Are hi-viz sites right for me?

Becka

Becka

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I want a S&W 22a. The wood grips are the only ones MA legal now, so that means I'm less likely to find the exact gun I want (target grips, hi-viz sites).
My question is, how much do I need these elusive hi-viz sights?
I do not yet own my own gun, nor have I yet shot a gun with hi-viz sights. I think I shoot decently, though I keep telling myself that once I'm shooting my own gun I'll shoot better. I have a restricted license, so this won't be a CCW for me, just for plinking.
And just in case it matters for some reason I don't know, my vision isn't fabulous. I wear glasses (and have just ordered new ones so hopefully now my groups will be even better). My depth perception has never been what one would call great, which is one of the reasons I think the hi-viz will be a better choice for me - I won't have to fight so hard to try to focus on the front sight, it'll glow and make it easier on me.
Or am I wrong? Even though I've learned a lot in the past 2 months on here I know there's encyclopedias full of info I haven't learned yet (I did searches for hi-viz but didn't find any threads like this).
 
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They're just colored sights. Unless you get a different color on the front sight than the rear, you get very little benefit. Even with the two colors, it's greatest benefit is in the late day and early day. Plink, have a good time. Picture Coakley in purgatory before every shot. [smile]
 
I respectfully disagree. I put orange Hi-Viz sights on the front (only) of my Walther P99 and P99c and, for me, it made a dramatic improvement in how rapidly I was able to acquire the front sight and get back on target. Best $25 I've spent on a gun.
 
You are kidding, right? The Hi-Viz sight isn't more visible simply because it's a different color, but because the transluscent rod sucks up available light and pumps it out the end. If you don't believe me then I invite you to check out mine some time at an NES shoot. Huge advantage over painted white sights IMO.
 
I know what they do. My S&W 520, and the 317 I'm about to sell both have them. I just don't see much of a difference, I shoot as well or better with my 1911 and M&P, both of which have standard 3-dot Novak-style sights. No advantage during the day, and very little to no advantage at night, and since this is a .22 plinker, I doubt the OP is looking for a nightstand gun anyway.
 
Well then, Vellnueve, we'll agree to disagree.

Becka, I recommend you try using a gun with Hi-Viz sights for yourself to see if they make a difference to you. I guess they're not for everybody. [grin]
 
Hi-Viz do help with fast target accusation, IMO. Make sure you get the front and rear set though. If you replace just the front, your sights may not line up if your rear sight is not fully adjustable.
 
While I agree with the faster acquisition part of the HiViz sights, and I have many sets myself, you do sacrifice a bit of precision when it comes to "tack driving" accuracy. I think your standard blade and notch sights will yield tighter groups.

If your interests are purely plinking, you may not care about that small loss of precision.

Just my .02
 
icyclefar said:
you do sacrifice a bit of precision when it comes to "tack driving" accuracy. I think your standard blade and notch sights will yield tighter groups.
Click to expand...

I second that. My SW99 turned into a "in the general area of the target" gun after the Hi-Viz install.
 
The problem here is Becka needs to buy the MA compliant version which doesn't have the grips she wants nor the sights she wants. It sucks, we have all been there and she is kinda psych'd to get something. So I say go and get the gun, forget about the other stuff for now. Either way you need to buy the stuff separate. So just wait and see if you want them first before you buy them.
 
icyclefar said:
While I agree with the faster acquisition part of the HiViz sights, and I have many sets myself, you do sacrifice a bit of precision when it comes to "tack driving" accuracy. I think your standard blade and notch sights will yield tighter groups.

If your interests are purely plinking, you may not care about that small loss of precision.

Just my .02
Click to expand...


I disagree with that. You will still have the top blade on the front sight. You will have the same precision as with standard irons but with a front sight that is alot easier to pick up in the sunlight
 
icyclefar said:
While I agree with the faster acquisition part of the HiViz sights, and I have many sets myself, you do sacrifice a bit of precision when it comes to "tack driving" accuracy. I think your standard blade and notch sights will yield tighter groups.
Click to expand...

That has been my experience as well with my S&W 317. I find a significant loss of accuracy with the sights. YMMV.
 
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Becka, for those of us that wear glasses while shooting, the addition of an aperture on your shooting-eye lens works wonders to increase the depth of field.

I am nearsighted and wear graduated bifocals. With an aperture, I have the rear and front pistol sights in sharp focus and the target in good focus. It is even better for rifle iron sights where the rear peep sight appears as a basketball hoop without the aid of the aperture.

There are several different designs. Some attach with a small suction cup and others will clip on your glasses. The most effective and unobtrusive of these is the Eye Pal. They have a set of two apertures, one for pistol and one for rifle. They work well and are easy to use. Check out the link. [wink]

http://www.eyepalusa.com/main.html
 
Becka,
I would recommend you forget about the S&W and consider a Ruger MK-III Hunter with fibre optic front sights. You will be much better off.

-Cuz.
 
Marcus in the Darkus said:
You are kidding, right? The Hi-Viz sight isn't more visible simply because it's a different color, but because the transluscent rod sucks up available light and pumps it out the end.... Huge advantage over painted white sights...
Click to expand...






I was thinking the same thing. I would think all .22 rifles would have these for the purpose of ...

icyclefar said:
While I agree with the faster acquisition part of the HiViz sights, and I have many sets myself, you do sacrifice a bit of precision when it comes to "tack driving" accuracy. I think your standard blade and notch sights will yield tighter groups. If your interests are purely plinking, you may not care about that small loss of precision...
Click to expand...

... or the purpose of hunting. Early morning and late in the day, low light hunting, to be specific. These sights are supposed to be better than a scope for dawn and dusk hunting with their light gathering or "amplification" ability.






terraformer said:
The problem here is Becka needs to buy the MA compliant version which doesn't have the grips she wants nor the sights she wants. It sucks, we have all been there and she is kinda psych'd to get something. So I say go and get the gun, forget about the other stuff for now. Either way you need to buy the stuff separate. So just wait and see if you want them first before you buy them.
Click to expand...

Or do this:
Cuz said:
Becka,
I would recommend you forget about the S&W and consider a Ruger MK-III Hunter with fibre optic front sights. You will be much better off....
Click to expand...
 
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The best way to improve sight acquisition is practice. When I first got into IPSC competition, I tried everything to improve my sight acquisition (color, shape and rear sight width) only to learn that I couldn't find my front sight quickly because it wasn't there! Many thousands of practice draws solved the problem; there is NO quick and easy solution.

I do find that fiber optic sights improve visibility under some conditions at the expense of accuracy; black on black is the most accurate combination for me. Right now I am having some success with fiber optic front sights at indoor ranges with poor lighting, but use black on black for all of my outdoor shooting.
 
Make It In Mass said:
Becka, for those of us that wear glasses while shooting, the addition of an aperture on your shooting-eye lens works wonders to increase the depth of field.

I am nearsighted and wear graduated bifocals. With an aperture, I have the rear and front pistol sights in sharp focus and the target in good focus. It is even better for rifle iron sights where the rear peep sight appears as a basketball hoop without the aid of the aperture.

There are several different designs. Some attach with a small suction cup and others will clip on your glasses. The most effective and unobtrusive of these is the Eye Pal. They have a set of two apertures, one for pistol and one for rifle. They work well and are easy to use. Check out the link. [wink]

http://www.eyepalusa.com/main.html
Click to expand...

I bought the master kit on Saturday at the Wilmington gun show! I'll let you know how they work next time I shoot.
 

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