Nitesiters "Super Photoluminescent Handgun Night Sights" Impressions

[pk3dnow]

I recently received and installed a product called Nitesiters to my Taurus PT1911AR and wanted to relay my impressions of this product with everyone here at the M1911 forums. A quick description of the product snagged from a blurb on the products website (www.nitesiters.com).

"Nitesiters are dots of Super-Bright Photo luminescent laminate that transform your regular handgun sights into very effective night sights."

The site and instructions also claim that by exposing the sights to 20 minutes close exposure to florescent light will charge them enough to glow all night. But a quick 5-10 second flash from your LED flashlight will give you enough for a 15 minute confrontation.

Now thats out of the way onto my impressions or better yet my results. The manufacturer says you can charge the nitesiters using just about any light form but recommend using either a higher powered LED flashlight or florescent light. I have both so I tested both.

First a few pictures of the product, packaging and installation.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiters01.jpg
The sure look innocent enough.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiters02.jpg
The instructions included were to the point and very easy to follow.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiters03.jpg
I was rather disappointed by the quality of the dots I received. Only three of them were good circular cut outs. All the rest had burs, were damaged or misshapen. I have yet to contact the manufacturer about this but will report back when I do.

Now onto the tests.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiters05.jpg
My first test was done by exposing both front and rear sights to an independent high output LED light for no less than 15 minutes.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiterstest01.jpg
I setup the test in my bathroom, its about the only place where I live that I can completely shut out all outside light to give the best results. In between photos I placed the gun in my gun safe wrapped in a cloth so as to not contaminate the results in between moving it from the test room to the storage area.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiterstest02.jpg
Start of the test 11:04pm

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiterstest03.jpg
End of test 4:16am the next day. 5 hours and 12 minutes later.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiters06.jpg
Second test I exposed the nitesiters to 30 minutes of florescent UV light.

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiterstest04.jpg
Start of second test 5:21am

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j107/pk3dnow/Nitesiters/nitesiterstest05.jpg
End of second test 5:17pm 11 hours and 56 minutes later.

I was quite impressed by how much light these little things held for the length of time in between charges. In all actuality I doubt you would have access to such a high output florescent so the LED test is more telling and way more practical. For the five hours in between pictures I'd say the nitesiters were very useful and it wouldn't take but a few moments to give them a quick charge and they really and bright when first charged. Hopefully this helps some people find a cheap solution to expensive Tritium sights. And the price? $9.95.

-PK

[John]

So what this thing is .... is .... a few tiny self-adhesive dots, that you have to stick on your sights and then illuminate them with either white or UV light for them so glow? And how well do those tiny dots stick on the sights?

[pk3dnow]

According to the manufacturer it takes 72 hours for the industrial adhesive to set properly but that it can be removed with a knife if needed. I have yet to fire the gun with these on so I'll let you know how well they stick after a little action. I should be able to go out some time this weekend and put a few rounds down range. So far my initial impression is positive but time will tell if that stays true.

-PK

[georgia rebell]

I have been using 'nitesiters' on my PT1911 for about 2 months now. The PT has recesses where the OEM white dots are in the Heinies, so they are sorta in a hole so to speak, but no failure to adhere as of yet. True, the shine times are not exactly where the mfg. claims they are on my set, but for the price it's a heck of a lot better than no shine at all, and a short flash with a tactical lite brings them back fast.
Glad I saved a few bucks on those,,,,,,,,,rofl,,,,,,,,,,,helps me pay for my 2nd PT1911,,,,,,,,Thanks VinnieT

[pk3dnow]

hah... yeah the money I saved on these will go straight to my next gun purchase.

I wanted to go shooting today but that didn't happen so I've made some plans to go out with my shooting buddies tomorrow and run a few rounds down range. Just not the same going shooting alone. I may also try to remove one of the dots after shooting just to see how well they stick. And I'm wondering if cold causes the nitesiters to come off as it will be getting much colder tomorrow. I'll report back with my findings..

-PK

[Frank]

If these are used on a gun carried concealed, you will be walking around with the sights shielded under your covering garment from any light source. If you need your gun in an emergency, your sights will not be charged; and it would probably be a very bad time to try to do so. In other words, on a concealed carry gun, these sights would most likely not be ready for immediate use. That seems to me to be a problem.

DVC

[dogdollar]

pk3,
First, I REALLY appreciate the time you spent putting this together - no one can say you weren't thorough!!
I'm going to pass on these, though, for the same reasons Frank talked about - if I'm carrying, my weapon will be holstered and covered and probably won't charge these things. Plus, for a carry gun, consistency is very important to me. When I pull the weapon, I want to KNOW what I am going to see - not be surprised to find there are dots or surprised that there aren't - I don't want to have to process that result. I want to be ready to go.

This whole idea reminds me of that solar powered flashlight we developed here at the DogDollar Labs a few years ago........
Right now, we're working on a prototype invention we think is going to be a huge seller this cold and flu season. Stay tuned!!
http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f179/6401glendale/Picture8.jpg

DD

[rob1814 militiaman]

I have added them to both my PT145 and P1911. Initial briteness is astounding but is still visable 7 hours later when I get up. Visable as in I can find the sights in the dark without glasses. So for the bedside its a real help, kind of like the white sights were when they arrived on the market. So I'm happy with the results and don't feel like I didn't get my moneys worth. Carrying at night, charge them and then holster, unless you close down the bars the sights will be visable in parking lots, or driveways.
Rob

[Frank]

It's the end of a busy day. I've been running around tending to matters. I've been wearing my gun under my coat since 8:00 that morning, and it's now 6:00 pm. I'm heading to my car in the secure parking structure I normally park in. It's usually well lit, but there are long shadows as the sunlight fades. I'm suddenly confronted by two apparent thugs at about 10 yards armed with impact weapons. Gosh, I sure wish I had a tritium vial in my front sight.

