How Do Pistol Night Sights Work? (Explained!)

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If you have ever considered adding night sights to your pistol, you’ve probably wondered how they work, what are the pros and cons, and if they’re worth it.

Most handguns come with the standard white dot sights or some variation to assist your aiming. But in low light or no light defense situations, you’re going to need to be able to put your sights on target as quickly as possible.

Your target may be standing in a well-lit area, but if you’re standing in low or no light and can’t see your sights, you may not be able to effectively aim your weapon, even though you can see your target just fine. 

That’s where night sights come in!

What are pistol night sights?

Night sights for your handgun help you align your aim at your intended target in low or no light situations. These sights are made from a radioactive material called Tritium, which glows in the dark. You can also get a combination of fiber optic and Tritium sights from many manufacturers, which make your sights more effective in daylight, low light, and at night. 

Are fiber optic sights considered night sights?

Some use the term “night sights” for both Tritium and fiber optic sights. However, fiber optic sights are not true night sights because they require capturing ambient light to be effective. So while that makes them great for daylight shooting, they aren’t going to be very good for low light and no light situations.

As mentioned above, the good news is that you can have both Tritium and fiber optic sights on one gun! We’ll talk about this in more detail later.

Types of night sights available 

One Dot:

One dot night sights are the simplest of the bunch in that you only have one sight on the front of your slide to align with your intended target.

These are most effective at short distances (think “defense” situations where your target will be roughly within 3-5 yards) as your accuracy will rely on your ability to point and shoot. With only one dot to align with your target, the acquisition is simple. And in a defense situation, when nerves are at their peak, you want simple.

Two Dot:

Two dot sights have a sight on the front of the slide and a rectangular-shaped base towards the rear with a “cradle” or “notch” opening to align the front sight. Another “dot” or “line” sight will be along the cradle, often smaller than the front sight, to align both the front and rear sights before pulling the trigger.

This two-dot system improves the shooter’s accuracy on their intended target and helps them quickly line up the next shot.

Three Dot:

Three dot night sights are the busiest of the choices available in that you have three points of visual focus to align before taking your shot. The three-dot design means to align both the front and rear sights to create an equal point of reference through the sight picture. This setup can make for a more accurate shot at longer distances.

There is debate over whether or not the three-dot sight system is the most effective of the bunch. Some shooters believe it causes too much delay in lining up your shot in a defensive situation.

The best way to determine which sight system is right for you is to try all three and choose the one you feel most comfortable and confident shooting.

Tritium:

Tritium sights are the gold standard in the pistol night sight category. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen that emits electrons and slowly decays over time, resulting in a luminescent glow. Tritium glows brightly in complete darkness, making it a perfect addition to your nightstand gun.

The lifespan of Tritium sights averages out to about 12 years with regular use, so you can rest easy knowing they’ll perform as intended for years to come.

Tritium Combo:

Tritium combo sights are an excellent option for all-around use. Not only do you get the glow-in-the-dark capabilities of Tritium, but you also get the light-capturing power of fiber optic. This way, you’ll have bright sights on your pistol no matter what time of day it is, or what environment you find yourself needing them.

The TRUGLO TFX sights for Glock handguns are a great combo solution if you’re looking for sights that will consistently perform at their best in both light and dark applications.

Tritium HD:

Tritium HD sights are an excellent choice of pistol sight for a personal defense application where the only goal is to get sights on target. While still maintaining accuracy, Tritium HD sights allow for fast target acquisition due to their intense glow and photoluminescent paint surrounding the front sight – this creates an easy-to-find sight picture allowing for quick response.

These sights are very durable and highly popular among the law enforcement community. If police can trust their lives with Tritium HD sights, you know they must be doing something right.

Check out these Trijicon HD night sights if you’re looking for a set of night sights that claim “iron sight precision in any light.”

Why should you use nights sights?

In addition to being able to acquire your target much quicker in low and no light situations, here are three reasons you may not have thought about.

1. How’s your vision? – Pistol night sights can significantly help those that struggle to see in dark environments acquire their sights and confidently lock in their aim. Night sights will also help you locate your gun if you can’t get your lights on before needing to act.
2. Are you colorblind? – Night sights should be at the top of your “must buy next” list. Have trouble seeing red? No problem, switch to bright green. Bright green distracting you too much? Give yellow a try. With multiple choices for sight color, night sights allow more variety than traditional OEM sights.
3. How do you respond to sudden bursts of light? – If you’re like most people, not great. Shooting in the dark means, you’re going to go from low/no light to a blinding flash of light in the pull of a trigger. A muzzle flash can make it challenging to line up your sights for a second shot due to the lingering flash effect. Night sights will help mitigate this momentary disorientation.

Some negatives to consider

Just because your pistol sights now work in the dark doesn’t mean you want to jump out of bed guns blazing, shooting at shadows. You need to be able to identify your target positively, and to do that; you need light.

