http://www.americancopmagazine.com/articles/laser/index.html
click on the link for the article with pics or read it below:
From American Cop Magazine
Lasers for Dumbnutz
John Connor
It's a very rare, way cool thing when the first time you use a new weapon system operationally, it's fun and funny. Even better when none of your troops get hurt. That's the way it was for me and laser sights.
Lasers were spanky-new then, and I had just spun-up a metro SWAT unit on 'em. That's when we got the call on a bungled-robbery hostage-taking incident, and we rolled with a bag-full of berry-blasters. On arrival, we learned this was a combination SWAT mission, training session and situation comedy.
These two dipsticks were in the midst of a late-night armed robbery of a 24-hour grocery store when the beat cop wandered by, glanced through the full-width glass windows, and determined that two hooded morons with shotguns weren't "valued customers." Good call. Then the fun began.
Panicked, the Dynamic Duo took about 20 customers and employees hostage, headed them to the rear of the store, then came back up front to announce, "Yeah, we got all the cards, baby, don't mess with us." Yeah. Meantime, the hostages all decided to take a group hike out the unlocked, unguarded freight door. When Tweedle-Dee came back to check and found all the birds had flown, he opted not to tell his partner the nest was empty. He slid on out into the alley, right into the arms of several patrol cops. By then, the Street Troops were comin' in like sharks on a wounded tuna.
This left Tweedle-Dum all by his lonely up front, sans hostages, partner, brains and clues. But he had lots of new friends: about two dozen patrol officers and an equal number of Tactical Trolls anxious to try out their new laser-thingies. Cool!
TD2 (Tweedle-Dum) hunkered up against a cashier's booth, loudly announced he was The Man In Charge, and demanded like, a million dollars, a helicopter to fly him to Cuba, champagne, new Nikes and the letter "Q" stricken from the alphabet - something like that, anyway. We replied he was in fact "The Duty Bullet-Catcher, SOL, festooned with interesting red splotz all over his head and torso, and maybe we could front him enough for a cup of coffee on his way to jail" - or the morgue. Something like that.
Hey, the TV news vans weren't on the scene yet.
He didn't notice those red splotz for a moment, but when he did, he freaked, backscrabbling on his butt and brushing at 'em wildly. In the process, he was moving into position to pick up several more red berries. I figured, the perimeter's secure, why not use all the lasers? The guys loved it. TD2 didn't. Especially the one that kept landing on his nose. After a brief explanation about "where the dots are, the bullets go," he selected the Coffee-and-Cuffs Option. We didn't even get to cream some canned corn for a "demo."
Following that debut, I got to train other police and military units with lasers, and even evaluate what was possibly their first use in combat. It became clear that under conditions allowing some reasonable control of the battlespace and placement of designated laser-marksmen, they produced truly significant psychological effects on criminals and poorly-trained but "industrialized and urbanized" troops. Since that was the extent of my exposure, those were my limited observations. Crooks with nowhere to run, and enemy troops with no survivable options tended to give up when "dotted." That in itself made lasers worth having. But there were problems.
Laser units were as big and clunky as soup cans, crawling with octopi-cords, sometimes heavier than the weapons they were mounted on - and fragile. If the anticipated action was fast, violent and close, the lasers were kept on the perimeter, or simply left behind. I developed the opinion that lasers were incredibly useful - in very, very limited situations, amounting to a fraction of engagements. And I believe I was right, at the time.
The ultimate criterion for employment of lasers was control. I placed and assigned lasers in multiples, generally in fixed positions, backed up by 'scoped or iron-sighted shooters. I used them primarily for psychological effect, not target acquisition. I put 'em in the same mental bag as flash-bangs, gas grenades and sedative-laced pizza. They didn't belong in free-for-alls. My troops had a fine record of hitting what they shot at, so why introduce more hardware into a winning equation?
Then, I moved deeper into tactical theory, training methodology and behavioral analysis - and the rapidly-evolving World of Lasers passed me by, stupidly ignored. Let me make this clear: When I thought of the title, "Lasers For Dummies," I was thinking of myself!
