Do you guys use lasers?

[Droid noob]

Just picked up CT laser grips for the lcr. I shoot very accurate with the stock sights but wanted to try these for quicker acquisition. It seems very intuitive with the activation in the grip.

I have night sights on my Glocks and don't plan on putting lasers on these. I feel as if I don't want to rely on the laser. It's just more technology that may go bad.

What's your thoughts on lasers? How has it affected your training? Once they're on, do you ever train with just your sights?

I don't carry the lcr much but thought it would be a good route to go for the wife if I'm not home.

 

[Bovice]

If I had one of those itty bitty guns with worthless sights, I'd put CT grips on. For full-size, mid-size, or subcompacts, I would just use their sights.

 

[Sam1911]

There are extremely limited circumstances under which acquiring a laser dot is FASTER than proper and competent use of a handgun's iron sights.
That's true for the first shot, and doubly or triply true for splits/follow-up shots.

We've covered this topic quite heavily here at THR:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=671943
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=695461
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=595264
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=589593

 

[Droid noob]

There are extremely limited circumstances under which acquiring a laser dot is FASTER than proper and competent use of a handgun's iron sights.
That's true for the first shot, and doubly or triply true for splits/follow-up shots.

We've covered this topic quite heavily here at THR:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=671943
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=695461
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=595264
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=589593

Thanks. I will hit those links now.

 

[Steve CT]

I put a Laser Lyte on my LCP, mainly because it adds virtually nothing to the weight, bulk, etc.

And it just might give me an edge at some point in time.

 

[Dlowe167]

I agree steve! I just recently added to my CZ P-06. U should rely on the laser but,back up plans are a good idea. Co-witnessing could help. But i do love my nite sights. Plus,come on lasers are cool!

 

[Risky]

I'll start using lasers when they vaporize... or at least stun.

 

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I use mine in nite / flashlight quals, my scores jumped from 260's to 280's. It gives another option besides nite sights. It gives my old eyes a new focus point.

 

[Fleetman]

I have a CT-fitted LCP and CT-Kimber UCII.....my wife occasionally uses a Tomcat with CT.

 

[AlbertH]

When I bought my Sig P238, it was packaged with a Sig laser, so I have it on that handgun. I had a leather holster custom made for it. This is my normal carry and I will probably be getting another similar holster so I can take the laser off.



My wife has a S&W Bodyguard 380 that comes standard with a laser but personally I feel the laser on it is a disadvantage because of the long trigger pull. It works great for practice though, put a dummy load in the pistol and since it does have re-strike capabilities you can tell whether your trigger pull causes your aim to change.

Would I buy another laser, NO, because at our age we shy away from darkly lit questionable areas at night and once you learn to point and shoot, night sights are plenty good.

I think lasers a more of a fad and a fashion statement than anything. It might make a BG think twice if they see that red dot in the middle of their chest. Who knows?

 

[Droid noob]

After reading the provided links, it seems the majority feel they are counter productive. The only exception being poor eyesight.

 

[Takem406]

I love the lasergaurd on my 27! I'm very good with iorn sights but I want believe a laser is a good self defense tool! Especially when shooting from the hip.

In God and Glock we Trust

 

[PabloJ]

Just picked up CT laser grips for the lcr. I shoot very accurate with the stock sights but wanted to try these for quicker acquisition. It seems very intuitive with the activation in the grip.

I have night sights on my Glocks and don't plan on putting lasers on these. I feel as if I don't want to rely on the laser. It's just more technology that may go bad.

What's your thoughts on lasers? How has it affected your training? Once they're on, do you ever train with just your sights?

I don't carry the lcr much but thought it would be a good route to go for the wife if I'm not home.

I looked at Crimson grips for my J-frame since the gun does not really have rear sight and stainless front blade isn't great either. The price made me so I went with white, orange and black fishing lure paint instead.

 

[gunsablazin]

I do not have a laser on any of my guns, the majority of self defense shootings are at spitting range, and I don't feel I need one to hit a man size target at that distance. It is my opinion that the money spent on a laser would be better spent on ammo to practice with, but I am a dyed in the wool luddite who still thinks revolvers are fine too.

 

[mljdeckard]

I have changed my mind a little bit over the years. I used to think that they are a worthless toy with batteries that will fail when you need them and that will lull rookies into thinking that they don't need to practice anymore. I now think that they have a role, as long as you don't start to believe they are a substitute for non-electronic skills and training. They are particularly handy for showing a new shooter where they are making trigger mistakes.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I reserve mine for low light activities. My bedside gun (FNP-45) has one on it for that reason. If I'll be out at night I typically carry my SP101 with CT grips on it. They do come in very handy for occasions where you may not be able to see your sights. I keep a flashlight next to my bedside gun, but do not carry one with me when out.

However, I check my batteries frequently, and check that the laser is alligned with the sights frequently. It should not be depended on solely.

I find it beneficial as a trigger squeeze training tool. It also helps train with point shooting training. Practice with the laser, then practice without and make sure you are pointing properly.

When I'm at the range with a gun equiped with a laser, I hardly practice with it. It is so simple, I see little point. I check to see it is hitting at point of aim and continue with iron sights. Iron sights are primary, laser should be secondary.

All in all, it is a good training option for someone who can't afford time and money to put in as much range time as they whould like, but it will never replace live fire iron sights training. Only supplimental

 

[Jitterbug]

Best thing since sliced bread in my opinion, I've had them for a couple of years now. Me and the wife have them on our daily carry Kahr PM9's with night sights. A S&W 442 and a S&W M&P 9c.

