Crimson Trace Range Adjustment?

[RobertFBurnett]

Hello, for any of you familiar with laser sights please help me out on this. I just got some CTGrips for my 226, and shot with them and like them, but one question about the range setting.

This is a primarily HD gun as I don't carry, they are factory set for 50' (about 16.7 yards) but the longest straight shot in my house is about 24' (8 yards). Is there some magic optimum setting/reason to that 50' that I just don't know about? Or do I set it to zero @ 7 yards and it will be better for my needs?

Thank you all,

RFB

 

[DPris]

Zero it at whatever distance you plan to use it.
Denis

 

[bowl443]

I've got mine zero'd in at about 15 yards, that's all I really need it for. If I want to go to the range and shoot farther, then I'll just use the sights. The CT isn't really made for range fun, but rather quick target aquisition in tough situations.

 

[mavracer]

because the laser is mounted below and to the right of the bore the bullet will only intersect the laser once during flight.the closer the zero the further off it will be farther away. your 50' zero will only be an inch off at 24' but a 24' zero will be ~4" off at 50. ck the crimson trace web sight there is a section loaded with info and tactics

 

[Team CTC-Jeff]

Hello, here is a crude mock-up I put together some time ago demonstrating the parallax of the laser to the bore line. Basically at the factory setting of 50ft you will be no more than 1 inch off from point blank to 100 feet, that is usually a lot more accurate than most shooters so the parallax of the laser to the bore line is really a non issue.

 

[glockman19]

My CTC 405's on my j-frame aare zeroed in at 15 yards, 45 feet.

 

[jfh]

ditto glockman.

IMO, once you're sighted in, forget about it and practice Quad Fives.

But--do remove the grips when cleaning, or at least plug the laser aperture with (for example) masking tape. If you get any cleaning solution on the lens, it's a PITA to get clean again--seems to bake on.

Jim H.

 

[jaydubya]

I have three pistols (among them two revolving pistols) with Crimson Trace grips. They are all sighted in for SD/HD, which means I put the red dot on top of the front sight. If HD/SD is your object, forget about external ballistics and do what I did.
Cordially, Jack

 

[bhk]

Previous poster: "They are all sighted in for SD/HD, which means I put the red dot on top of the front sight. If HD/SD is your object, forget about external ballistics and do what I did."

Fine and good, but that would require very different laser adjustments at different ranges. If you put that little dot on top of your sights at 7 yards, it won't be any where near the top of your front sight at 20 yards. Try it, you'll see. The bullet point of impact will be equally different.

I tend to sight mine in further than most (20 to 25 yards), knowing that by doing so my 'red dot' and the bullet impact will never be more than an inch or so off from 5 yards to 40 or so yards. Don't figure I would ever need to make a self defense shot at that range, but I live on rural acerage and a shot an vermin is always likely.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Far too much is made of the offset of the laser and barrel.

Just sight it in for the maximum distance that you might use the gun and the bullet strike will be within an inch or two of the laser dot at any distance you are likely to need it.

Personally, I'm probably more likely to make a 35-40+ yard HD shot than a 7 yard shot, so I sight my lasers in at 25 yards.
Sighted at 25 yards the bullets will hit well into COM from arms length out to 40+ yards.

By the time I shot the 40 yard target it was so dark the target was just a Gray blur and the Crimson Trace still made it easy to get all the shots well within COM.

[/IMG]

 

[RobertFBurnett]

^ Nice groups M2! With or without lasers I don't know if I'm making those shots.

Thanks for the info guys.

RFB

 

[M2 Carbine]

If you haven't got the video "Shots in the Dark" from Crimson Trace, give them a call and ask for a free catalog and the free video.
IMO it's a must see for laser users.

 

[glockman19]

M2,

Thanks.

 

[RobertFBurnett]

If you haven't got the video "Shots in the Dark" from Crimson Trace, give them a call and ask for a free catalog and the free video.
IMO it's a must see for laser users.

Its already in the mail with my batteries that weren't in the box, CT shipped em right out with a quick phone call.

RFB

 

[M2 Carbine]

As you can probably tell from the above posts I'm a big CT fan.
I recently bought the Kimber Ultra Covert, that comes equipped with a CT laser.
So far I've only shot a few hundred rounds through it but the gun and laser are a good combination.

I'm generally a little faster with a laser than with iron sights. I need more practice.

I like using a timer.

 

[Robert Hairless]

I spent a lot of time fussing with the zero on the first Crimson Trace laser grips we got years ago, then concluded that I wasted a lot of time and ammunition doing it.

Since then I leave the grips zeroed to whatever the factory sets. They say 50 yards and I believe them because it doesn't make any difference to me.

I don't use the laser as a substitute for the sights on the gun and I don't want it to become a crutch. I use the laser as a valuable training aid and as a possible last ditch way of making hits if I'm unable to see the sights or use the shape of my handgun as an aiming tool.

For the rest, Team CTC-Jeff has nailed it solidly. From here to there the factory setting is more than good enough for me. Part of the reason for my decision not to fiddle with the factory setting was my discovery of what Jeff posted.

 

[mavracer]

Nice groups M2! With or without lasers I don't know if I'm making those shots.

Somthing I haven't seen mentioned in this thread yet,with your CT grips and a snap cap(optional on some guns but what the heck is $10 I spend more than that on other way stupid crap)
you can practice trigger controll at home.place the dot on an electrical outlet or light switch and practice pulling trigger without dot moving.
do this 10-15 min. a nite for a couple weaks and go to the range you'll be amazed what will happen to your groups.