How Dumb Was I?
Pretty dumb - and smug.
I was a good weapons operator, and I'd fought for my life and won. Why change? Because my life did. Suddenly I found myself in the semi-civilian world, where the nature of armed engagements was very, very different, and where modern lasers were proving their worth every day, in the hands of citizens and street cops alike. This is way different from poppin' jungle ambushes and chasing bandits down donkey-cart alleys in Kabonga-Bongo!
I was behind the curve, and even worse, I had neglected my own first three rules of gunfighting: 1. Stack the deck! 2. Load the dice! 3.
CHEAT!
First, I did some homework. Reviewing dozens of police and armed-citizen shootings, I confirmed for myself the vast majority share these characteristics: They're fast, close, moving and dark. They happen in seconds. Many occur at arm's length or closer; 10 yards is a long shot. Both or all parties are in motion. Low light is a norm. They erupt in parking structures and lots, around ATMs and convenience stores, sometimes in your own home or yard. The presence of cars, horizontal and vertical obstacles, and other people is common.
Then I went through reams of reports from cops, agencies and citizens. The general consensus was that lasers boosted gunfighting hits from the 20-percent range to around 90-percent, and in many cases where belligerents were not impressed with the presence of a gun, they were deeply impressed by a laser-berry leaping out of one. I won't quote them here, and didn't rely on them, because (a) I can't independently verify all of them, (b) negative reports were unavailable or nonexistent, and (c) I had to see for myself. I did. Where clunky, fragile lasers were once the wrong tool, tiny, durable lasers now rule.
Going Back To School
Other outfits make laser sights, but Crimson Trace and LaserMax are the twin giant gorillas of LaserWorld. I presented myself to them, said, "My name's Connor, and I'm a cretin," opened my head-valve, and received. Bunches. Tactical and technical, theoretical and practical. You can get a lot of the same on the Web or in print, but I like my humble pie served upclose and personal. Clued, kitted and retro-fitted, I hit the range.
The bottom line is this: Across the board, in diminished light, low-light, and near-total darkness, on stationary and moving targets, in the open or shooting from cover, two-handed or one, strong or weak hand, my hits went up significantly and my elapsed times fell, with one exception. Shooting with one hand, weak-hand, backing rapidly away from a silhouette target at five yards in low light, my six-shot time increased from an average of 2.7 seconds to a hair over four seconds. My hits, however, increased from an average of two out of six in the torso to six out of six in the 9 and 10-zones. I can live with that. I'll work on the speed.
Gains were least at ranges of seven to 10 yards in low light - but they were still gains. Improvements were most striking in three situations: Movement: Myself, the target(s), or both. Distance and darkness: When light was almost nil and targets were 15 yards and further, gains were gargantuan. Close-hold: At grappling distance, with the weapon tucked in close to the body to deny opponents access, both on single targets and multiples at staggered ranges. That humble pie? I ate it all, licked the pan and I ain't ashamed - because I'm a better shooter for it.
Beg, borrow, or rent a laser-sighted handgun and try these easy convincers, shooting without laser first, then with laser on: At 25 yards in very low light with a two-hand hold, go for rapid doubles on two targets several yards apart, coming back to the first target for a finisher. Use the best tritium night-sights if you care to. Then, try shooting one-hand, strong-hand in low light, backing rapidly away from your target starting at seven yards, while clutching a stuffed seabag or boxing heavy-bag with your left, to simulate dragging a panic-stricken or wounded person. Finally, engage a moving target, any speed, with multiple shots in low light. Now let's blast some bunkum about lasers.
Mangling Myths
The red light from your laser makes you an easier target. For me, this was a huge personal obstacle. I used to shoot people who gave me any kind of downrange signature. But generally, I didn't know where they were until they gave themselves away. In actual tests in varying levels of darkness, I had to conclude the presence of that red light had little or no effect on acquisition of target. If you see 'em - or they see you - the laser is virtually a non-issue.
I've had people point to the red beam in illustrations and say it would be easy to track it to its source. That red beam is drawn in those photos, folks. Under most circumstances, the beam is invisible; only the source and target surface are lit. Smoke, fog, and dust can cause a trace, but note, the laser punches through very well.
