Which would you prefer?
- Thread starter mrmom61
- Start date
- Status
10mm Mike
Member
Night sights.
Tactical light helps them just as much as you, while the night sights make all the difference in the world in low light.
Tactical light helps them just as much as you, while the night sights make all the difference in the world in low light.
SCKimberFan
Member
Night Sights.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
I think I would want night sights and a separate, hand-held flashlight. An attached flashlight is impractical for CCW, but does make sense on a handgun that will be just kept at home.
Bobo
Member
Night sights first.
Then a Laser/Light combo.
Then a Laser/Light combo.
possum
Member
tac light, night sights don't assist you in id'ing a possible target. however with a light you can id the possible threat, and the light will backlight the sights and you will be able to get the sight picture to engage if needed. night sights are not necessary they are neat and they work but a light is more importantof the 2.
read my post
possum
Member
obviously you guys that post such do not understand the need to id a target before firing, what is one of the rules of handgun safety? something about know your target? right?
what good is an excellent crisp sight picture gonna do you when you don't know who or what the sights are lined up on.
secondly the ones that post such do not understand the pros of a tac light, or how to use one effectivly. it is an easy concept really. and obviously have no idea to use one as a force multiplier in a confrintation. i suggest that you all go to a low light course, and learn how to fight with a light.
Eightball
Member
After talking to people who took handgun courses, it's surprisingly easy to hit a silhouette target with a flashlight coming from it that is extremely bright--it helps them as much as you, it lets them know "he's right THERE."
Night sights first, then lazergrips. Maybe if I had tons of cash laying around, I'd get NVG and an IR light, but until I win the lottery, night sights are gonna have to do it.
EDIT: As for the IDing the target thing....if they're in my house, it's dark, and did something that wakes me up to realize "gee, there's an uninvited guest in my house".....that kinda narrows down the potential options. And besides, there'd be enough ambient light to make out forms (after all, it IS my house, and I know where things are), but not necissarily enough to use regular iron sights. I mean, I dunno about everyone else, but nighttime doesn't equal "total blackness" where I live.
Night sights first, then lazergrips. Maybe if I had tons of cash laying around, I'd get NVG and an IR light, but until I win the lottery, night sights are gonna have to do it.
EDIT: As for the IDing the target thing....if they're in my house, it's dark, and did something that wakes me up to realize "gee, there's an uninvited guest in my house".....that kinda narrows down the potential options. And besides, there'd be enough ambient light to make out forms (after all, it IS my house, and I know where things are), but not necissarily enough to use regular iron sights. I mean, I dunno about everyone else, but nighttime doesn't equal "total blackness" where I live.
Lonestar49
Member
...
Night sights, with small flashlight in other hand.
And gun/s fit in holster/s, as well, with just the night sights.
Ls
Night sights, with small flashlight in other hand.
And gun/s fit in holster/s, as well, with just the night sights.
Ls
possum
Member
i say again i guess id of tragets is not important, and i guess use of a light is not in many peoples trick bag. maybe i have been around serious shooting professionals for to long.
again i think people are posting a quick answer and not thinking about what they write. a light can be effective, and if you are in a sd use the light, suprise, movement and knowing your surroundings ie your own home to get the upper hand.
also the fact the op asked the following
again i think people are posting a quick answer and not thinking about what they write. a light can be effective, and if you are in a sd use the light, suprise, movement and knowing your surroundings ie your own home to get the upper hand.
also the fact the op asked the following
having a handheld light handy isn't an option it is one or the other. at least some of you see the need for a light.
great choice, and a foward thinking member to the forum, welcome to thr.
10-Ring
Member
Night sights first and then the weapon light
I like nite sites and believe in the value of lasers in SD situations, but prefer a light in the off hand rather than on the weapon. For one, there is creedence to the "shoot at the light" possibility I believe. Would prefer not to give a bright COM target away. Another reason I like a handheld light is to have something much brighter than is typical with mounted lights. That's where some "force multiplier" can be useful IMO with genuinely blinding light to the eyes.
Light. Absolutely. I was considering getting both, but was nervous about the usefulness of night sights. Spoke to my range master who is a firearms instructor and used to be a LEO for a number of years... He confirmed my suspicions.
Night sights are good for covering a target; when you are looking at the target through the sights. However, when you aim at a nearby target, you focus on the target with the front sight in your vision, but blurred. With a bit of points of light shining in front of you, it'll only be harder to line up the muzzle. Moreover, the flash of the first shot will hurt your night vision enough to make night sights all but useless. So I don't think that night sights would do much for SD situations.