Night sights are the only thing you’ll see in the dark. This won’t help you identify your target in the darkness. For that, you would need to either turn the lights on, have a flashlight, or have a light on your weapon. And if you’re using light, you’ll be able to locate your sights and your target.

Then there’s also the price factor to consider.

You can find a decent set of Tritium night sights online for under $60. But if you’re looking for the best and brightest night sights, you’re looking at $100 plus for something like this combo set for Glock handguns.

It may not seem like much, but it could be an unnecessary modification with proper lighting (explained below). And remember, you will have to replace them in time. I don’t think these are huge negatives but it’s still something to consider.

Other Nighttime Options

Gun lights 

Night sights function well on their own but exceed expectations in performance while running a high-quality flashlight as well. In a home defense situation, you want first to verify that your target is indeed a target. Then, you want to get sights on that target. As mentioned previously, you’ll be aiming blind without a way to illuminate your target.

Gun lights mount to most rail systems, so adding them to your weapon is extremely simple. Once it’s on your gun, operating the light is as simple as pushing a button. And these suckers can get BRIGHT.

My current home defense pistol is equipped with the Olight Pro Valkyrie because it’s robust, reliable, easy to charge, and could probably blind an attacker in the dark. Surefire and Streamlight are two other gun light brands held in high regard for their performance and reliability. You can’t go wrong with any of these choices.

Quick Note

Not all lights will fit on sub-compact pistols, so keep an eye out for the appropriate rail dimensions of your gun.

Laser sights 

When calibrated correctly, laser sights can maximize the accuracy of your firearm. Add an increased ability to identify your aiming point, and laser sights can be a blessing if your vision isn’t what it used to be in the dark.

Keep in mind, not all that glitters is gold. Laser sights will add a little bulk and weight to the front of your handgun, which could throw off your shooting in a high-stress defense situation if you haven’t been consistently training with the laser.

Red dots 

Red dot sights are becoming more popular as a preferred handgun accessory for beginners and experts alike. A red dot sight is a device mounted to the top of your weapon and used in place of the traditional slide-mounted iron sights. It works by projecting a colored dot onto a small screen. That “dot” is your new sight.

Naturally, you may think that an illuminated, battery-powered dot designed for accuracy and precision would be an excellent choice for shooting conditions with low to no light. And you would almost be right. Let me explain.

Can you see a red dot sight at night?

You can see a red dot sight at night. But without a light source, that’s all you’ll see.

Once again, the most crucial part of shooting is getting shots on target and only on that target. With a red dot sight, your vision is focused on what can be crudely described as a small box with an illuminated, colored dot inside it. This sight picture doesn’t always allow you to adequately identify what’s around or beyond your intended target.

What are the brightest Tritium night sights?

If you’re someone that won’t settle for anything less than the brightest night sights on the market, Night Fision has you covered.

Boasting 30% more Tritium than their competitors, Night Fision sights are guaranteed to glow the brightest. And with the longest illumination guarantee in the night sight industry, Night Fision sights will provide you with their dominant glow for 16 years – four more years than the industry average.

Best of all, these sights are built in the USA and stay true to OEM manufacturer height, so there’s not much of a learning curve when you swap them in for your current setup.

How long do pistol night sights last?

Tritium (the radioactive element in pistol night sights) decays at a rate of about 5% each year. And since the decay is the reason you’re seeing Tritium’s beautiful glow in the first place, it’s something that you’ll be able to control. On average, Tritium sights will last you about 12 years with regular use.

If your Tritium-sight-equipped pistol is kept in the dark most of its life, you may be looking at a slightly shorter lifespan due to the Tritium constantly glowing at its maximum. If your night sights are often in light, it will consume minimal energy from the Tritium and slightly extend the lifespan.

Brand quality is another major factor in night sight lifespan. The higher quality of the product, the better (and longer) your night sights will perform. This quality distinction is why it’s essential to research where the sights are made, what materials they’re made from, and where the Tritium was sourced. 

Are pistol night sights worth it?

You can make the debate that if you already have a flashlight equipped with your gun, night sights aren’t going to provide you any added benefit. And while that may ring true to some extent, there are conditions where night sights are incredibly beneficial.

One of the major scenarios where night sights are beneficial is when you’re in a defense situation when the target is illuminated, but you are not. Night sights give you the advantage of lining up your shot on your target without giving away your position – something you would do with a flashlight.

The same thought applies if you’re out around dusk and need to draw your carry weapon, which may not have a light on it. If you can identify your target, you can use your night sights in this low-light situation to deliver accurate shots.

So, while pistol night sights may not always be helpful, they can be worth it in the right situation.

Final Thoughts

In a defensive situation, every bit of preparedness counts. Knowing how to employ your handgun in low light or nighttime conditions is just one more advantage you can give yourself.

If you’re interested in putting night sights on your pistol, you won’t find a shortage of options. Be sure first to determine what you will be using your night sights for and then choose the set that best fits your needs.