Yes, night sites is one of the most important add-ons for guns. There a lot brighter, plus I think your eye picks up on them quicker, and also if u shot in an indoor range, it helps because they are a little brighter. But I do feel that if u were to have only one upgrade, I would say it would definatly have to be the night sites.

Yes if you would like to see where you are shotting in low light situations.

I have night sights on my Glock carry pistols. That said, I think they are somewhat of a luxury. I can afford them so I have them.

While most defensive situations happen in the nebulous condition called "low" light, they don't happen in complete darkness. How can a guy assault you if he can't see you? How often do you actually find yourself in complete darkness? If it's totally dark, you have no business shooting, since you can't ID your target.

Anyway, most civilian defensive action occurs at under 10 feet. You hardly need glowing sights to hit a torso at three yards. Even if you can't see the sights with a "hard focus," just indexing over the top of the slide is pretty sufficient at that range, at least if you are reasonably familiar with your pistol.

For years I relied on a Colt Commander with plain sights. I didn't worry about it too much. And people managed to survive with handguns lacking night sights for a couple hundred years - and most of that was back before we had artificial light everywhere in our lives like we do now.

My bottom line: they are useful in a fairly narrow spectrum of encounters and nice to have, but not absolutely necessary.

I agree with Mike about night sights being a luxury.

I think if you must do only one upgrade to your firearm, make it a
set of custom grips. Making the gun fit your hand is the best
possible thing you can do in my opinion.

The older you get the less they seem like a luxury.

Which brings up a story: Yesterday I had my wife take my P2000 in to the gunsmith to put nightsights on it. She tells me how he chatted with her and admired the gun, etc. Now I've done business with this guy two other times and he's never so much as spoken an extra word - beyond those necessary to complete the transaction. What's the deal?

Night sights make it easier for the other guy to see YOU. The darker the better. Something to consider.

Now it's a fact that I've got two sets of night sights waiting to be installed on my two primary carry guns. Then again, my house defense gun has a switchable laser and NO night sights.

I've A-B'd with and without, on the range with the sun going down. There is a range of light where you can see your target but can't see your sights, and in that window, tritium sights are freakin' awesome. It's the difference between can't hit and can hit.

The other thing I like about them is that I can find my gun in the dark, like when camping. I also have them on the bedroom gun.

I don't have them on all my guns, and I don't feel unarmed without them, but I have them on a lot of my guns, and I really, really like them. Money well spent, IMO.

Originally Posted by kansas_plainsman

Night sights make it easier for the other guy to see YOU. The darker the better. Something to consider.

Now it's a fact that I've got two sets of night sights waiting to be installed on my two primary carry guns. Then again, my house defense gun has a switchable laser and NO night sights.

Mas Ayoob used to tell a funny story about that aspect of night sights. Supposedly some general went to observe an exercise by some secret-squirrel ninja unit. As they were "stealthily" moving through the woods to the objective, the general turned to an aide and asked, "What are all those lights in the woods, fireflies?" Of course, it was the tritium sights on the ninjas' weapons.

But I question whether a citizen will ever be confronting a bad guy in darkness so total that he won't see (or at least hear) you anyway. If it's that dark, you can't really move about without making noise, and how do you know where he is if it's really that dark? I mean, if I really thought there was a guy in my house, I wouldn't go looking for him without either house lighting or at least a flashlight, if I was going to look for him at all. But if I can see him, he can see me...and vice versa.

And if you're just waiting in ambush for the guy...well, your night sights are pointed at you, and the muzzle pointed at where you expect him to be.

My Kahr P40, chock full of Cor Bon DPX in 40S&W is located under my visitor pillow on my bed. Just incase Mr. Murder barges through my bedroom door. I can get a good flash sight picture on my door and empty my mag.
This is the only weapon I have with "night sights" installed at this time. I have some Meprolites in my gun safe for a small Glock and might put them on my G35 or G34, but, I only say that I want a good flash sight picture for my door because I live alone, and know anyone coming in my bedroom is a target.
Night Sights are only really visable at night. Pitch Black Night.

The best option I have found are Truglo TFO (Tritium fiber optic) I don't ususally plug a specific product, but these deserve a look. I have all types of sights, and use them exclusively in some kind of light (never had a low light encounter), but it feels good to know that the tritium is there if needed, and the fiber optics are KA-BLAM! in your face with any type of ambient light around. Give them a look before you choose.

Dr. K,
I plan on putting some Truglo TFO's on my Sig P6 I just got. If there good, I will probably stay with them for the duration. Mostly for the daylight friendly sighting. I have used truglo fiber optic but not the tritium TFO.