You will neglect your iron sights and become dependent on the laser and a blithering idiot. I simply didn't find that to be the case. Skills well instilled remain instilled - the laser simply added to target acquisition, and target retention during movement. Once on-target, it's natural to focus forward on the laser-dotted target, and that's perfectly fine - in fact, you have a net gain. Typically, you wind up changing the angle of your head about one-half inch, focusing over your sights rather than through them.
Switching a laser sight "on" costs valuable time. Nope. For example, the LaserMax unit on a Glock is switched "on" by tapping the slide-lock sideways, from left or right side. It falls naturally under the trigger finger as your "index" is coming out of a holster. The Crimson Trace grips on a 1911 go "on" with a pressure-switch as you grasp the piece - given the master switch is on, which it should be whenever the handgun is not in storage. Note - this does not cause battery drain.
They're no good in bright daylight! And what if the batteries go dead? Well, duh ... Actually, the laser does work in daylight; it's just not as distinct. The batteries are long-life, running about four hours "constant-on" time and a year-plus life. And, like everything else about your weapon systems, they should be checked regularly. If batts go dead when you're in a typical on-target position, drop your head a half-inch. Done deal. Laser sights are not a replacement for iron sights, they're a complement.
Straight Scoop
The psychological advantage of a laser is incontestable. I've seen it, and documentation is thick. Many crooks get mouthy again - and dangerous - after they've been put on the ground. Place a laser-dot next to their noggins where peripheral vision picks it up, and they stay convinced.
You can significantly reduce your exposure from behind cover, horizontal or vertical, by using a laser versus iron sights. Less is better, and more survivable.
Ever tried to look around one side of cover and shoot accurately from the other side? It can only be done with a laser.
When you're wounded, panicked, shell-shocked, flattened, a laser sight can save your life. Simple as that. If you're a member of the Wild (Bifocal) Bunch, they're de rigueur.
Lasers may not belong on all your handguns. But they belong on every one you pack in public or on duty, and the one in your hand when you check what went bump in the night - absolutely.
So ... Which One?
I know you're going to ask, so I'll put it up front: Which is better, LaserMax or Crimson Trace? It's not a valid question. It's not even "apples and oranges." It's more like Royal Gala versus Macintosh apples. Both produce high-quality, durable units. Both have extremely low rates of return and warranty claims, and indications are, most of those are due to dead batteries, switches in the "off" position, and user tampering. Both have extraordinarily loyal customers.
I've talked to users who prefer LaserMax units because they're all concealed neatly inside the guide-rod tube. Others prefer Crimson Trace grips because nothing "foreign" goes inside the works of the pistol. Crimson Trace fans like the fact the laser only comes "on" when the pressure switch is depressed, and you can stage it on and off by slightly changing grip pressure. LaserMax loyalists appreciate the beam staying on once the switch is tapped, then not having to worry about possible changes in grip pressure.
LaserMax units put out a rapidly-pulsating beam, and their users love it. They say the pulsing dot is more easily distinguishable, and also helps conserve battery life. Others find a pulsing beam distracting, and prefer Crimson Trace's steady beam.
I slapped a set of Crimson Trace grips on a 1911, and popped a LaserMax unit into a Glock 17 in virtually the same time. I'm not telling you how long, because my son beat my time, and your average Hamadryas baboon could, too. I'm mechanically challenged. It was under ten minutes, okay? I read directions slowly.
Both companies have thousands of their units deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they're getting high marks from troops on the line. They also have tens of thousands of units on-line with law enforcement agencies, both domestic and foreign. So, you think I'm tryin' to wiggle out of the question?
Nope. I don't wiggle much, and when I do, it hurts. But ain't it tough sometimes, when you're faced with a choice between two highly-rated items - that accomplish the same thing? And isn't that a pretty good thing for us shooters?