I'm a long time shooter the wife about 4 years now, she is trained to use the irons first and foremost. The laser works extremely well in all but bright sun light. They are very fast when aquiring a target in the right lighting condition.

I'd like to have it on two woods carry guns a 1911 Commander in 10mm and a 4" 629, the Commander has Trijicon's on it now, but I'd really like to have the CT's on it, the only thing holding me back is lack of cash flow.

 

[jmr40]

I used to think they were worthless, until I bought a used gun with CT grips on the gun. My plan was to replace the CT grips with new grips and sell them. That was before I actually tried them.

I wouldn't depend entirely on them, but they are one more tool in the toolbox. They aren't cheap, but under the right circumstances they are very helpful.

One thing I've noticed about some responses is that a lot of guys here are very involved in playing games at the range. The requirements needed to play games successfully and what keeps you alive in real life are often far removed from each other.

 

[Sam1911]

One thing I've noticed about some responses is that a lot of guys here are very involved in playing games at the range. The requirements needed to play games successfully and what keeps you alive in real life are often far removed from each other.

Another side to that argument is that a lot of guys are very involved in shooting small groups at static targets at the range with unlimited time. That is also pretty far removed from what might keep you alive in a gunfight.

Adding moving targets, multiple targets, and the most important aspect, a SHOT TIMER, helps to separate what really is required to make the fastest hits on realistic threats under real-world pressures and conditions from all the various concepts which might sound like good ideas.

 

[w9trb]

I shot a fellow's Glock that had a laser in the grip. Once sighted in, it was no longer necessary to raise the pistol to hit the target. Just get the laser on target and squeeze. I don't see how that could be anything but helpful, if for instance you had been knocked down to the ground and were fighting for your life. If the laser is on your opponent, just get the trigger pulled, is all you have to do.

 

[Sam1911]

Not to be a knee-jerk contrarian, but if you're on the ground fighting for your life with a pistol, you don't need any sights at all to make hits on your adversary, and you cannot possibly find, or even have the chance to see, a laser dot on them to make sure you've lined up your sight.

A contact distance gun fight looks something like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkTihgriAqQ

Or this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5iU3TJXzzM

In no situation like that does the defender have the time or the geometry -- or the NEED -- to acquire any sort of sight index on the attacker.

Knocked to the ground, and unable to / blocked from lining the pistol up to use your sights, yet with the adversary far enough away to actually get any sort of sight picture or laser dot on him seems to be so far-fetched a situation as to preclude putting much money or effort into preparing for it.

 

[Teachu2]

My wife bought me a CT 1911 setup a couple of years back. Throws a nice bright red dot 35 yards from my back door to my detached shop at night. I'd sure hate to have that red dot on MY chest - might make me very compliant, very quickly.

I do, however, prefer a decent set of night sights. If there is any dust or even humidity in the air, that red dot becomes a red line, and leads right back to the gun.

 

[Highland Ranger]

Seems like the advantage of having the laser as a deterrent and the ability to shoot without raising the gun are advantages. You could always not use it right?

I have one on a full size Beretta 92 (guide rod replacement) as a toy and in a Model 60 (not a toy.)

 

[Sam1911]

Of course you can always not use it! So long as it doesn't add weight/bulk to the gun, it's no detriment. But that's an expensive thing to not use. And if you've got it, wouldn't you want to train with it? Which would then divert from other, more important training functions. I see occasional laser-sight users playing "follow the bouncing ball" at the range and have been universally struck by the idea that what they really needed was good training in pistol work, not a gadget which allows them to use very poor form and ignore some of the most important parts of good pistol shooting.

It is kind of distressing to watch a gentleman or lady peering OVER the top of the gun to see where that bouncing ball is on their target, instead of executing a good draw and press-out, then front sight, press, front sight press, etc. Ignoring the skills that would get them fast hits under all conditions and which even could make the laser irrelevant, simply because they think the laser makes all that other stuff unnecessary. (Or they have no idea how to fight with a pistol to begin with.)

Of course, you don't HAVE to practice bad habits just because you have a laser sight...but it seems to help!

 

[allaroundhunter]

Just picked up CT laser grips for the lcr. I shoot very accurate with the stock sights but wanted to try these for quicker acquisition. It seems very intuitive with the activation in the grip.

I have night sights on my Glocks and don't plan on putting lasers on these. I feel as if I don't want to rely on the laser. It's just more technology that may go bad.

What's your thoughts on lasers? How has it affected your training? Once they're on, do you ever train with just your sights?

I don't carry the lcr much but thought it would be a good route to go for the wife if I'm not home.

I have one on my Glock 19. No, I don't "rely" on my laser, but I like having it there if I need it. I (and most everyone else) am more accurate with my sights than with the laser. If you don't rely on it and use it as a crutch, then if it fails you can still do okay. The only times that I train using mine is when I am firing from a position that it is difficult to use or see my sights.

Night sights are great, but they and the laser are not mutually exclusive options. There are times when you won't be able to use your sights but a laser would be effective, and there are times when you can use your sights and the laser won't be effective. Just because you have one, doesn't mean that there isn't a place for the other.

Now that my laser is sighted in do I still train with my sights? More than ever. A laser does not make everyone and instant marksman, and it doesn't keep skills from degrading.

They are nice as a system to help make an accurate shot from a less than ideal position. They can be seen as a deterrent by an aggressor. They are not there to make you feel like you don't need to practice, and they are not a crutch to lean on.

My final thoughts on lasers: I would rather have one and not need it than need it and not have it. And you should let the laser be a part of your toolbox, but don't let your toolbox revolve around the laser... Mindset, skillset, toolset (in that order). The laser should never make you lapse in your mindset or skillset.