Your Thoughts Please.

The point of the illuminator is to light up the target, so that you can see it and therefore shoot it. So, the real objective is you seeing the target. The same can be done with light-amplification goggles or IR goggles, with the big advantage of you remaining unseen yourself. IMO, this is a better (albeit more expensive) solution to the same problem. I've always thought that an underbarrel flashlight or maglite in hand just makes one a better target

On the other hand, if you can see the target but are worried you can't see your gun's sights, there are radioactive (tritium) sights available from several companies. A cheaper solution for the same is to paint your sights with phosphorus or a polymer containing phosphorus.

Lasers are alternate aiming devices, not target identification devices. Even if you go with the Crimson Trace laser grips, you'll still have to utilize a handheld light for target identification.

The only advantage that the laser offers you is that target engagement is faster because you don't have to focus on your sight picture. The laser handles that for you. So you can focus more on identifying your target with the handheld light rather than focusing on the sight picture.

I was skeptical of lasers for a long time. I recently re-evaluated my position.

Last year I had an opportunity to use Crimson Trace lasergrips while attending a course by Ken Hackathorn. I fired at a target once with a handheld flashlight and night sights, once with nightsights only and once with the lasergrips only.

I was surprised to find that my fastest and tightest group came from the laser grips. The splash from the laser at 10 yards was sufficient to ID an individual and/or the presence of a weapon, though I would still recommend a handheld or weapon-mounted light.

I would get the CT grips, especially for a J-frame.

cslinger!

Don't know how old your eyes are but mine are getting along some and need some HELP Put some CT's on my S&W Mod. 60 with a three inch barrel and they DO help me hit the target with accuracy and confidence. Yes, they take some getting used to but, with practice, they are a nice assist to my old and aging eyes.

One other advantage: Want to know if you are "jerking" the trigger? Put those grips on and do some dryfire work. You'll know REAL quick.

I love lasers, for a bunch of different reasons. Though I've handled and fired several other brands, most of my experience has been with the Crimson Trace brand so if there's anything brand-specific below, assume I'm talking about CTs.

Why do I love lasers? Let me count the ways ...

• They are light-years faster in the dark than any other sighting system. People who say "just get night sights" instead of a laser simply haven't compared the two sighting systems side by side when shooting under stress and on a timer. If they had, they'd prefer lasers, hands down.
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• They are far easier on multiple targets in the dark. Transitioning from one target to another to another is very simple and very fluid. There's no added time to settle down on each target -- just bang and go.
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• On moving targets, especially on moving targets in the dark, they are faster and easier than any other system. Singles or multiples, if the target is moving, it's just flat out easier with a laser. Again, no comparison is possible. Very few people have had opportunity to shoot movers in the dark, but take my word on this one: if you want to hit something that is moving, and if lighting conditions are less than optimal, the laser is absolutely the way to go.
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• Under stress, lasers let you do what you instinctively want to do: keep your eyes on the threat.
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• You can stay nearly 100% behind cover while using a laser and be assured of getting your hits. You can shoot from all kinds of contorted, awkward positions using irregularly-shaped cover (like real life objects rather than range equipment) and still hit what you want to hit.
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• In all but brightest daylight, lasers are faster and easier on moving targets. They're also incredibly fast and intuitive when you and the target are both moving.
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• They are ideal for range instruction because it is very easy to see what the student is doing. You can watch the dot to see if they're jerking it off-center at the last second. You can see how much muzzle movement the student is getting during move-and-shoot drills. When you demonstrate a technique, the laser makes it very easy for students to see exactly what you are doing -- for instance, in showing people the proper follow through on multiple targets, they can simply watch the laser as it moves from target to target while you explain the technique. Explaining trigger squeeze, students can see how an improper yank jerks the dot off center and they can see how a smoooth trigger pull keeps the sights on target. You can also use the laser to demonstrate what a "wobble zone" is and how accepting that "wobble zone" can actually improve their performance.
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• A laser is also a good range safety tool because you can use it to help teach muzzle awareness. For instance, when demonstrating a proper low ready position, you can use a laser-equipped dummy gun to show where the bullet would strike when the gun is held incorrectly. You can show the "circle of safety" when the gun is held correctly, and most students will immediately grasp the point. If you have someone reholstering incorrectly, you can use the dummy gun & laser to show why the technique they were using was dangerous and to illustrate which body part was at risk.

Of course, there are standard criticisms and myths about the laser that we've all heard. Here's my answers to those.