Besides, I've gotta save some material for this follow-up article I'm doing. It's going to be something like, "Lasers for ADVANCED Dummies." I think I've earned that "advanced" title.
click on the link for the article with pics or read it below:
From American Cop Magazine
Lasers for Dumbnutz
John Connor
It's a very rare, way cool thing when the first time you use a new weapon system operationally, it's fun and funny. Even better when none of your troops get hurt. That's the way it was for me and laser sights.
Lasers were spanky-new then, and I had just spun-up a metro SWAT unit on 'em. That's when we got the call on a bungled-robbery hostage-taking incident, and we rolled with a bag-full of berry-blasters. On arrival, we learned this was a combination SWAT mission, training session and situation comedy.
These two dipsticks were in the midst of a late-night armed robbery of a 24-hour grocery store when the beat cop wandered by, glanced through the full-width glass windows, and determined that two hooded morons with shotguns weren't "valued customers." Good call. Then the fun began.
Panicked, the Dynamic Duo took about 20 customers and employees hostage, headed them to the rear of the store, then came back up front to announce, "Yeah, we got all the cards, baby, don't mess with us." Yeah. Meantime, the hostages all decided to take a group hike out the unlocked, unguarded freight door. When Tweedle-Dee came back to check and found all the birds had flown, he opted not to tell his partner the nest was empty. He slid on out into the alley, right into the arms of several patrol cops. By then, the Street Troops were comin' in like sharks on a wounded tuna.
This left Tweedle-Dum all by his lonely up front, sans hostages, partner, brains and clues. But he had lots of new friends: about two dozen patrol officers and an equal number of Tactical Trolls anxious to try out their new laser-thingies. Cool!
TD2 (Tweedle-Dum) hunkered up against a cashier's booth, loudly announced he was The Man In Charge, and demanded like, a million dollars, a helicopter to fly him to Cuba, champagne, new Nikes and the letter "Q" stricken from the alphabet - something like that, anyway. We replied he was in fact "The Duty Bullet-Catcher, SOL, festooned with interesting red splotz all over his head and torso, and maybe we could front him enough for a cup of coffee on his way to jail" - or the morgue. Something like that.
Hey, the TV news vans weren't on the scene yet.
He didn't notice those red splotz for a moment, but when he did, he freaked, backscrabbling on his butt and brushing at 'em wildly. In the process, he was moving into position to pick up several more red berries. I figured, the perimeter's secure, why not use all the lasers? The guys loved it. TD2 didn't. Especially the one that kept landing on his nose. After a brief explanation about "where the dots are, the bullets go," he selected the Coffee-and-Cuffs Option. We didn't even get to cream some canned corn for a "demo."
Following that debut, I got to train other police and military units with lasers, and even evaluate what was possibly their first use in combat. It became clear that under conditions allowing some reasonable control of the battlespace and placement of designated laser-marksmen, they produced truly significant psychological effects on criminals and poorly-trained but "industrialized and urbanized" troops. Since that was the extent of my exposure, those were my limited observations. Crooks with nowhere to run, and enemy troops with no survivable options tended to give up when "dotted." That in itself made lasers worth having. But there were problems.
Laser units were as big and clunky as soup cans, crawling with octopi-cords, sometimes heavier than the weapons they were mounted on - and fragile. If the anticipated action was fast, violent and close, the lasers were kept on the perimeter, or simply left behind. I developed the opinion that lasers were incredibly useful - in very, very limited situations, amounting to a fraction of engagements. And I believe I was right, at the time.
The ultimate criterion for employment of lasers was control. I placed and assigned lasers in multiples, generally in fixed positions, backed up by 'scoped or iron-sighted shooters. I used them primarily for psychological effect, not target acquisition. I put 'em in the same mental bag as flash-bangs, gas grenades and sedative-laced pizza. They didn't belong in free-for-alls. My troops had a fine record of hitting what they shot at, so why introduce more hardware into a winning equation?
Then, I moved deeper into tactical theory, training methodology and behavioral analysis - and the rapidly-evolving World of Lasers passed me by, stupidly ignored. Let me make this clear: When I thought of the title, "Lasers For Dummies," I was thinking of myself!
How Dumb Was I?