DVC

[Tom]

This whole idea reminds me of that solar powered flashlight we developed here at the DogDollar Labs a few years ago........
Right now, we're working on a prototype invention we think is going to be a huge seller this cold and flu season. Stay tuned!!
You're the same guys who invented dehydrated water back in the 1980's, right?

[pk3dnow]

Well didn't get out to the range as early as I would have liked but I did get to put another 40 rounds down. I am pleased to say that the nitesiters are staying on just fine. I'm not saying this will replace Tritium but if you can't afford that these are very useful. In comparison to the standard white dot sights you get adding these for $10 makes a huge difference and they are also easier to see during daylight. Since this is not a conceal carry weapon for me I'm not too concerned with Tritium at the moment.

-PK

[tonka]

You're the same guys who invented dehydrated water back in the 1980's, right?


I have on eof his hand-held ceiling fans; I keep it in the guest room for when the mom-in-law visits.

[tonka]

The Nitesighter guy I bought mine from said they stick to nickel, they stick to serrations, but they don't stick to serrated nickel. I applied one set to (what used to be) my Woodsman (but now sits on Amy's nightstand, happy and wagging, the traitor.) They do stay juiced all night, but are not a replacement for tritium. None on my RIA yet because it seems like the GI-spec front sight has too low an angle to present the front sight dot properly; seems like it would look more like a horizontal bar than a dot. Maybe I'll take another look, but I'm replacing those sights soon, anyhow.

[airbornerangerboogie]

I have on eof his hand-held ceiling fans; I keep it in the guest room for when the mom-in-law visits.

For a family wanting to have a day at the range, you can take that most beloved family cat to using the Tabby-tote system.

http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u55/pdgayle/catcarrier.jpg

on a serious note though. I didn't purchase my PT1911 as a CCW, 38 oz will have my pants down around my knees at the end of the day. I've got a Colt Defender and a S&W 1911PD Sc for carry. I do have aging eyes so I just might try them in my Taurus since I can't see the straight-eights with my bifoculs. I do agree thought that for a CCW I'd spring for the regular (dependable, no-guessing) brand of night-sites.

[BRSmith]

Put some on my CD about 2 months ago. Not a carry gun so not worried about them not being charged. Am impressed with the brightness., altho they are not the easist things to put on.

[Jim Watson]

Handy gimmick if you shot low-light competition as some IDPA clubs do. My Kydex holster has a large sight track and all it would take would be a shine down on top of the gun with my Surefire to set me up for the match.

[Nitesiter]

Heya folks! I saw the post on here and wanted to at least drop in and say hi. Im the guy that makes and sells Nitesiters.

First off I would like to apologize for the non-round dots. I had some 'helpers' with me *cough*wife*cough* make a bunch of sets. I have no problem sending another replacement set or refunding the entire amount of your purchase. Im in the process of standardizing the production of Nitesiters so there wont be anymore issues with that.

So Nitesiters aren't for everyone. They aren't meant to replace Tritium sights, but for a lot of people they work very well. All the customer comments on the website are real. I've gotten great feedback from the website as well as from the forums, but there are some that just wont like them or be able to use Nitesiters. Thats the biggest reason I have a 100% money back guarantee. I don't want anyone feeling like they're getting ripped off.

John:
The 'dots' stick on very well. I've had one on my wedding ring for a few months now through showers, kids, yardwork and dogs... and it's still on. I have an airsoft gun that I take to gunshows to demonstrate and out of ALL the many hundreds of people picking at them and poking at them i've only had one picked off. They developed the stuff initially to replace reflective street signs with glow in the dark street signs, and as such has an adhesive on it. You can put the 'dot' on your gun and it will have enough give to position it exactly where you want it and then it cures in 48 to 72 hours. Thats different than a regular sticker where you put it on, and it immediately sticks.

Frank:
You are absolutely right. If you keep it in the dark for a long time, they're not going to be charged when you need them. Having them lit for a conceal and carry gun is going to be an issue if you always keep the gun holstered. Thats the downside to Nitesiters

Dogcollar:
I can appreciate your concern about making sure you get what you expect when drawing your gun. I have sold some sets to some active duty military that want to put these on their service weapons (they cant alter their issued guns). Makes me nervous! The only thing I can say is that they generally do stick where you put them. I have a guy that put them on his weapon over 30 days ago. He pocket carries, hip carries, holster carries and chucks his guns in his car console daily. He doesn't make any considerations for the 'dots' on there. He's not had one fall off.

Tonka: I do have Nitesiters in strips. I have a lot of hi-power, glock and 1911 gun owners that want that strip for their gun. I make them, but you just have to ask for them as I don't generally include them in the sets.

Jim Watson: There's a guy that keeps telling me to take these to the low light competitions in Tucson. That these would be perfect because they're WAY brighter than tritium for a good time longer than a competition.

I hope I addressed everyones concerns and issues. In my mind, to be able to equip 2, 3, or 4 guns depending on your sight configuration, for $10 with something that glows for a long time, and is brighter than tritium for a portion of that time... is a good deal. But once again, they're not for everyone.

Please do feel free to write with any questions, comments or concerns. I'd be glad to address them!


Dave Presley
Nitesiters

[dogdollar]

Thanks for checking in, Dave.
Best of luck with your innovative new product, and welcome to the forums.
DD