The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Distinguished Master on January 11, 2010, 10:29:00 AM
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Hey folks, I just put this question under the classified section (don't ask me why). Does anyone know which company (and there's a bunch) makes the largest/ easy to see night sights, for my Springfield XD?? I have allways used night sights (the 3 dot type) and like them, it's just getting a little bit harder to aquire them quickly as we "older". Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
Be safe and Healthy.
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Our distinguished host MB likes the XS express with the big dot front (I believe) as well as lasers.
Richard
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I like the Lasers best. and I do like the idea of the XS big dot night sights. Don't have any yet but I've got them on my Birthday wish list. If I don't get them then I'll buy some myself.
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My SIL got (I think) Truglow sights for is off duty carry. They have tritium AND they have the fiber optic for situations where there is a little light, and they are REALLY visible. There is a school of thought often expressed here that if there's so little light that you really need the tritium, how well can you identify your target? If using a tac light, the fiber optics might be better suited. They sure LOOK a lot bigger than standard night sights to me.
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Just out of curiosity what are your guys general thoughts about putting only a tritium night sight on the front of a defensive handgun. I am really thinking about ordering the factory novak night sight from S&W for my M&P for the minimal $50. Later I'll order the rear which is a little more ($130 huhh huhh).
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Garand, I think your on track with front sight only... if any at all. If you google for some articles/posts I've done on the topic, you'll find longer explanations, but I don't want to drift this thread.
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The XS sights are definitely going to be the biggest/easiest to see if that is what you are looking for.
-RJP
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My SIL got (I think) Truglow sights for is off duty carry. They have tritium AND they have the fiber optic for situations where there is a little light, and they are REALLY visible. There is a school of thought often expressed here that if there's so little light that you really need the tritium, how well can you identify your target? If using a tac light, the fiber optics might be better suited. They sure LOOK a lot bigger than standard night sights to me.
My favorite use for the night sights on my guns is to make it easy for me to find the gun in the dark! My laser and flash light take over from their, I do keep Flash Lights all over my house. That might change a little when I get a BIG DOT on my M&P, but I think the standard factory N.S.'s are to small for effective use in a S.D. shooting. If you have time they would be okay, just not for quick sighting and snap shooting if you know what I mean. I'm much faster with the the Laser and more accurate!
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TRUGLO TFO sights are the fastest and easiest sights to pick up in any light conditions I have ever used. In the XDTALK forum I posted a bunch of photos in every light condition you could ever encounter from bright target-dark position to dark-dark on my XDm.
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/xd-m-discussion-room-xd-m/126961-truglo-tfos-action-pics.html
Cheers,
Scott
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TRUGLO TFO sights are the fastest and easiest sights to pick up in any light conditions I have ever used. In the XDTALK forum I posted a bunch of photos in every light condition you could ever encounter from bright target-dark position to dark-dark on my XDm.
http://www.xdtalk.com/forums/xd-m-discussion-room-xd-m/126961-truglo-tfos-action-pics.html
Cheers,
Scott
How are they in pitch black? Like around midnight with no artificial or natural light sources showing.
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How are they in pitch black? Like around midnight with no artificial or natural light sources showing.
They are plenty bright. I love the amber and green because you can line them up very quickly. But they wont keep you up at night if its on your nightstand. What I love about them is how they work in any light condition. A lot of people will say that TFOs are a gimmick and then post how awesome Trigicon ACOGS are. ??? Same illumination system. You definitely have to put a drop of cyanacrylate (super) glue at the junction of the fiber optic tube and the metal of the sight as a bit of preventative medicine. I haven't had any problems with it and I have about 2300 rounds through my XDm.
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How are they in pitch black? Like around midnight with no artificial or natural light sources showing.
Of course they're no good in pitch black, but neither are your eyes. If someone intends to throw rounds in pitch black maybe they shouldn't have a weapon.
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Of course they're no good in pitch black, but neither are your eyes. If someone intends to throw rounds in pitch black maybe they shouldn't have a weapon.
I think he meant for trying to locate his firearm in the dark. Easy now... LOL ;D
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I think he meant for trying to locate his firearm in the dark. Easy now... LOL ;D
I didn't mean to say that Guns-R-Us would fire away in the dark...just asking if you can't see your hand in front of you, you'll need light to ID your target. If you use the light, truglos are better.
