night sights vs. laser grip

[Checkoff]

Hi all,
I'm just looking for some opinions on which you think would be a better/ more useful add-on to my glock # 27 I have a pair of CT grips on my s&w 360 they are pretty nice I must say, does anyone have any experience with these on a glock? do they mount easy & secure? can the accuracy be effected by your grip? ( to high/low, loose/tight) just some questions I had about them, or is it better just to put a good set of night sights on it ?
( its a shame these are not made with the tactial mount on them)
any insight would be great...

 

[tipoc]

Night sights.

tipoc

 

[CombatArmsUSAF]

I will only use laser grips on guns that would require machining to have night sights installed. ( My S&W 642, Beretta 92FS, etc..)

If I have the option to easily (as on a Glock) install night sights, I believe they are the way to go. For a couple of reasons:

1. They are WAY cheaper
2. They don't need batteries (which means the batteries can't go dead when you need them to work.)
3. They won't give away your position with the advantage of being on at all times.

 

[jaydubya]

I have Crimson Trace laser grips on three handguns. I would not buy a handgun that CT did not make grips for. I practice weekly with them at HD/SD distance (5-10 yards), and now and then also with the iron sights to keep my hand in. But without my glasses on, I cannot even SEE the iron sights, much less use them. But I can see that red dot without my glasses on, and I love putting a black hole in the target where that red dot was.

Someone above pointed out that batteries die. They do, but because I shoot them often, I know when their batteries are fading. Night sights die too.

I'm old. My needs are probably different from yours. But there is one thing certain: with each advancing year of your life, your capabilities will change a little bit. And the day will come when you realize, "I am old." Deal with it -- now.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Shawn.L]

IMNSHO handguns should be shot with the sights whenever possible. Lasers fill a niche market that doesnt really effect the average civilian (need to aim around a riot shield much?).

buy night sights

take the difference in monry savings and invest in some quality training.

there are no hardware solutions to software problems

 

[AKElroy]

I have laser sights on a SW 340, LCP and a Streamlight TLR-2 on an XDm, so I like lasers. Other than accesory rail lights like the TLR, I do not see any laser systems for Glocks that I like, especially the 26/27. My 27 has Novak Trijicon's, and I love em'.

 

[Yamer]

check out www.lasermax.com they have these lasers that replace the spring guidrod of the glock. also it replaces your slide breakdown release buttons which is what turns the thing on and off... ambidextrous (sp? lol), inconspicuous (sp? lol), uh... awesome... im saving up for one for my #23. my light laser combo i have isnt gonna cut it... ill save that for the AR when i get it

 

[TXHORNS]

I like to cover all bases, most of my carry guns have both. The laser can be a great option but I require night sights on any gun I use for sd.

 

[gunnie]

all/none of the above?

laze...will not give away your position as readily as a flashlight. does become a pointer to you in foggy/dusty conditions. does not require lining up firearm with eyes. does have finite battery life. batteries are prone to go south in very cold conditions. will not id target before firing.

night sights...require lining up weapon with eyes. will NOT give away position, unless pointed away from hostile. have a finite element life, but usually 10+ years. can be too bright/not bright enough. see if you can try out the flavor you lust after at night on a bud's gun. can wreck your pupil diameter to the point you will see the dots, but not the target you saw to point the handgun at. wil not id target before firing.

flashlight...finite battery life, very short on some models. batteries are prone to go south in very cold conditions. can be bright enough to render the perp legally blind for a period after exposure, if he is looking at the source. can have the same effect on you in fog, dust or inside a building with less than dull/dark walls with reflected "return" light. can be prone to kill filament on glock mfgd incandescent units, get an LED. WILL ALLOW YOU TO ID TARGET BEFORE SHOOTING.

everything is a compromise, even installing all of the above will create a lot of bulk/weight. it would also greatly de-simplify the use of the handgun.

only you can decide what fills your needs best.........

gunnie

 

[AKElroy]

check out www.lasermax.com they have these lasers that replace the spring guidrod of the glock. also it replaces your slide breakdown release buttons which is what turns the thing on and off... ambidextrous (sp? lol), inconspicuous (sp? lol), uh... awesome... im saving up for one for my #23. my light laser combo i have isnt gonna cut it... ill save that for the AR when i get it

The only lasermax I have actually been exposed to belonged to a friend on a G30. It broke within the first two weeks. I am not a fan of having the slide release as the point of operation; for me and many others that requires altering shooting grip. I view these as fragile, with an activation method that is contrary to established muscle memory. Also, establishing & maintaining zero would have to be difficult for a part that moves in relation to the barrel everytime the gun is fired. These are an expensive gimmick IMHO---