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• Lasers give away your position. Not if you have properly trained to use them. With CT grips, for instance, it is very simple to train yourself to relax your grip when the gun isn't on target, thus shutting off the light. Other brands have levers or buttons that must be flicked on; the proper moment to activate the laser is not until you are sure of your target and are raising the gun to fire.
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• You don't have to train to use the laser. Absolutely false. It takes time to learn to intuit when the laser will work best and when the iron sights will work best, and to train yourself to automatically try the better option first in all lighting conditions. Let me add here that some lighting conditions aren't great for the laser. That's not a big deal; transitioning back to iron sights or to point-shoot takes very, very little time once you've trained on such transitions. But these transitions will be slow until you have trained to use them, so don't fool yourself. You cannot use lasers to their best advantage until you have taught yourself to use them.
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• Someone with a laser is going to outshoot someone without one. Moderately false. If you have two equally-trained shooters, one with a laser and one without, the one with the laser is going to perform better and faster. But the existence of the laser does not turn a marginal shooter into a good one. It doesn't replace trigger control and it doesn't teach you how to run the gun quickly and smoothly. It doesn't do anything except enable you to line up the gun faster than you yourself would otherwise be able to do -- after you've trained yourself to use the laser (see the last point...)
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• Batteries die. Yeah, so what? Dead batteries don't destroy your normal sighting system and it'll still be there. You'll be no worse off if your batteries die than you would be without having the laser in the first place, and considerably better off if your batteries don't die. Furthermore, most people who rely on this equipment to save their lives also manage to maintain it -- keeping the carry ammo fresh, keeping the gun clean & oiled, keeping the holster in good repair. It's not hard to change a battery when you change the oil on your gun...

Bottom line? I love lasers and think they are excellent equipment for shooters who are willing to take the time to learn how to use them to best advantage. They don't replace regular sights and they don't solve every problem. But the things they do, they do better than any other option out there.

pax

When asked whether his vision was an impediment in the gunfight, he [Harvey Faulk] answered, "I wasn't trying to see him clearly. What I was trying to do was save my life." -- from a newspaper article about a one-eyed man who shot an armed intruder

The problem with lasers is they give away your position to the threat. Of course, so will a flashlight, but a flashlight in the face tends to momentarily overwhelm the visual sensory system (or blind the attacker). I much prefer night sights and a good light. Holosights or red dots are also very effective in low light. They still give off a glow, but it is not very noticeable. The only use I can see for lasers is if there is a good chance you will have to fire the gun from the hip or some other position where precision shooting is required but you will not be able to visually align the sights. But at standard HD ranges of <25 feet, you should be able to hit a man-size target from the hip without a laser.

MachIV ~

As I said, lasers only give away your position if you turn them on before you need to.

The proper time to activate your laser is as you are raising the gun to fire.

*flick--BLAM* End of story.

If you're walking around with the laser on, you aren't using it right.

pax

Well, if you have the spare cash, I'd say give it a try for the 642.

pax pretty nicely summed up most of the common pros & cons of laser aiming devices, and I won't try to add to it.

Personally, I dislike adding white light sources to my handguns. I don't do it. They may make it easier to illuminate an intended target, but they also require that you cover whatever you illuminate with your muzzle. I'd rather rely on a separate hand-held light source to illuminate and identify a threat. I feel they have a specialized application. I know a fellow instructor who's also a member of a SWAT team, and he shares my dislike of handgun-mounted white lights. He not only dislikes illuminating things he hasn't decided are going to be shot, but he dislikes the dependency on the pistol light, feeling it reduces awareness and skill with the supplemental, hand-held light sources.

All that Pax said.

I have CT grips on all 3 of my revolvers, SP1013”, 642 and a Taurus 94. I wouldn’t be without them. For quick sight acquisition in low light and for firing around obstacles and from various positions without showing yourself they can’t be beat. When properly sighted in (as easy as sighting in a scope) where the laser is positioned is where your bullet will hit. Until you have them you won’t understand how bright and powerful these lasers are.

If you do choose the CT’s get yourself a copy of the video “shots in the dark” it is chock full of info on how to use your laser in all kinds of self-defense situations

Chris - you probably remember - I have CT's on my 226 (I know how you hate SIG's LOL) - and I think they are great. They will only shine when my grip is finalized and so if light is low and - particularly - if i had to shoot without easy sighting - say round corner - they are gonna be worth weight in gold.

I do NOT place reliance on them - never have but - to have them there is for me a great bonus. I always shoot as if using irons, despite poor eyes but those CT's and night sights give me great options.

I have them on three revo's too - and again - they rock!

CS,
I have tried a laser gripped SW1911. In my opinion lasers do have a place on a firearm however they can't do everything that some people expect of them.

First, you must identify your target which a laser won't do. You need light to do that. Therefore you either need to depend on daylight, artificial light or a flashlight. too many people think that just having lasers on their handguns are all they need. They are wrong.

Another benefit to a laser is that if you are injured in your gun hand, you can still aim the handgun at an assailant. As rare or unlikely as that may be, it is still an option for you.

Others have illustrated other reasons why lasers can be helpful. Pax's post was right on.

I'd put a laser grip on my self defense handgun however I don't want to spend the $100 +/- yet.

-Jim