Good stuff all -- thanks.
This all came about from a discussion about HD on another forum -- at night in a dark house. Using just night sights or using a laser/light like the Viridian X5L Gen 2. I'm a proponent of the latter.
I have had my HD handgun setup with the Viridian for 5 years, but I saw an ad for it today and posted it on another forum which started the back and forth. One of the regulars came back and said this
I believe home defense, as well as self defense, is going to occur at 10 feet or less. Point, shoot until empty, call police! mho
So, IOW, he was saying he doesn't need a laser/light. I then answered with this:
Probably -- but you can't be sure. For instance -- my bedroom door faces across our great room and then down a hallway that in total is 51 feet.
I also can guarantee you that in the middle of the night, this laser/light at a minimum cuts in half the time it takes to acquire the target.
Next, another person chimed in with
In the dark you will be blinded by your own muzzle flash after the first round.
I am not sure which of us he was referring to, but it seems to be the guy who doesn't want a laser/light. But anyway, it got me to thinking about the impact from muzzle flash in total darkness vs. a room lit up with a weapon light.
I should also interject that the science of night vision takes me back to my sub days. Before you ever went topside as a lookout at night, you had to spend at least 15 mins in the control room that was rigged for red. Otherwise, you'd have night blindness when scanning the horizon.