Night Sights vs Rail Light for Home Defense

[2cammer97]

Do people have a preference of night sights or rail light for home defense or do you use both of them? What are pros / cons of each for home defense?

I have no experience with night sights but am starting to consider some Trijicons or a Streamlight TLR-1s for my Beretta 92A1 9mm for home defense. I shoot this gun a lot at the range and in the country on my wife's family's land. Would Trijicon green 3 dot sights affect daytime shooting or do you get use to it just like the factory white 3 dot setup?

Marcus

[slow06]

In my opinion these items are for different purposes, so one wouldn't really help with the other. Night sights help you align the gun, the light lets you see the target.

I say get both.

[Jose]

Totally agree with slow06, both have different purposes. The light (IMO) is used for target identification at night while the sights are more for hitting precisely what you are aiming for (day or night). I can only think of a few situations where a rail mounted light might come in handy over a good flashlight but I can't think of any situation at night where I wouldn't want a good set of night sights on my weapon.

[2cammer97]

Thanks guys, that's what I was trying to figure out. I've read the lights are super bright and expose the target and possibly disorient the target. I didn't know if the light would make the night sights less effective. Which is along the same lines as how the night sights affect shooting in daylight. Sounds like the night sights improve both night and daytime shooting.

Marcus

[ThreeFingerPete]

Thanks guys, that's what I was trying to figure out. I've read the lights are super bright and expose the target and possibly disorient the target. I didn't know if the light would make the night sights less effective. Which is along the same lines as how the night sights affect shooting in daylight. Sounds like the night sights improve both night and daytime shooting.

Marcus

Night sights do nothing good for MY daytime shooting. Their advantages in low light are quite obvious though.

[CJ]

Thanks guys, that's what I was trying to figure out. I've read the lights are super bright and expose the target and possibly disorient the target. I didn't know if the light would make the night sights less effective. Which is along the same lines as how the night sights affect shooting in daylight. Sounds like the night sights improve both night and daytime shooting.

Marcus

night sights look like day sights in the daylight, there is no disadvantage. Ideally like mentioned earlier you would want both. If price was a concern, you would want the light. Because with just night sights, you can accurately aim at a target you can't see. With a light, you can accurately aim at a target (albeit slowly) you can see, because the silhouette will allow you align your sights.

[GAP]

I like lights for home defense. It both blinds your intruder, and generally, the bullets will land in the center of the beam so it's a decent way to make very quick target acquisition. Some say a light will "give away your position" but I dont fee this is as big a deal as some make it when you weight the advantages.

[ceyko]

I like lights for home defense. It both blinds your intruder, and generally, the bullets will land in the center of the beam so it's a decent way to make very quick target acquisition. Some say a light will "give away your position" but I dont fee this is as big a deal as some make it when you weight the advantages.

It's not like we live in 600,000 sq ft houses. I live in a somewhat average home and I don't see how I'd sneak up on a semi-alert crook anyway. There are too many lights on normally, shadows would give me away probably if not noise.

I think the light is a good idea. I've been researching lights on/off now for a couple of years and for this purpose I would not go with a 30 dollar light. 100 dollars at least. Gonna want it bright, focused and reliable.

[2cammer97]

My next question is who has installed their own night sights? I'm new to all this so I'm sure i'll have to pay a gunsmith to install but I was just curious. Does anyone have a gunsmith in the D/FW area they have had good experience with? My Beretta 92A1 has pressed in dovetail sights (no drilling required).

Marcus

[GhostTX]

I mailed my slide off to a reputable guns smith that the board I frequent recommends. The way I see it, I'd have to buy a new set of sights ($100) every 10 years. Sight press tool is about $100 plus I'd be inexperienced in putting in the sight. So $200 for initial sight installation and that I might install again another 2-3 times? I'd rather pay another $20 for a pro to do it.

[2cammer97]

I mailed my slide off to a reputable guns smith that the board I frequent recommends. The way I see it, I'd have to buy a new set of sights ($100) every 10 years. Sight press tool is about $100 plus I'd be inexperienced in putting in the sight. So $200 for initial sight installation and that I might install again another 2-3 times? I'd rather pay another $20 for a pro to do it.

Can I ask who the gunsmith was and what kind of gun it was?

Marcus

[CJ]

Installing night sights is gravy.

[Jose]

Installing night sights is gravy.

So do you install them on the side? Looking to get some for my Kimber and my XD.

[CJ]

So do you install them on the side? Looking to get some for my Kimber and my XD.

anyone can do it if they are dovetail style. You just need a vice, punch, laser boresight, and towel. Sight tools are nice, but not required. I did Noel's usp in 5 minutes.

[2cammer97]

anyone can do it if they are dovetail style. You just need a vice, punch, laser boresight, and towel. Sight tools are nice, but not required. I did Noel's usp in 5 minutes.

My Beretta does have dovetail style sights, but of the tools you mentioned I only have a vice and a towel.

Marcus