Nite sights vs Laser Grips

I can't help much except to share what little experience I have with the Viridian laser on my SR9c.

First, I much prefer green lasers because they're usable outside in open shade or overcast days.

Second, even the pricey Viridian needed some thread locker on the adjustment screws to prevent them from walking... at least mine did.

Lastly, the distance between the laser and barrel is greater than typical iron sites so parallax error is increased. I have my laser set to zero at 20 feet and I know at 15 feet I must aim approximately 1 inch low, at 10 feet approximately 2 inches low, and at 5 feet approximately 3 inches low. I've yet to measure precisely but that's fairly close. It's not too hard to remember 1 inch lower per 5 feet closer. The tiny parallax error beyond 20 feet doesn't matter in a home defense scenario.

Of course, mine is a below-barrel rail-mount but parallax will apply in any case.

Ah my favorite semi-recurring thread. As with every choice there are pros and cons. In this instance the cons of rail mounted lasers (I use Viridian C5L and X5L) can be easily accounted. I have owned both and there is a reason why I still use Viridian.

Green lasers use more energy than red, so the will have bigger batteries and less runtime. This is easily offset by using rechargeable CR2 or CR123 batteries. I found a charger on Amazon with a few packs of rechargeable for less than it cost for 4 regular batteries.

Rail mounted lasers are harder to find holsters for. True and false. Some holster companies will mold their holsters to accept popular laser/lights such as White Hat and Bladetech. And with kydex holsters you can use a heat gun and mold the kydex yourself to fit a small rail laser or light.

Reasons why I don't like grip lasers such as CrimsonTrace: They are expensive for what they are. A CT laser will run 250-300 per firearm. Not a bad cost if you only have a few to outfit, PITA if you have multiples. $300 on Viridian's website will get you a laser that will fit anything with a rail.
CT lasers also change the grip of the firearm. Most people can adjust to the change but I never did. The CT grips on my P94 always made it grip uncomfortably and made the firearm feel significantly bigger. And a Ruger P94 is big enough. CT lasers are also much dimmer than green lasers.

As I said pros and cons. A few benefits to CT and other grip lasers are: they typically don't need modified holsters. With the right grip they are on immediately without having to reach forward for a button. Come boresighted pretty well right out of the box. And they are everywhere.

I am a firm believer in Seeing what I shoot, and what's behind it.

Before I shoot it.

So, I believe I would buy a rail mounted Combat Light and leave the sights alone.

You can clearly see the sights when the target is lit up like the sun is shining on it!

rc

Night sights for further distances. Lasers for shorter distances. Learn to point shoot with with a laser assisted gun.

I have had an Aimpoint Laser on my Smith & Wesson 624 for twenty years. I made my own mount so it is mounted under the grip. I drilled and tapped my grip frame. I also used tritium on my iron sites. I do not know if one can purchase the tritium kits any more but if you can that is the way to go so you can put night sites on any of your guns that you want.

Maybe its just me but I dont ever see lasers being more useful than night sights. I could see the benefit of a laser AND night sights. But I was taught lasers are for reflex shooting as a sort of double check that you are somewhat on target. Push that target out to 10-15 yards and you will either being trying to walk that laser onto the target, or you will be instinctively trying to look through your sights for a more precise shot, in which case tritium sights would be extremely beneficial anyway. Maybe Im an odd ball here but the first thing I do to EVERY gun I have that may be used for self defense, is add tritium sights. Even on my AK's and Shotguns.

I have CT grips on my KLCR carry gun and have used them on a friends Glock, and find them a great aid to accurate shooting, especially in low light. I also find the CT's a great aid in practice dry firing, it tattles when you have poor trigger control.

Lasers are excellent for self-defense "panic" shooting especially if you can keep your head on straight enough to compensate well enough for minor parallax errors. Frankly, IMHO, lasers are the BEST option for home defense because there isn't always time to use traditional sights.

I'm with RC on this one. And railed flashlights are a lot cheaper to boot>

Who says a rail flashlight can't have a laser sight? All of mine do.

Mike, I totally agree. I just put a Streamlight STR4 on my wife's XD9sc. If you can't see what your aiming at, then there's no sights or lasers going to help.

I'm big on seeing your target and what's beyond. Now I have NS on two of my three SD handguns. With the choice between NS or laser, I'd go with NS, but between NS and a flashlight, I'd go flashlight. YMMV.

Mike1234567 said:

Who says a rail flashlight can't have a laser sight? All of mine do.

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This I would choose a rail mounted light with a laser on it over just the laser. surefire x400's are a little pricey but they can really take some abuse or the streamlight tlr-2. Both can be found relatively cheap on ebay used.

Viridian makes light and laser combos as well for their railed units. They expanded their product line into red lasers now if (for some reason) you don't like green.