Pretty dumb - and smug.
I was a good weapons operator, and I'd fought for my life and won. Why change? Because my life did. Suddenly I found myself in the semi-civilian world, where the nature of armed engagements was very, very different, and where modern lasers were proving their worth every day, in the hands of citizens and street cops alike. This is way different from poppin' jungle ambushes and chasing bandits down donkey-cart alleys in Kabonga-Bongo!
I was behind the curve, and even worse, I had neglected my own first three rules of gunfighting: 1. Stack the deck! 2. Load the dice! 3.
CHEAT!
First, I did some homework. Reviewing dozens of police and armed-citizen shootings, I confirmed for myself the vast majority share these characteristics: They're fast, close, moving and dark. They happen in seconds. Many occur at arm's length or closer; 10 yards is a long shot. Both or all parties are in motion. Low light is a norm. They erupt in parking structures and lots, around ATMs and convenience stores, sometimes in your own home or yard. The presence of cars, horizontal and vertical obstacles, and other people is common.
Then I went through reams of reports from cops, agencies and citizens. The general consensus was that lasers boosted gunfighting hits from the 20-percent range to around 90-percent, and in many cases where belligerents were not impressed with the presence of a gun, they were deeply impressed by a laser-berry leaping out of one. I won't quote them here, and didn't rely on them, because (a) I can't independently verify all of them, (b) negative reports were unavailable or nonexistent, and (c) I had to see for myself. I did. Where clunky, fragile lasers were once the wrong tool, tiny, durable lasers now rule.
Going Back To School
Other outfits make laser sights, but Crimson Trace and LaserMax are the twin giant gorillas of LaserWorld. I presented myself to them, said, "My name's Connor, and I'm a cretin," opened my head-valve, and received. Bunches. Tactical and technical, theoretical and practical. You can get a lot of the same on the Web or in print, but I like my humble pie served upclose and personal. Clued, kitted and retro-fitted, I hit the range.
The bottom line is this: Across the board, in diminished light, low-light, and near-total darkness, on stationary and moving targets, in the open or shooting from cover, two-handed or one, strong or weak hand, my hits went up significantly and my elapsed times fell, with one exception. Shooting with one hand, weak-hand, backing rapidly away from a silhouette target at five yards in low light, my six-shot time increased from an average of 2.7 seconds to a hair over four seconds. My hits, however, increased from an average of two out of six in the torso to six out of six in the 9 and 10-zones. I can live with that. I'll work on the speed.
Gains were least at ranges of seven to 10 yards in low light - but they were still gains. Improvements were most striking in three situations: Movement: Myself, the target(s), or both. Distance and darkness: When light was almost nil and targets were 15 yards and further, gains were gargantuan. Close-hold: At grappling distance, with the weapon tucked in close to the body to deny opponents access, both on single targets and multiples at staggered ranges. That humble pie? I ate it all, licked the pan and I ain't ashamed - because I'm a better shooter for it.
Beg, borrow, or rent a laser-sighted handgun and try these easy convincers, shooting without laser first, then with laser on: At 25 yards in very low light with a two-hand hold, go for rapid doubles on two targets several yards apart, coming back to the first target for a finisher. Use the best tritium night-sights if you care to. Then, try shooting one-hand, strong-hand in low light, backing rapidly away from your target starting at seven yards, while clutching a stuffed seabag or boxing heavy-bag with your left, to simulate dragging a panic-stricken or wounded person. Finally, engage a moving target, any speed, with multiple shots in low light. Now let's blast some bunkum about lasers.
Mangling Myths
The red light from your laser makes you an easier target. For me, this was a huge personal obstacle. I used to shoot people who gave me any kind of downrange signature. But generally, I didn't know where they were until they gave themselves away. In actual tests in varying levels of darkness, I had to conclude the presence of that red light had little or no effect on acquisition of target. If you see 'em - or they see you - the laser is virtually a non-issue.
I've had people point to the red beam in illustrations and say it would be easy to track it to its source. That red beam is drawn in those photos, folks. Under most circumstances, the beam is invisible; only the source and target surface are lit. Smoke, fog, and dust can cause a trace, but note, the laser punches through very well.
