Poor man's night sights...

[CZ52GUY]

I was curious and bought some of that $7.99 Night Sight paint and tried it on a couple pistols I own.

On my CZ-75 & P95-DC, application was fairly easy, and the results after "charging" for a full 30 seconds were actually surprisingly good. The original white dot sights were slightly indented, so the appearance isn't bad either, and daytime sight visibility is slightly improved.

On my Glock 22, where the white dot sights are flat to nearly raised, the application was a little more difficult, and the appearance "less than satisfying".

Still, with a 30 second charge, the sight picture in darkness went from non-existent to say 75% of SigLights or Trijicon (used for comparison).

I'll spring for the Trijicons on my Glock later this year...

Bottom line, this is not a substitute for Night sights on a combat piece, but a curiousity. For low light shooting with a target gun, the results were surprisingly good.

Safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[Al Thompson]

Thanks for the report!

 

[clubsoda22]

try applying it with a toothpick on the glock (if that's not what you used in the first place). I wouldn't recommend the glow in the dark sight paint on a carry gun. After 30 seconds of charging at 6PM, by the time you run into the hoods who want to rob and kill you at 11PM it's gonna be faded. Never skimp on a defensive pistol. Same goes for a gun on your night table. You charge it before you go to bed, hear a crash and someone charging up the stairs at 4AM...you don't want to spend 30 seconds recharging your sights.

 

[Deepdiver]

Thanks for sharing the info. I might try it on my SW 457.

 

[stans]

I agree with Clubsoda22, glow in the dark paint looses much of its intensity fairly quickly. I tried some of this stuff and it compares well to Meprolights or Trijicons for about two minutes, then it starts to get harder and harder to see those little glowing dots.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

As as has already been noted, if you ever really need to use it in self-protection mode, it just isn't useful: if you've got to "charge" it before using, you'll be screwing up your night vision. If you don't charge it, it isn't worth warm spit.

For use in lower light at the range, it may be ok. I use flourescent paint for some guns, but there's no substitute for good night sights.

(Testors makes flourescent model paint that works at least as well, lets you pick the colors of your choice, and costs less.)

 

[4v50 Gary]

What Walt Sherill says. The paint works, but the problem is that it requires charging to be effective. Back in the old days before this paint was available, we use to apply white out to the front sights of our revolvers. They also taught us to shoot "natural point" for close encounters.

 

[CZ52GUY]

Replies

Hello,

Glock 22 shows good daylight picture after application...I'm just fussy about appearance...charging yields very satisfactory results on all guns it was applied to for low light range shooting...use of maglight allows for a couple extra strings...

As previously stated by me and reiterated by others, it is no substitute for true night sights for Home Defense...

Bottom line, it was worth the $7.99.

Safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[clubsoda22]

I don't have night sights on any of my guns. I just haven't needed it. I have excellent night vision and can see my sights well in the dark. But that's beside the point. Personally, if i walked downstairs with gun in hand, there would be a maglite in the other. For one, it makes an excellent baton, for another, the soft glow of tritium, although it may help in aquisition, doesn't help in identification.

 

[Walt Sherrill]

don't have night sights on any of my guns. I just haven't needed it. I have excellent night vision and can see my sights well in the dark. But that's beside the point. Personally, if i walked downstairs with gun in hand, there would be a maglite in the other. For one, it makes an excellent baton, for another, the soft glow of tritium, although it may help in aquisition, doesn't help in identification.

I'll agree in part, but...

If you're thinking baton, that's too close.

Even with a bright hand-held light, seeing the sights can still be a problem, because the sights aren't illuminated but, rather, an area some feet away.

The best approach is probably BOTH a good light (as you suggest) and night sights. The soft glow of tritium works very nicely WITH a maglite or a Sure-Fire light (my preference).

The real problem is in trying to use the flashlight and gun at the same time. If you haven't tried it, please do try. I thought it would be a piece of cake, but found that its not. A gun-mounted light might work better than a hand-held light... and that's probably why guns have mouting rails.

I think you'll find that it takes a different set of skills and muscles than is generally understood. That's where practice comes in.

 

[CZ52GUY]

Night Light...

Hello,

I like the M3 with my G23 and this light with my SP2009

I find the combination of true night sights and tactical light provide me both acquisition and identification.

Safe shooting,

CZ52'

 

[TheeBadOne]

They also taught us to shoot "natural point" for close encounters.- 4v50 Gary

Amen. I shot the point shoot course (1st time a million years ago) so well in the daylight I was accused of using the sights. There was a lot of snickering and talk that I'd bomb the night point shoot as I was cheating and not practicing point shooting in the daytime. Well........after the night shoot pistols were empty, the loudest thing in the world was the dead silence as all aproached my target and stared at the massive ragged hole in the center of the silhouette. Nowadays with nightsights and lazers it's just too easy I have them, but feel comfident enough with my point shooting skills that I don't need them if technology fails.