Moreover, a lot of the people who responded "nigh sights" added that they'd like a flashlight in their off hand. With a gun light, you don't have to hold it with your off hand... that makes it that much quicker and easier to operate the momentary switch with your off hand. Therefore, you have more control over where to direct your light and when to prevent light from illuminating you.
Lasers are also great for increased target acquisition especially at night.
I use a M6x light/laser combo.
Night sights are good for covering a target; when you are looking at the target through the sights. However, when you aim at a nearby target, you focus on the target with the front sight in your vision, but blurred. With a bit of points of light shining in front of you, it'll only be harder to line up the muzzle. Moreover, the flash of the first shot will hurt your night vision enough to make night sights all but useless. So I don't think that night sights would do much for SD situations.
Moreover, a lot of the people who responded "nigh sights" added that they'd like a flashlight in their off hand. With a gun light, you don't have to hold it with your off hand... that makes it that much quicker and easier to operate the momentary switch with your off hand. Therefore, you have more control over where to direct your light and when to prevent light from illuminating you.
Lasers are also great for increased target acquisition especially at night.
I use a M6x light/laser combo.
RonE
Member
What VHINCH said: +1
Treo
member
QUOTE: " I say again i guess id of tragets is not important, and i guess use of a light is not in many peoples trick bag. maybe i have been around serious shooting professionals for to long. "
WOW! Was that statement (complete W/ spelling errors) really necessary? In what way does it enhance your credibility? Go back read what you wrote and ask yourself What would Gecko do?
If some thing wakes me up in the middle of the night target identification is me putting a hand on the other side of the bed if I feel my wife it's weapons free. If not SHE probably made the noise that woke me up.
ETA I just did a walk through of my home under middle of the night tacticool conditions. Of note was the fact that I was able to cover 75% of the ground floor from the MBR doorway. Of further intrest was the 100 watt bulb lighting up my car port and casting quite the ambient glow into my dinning room /living room. Not to be forgotten was the Norwegian Elk Hound that went W/ me and would go absolutely bats--t if anyone other than my wife was out there going "bump" in the night.
Why did I need that light again ?
WOW! Was that statement (complete W/ spelling errors) really necessary? In what way does it enhance your credibility? Go back read what you wrote and ask yourself What would Gecko do?
If some thing wakes me up in the middle of the night target identification is me putting a hand on the other side of the bed if I feel my wife it's weapons free. If not SHE probably made the noise that woke me up.
ETA I just did a walk through of my home under middle of the night tacticool conditions. Of note was the fact that I was able to cover 75% of the ground floor from the MBR doorway. Of further intrest was the 100 watt bulb lighting up my car port and casting quite the ambient glow into my dinning room /living room. Not to be forgotten was the Norwegian Elk Hound that went W/ me and would go absolutely bats--t if anyone other than my wife was out there going "bump" in the night.
Why did I need that light again ?
Last edited:
electric wombat
Member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2008
- Messages
- 46
I've read everyone's responce & have thought about this question for a bit. First off maybe the question needs to be a little more specific. It just asks which do you prefer. Automatically everyone goes straing to home defense. I understand that because obviously that's where either one would be most useful. If we're talking about a day out at the range I don't think a flashlight would be very useful so I'd take the night sights. Night sights are helpful to me at the range in full light. It's something that stands out from just the blades & I can line up on my target alot better & get a tighter grouping.
Ok so back to the home defense... Say I hear a prowler in my house, I'm not going to go fumbeling around in the dark trying to see what's going on. First thing I'm doing is hitting the light switch & turning on the bedroom light. Burgler sees a light come on says oh crap someone's up I'm going to get IDed/ caught & runs out. Or at least that would be my hope. I'd rather scare the person off by turning on a light than having a confrontation. I know where my light switches are, right there as i enter the room so I'm hitting the switch as i'm going into the next room. Plus the ambiant light from the other lights that I've turned on illuminates more than enough to see anyone or anything with enough detail to ID them even if i don't hit the switch going into the next room. Say the burgler doesn't leave when I turn the lights on. By turning on main lights instead of using a flashlight I can see the entire room. Suppose it was 2 or 3 people with a flashlight you may only see one of them & miss the other(s). I just tested this out. Coming out of the hallway into the living room with a flashlight pointing straight ahead I can really only see what's right in front of me & not much to the left & right. (oh & i was using my maglight, the one that takes 3 batteries so it's a good bright light) Point the light to the left I can't see anything to the right & vice versa. Now if i hit the switch right there as i'm exiting the hallway & i can flip it on without having to look for the switch, I can see everything & if there is more than one person I can spot one & notice the other(s) with my perriferial vision. I tested this by getting my dogs to sit on opposite sides of the room. goofy yes but it worked for a simple test. There's my rational on taclights. The only way I can see a taclight being useful is if the power was out or if the invader took the time to find the box & cut the main breaker. But if that's the case I keep a flashlight on my nightstand. Now onto the night sights. And this is thinking in a real life situation. I come across someone in my house that's not supposed to be there I highly doubt I will be taking a full dedicated aim with my first shot. Also you are in close quarters (unless you have a ginormous house) so any shot you take would be no more than about 10, maybe 15 feet away from your target. So unless your a complete wild shot you should be able to hit your target in center mass even without a dedicated aim. I know I can do a quick draw & empty the magazine rapid fire not taking full aim other than pointing the gun toward the target with any of my pistols & have 90% of the bullets be headshots on a silhouette target. Even if I do take full aim at the burgler the lights in the house will be on so night sights won't be needed because I wouldn't be shooting in low or no light.
