Crimson Trace Laser Grips

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444

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I realize this subject has been discussed many times, but I didn't own a pair during those other discussions.
Within the last couple days, I received two pairs. One for a full sized 1911 which I purchased for a good price on this board. The other for a Ruger MkII which I purchased on GunBroker.com for a good price.
The 1911 grip has the laser switch in the front, under the trigger guard. The Ruger grip has the switch on the right grip panel.

I haven't done any shooting with them yet. But one thing does concern me. It seems like there is no way to correctly grip the gun without activating the laser. I like the option of using the laser if I want/need it, but I don't want to have to use it. I certainly don't want to have the laser on any time the gun is in my hand, and I don't want to have to be careful/handle the gun in a different way to keep from activating the laser.

comments ?
 
Just turn off the master switch, and the laser will be off irrespective of how you grip the gun. Turn the master switch back on to reactivate it. AFAIK, the only CT grip without a master switch is the LG205 model for J-frame snubbies.
 
Well,.....yeah.
I realize you can turn it off completely. But then, what is the point of having it. It isn't like you can turn it on and off when the chips are down. I was thinking more along the line of something that took some conscious effort to activate. Even something as simple as the same switch location they have now, but with a switch that takes a purposeful force to activate. I can just lay my finger on the .22 grip and the laser activates. If I was just holding the gun on the range, the laser would be on. I don't want to have to shut it off with a toggle switch when I know I am not going to use it, then turn it on with a toggle switch when I know I am going to use it. I want it to be an option that is at my disposal all the time, but not on when I don't want it on.

I have defended lasers in the past as something that would be a nice option to have. But, I see now that one drawback is an acidental laser discharge. If, for some reason, you were trying not to be noticed, it wouldn't be a good idea to have a light emitting device that can activate with a very tiny force and that force is applied right where you would normally hold the handgun.
 
the newer grips from CT have the strap on the top, just under the trigger guard. as opposed to at the bottom of the grips. i suppose one could keep the middle finger loose and once you do go to fire, you'll be moving your trigger finger onto the trigger at the same time you tighten the grip with the entire hand.

i noticed that you do have to put positive pressure on the panel.
 
I've got the CT grips on a Kimber, a J frame Smith and a Model 10 Smith.

My Kimber CT is the old style that has the button on the side where a firm grip will naturally cause your index finger to light the laser.
My friends new 1911 CT has the switch like yours. We shot his this past week and I see what you are saying. I thought I would like the easier to push switch better but I'm just not sure.

My J frame Smith has a very small grip and it's hard to stay away from the laser. It also doesn't have a off on switch.

All I can really tell you is getting proficient with the laser is like any other shooting techniques, it takes practice.
Try to see if you can lighten up on the switch.

I swear by the lasers. Shots can actually be made after dark that would be difficult during the day.

For instance this is some of my place, around the house, as I walk around at night with the J frame.
The laser is on a foot square steel target 40 yards away. The laser is sighted in at 30 yards and a hit out to 50 yards is fairly easy with the laser but probably not likely with iron sights.

38Laser2.gif
 
Note that I have that type of grip on the 1911 and I agree, it is better than the switch on the side, but only a little better.
The switch activates far too easily.
When you are correctly gripping a handgun, you are using a little force. I have seen it described as like a firm handshake. If your juices were flowing: i.e. TSHTF, you would be using more force than that. Therefore, I don't see why the switch activates with a stiff breeze. I can only think of negative results from this: no advantage.
 
Preacher ~

With all due respect, "just turn off the master switch" is not a viable solution!

These lights are designed to come on when the gun is on target. You don't want them coming on when you aren't using them, because if they do, they give away your position. (And at the very least, you don't want the red dot coming on because if it does, your kitty cat gets in the way....)

You don't want to turn off the master switch, because then they won't come on when you want or expect them to, and that's almost worse than not having them at all. And you sure as heck don't want to be fiddling with the master switch if your life is in danger, when you could just be using the grips correctly in the first place.

444,

Using a laser grip to best advantage takes discipline and practice. You want to train yourself to draw with a correct firing grip (all fingers where they belong), but with the part of your hand that contacts the switch just slightly relaxed. As you come up on target, you tighten your grip and the light comes on. As you come off target, you slightly relax just that muscle and the light goes back off.

Actually, if you are drawing to shoot, you can draw with a nice firm grip with the light on and you don't have to worry about it. But if you're drawing to low ready, then light discipline matters. Fortunately, you have no real need to quick-draw to a low ready even in practice; if you have enough time to draw to low ready instead of drawing to on-target, you have enough time to ensure the proper grip with one muscle slightly relaxed. Eventually it becomes second nature to draw with the correct grip, every time.

This sounds much more difficult than it really is.

But it does take practice.

Never let anyone tell you that you'll immediately begin getting better hits faster with a laser. You will eventually be shooting faster and better with a laser than without one. You will find it far easier to perform in low light than you ever believed, and you'll find it an incredible advantage with moving targets, around barriers, and while shooting & moving. But none of these things come naturally. You will have to practice them all, practice transitioning from laser to irons and back again, practice light discipline, practice your smooth trigger pull the instant the dot appears. And until you have practiced enough, the new gadget is going to slow you down slightly and be slightly annoying to use. If you persevere, you'll soon see that the advantages really do far outweigh the disadvantages.

HTH.

pax
 
No, you don't want to be shining the laser around like a flashlight.

I try not to turn mine on until I'm ready to fire.
Light the laser, make any small correction on target while squeezing the trigger.
The laser isn't lit a half second before the gun fires.

At least that's what I try for. :)
 
After posting, I got out the 1911 and played with it again (I got the grips for it a day or two ago) and yes, having the switch in front of the frame makes a world of difference and I think it is actually practical. The switch on the .22 grips IMO could never be used for a serious defensive gun.
 
I thought you might like the switch position when you get used to it.

I didn't shoot my friends new grip enough to form an opinion but I think I'll like it more than I like the side button on my Kimber.

The only one I don't like is the grip on my old square butt S&W Model 10.
It works great but is phyisically way too big. I understand the grip for the round butt is smaller.
Well, it's good for around the house.

SWMod102inchCTlasetR.gif
 
Bumping an ancient thread to the top to ask ~ 444, what do you think of the CT grips now that you've had 'em awhile?

pax
 
Funny you should ask.
I originally bought the Ruger Mk.II version of the laser grip to use on an AAC Phoenix, integrally suppressed .22 pistol built out of a Ruger Mk.II. When I posted this thread originally, I put the Ruger grip on a different Ruger Mk.II I owned but didn't do much shooting with it. I finally got the suppressed Mk.II within the last couple months and have shot it quite a bit.
However, after spending some time with it, my opinion is exactly the same as it was when I made these posts way back in May. The switch on the Ruger Mk.II grip is in the wrong place and is far too easily activated. Maybe it is just me, but I can't see any way you can hold the gun without having the laser activated. If the gun is in my hand (as opposed to in a holster or lying on a table), the laser is on. To me, this is unacceptable and within the last week, I took the laser grip off the Ruger and intend to sell them.

The set I have on the 1911 are IMO a very nice, practical addition to the gun. You have to be careful about unintentionally activating the laser, but it isn't a big deal. Training yourself to not press the switch is possible, unlike the one on the Ruger .22.
 
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