There is a general problem
What everyone has said so far is quite true. I have the Crimson Trace on one of my 1911's and want to get another. In low light conditions, they can't be beat. They are also as accurate as you want to sight them in. I sight mine in for POA/POI at 25 yards and this is still pretty close at 50 yards. The horizontal offset is about 1/2 inch. You probably can't hold that close and the offset does not change significantly with distance. (Do the math. If you are dead on at 25 yards your POI will be 1/2" right at 50 yards. Who cares?) At less than 25 yards, the offset is so close to POI that it simply doesn't matter.
Now, the problem I mentioned..... In bright sunlight, the laser beam is virtually invisible beyond about 10 yards. Of course, under those conditions, your iron sights work just fine anyway. The laser comes into its own at short ranges and under cloudy to darker conditions. You don't want to use the laser for precise target shooting ourdoors in bright sunlight but, under virtually any other light conditions, they are simply fabulous. Under most envisioned self-defense situations, I can't praise them enough.
I like the CT device as it is unobtrusive, it makes no difference in the holster, it's there when needed, it turns on under conditions when you are ready to fire, and allows rapid and accurate aiming under conditions where iron signts may not be easily visible or even if you are in an awkward position. If it's so bright that the laser dot is not readily visible or for some reason fails (i.e. battery dies), the iron sights are still there and you haven't lost anything.
What everyone has said so far is quite true. I have the Crimson Trace on one of my 1911's and want to get another. In low light conditions, they can't be beat. They are also as accurate as you want to sight them in. I sight mine in for POA/POI at 25 yards and this is still pretty close at 50 yards. The horizontal offset is about 1/2 inch. You probably can't hold that close and the offset does not change significantly with distance. (Do the math. If you are dead on at 25 yards your POI will be 1/2" right at 50 yards. Who cares?) At less than 25 yards, the offset is so close to POI that it simply doesn't matter.
Now, the problem I mentioned..... In bright sunlight, the laser beam is virtually invisible beyond about 10 yards. Of course, under those conditions, your iron sights work just fine anyway. The laser comes into its own at short ranges and under cloudy to darker conditions. You don't want to use the laser for precise target shooting ourdoors in bright sunlight but, under virtually any other light conditions, they are simply fabulous. Under most envisioned self-defense situations, I can't praise them enough.
I like the CT device as it is unobtrusive, it makes no difference in the holster, it's there when needed, it turns on under conditions when you are ready to fire, and allows rapid and accurate aiming under conditions where iron signts may not be easily visible or even if you are in an awkward position. If it's so bright that the laser dot is not readily visible or for some reason fails (i.e. battery dies), the iron sights are still there and you haven't lost anything.