 

[agoodpeter]

i carry a glock 30 with factory night sites and the crimson laser grips,,, it is idiot proof,, yes after one shot the laser is very visable in the gun smoke,, but that first shot or two is faster and more accurate/deadly,, the crimson grip comes on by just holding the gun grip, on my glock 30 there is no on/off switch, and is not easy to hold gun without turning the laser on,, i shoot the gun about once every other month or so,, the original laser battries are still strong,, for me when the time comes to point and shoot, i will need the idiot proofness of the crimson laser grip

 

[rockstar.esq]

I wear glasses and although I can't afford a laser grip I will buy one when I can. My "work around" standard is XS Big Dot express sights. They are much larger than the typical front sight which makes them visible without my glasses. Personally I wonder when and if gun sight makers will ever wise up and make samples available to gun shops. It's pretty literally impossible to "try out" a set of XS sights without forking over your own money. Even if they were simple plastic mock ups like Crimson Trace mounts their samples to it would be an enormous help to people worried about holster fit, sight profile, snagging and so on.

 

[gunnie]

rockstar,

..."I wonder when and if gun sight makers will ever wise up and make samples available to gun shops"...

+1, seems like this would be easy with a thumbscrew tightened rear dovetail, and multifit hole forward in thumbscrew dovetail on a "blue gun". no damage to sight sets being tested from the plastic.

gunnie

 

[John Parker]

You'll always know where your front sight is. I've seen many people hunt around for that red dot with a laser, but I also know many people that swear by them.

 

[jermc]

I have both on a glock 26...they work for quick aquisition of your target...I love them

 

[possum]

flashlight, for pid of a threat which might not be a threat at all, for example the man that shot hos bride to be in Florida a few weeks ago. would have been nice to illuminate the "threat", see that it wasn't a threat, get married, and live happily ever after. learn from others, get a light.

 

[Rev.Hendryx]

"flashlight, for pid of a threat which might not be a threat at all, for example the man that shot hos bride to be in Florida a few weeks ago. would have been nice to illuminate the "threat", see that it wasn't a threat, get married, and live happily ever after. learn from others, get a light."

Or... don't go lobbing off shots at any shadow in the dark.

If i'm in bed, and my wife is not, it doesn't require much thought to realize that my wife may in fact be somewhere in the house.

Now, if there were two shadows... i might have reason to shoot both of them

 

[danbrew]

I'm old. My needs are probably different from yours. But there is one thing certain: with each advancing year of your life, your capabilities will change a little bit. And the day will come when you realize, "I am old." Deal with it -- now.

Well said. I'm getting up there too. Not as old as some, but my vision isn't what is used to be. When I'm out with handguns, I'm typically shooting at 20-25' or so. And am a damn decent shot, but am not nearly the shot that I once was. Within the last year or so I've switch from aiming with my dominant right eye to my left eye - simply because the vision in my left eye is better. I still shoot rifles with my right eye, but am now instictively shooting pistols with my left eye. It took a lot of getting used to.

So... things change.

 

[possum]

Rev,
yes i understand what you are saying, and yes if i heard a bump on the night and the wife wasn't beside me than i would take that into consideration, however if there is a bump in the night, and she is there, there is a possibility that it is one of my kids, i could very well be the mentally disabled guy down the street that has broke in your window, or the local bum/ drunk waltz right into your door that you meant to lock. teenage kids sneaking in and out etc.

what i am trying to say is that there are alot of possibilites, and scenarios, my point wasn't to id your wife, it was to id whatever made the "bump" in the night and see if it really needs to be shot or not.

 

[mustang_steve]

night sights....batteries are not an issue as well as not having to worry about the pressure switch assembly screwing up (I've seen that happen before, not sure if CTs are made to avoid that or not, I've only used regular lasers and very rarely at that).

 

[jaydubya]

Danbrew said: Within the last year or so I've switch from aiming with my dominant right eye to my left eye - simply because the vision in my left eye is better.

Dan, that is a huge change. Bravo Zulu!

Cordially, Jack

 

[Rev.Hendryx]

possum-

My bad, i didn't really think through the possibilities for others. I've become used to living in a 3rd floor condo... one door with a knob lock and a dead bolt, and due to height and shape of the roof, windows are not an option. If someone comes through the door, there's going to be a lot of noise.

So, i guess i'd have to say the most practical setup i could figure is night sights and a separate flashlight, and keep the shiner and the pistola together. That way it keeps the weapon ergonomically feasible for CC without hampering holster selection. Or, if it's strictly a "house gun," why not shove a light on it?