Lessons Learned?
I had entered into this modest test to determine if adequately accurate fire could be directed at a target in extremely low-light conditions without the aid of enhanced sighting equipment. While I found that, to a point, it could, I also discovered some serious flaws in my earlier theories concerning this. Rather than report each individual's performance (I don't want to embarrass myself), I averaged the aggregate times and groups for each weapon.

What did I learn? Well, remember my argument that in low-light situations night sights might actually serve as a kind of distraction to an unseasoned shooter bent on perfectly aligning the sights, and taking the time to aim the pistol might needlessly prolong efforts to engage an attacker with fire sufficiently accurate for defensive purposes?

Well, you can toss that theory right out the window. There was statistically no difference averaged between the times our shooters took to attempt to align the sights, whether or not they glowed in the dark.

I had argued that unless one was shooting in almost total darkness at a distance that rendered instinctive point shooting useless, night sights were probably unnecessary. However, I learned that the term "unnecessary" taken literally is essentially misleading and should never be confused with "useless" or "needless." This is an important distinction.

Are night sights necessary? I would have to say they are not an absolute necessity. But saying that night sights are not absolutely necessary is not the same as saying they are unnecessary. Confused? It is true that stance, grip and sound shooting fundamentals are much more important than enhanced sighting equipment. However, I learned beyond a doubt for my own purposes that night sights offer unquestionable advantages to both the average shooter with limited or no low-light shooting experience and the police or security officer who periodically trains in low-light scenarios and works under similar conditions.

The author's Springfield XD-9 comes standard equipped with quality steel sights utilizing the venerable three white dots. With adequate light, the sights stand out perfectly. As light fades, their utility diminishes to the point where they are no better than plain black sights.

I might point out that the three of us who performed this test were all experienced law enforcement officers with considerable firearms training, but two of us were complete night-sight skeptics at the outset of the test. Our skepticism has essentially been disproved. While our average time of fire was virtually identical for both weapons, the average group size for the night-sight–equipped weapon was almost exactly 50 percent smaller, and there were 100 percent hits on target. Keep in mind that the misses recorded with the non-enhanced weapon might theoretically represent potential tragedies to an officer or private citizen in a defensive shooting situation.

So, should you run right out and purchase night sights for your defensive firearms? Of course, that must be a personal decision. If you do, you might check out the offerings from Truglo (www.truglosights.com), Meprolight (www.meprolight.com), Trijicon (www.trijicon-inc.com), Ameriglo (www.ameriglo.net) and Novak (www.novaksights.com), to name a few.

What I will suggest is this: We shooters have an almost obsessive tendency to buy accessories for our pet pistols, such as aftermarket grips, extended mag releases, full-length recoil-spring guides, triggers, hammers, springs, buffers and a whole host of fancy doo-dads that may or may not enhance our ability to poke holes in targets downrange. I believe none of them has an application as critically important as being able to assist the shooter when available light fails and the boogey-man is sneaking down the hall with ill intent. I would have to state that now--for me, at least--night sights are truly necessary.