You will neglect your iron sights and become dependent on the laser and a blithering idiot. I simply didn't find that to be the case. Skills well instilled remain instilled - the laser simply added to target acquisition, and target retention during movement. Once on-target, it's natural to focus forward on the laser-dotted target, and that's perfectly fine - in fact, you have a net gain. Typically, you wind up changing the angle of your head about one-half inch, focusing over your sights rather than through them.
Switching a laser sight "on" costs valuable time. Nope. For example, the LaserMax unit on a Glock is switched "on" by tapping the slide-lock sideways, from left or right side. It falls naturally under the trigger finger as your "index" is coming out of a holster. The Crimson Trace grips on a 1911 go "on" with a pressure-switch as you grasp the piece - given the master switch is on, which it should be whenever the handgun is not in storage. Note - this does not cause battery drain.
They're no good in bright daylight! And what if the batteries go dead? Well, duh ... Actually, the laser does work in daylight; it's just not as distinct. The batteries are long-life, running about four hours "constant-on" time and a year-plus life. And, like everything else about your weapon systems, they should be checked regularly. If batts go dead when you're in a typical on-target position, drop your head a half-inch. Done deal. Laser sights are not a replacement for iron sights, they're a complement.
Straight Scoop
The psychological advantage of a laser is incontestable. I've seen it, and documentation is thick. Many crooks get mouthy again - and dangerous - after they've been put on the ground. Place a laser-dot next to their noggins where peripheral vision picks it up, and they stay convinced.
You can significantly reduce your exposure from behind cover, horizontal or vertical, by using a laser versus iron sights. Less is better, and more survivable.
Ever tried to look around one side of cover and shoot accurately from the other side? It can only be done with a laser.
When you're wounded, panicked, shell-shocked, flattened, a laser sight can save your life. Simple as that. If you're a member of the Wild (Bifocal) Bunch, they're de rigueur.
Lasers may not belong on all your handguns. But they belong on every one you pack in public or on duty, and the one in your hand when you check what went bump in the night - absolutely.
So ... Which One?
I know you're going to ask, so I'll put it up front: Which is better, LaserMax or Crimson Trace? It's not a valid question. It's not even "apples and oranges." It's more like Royal Gala versus Macintosh apples. Both produce high-quality, durable units. Both have extremely low rates of return and warranty claims, and indications are, most of those are due to dead batteries, switches in the "off" position, and user tampering. Both have extraordinarily loyal customers.
I've talked to users who prefer LaserMax units because they're all concealed neatly inside the guide-rod tube. Others prefer Crimson Trace grips because nothing "foreign" goes inside the works of the pistol. Crimson Trace fans like the fact the laser only comes "on" when the pressure switch is depressed, and you can stage it on and off by slightly changing grip pressure. LaserMax loyalists appreciate the beam staying on once the switch is tapped, then not having to worry about possible changes in grip pressure.
LaserMax units put out a rapidly-pulsating beam, and their users love it. They say the pulsing dot is more easily distinguishable, and also helps conserve battery life. Others find a pulsing beam distracting, and prefer Crimson Trace's steady beam.
I slapped a set of Crimson Trace grips on a 1911, and popped a LaserMax unit into a Glock 17 in virtually the same time. I'm not telling you how long, because my son beat my time, and your average Hamadryas baboon could, too. I'm mechanically challenged. It was under ten minutes, okay? I read directions slowly.
Both companies have thousands of their units deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, and they're getting high marks from troops on the line. They also have tens of thousands of units on-line with law enforcement agencies, both domestic and foreign. So, you think I'm tryin' to wiggle out of the question?
Nope. I don't wiggle much, and when I do, it hurts. But ain't it tough sometimes, when you're faced with a choice between two highly-rated items - that accomplish the same thing? And isn't that a pretty good thing for us shooters?
Besides, I've gotta save some material for this follow-up article I'm doing. It's going to be something like, "Lasers for ADVANCED Dummies." I think I've earned that "advanced" title.
