Who here likes night shoots?

[sherman123]

Whether in terms of hunting at night or working on defensive skills with handheld of weapons mounted lights? Is it generally legal to shoot at night as long as it's legal to shoot during the day there? If you do shoot at night, how many here like to practice such defensive skills as working a handheld light in conjunction with their sidearm? Thanks!

 

[sequins]

I've tried shooting while holding my light, but it was during the day.

 

[g.willikers]

Where we used to live, there were both indoor and outdoor night matches.
All were done with handheld or firearm mounted lights, or by available light only.
I attended as many as possible.
Night shoots are very different, and are highly recommended.
Especially since anyone who watches tv knows that most bad things happen after dark.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Training class.....

When I purchased my new S&W Shield 9x19mm around last Xmas(2014), I got a free $50.00 gift certificate for a training class with a local firm.
I looked over the training courses and saw they offered a 4hr "night shoot" .
I couldn't do the event in Feb 2015 but I might go to the next one.
I still need to buy a new white light & get a tactical light(Surefire X300). I own a decent .45acp pistol, a Glock 21 gen 04 with 3 dot night sights which Id want to see & shoot in low light but any kind of low light shooting would be worth the $.

 

[Blue Thunder]

I took a one day/night gunfighting course a couple of years ago. We knew it would be a night shoot so I went to my indoor range where I can control the light and dimmed everything way down and shot several rounds downrange of the following.
Winchester Ranger T 127GR +P+ Very low flash from muzzle.
Cor-Bon DPX 115GR +P Also very low flash from muzzle.
My own handholds 115GR +P using Unique. Nice pretty bright flash.
Old set of Federal Hydro-Shocks 115GR moderate muzzle flash.

I shot the Ranger T's. It was a very interesting class for some others that brought Winchester White Box 115GR and some S&B 115GR and a couple of others that all made moderate to high flashes from the muzzles. After the demo from each student, I gave 2 rounds of ranger T to those that had the Bright muzzle flash to see what it was to shoot a Low Flash round. We were all impressed and many said they would be going to a similar round. Most were shooting Factory Ball or reloads so their experience was a very good learning experience.
Yes I did use a weapon mounted light for the night course.

 

[Welding Rod]

I am fortunate that my outdoor club range is open until 8 PM year round, so it is easy a good part of the year to shoot in the dark. There is no electricity on the range so it is good and black. Seldom do we have clear skies for much ambient light.

You learn very quickly about limitations due to atmospheric conditions which cause back-scatter or reflections in your line of sight. Once a round or two is touched off seeing can be really challenging as light reflects off the smoke.

Night shooting is something every defensive minded shooter should do.

 

[swede4198]

I shoot in a tactical league where we shoot a match every week and every other month we have a low/no light match. You find out that shooting with a handheld light is very awckward without a lot of practice and the value of night sights. Many good shooters are humbled when trying to line up black sights on a dark target. Low light shooting is a skill that everyone who plans to defend themselves should learn.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have to qualify on a night course with my duty weapon annually.

I shoot in regular rimfire benchrest matches at a lighted range. A 100 watt halogen bulb shining directly on your target is great.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Post #6 .....

I agree with post #6. If you carry a firearm for protection or work in a armed position, it's smart to shoot a few times in low light conditions or at night if you can.
The point about muzzle flashes and blast is true, I've seen training rounds in .45acp & 9mm that really had bright flash signitures with FMJ & ball loads.

 

[Old Dog]

Eh. I suffer through a night shoot annually; it's required. Yes, it's good practice and it is something everyone who carries a gun needs to do often enough so one isn't having to relearn the lessons ... and it is necessary to get folks out of their comfort zone and see what it's like to try to hit one's target in low light/darkness ...

... but as far as liking night shoots, I can't say that I actually enjoy the experience.

At one of our ranges, we've got a couple old mounted light bars from retired patrol cars that we turn on, turn off all the range lights ... we'll shoot our regular qual course with only the flashing lights, with and without weapon lights/hand-held flashlights ... I once shot a 496/500 without using the weaponlight or flashlight (speaks to good point-shooting skills at 3/5/7/10 yards and phenomenal luck from 15/25 yards 'cause I couldn't see my sights at all with the muzzle flash and through the smoke even though my pistol had fresh Trijicons).

OP asked

Is it generally legal to shoot at night as long as it's legal to shoot during the day there?

Guess it depends on where you are ... out in the woods though at night, gunfire seems to attract the wrong kind of attention ... many gun clubs sponsor night shooting and low light shooting events.

 

[Captcurt]

Blue light special

The coolest shooting that I have ever done was at a police range shooting with the blue lights on. This was many moons ago when they had the rotating lights. You had to aline your sights on one revolution and finish your trigger squeeze on the second. It was a hoot. To make it even harder, we shot D/A revolvers. That was one instant when I was glad to have a Ruger Security Six. It had a hesitation in the pull just before the sear broke. I knew when the gun was going off.

 

[giggitygiggity]

Try shooting suppressed weapons at night with Surefire lights or using NVGs and infrared lasers. That's pretty cool.

 

[J-Bar]

Many of the bigger Cowboy Action Shooting matches hold night shoots. If you have never seen a blackpowder firearm fired in the black of night, you are in for a treat! The targets are usually dimly lit with lanterns or patio torches, but the muzzle flare of a .45 Colt or 12 gauge shotgun stoked with black powder is blinding, to say nothing of the smoke generated. It's all in fun of course, not serious tactical practice; style points go to those who can make the spectators cough the most!

 

[royal barnes]

JBar, I use full case 44-40 rifle and pistols and a 10 gauge hammer double.

 

[J-Bar]

After making my initial post, I asked my fellow cowboys in another forum to post their photos. Remember these are lever action rifles, mostly Uberti/Winchester 1873s and 1892s, single action revolvers, and side by side shotguns.

The first one is a video. I am sure more will be posted so check back every now and then!

http://sassnet.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=235662

 

[g.willikers]

YeeHaw.
If them boys ain't careful they's gonna' set theyselves on fahr.