Are Crimson Trace Grips Worth It?

[BobGrand]

You are correct, Creativetownsman. When using the laser for sighting, I do not worry about the down and to the right alignment of the laser to the bore alignment. POI will be within a small error margin up to 15-20 yards (my personal "reasonable range"/distance). However, when I am at the local gun range, I shoot using both the laser and shutting it off and using the iron sights so I know I can do both reliably. I must admit that I am not nearly as accurate with the 642 as I am with my 45 semi-auto, but expect that to come with practice, practice, practice.

Hope this helps to clarify what I meant.

Bob

 

[yongxingfreesty]

been thinking about it for the ruger LCP

 

[dmw16]

In a high-stress and/or panicked shooting situation I see no reason not to have them.

 

[mmartin101808]

When I bought my Springfield Champion it came with CT grips, and to be honest I'm still out to lunch on if I like them or not. Part of me really likes the red dot, if anything for the crap your pants factor if your the bad guy. On the other hand I'm just as fast, if not faster using the night sights. I'm also concerned I'll get use to using the laser, and when I switch out to a weapon w/o ct I'll waste time in a situation trying to engage the laser when there isn't one to engage. In other words, I'm afraid I'll become dependant upon it.

 

[sohcgt2]

As an American I believe in bigger, better, faster, more... That said, any advantage you can gain in the gun fight we all hope to avoid is worth the cost if you value your life. I assume your purchase of the 1911 was to give you an advantage over the baseball bat in the backseat. The addition of tritium night sights to help speed sight picture aquisition is also an advantage, the laser grips are an advantage, a custome trigger job is an advantage. Any and all improvements you can afford that result in an advantage over the BG are beneficial to you. The addition of laser sights of some type is also helpful as a training aid when coupled with snap caps. It will allow you to dry fire and watch how trigger pull effects point of aim. I have CTC laser grips on both of my primary carry guns and will add them to my BUG in the next few weeks.

 

[creativetownsman]

Initial range report - Crimson Trace laser grips for J frame

Well, I went to the range yesterday with my new Crimson Trace LG-405's on my M442.

Let's face it - you pay a premium but in the same breath they're kind of worth it. I'd have preferred a price of around $189 but they have to make a profit and there's families to support.

(I did purchase mine on sale at Midway: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=263426" - you can place a backorder until the end of the month).

I've found with J iron sights one actually has to point the muzzle down in order to properly align to the target. I was getting pretty good with the iron sights but the CT knocks my reliance on them out of the ballpark. I've had twenty years shooting J-frames and there was always that 'doubt' about having to use them in a SD scenario-that doubt has all but disappeared with only one range trip using the Crimson Trace Lasergrip.

Don't forget your skills with the iron sights and turn off the laser intermittently but the CT's are vastly superior especially for marksmanship. I have never shot that well with a J-frame as I did last night.

I'm quite pleased. I got confused even though I had read the sighting-in instructions beforehand. I caught my mistake but then they were way off.

I had to waste a few rounds and make major adjustments to elevation. Remember to adjust the diode to meet the bullet hole!

Anyway, my sighting-in distance was at 50'; however, because I screwed things up, I brought the target in to 21', sighted in so at least POA resembled POI somewhat, then progressively moved out to 50'. I did not parallel sight, and I feel that once the sweet spot is truly there at 50' I'll leave them alone.

BTW, moved the target back to the maximum 25 yds. (75') and shot a few rounds rapid fire. They all hit and placed somewhere on the silohuette; a couple were COM.

It was also very satisfying to consecutively hit the red COM area on a silhouette target with five shots +P rapid fire at 21'. Remember, this is a J-frame and some shots were in the same hole, rapid-fire.

I intend to really get these sighted in well for this gun, It'll take another range trip to fine-tune them.

Thereafter, I'll extensively dry fire practice with them.

I'm already thinking of getting the CT grips for my Kahr CW9, once they become available.

 

[Marvin KNox]

Anything that will increase the odds of leaving a gunfight in one piece is worth anything you can afford to pay.

 

[mgregg85]

Try using the iron sights on a P3AT in very low light, then try using a P3AT with the crimson trace laser in very low light. It makes a huge difference to me, making a difficult pocket pistol easy to aim and use. Of course it is just an option and I do practice with the iron sights too, but I really prefer that laser.

On my XD45 I just use the iron sights and I hope to soon have some tritium sights installed. Real(as in large) iron sights are just about as fast as the laser so I don't feel the need to get the crimson trace yet. Right now I'd rather spend the $100 and have some big dot tritium sights put on. With the P3AT you really don't have the option of tritium unless you want to have the slide machined.

Another problem with iron sights is that you can only focus on one point, so if you focus on the front sight(as I believe you should) then you cannot clearly focus on the target or anything else. With the laser you can focus on what the target is doing and where you are aiming, which I feel is advantageous. When I practice with my P3AT I hold the pistol so that the sights are in my line of sight but I focus on the target and the red dot. I do this so that if the batteries should die or if I lose track of the laser I can immediately transition to the iron sights.

 

[A-FIXER]

I buy'em because my wife now feels safer with them on now and, it get her to the range with me every time I smile and tell her Honey, I got you some more practice ammo (I really reload them) but she grins and says come'on lets go.... and your getting supper works every time.

 

[BikerRN]

I have a set of Crimson Trace Laser Grips on my new off duty EDC.

As I grow older I find it harder and harder to see the Front Sight without my glasses. I can see the laser, even when I can't see my Front Sight. They are great for allowing me to focus on my target, be it badguy or paper. Thus, I think they are worth what I paid for them times ten.

The laser does not replace the Front Sight, but rather gives me another tool to use at "appropriate" times. I've seen my Front Sight two out of three times IRL, but I was younger then, and my eyesight was better too.

I think it's funny that most of the troops coming back from Iraq and 'stan, at least the ones I know, want lasers on their personal weapons. Maybe they learned something over there that we need to emulate?

BikerRN

 

[renegade1alpha]

If you are an experienced shooter and you want lasers, get them. If you are NOT an experienced shooter, don't get them until you become an experienced shooter. I say this because new shooters will most likely tend to rely on the laser instead of the provided sights. This is fine when the laser is WORKING but when batteries fail, and they will, (Murphy says so) then you will have to resort to your open sights. And if you can't shoot then, well all you have is big lump in your hand that makes noise and is going to possibly get someone besides your intended target hurt or killed.

Learn to shoot first.

 

[mrt949]

Have them on the wifes lady smith m60. only way to go.

 

[jaydubya]

Renegade1alpha said: If you are NOT an experienced shooter, don't get them until you become an experienced shooter.

Sorry, I disagree. What you prescribe takes too long. Indeed, it is an invitation to NOT buy a handgun. I would propose instead that anyone thinking of buying a handgun should restrict their search to those that have laser grips available for them -- and buy them at the same time. Then learn at the range how to shoot both ways: 50% laser, 50% iron sights. Much quicker the competence with both. As for batteries giving out, of course they do! That is why I change the batteries in my fire alarm, lojack and Crimson Trace grips (three of them) every six months.

Renegade1alpha, I'm a long-retired Naval Aviator. Your handle has a military pilot's ring to it. Are you?

Cordially, Jack