Are Night Sights Worth it?
A question I often get from students is: “Are night sights worth it?” The answer, as with most gun questions is: it depends. But what does it depend on? It depends on factors that only the user can answer. I’ll try to frame those questions below as a way of helping you decide: are tritium night sights worth it?
What Sighting System Do You Like?
Sighting systems are often a matter of personal preference. From the Glock white U, to blacked out rear sights, to 3 dot, to fiber optics, knowing what you like in a sighting system is important in deciding whether to run tritium sights. Some night sights use the a larger, ringed “donut” type sight in the front, while others use a simple green tritium dot. I personally prefer a blacked out rear sight, so anything with rear sight that uses the “donut” style dots is a no go for me.
On the flip side, I really like HK’s factory night sights, because the rear sights are black under normal light conditions, but glow just enough in low light to give me three dots in the dark. Another consideration is whether you are running a red dot. If you are primarily running a dot, you may not need night sights, especially if you aren’t co-witnessing your irons through your dot.
I Don’t Need a Light, Right?
One thing that doesn’t enter into the equation is whether you have a light on your gun. You really should have a light on any pistols you plan to use for self defense, but it’s important to point out that having night sights is not a replacement for a light. The purpose of a weapon mounted light is to ensure the ID of the target you are engaging. Night sights do not fill this function. They can be used well alongside a light, but don’t change the need to have enough light to see what you are shooting. It’s imperative you properly ID your target before you use deadly force, and while night sights are helpful in sight alignment, they don’t provide the necessary light to know what you are shooting.
What is this Gun for?
The purpose of your firearm is another good consideration. Is this a concealed carry or home defense gun? Is it purely for range trips? Does it sit locked unloaded in a safe alongside your other firearms? Depending on what you want to use the gun for is a big part of determining whether night sights are worth it. Another consideration, albeit an unlikely one, is the possibility of breaking a tritium vial. While it’s incredibly unlikely to break under normal use, if you have an application that is particularly rough or demanding, there is the potential to break the vials. Although Tritium is not a health concern, if you do break the vials they could leak and leave you without any low light capabilities. It’s not dangerous if they break, but it is something to consider when deciding on night sights.
Factory vs Aftermarket Night Sights
Another question is whether you can get the firearm you want with factory night sights and whether that matters. I like to keep my guns stock, as close as they come from the factory. For me, having the option of factory installed tritium sights is a much better option than putting on after market sights. Some people really like customizing their guns and have no problem with heavy aftermarket modifications, but for those that prefer to stick closer to stock firearms, whether a gun is offered with the sights you want will end up being the biggest determining factor.
I’m not here to tell you you need night sights. Hell, I’m not even trying to tell you what you should do. I really like tritium sights on concealed carry and home defense guns, and hopefully, the questions above will help you decide if you need night sights on your guns as well.
Any gear mentioned in this post was purchased for my personal use. I have not been compensated or incentivized by any company for any product reviews, highlights, or opinions.
Upcoming Live Fire Classes
Defensive Pistol Fundamentals – 1
Saturday, January 27th – 9am to 1pm
This class is a live fire training opportunity to work on defensive pistol skills. This first class will focus on fundamentals, including grip, site picture, and draw.
Intermediate Defensive Pistol – 2
Saturday, February 24th – 9am to 1pm
This intermediate defensive pistol class will focus on taking the next step in your firearms proficiency with items like target transitions, reactive targets, and reload drills.
Next Level Defensive Pistol – 3
Saturday, March 30th – 9am to 1pm
This next level defensive pistol class is an advanced class for practicing shooting and moving, transitions, and reactive targets.
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