about to order a new Glock. should i opt for nightsights?

[Jeff Higgins]

I can see where different colors front and rear would help a great deal, particularly under stress. Three dancing green dots could get confusing when pressed for time.

And yes, aiming is always a good thing, even if just a "flash" sight picture. This can be done more quickly, and is more important than many may realize. It may seem as though one simply could not miss at, say, ten feet, but it happens all the time. It's only when your adversary is close enough to touch that aiming becomes either unnecessary, or perhaps even undesireable. That's when guns get taken away. In all other situations, if the gun can be presented and raised in a Weaver, isosceles, or other such stance, there is always time to aim.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I can see where different colors front and rear would help a great deal, particularly under stress. Three dancing green dots could get confusing when pressed for time.

And yes, aiming is always a good thing, even if just a "flash" sight picture. This can be done more quickly, and is more important than many may realize. It may seem as though one simply could not miss at, say, ten feet, but it happens all the time. It's only when your adversary is close enough to touch that aiming becomes either unnecessary, or perhaps even undesireable. That's when guns get taken away. In all other situations, if the gun can be presented and raised in a Weaver, isosceles, or other such stance, there is always time to aim.

I have just recently started shooting from double-action on my first shot and that's the most likely scenario in an emergency situation. I think I read most gunfights are at less than 10 ft. If it didn't look so goofy, I'd drop and do 15-20 push-ups before drawing and shooting to simulate the stress and heart rate of a real shooting situation. I love making tiny groups at 10 yds., but it's never going to help in a defensive shoot.

[jyl]

I say definitely yes, unless you prefer to add aftermarket night sights later. FYI someone makes a laser that replaces the Glock recoil spring guide, so is entirely internal to the gun,which is cool. I'd want to find zero reports of malfunctions related to it, though.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've played with lasers on some friend's guns. I have very mixed feelings about them.

It may sound strange, but I found it was often hard to "find" the laser dot on the target. The laser encourages one to look at the target, which is good, but emphasizes that so much that one can find one's self not looking at the gun. I found in some cases that slowed me down quite a bit. I'm sure practice and famiarity would fix that, but I did find it rather disconcerting.

[Green 912]

Originally Posted by 911pcars

If you have to aim that carefully at night, this wouldn't necessarily be for self-defense, would it?

Sherwood

The key is you get the option of staying in the shadows using the added help of night signts while your target is in the light without the advantage of seeing you well.

Originally Posted by jyl

I say definitely yes, unless you prefer to add aftermarket night sights later. FYI someone makes a laser that replaces the Glock recoil spring guide, so is entirely internal to the gun,which is cool. I'd want to find zero reports of malfunctions related to it, though.

laser is good for intimidation. More intimidation = less likely you will have to shoot someone which is good for you.

I have both on my Glock 21 which outshoots my Colts all day any day. Laser is trigger guard mount type that I modded to fit tight and snug to the frame. On switch is pressure activated on the back of the grip. I will save the cool looking but not as good working stuff for my air cooled, rear engined, 4 cyl, pushrod, fed by a pair of carburetors, Porsche. My 21 has fired every time I have ever asked it to. Fired and chambered the next round if one was available. I can't say that about any other pistol I have ever owned.

[jyl]

Jeff, I had a laser on my Glock for awhile. I think they come into their own in darkness. When there is enough light to see iron sights, I prefer those. This may be old codger-ism. I imagine people who have grown up with lasers could love them.

Rick, one thing I do at the range is close my eyes and lower the gun. Then open eyes, raise gun, sight and fire. Give yourself 1 second to do that. Target a realistic distance away, max 25 feet. (More time at first until you can do it safely.) It is interesting and humbling.

[Jeff Higgins]

I can definitely see that, John. Like you, though, I much prefer sights when I can see them. Old habits do die hard...

I also have to wonder a bit just how many of us civilians, in a defensive situation, would be shooting in the dark. If it's happening in my house, I will have tried my best to flip a light switch so as to fully identify just what is happening and who is doing it. Out and about, I endeavor to not go into dark places.

I guess it's that "old codger" kicking in, but this just seems to "tactical" for me. I think there are too many of these "tactical" gee-gaws out there on the market today, and that they distract folks from basic shooting fundementals. Myself, I would never trust something that fragile or battery operated. That, and assuming it is dark, the light must help the other guy find you. I don't need that.

[vash]

my tritium sights on my sig are still very bright (13+ year old gun). but i have only shot that gun in daylight or some brightly lit gun range.

at 7 feet, i think i could point and be pretty deadly. just wondering about the added expense.

[jyl]

I admit I haven't thought through the scenarios (light? dark?) in my current house.

The honest truth is that there is no reason I should ever need to defend myself suddenly from a deep sleep. Our bedrooms are upstairs, the stairwell has a 180 deg turn at an intermediate landing, and there is a door right at the bottom of the second flight of stairs leading from the landing to the upstairs. The door is solid wood, opens toward the landing, the landing is < 4 feet wide. If I would simply get off my duff and install a deadbolt plus a reinforced striker plate on that door, you'd need a sledge or axe to get through. I guess that is a project for next weekend. Plus a landline phone for 911 on the extension jack in the bedroom, and maybe a panic button w/ lights, siren, etc at the top of the stairwell.