I'll be he really doesn't need the sights to find his gun either. I'll bet we all know exactly where that thing is if we need it.
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One reason that I am seriously considering putting a factory novak tritium front sight on my M&P is that the most common distances of 5-10 feet I can respond as long as I can distinguish the FS. Not that I wont use a light to identify. But in a walmart parking lot I figure point/reactive shooting is more likely than not. As long as I can distinguish and index the FS on target I feel my chances are significantly improved. I like the XS option but Im going to wait till XS has produced the M&P sight a while longer. I know I can buy from the factory a FS tritium and it will fit and function exactly like me std sight. An I know it will be visible enough to perform as expected.
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I heard that tritium is supposed to be good for 10 years. All I know is that the front sight on my AR is barely glowing after several years. It's used up.
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One reason that I am seriously considering putting a factory novak tritium front sight on my M&P is that the most common distances of 5-10 feet I can respond as long as I can distinguish the FS. Not that I wont use a light to identify. But in a walmart parking lot I figure point/reactive shooting is more likely than not. As long as I can distinguish and index the FS on target I feel my chances are significantly improved. I like the XS option but Im going to wait till XS has produced the M&P sight a while longer. I know I can buy from the factory a FS tritium and it will fit and function exactly like me std sight. An I know it will be visible enough to perform as expected.
That is an excellent point. If the factory sights are good and you like them it is a very economical way to go. And it cuts way down in training time... It took a while to adjust to the TFOs because since they are longer it cuts down on the effective sight radius. On the other hand the rear notch is a few thousandths wider than stock so you can see a little more space around it for punching holes in paper bad guys! LOL
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The various three dot night sights are too busy for me but YMMV. I have XS Big Dot sight on my fighting guns (G27, M&P 9mm and .45). I do wish that TruGlo and/or others would do some sort of Hienie Eight type sights so that I could experiment with my spare M&P 9mm. The vertical dots or dot front/bar rear make sight acquisition very fast but until others bring out sight options, XS Big Dots are my choice.
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I have Heinie Straight Eight Slant Pro Trijicon night sights on my 1911 and love them, but if I were to change them, I would consider an all black and serrated 10-8 rear sight, along with a Brass Dot front sight or the Heirloom Precision Professional Grade black serrated rear sight mated with a 24K Gold line on a black serrated ramp front sight. The gold line or brass dot picks up light even in very low light conditions, without the need of tritium. If its dark enough that you can't see the front sight......as others have said......you shouldn't be shooting.
http://www.heirloomprecision.com/info/sights_new.shtml
http://www.10-8performance.com/id38.html
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The Ameriglo Pro Series Operator Night Sights are very nice, http://www.ameriglo.net/
I think I prefer them to the front tritium only as I've done it both ways. I like the looks of the true glow but prefer the appearance of the blackened rear sight similar to the ONS.
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I have Heinie Straight Eight Slant Pro Trijicon night sights on my 1911 and love them, but if I were to change them, I would consider an all black and serrated 10-8 rear sight, along with a Brass Dot front sight or the Heirloom Precision Professional Grade black serrated rear sight mated with a 24K Gold line on a black serrated ramp front sight. The gold line or brass dot picks up light even in very low light conditions, without the need of tritium. If its dark enough that you can't see the front sight......as others have said......you shouldn't be shooting.
http://www.heirloomprecision.com/info/sights_new.shtml
http://www.10-8performance.com/id38.html
As I said in an earlier post my favorite purpose for my night sights are to aid me in finding the gun in the pitch black of my bedroom or hotel room. My lights and lasers take it from there. I would like to have the XS Big Dot for lighter shooting conditions when the laser is less effective. You can still see the laser in day light if your batteries are good, but it takes time to find the laser dot. That's where the XS's will take over. On another note I agree you need to be able to ID the Target in low light / no light situations, but if that target/treat is shooting at me in the dark then that's probably all the ID I'll need to start shooting back and I want NS's to make sure I'm aiming at the muzzle flashes correctly! Light or no light. Unfortunately I don't have any weapons mounted lights for my defensive pistols. I have one on my AR, though that's usually locked in the safe. They are on my list of wants though. I rely on my Surefire's and Fenix's Tac lights to make darkness turn light. Maybe if theirs enough left over from the Tax refund?? ::)