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Hi, I'm thinking of installing Crimson Trace grips on one of my pistols. From everything I've read, they seem to be an absolutely top-notch product, so I'm not worried about quality or function. What I am wondering about is the impact that using a laser-equipped pistol might have on my skills when using guns not so equipped.

I've been shooting a couple of years, pretty much self-taught, and am not too bad at garden-variety 2-handed defensive-range shooting. I'm always trying to improve my grip, trigger, and sight picture skills, and see constant if incremental improvement. Will occasionally using a laser sight ruin the progress I've made?

I'm considering this, at least at first, because I'm in the mood to buy a neat gun-related toy (although it seems a lot of experienced shooters really like the CTC lasergrips and use them extensively) with perhaps a secondary use in diagnosing trigger pull problems, flinches, etc. I'm not looking into it out of frustration with iron sights, and I know real training and lots of practice is the best route to good shooting. Any thoughts? Thanks for any replies.

[Puppy]

No your skills using iron sights dont "degrade" that's nonsense.

Crimson Trace Laser Grips dont replace your existing iron sights, they are mearly an additional aiming tool that is very, very, very useful in "emergency situations".

[gandog56]

The reason I went with Crimson Trace is it is my eyesight that is degrading. I am finding it harder and harder to focus on the sights and the target at the same time. Now I just have to focus on the target. And in a pinch, I can still use the iron sights.

[BobCat]

I have no data but suspect that Puppy is right - your iron-sight skills will probably not "degrade."

If you are worried about it, go ahead and get a S&W Model 41, or whatever really good .22 target pistol you've always wanted, and use that to improve your iron-sight skills, while you also enjoy shooting your carry pistol with the laser sight.

[wally]

+1 to bummer about degrasding eyesight!

Using a laser *will* degrade your iron sight use if you can't adapt to the dual mode of looking at the target (to see the dot) when using the laser vs. focusing on the front sight when using irons.

Lasers are good if for no other reason than they are great training devices to show problems with your trigger pull.

--wally.

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Ok, that all makes sense. Thanks for the replies!