be the sharpest focus just like during the day, so focus on the sights isn't a bad thing.
 
When I got my P40 slide years ago, I just got the tritium front dot. That seemed to work pretty well for low-light shooting.
 
I've had similar problems when all three dots are the same color. So I switched to tritium on the front post/sight, and went to bright ceramic white dots on the rear with a thin layer of fluoro orange over these white dots. Sometimes seem to glow even brighter/better than tritium....
 
If you're seeing 6 dots, you should try closing your non-dominant eye slowly until you only see 3. If you keep it even slightly open, I think it helps your overall vision.

Otherwise you should line them up just like you during the daytime, except they'll be green instead of white. I've thought about getting the green front / yellow rear, but haven't yet. Those both have 10 year warranties and the orange only has a 5 year warranty.

You can also try out the XS Big Dot as an alternative.
 
I agree 100% with louie. If you're seeing too many dots, it's an eye dominance problem, and will likely be the same in lit or darkened shooting.

I am seriously thinking of XS sights for my next set.

In the meantime, like others have suggested, put the emphasis on the front sight.
 
I've been using the three dots so long now, I see the dots first and a traditional sight picture second, day or night.

If your accustomed to "presenting" the gun, the sights should naturally be lined up as the gun comes up, even if you do it with your eyes closed. The more natural the presentation is to you, the easier it will be.

As you noticed, if the gun is slightly below, low in your peripheral vision, you see a small triangle that points the way. As the gun comes up, the triangle flattens out into a row or line, and as it does, you have your sight picture and the bullet is going to where the center dot is.

For me, the three dots quickly give instant verification, both horizontally and vertically, of proper sight alignment. I have trouble with the "8" or bar dot type because my brain worries at trying to get the gap between them right, instead of taking what i get, and accepting its close enough and just shooting. I'm just quicker, and more accurate farther, with the three dots.

A lot of this is just practice too. If your someone who mostly shoots at bullseye type targets at a leisurely pace, its going to take a little work to get your brain wired to bring the gun up and shoot quickly with a somewhat less than perfect, non traditional sight picture. If you start slow and get it right as you go, I think you'll find things will quickly get better. Dry fire is your friend, and just as important as live fire. I still practice pretty much daily, day and night.

I've always found it easier to visibly have that little triangle, with the rear sight slightly lower than the front as the gun comes up. It lets your eye fix on the front sight first, and your eye has it as the rear rocks up and the dots come into a line. Its pretty much impossible to screw it up that way. (its pretty much impossible to screw it up anyway, as you have to hold the gun wrong to get them out of sync, and you can instantly see and feel its wrong)
 
With really bright green dots, you look "through the gun" the sights show up in your peripheral vision.

In essence three dots are easier to align than most any other combination, from a draw, push the gun forward, a punch, there are the sights.

TruGlow are fantastic in daylight also.
 
The proper use of night sights is to increase profit margins to manufacturers and retailers.
I've never understood the desire to have them.
 
I've never understood the desire to have them.
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I've never understood why you would live without them, once youve actually used them and understood their worth.

I'll gladly pay the extra for them on a new gun, and will fit any used gun that will readily take them with a set.

I have or had them on rifles, pistols, shotguns, and SMG's. Most of the same long guns also have red dots too. Guns that give you usable sights, 24/7/365 are a GREAT thing!
 
I've been carrying for 10 years. I've never used them. I've never been in a situation where I thought I would be better off if I had them. I can't imagine a situation where I personally would need them.
If you like them and they're worth it to you, have at it.
 
Maybe after sunset?
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# Know your target and what is beyond. Be absolutely sure you have identified your target beyond any doubt. Equally important, be aware of the area beyond your target. This means observing your prospective area of fire before you shoot. Never fire in a direction in which there are people or any other potential for mishap. Think first. Shoot second.
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If it's too dark to see the sights then it's probably too dark to shoot. If it's really close you won't need your sights anyway.
 
A person should do enough presentations that the gun comes onto target with the sights pretty close to being aligned. The dots are there to verify that everything is ok.

Night sights are useful when there isn't light enough to see the sights but there is light enough to see the target. I don't have a way to quantify how often a person is in those conditions, but it does happen.
 
I've been carrying for 10 years. I've never used them.
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If you havent used them, how can you realistically comment?

If it's too dark to see the sights then it's probably too dark to shoot.
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It doesnt have to be "dark" to make use of sights that you can see. You can easily loose you sights against a target that has or is dark background.

Night sights allow you to shoot in any light or lack of it. Its never to dark to shoot, especially if you have night sights and a flashlight. ;)

Oh, and spare me the lectures on when and/or what I should and should not shoot at. I know the "rules" and I can think, and sometimes thinking requires you to think of the rules as guidelines, and not follow them to the letter. I can live with that, YMMV.

If it's really close you won't need your sights anyway.
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Dont bet on it. There have been a lot of misses at 3 feet too.

I know where my gun is indexed at any given moment, even in pitch darkness when my pistol is held low, just below my line of sight. I have a nice, glowing little arrowhead/triangle, pointing the way.


A person should do enough presentations that the gun comes onto target with the sights pretty close to being aligned. The dots are there to verify that everything is ok.
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Exactly.
 
Night sights on a carry gun are non-negotiable. You must either have them, or carry a flashlight. (A flashlight isn't a bad idea anyway.) If you don't, you are assuming the conditions of a shooting you haven't encountered yet.

The vast majority of defensive shootings happen in low-light conditions. You could be shooting from a shadow, against a dark background. At that point you are guessing about your aim.
 
Night sights on a carry gun are non-negotiable. You must either have them, or carry a flashlight.
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That's the great thing about firearms, they're so individual. One man's "non-negotiable" is another man's "useless tactifool accessory."
Carry on.
 
One man's "non-negotiable" is another man's "useless tactifool accessory."
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I'd just say its a "useless tactifool opinion" in this case. :)

You really need hands on experience to to have a valid one. ;)
 
Regardless of the type of sights you're using you need to make sure that when the dots, bars, whatever line up your sight alignment is correct. I've seen some of the 3-dot systems where the front sight was either too high or too low in the rear notch when you lined the dots up.

If you're carrying a gun, regardless of the sight set up, you need to have a light. Better yet, have 2.

The thing I really like about the tritium front sights is that they help draw your eye to the sight even in moderate light & if your attacker is in good light & you're in the dark. I"m running XS Big Dots on my fighting guns & only have the tritium in the front- they don't make the rear tritium for the M&Ps. Comparing them to the 1911's I have/had with the 3-dot sights I'd say that having the tritium in the rear sight isn't as big a deal as the front, but I won't run a fighting gun without a tritium front.

In an effort to turn this from the manhood swinging course it's starting to take... Do some low light training with & without them. Make an honest evaluation. Use a shot timer, structured drills & scored targets. Shoot on the move, from cover, from odd positions, etc. Take the results & make your decision based on that, not on what you think you know or how you think things should be.
 
Roll over in bed... 3 green dots! I love my TruGlow's!

It is a good thing to aim, yes? Use sights to do that? You need night sights, at night.
 
Ok, I guess when you have to shoot from a shadow, at a dark-colored target, you can use The Force to know what you are aiming at.
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I've shot low light scenarios before and did just fine.
If you're really shooting in a defensive situation you won't have time for a precise sight picture, dots lined up, anyway.
Hey, you want 'em, buy 'em. No one's stopping you. Just one man's opinion.
 
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