So to answer the question which would I rather have. I would have to go with night sights because 1) I keep a flashlight by the bed so I'd grab that if the power were out & I couldn't turn the lights in the house on, 2) I'd like to have the night sights in case in self defense I would be shooting in low light I could line up my target easier when taking full aim & 3) since they stand out from the blade even in full light, night sights help me line up my target better when shooting at the range.
Now replies to a few of possum's statements
Ok so back to the home defense... Say I hear a prowler in my house, I'm not going to go fumbeling around in the dark trying to see what's going on. First thing I'm doing is hitting the light switch & turning on the bedroom light. Burgler sees a light come on says oh crap someone's up I'm going to get IDed/ caught & runs out. Or at least that would be my hope. I'd rather scare the person off by turning on a light than having a confrontation. I know where my light switches are, right there as i enter the room so I'm hitting the switch as i'm going into the next room. Plus the ambiant light from the other lights that I've turned on illuminates more than enough to see anyone or anything with enough detail to ID them even if i don't hit the switch going into the next room. Say the burgler doesn't leave when I turn the lights on. By turning on main lights instead of using a flashlight I can see the entire room. Suppose it was 2 or 3 people with a flashlight you may only see one of them & miss the other(s). I just tested this out. Coming out of the hallway into the living room with a flashlight pointing straight ahead I can really only see what's right in front of me & not much to the left & right. (oh & i was using my maglight, the one that takes 3 batteries so it's a good bright light) Point the light to the left I can't see anything to the right & vice versa. Now if i hit the switch right there as i'm exiting the hallway & i can flip it on without having to look for the switch, I can see everything & if there is more than one person I can spot one & notice the other(s) with my perriferial vision. I tested this by getting my dogs to sit on opposite sides of the room. goofy yes but it worked for a simple test. There's my rational on taclights. The only way I can see a taclight being useful is if the power was out or if the invader took the time to find the box & cut the main breaker. But if that's the case I keep a flashlight on my nightstand. Now onto the night sights. And this is thinking in a real life situation. I come across someone in my house that's not supposed to be there I highly doubt I will be taking a full dedicated aim with my first shot. Also you are in close quarters (unless you have a ginormous house) so any shot you take would be no more than about 10, maybe 15 feet away from your target. So unless your a complete wild shot you should be able to hit your target in center mass even without a dedicated aim. I know I can do a quick draw & empty the magazine rapid fire not taking full aim other than pointing the gun toward the target with any of my pistols & have 90% of the bullets be headshots on a silhouette target. Even if I do take full aim at the burgler the lights in the house will be on so night sights won't be needed because I wouldn't be shooting in low or no light.
So to answer the question which would I rather have. I would have to go with night sights because 1) I keep a flashlight by the bed so I'd grab that if the power were out & I couldn't turn the lights in the house on, 2) I'd like to have the night sights in case in self defense I would be shooting in low light I could line up my target easier when taking full aim & 3) since they stand out from the blade even in full light, night sights help me line up my target better when shooting at the range.
Now replies to a few of possum's statements
I don't recall anyone posting anything about ID-ing your targer not being important. Don't go putting words into other peoples mouths. Just because some feel a tack light isn't useful doesn't mean they don't heed the rules of handgun safety, ie ID your target. The members here aren't morons. I think it goes without saying that most any THR member would ID their targer before blasting away. There are other ways if ID-ing a target besides shining a taclight on it.
Maybe I missed it but I didn't read that in the original post. I have a handheald flashlight handy is a perfectly logical and viable reason to wanting nightsights over a taclight.
- Status