[Rick Lee]

The laser that goes inside the recoil rod is called LaserMax and they're stupid expensive. I've only played with them on rubber guns in the stores, never shot with one. The Crimson Trace grip lasers look a lot more reliable to me. But then I'd NEVER want to have to rely on a laser, especially here in AZ where the sun is so brutal all day. Night sights go dim over a period of years, whereas a laser's battery can totally fail when you most need it. If using for home defense, chances are good your eyes won't even be adjusted to the light, so night sights will seem brighter when you've been sleeping or in a dark house for a while. I'm not even sure night sights are best for the first shot, but rather are probably more for faster reacquisition. You need to be 110% certain of the threat before the first shot. After the first shot, you just need to be able to hit it again, not assess the threat.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by vash

my tritium sights on my sig are still very bright (13+ year old gun). but i have only shot that gun in daylight or some brightly lit gun range.

at 7 feet, i think i could point and be pretty deadly. just wondering about the added expense.

I think familiarity with the gun has a lot to do with being able to simply point and shoot. Guys with a lot of different guns are at a disadvantage on this one - "beware the man with only one gun..."

I don't have any night sights on my handguns. Then again, my handgun of choice for storage in the night stand, and even for all around carry, is a plain old Peacemaker. It's so darn familiar in my hand after getting to know it for the last 44 years or so that it is a natural extension of my hand, and I can shoot it acceptably well at "social" distances without even having to raise it up. A couple hundred thousand rounds through the same kind of gun over the course of four decades will do that for you...

So, yes, such "point shooting" works for me, but only with that particular handgun. I would be hopelessly lost trying that with, say, the 1911. Guys who have a different gun for every application or situation cannot rely on such point shooting, either. You are better off using the sights, and installing sights you can see in very dim or no light.

[peppy]

I have the night sights on my Glock. It was cheaper to have them installed when my wife purchased the gun ($50) than to bring it back later.

I have never shot the gun in the dark, but have practiced and I like the sights.

[JTO]

Cliff, Just my $0.02:

You need a good flashlight to identify your target. Night sights do help generate a sight picture in very low light situations but they don't help you make sure what you are drawing a bead on is a target you wish to destroy.

I've done a few night shoots with IDPA. I have no night sights on my gun because I find the flashlight lights up the target and allows me to see my sights in "profile". Lets put it this way, I prefer the crisp sight picture I get using a flashlight than the somewhat "rough" sight picture I get with glowing green dots. My point is you absolutely need a good flashlight to effectively use your gun at night. You don't absolutley need night sights.
Again, my $0.02.
Troy

[pitargue]

Do Glocks still come w/ plastic sights? If so, I'd go w/ the night sites since they are steel.

Handy for using the front (probably not a good idea for a Glock because of the way the sight is secured) or rear sights for working the slide against something (edge, holster, whatever) one handed...

[vash]

Originally Posted by JTO

Cliff, Just my $0.02:

You need a good flashlight to identify your target. Night sights do help generate a sight picture in very low light situations but they don't help you make sure what you are drawing a bead on is a target you wish to destroy.

I've done a few night shoots with IDPA. I have no night sights on my gun because I find the flashlight lights up the target and allows me to see my sights in "profile". Lets put it this way, I prefer the crisp sight picture I get using a flashlight than the somewhat "rough" sight picture I get with glowing green dots. My point is you absolutely need a good flashlight to effectively use your gun at night. You don't absolutley need night sights.
Again, my $0.02.
Troy

this is what my bro said. he also said he could get me a cool gun mounted surefire. he isnt dependable. i'm still waiting for prototype, hi-tek boots, and camo pants and jacket..still waiting.

[71T Targa]

What model Glock are you getting? Love my G30.

[vash]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

What model Glock are you getting? Love my G30.

G21. later next year. a Socom 16! then bring on the "un-dead"!!! (i'll still run like a little girl from zombies, but i'm shooting the first Humvee driver i see..j/k)

[71T Targa]

Cool, I really like that I can drop a G21 mag in my G30 for three more rounds of .45 goodness.

[vash]

Originally Posted by 71T Targa

Cool, I really like that I can drop a G21 mag in my G30 for three more rounds of .45 goodness.

opps. to be clear, i want the Glock 21-SF (small frame) with the non ambidextrous mag release. my bro thinks i should get the factory 3.5lb trigger.

not sure if the right hand only is a real option..but i think so. the ambidextrous one uses specific magazines..again..i think.

[71T Targa]

AFAIK, the ambi mags with work in either, and the 'old' non-ambi mags will work as long as you have the mag release set up for right hand.

I'm also pretty sure that the SF takes the same mags as the non-sf model.