Please tell me about Crimson Trace Grips. Going on M&P9c

[Mags]

Please tell me about Crimsom Trace laser grips.

The gun I am thinking about installing them on is my daily CC gun the M&P9c. I have looked at the grips for my gun and they will be rear activated and replace the whole grip backstrap on the M&P, like the adjustable sized backstraps for the M&P.

I would like to know about accuracy and if they will be worth the 250 bucks for the grips. I'm pretty damn good with my irons (Mepro nite sites) to about 15 yards. I am talking 2 inch groups right where I want them.

 

[Phydeaux642]

I'm still on the fence. I have them on my 642, but I'm always on the brink of removing them. I do think they help in learning trigger control when dry firing, and they can be a big help when firing from unusual positions or from behind cover. I just hate to find myself becoming dependent on something that could stop working out of the blue and cause me to lose focus when I might need it most. Not likely to happen, I know, but Mr. Murphy is lurking everywhere.

 

[DeepSouth]

If the pistol is going to be for a CCW the opinions of laser grips vary a LOT. Some people saying there a waste of money and wouldn't even have them if they were free. While other people say they should be on every CCW you own.

I fall somewhere in between I like them on my CCW but I sight it in a a far enough range where I can't see the dot at my normal "defensive" practice range, about 8 yards and closer. I don't want to form the habit of looking for a dot and I do want to stay in practice with my irons, but the CT laser's are deadly accurate where the irons are getting sketchy the laser is on target. I know you very likely to need to shoot a longer range, precision shot as a defensive measure but better to not need and have than to have and not need, IMO.

If it is a range gun, no doubt go for it. You will learn a lot just looking at the laser during trigger pull, all kinds of neat things. The CT lasers are the brightest out there, that said they do still get hard to see in bright sun. They are very accurate, more accurate than you will believe. The batteries are not expensive at all and last a long time, CT recommends replacing them once a year. They had a "free batteries for life" = one set a year, program going on not to long ago. You might want to look into that if their new. CT is also a very good company to deal with, their gripes come with a 3 years warranty (if I remember right) but every person I have ever heard having to send a pair back got them fixed/replaced free of charge. CT even says their grips are....well.....not waterproof but they say if they get wet to take the batt out let them dry off and the'll probably be good to go.


I guess what I'm tryng to say is I'd spend an extra 250 for the, especially if I didn't have any. I used to think lasers were stupid, my wife wanted some and I changed my opinion when I used hers.


Phydeaux642 Try what I was talking about sight them in at a longer range and the dot might not be visible at the closer defensive ranges, but will still be close enough to hit in those odd positions.


OFF TOPIC:
Mags
Are you guy formerly known as The Real Mags that was supposed to be known as Mags but somebody with 12 posts who hadn't logged on in3 years had your name.

 

[Mags]

^ Yes, the mods changed my name from The Real Mags to Mags. I am the poster formally known as The Real Mags. Really though Mags is my real nickname.

Back on topic, I am really on the fence about CT since I am very confident with my night sights. But I would like to feel better about those 25 yard shots with a handgun. Will you be able to see the CT laser at 25 yards?

 

[DeepSouth]

From the CT faq site.

How far is the laser visible?
Crimson Trace has the most powerful beam allowed by law, a Class IIIa visible light diode. At night, in reduced light and indoors the laser is highly visible up to several hundred yards. Under bright sunlight, the dot can be seen up to 15 yards away.

Lighter-colored surfaces reflect laser light better than darker surfaces. The lighter the surface, the brighter the laser dot will be and the farther away it can be seen.

They are more visible than you would think, at least they were MUCH more visible than I thought they would be. If I lived near NM I'd let you borrow mine and try it but I guess your only option is to drop the cash. I will say I think they hold resale pretty well, so if you don't like it you can probably get rid of it for not a huge loss.



Glad you got your name back.
+1 for the Mods.

 

[gofastman]

Will you be able to see the CT laser at 25 yards?

oh yeah, my CT laser is surprisingly bright. You may need to squint a lot in full daylight, but in lower light absolutely you will see it

 

[armoredman]

CTGs are awesome, great tool, very easy to use. Been carrying a set on my P01 for years, rugged and tough.

 

[tkopp]

Also depends on the color of the target, as you can imagine.

I tried mine at a local clay shooting match, but they used orange clays and I couldn't see the dot at 10y in full sun. With light cloud cover it was possible, but slow to distinguish.

Make sure you get a chance to try yours before you buy. Mine came with my pistol and were side-activated (1911). In my normal shooting position, my fingers on my right hand are not long enough to activate the trigger.

 

[wow6599]

I had one on my M&P9c and didn't like it at all. I was always caught in between using the laser or the sights......not good IMHO.

 

[Mags]

Thanks Wow, that is the exact gun I would be installing the CTs on.

 

[Monkeyleg]

The CT grips are really popular with older shooters whose eyes (like mine) aren't what they used to be. I sell a ton of CT grips, and customers love them for the reasons mentioned in prior posts.

One comment I've heard from customers is that they need to transition from going directly to iron sights to looking for the laser dot. Once they've become accustomed to using the laser, they find themselves looking for the dot all the time instead of going instinctively to the iron sights.

 

[TomTerrific]

I have the CTs on my M&P.357Sig and I assume the ones on the 9c function similarly.

The CT approximates the middle grip that comes with the pistol. You won't be able to use the large or the small grips with the laser.

I have them on the M&P and a S&W model 60 snubbie. One thing I like is I find I don't have to bring the gun up to eye level to shoot accurately. One thing I don't like is I find my finger occasionally gets in the way of the laser.

The CT I have on the M&P has an on/off button plus the activation button. Gripping the pistol has always activated it and I like being able to turn it off to shoot with the irons.

I like them.

 

[chicharrones]

I have a set of CT grips on a snubnose revolver. My eyes are older and the black fixed sights are hard to see when the light dims. I reasoned that with only 5 shots that a CT laser grip might help me make all shots count. The original batteries are nearly 2 years old and still are powering that laser brightly. I will probably replace them right at the 2 year mark just because.

I do like the laser, but I'm not married to it. I've bought 3 pistols since then and have not felt the need to add lasers. I do plenty well with point shooting at close ranges that I'm comfortable.

I did add tritium night sights to another pistol recently and the tritium is like a distant star in the night sky compared to the laser burning like the sun.

I say if a person wants to put down the cash for a laser, go for it. The benefits have been mentioned in this thread.

 

[ccjcc81]

I put some on my Beretta 92, and I love them. Some people have ridiculed me for them, but I really like them too much to care. Gun store clerks always tell me to "learn my front sight and don't use a laser," but to me this equates to "learn to ride a bicycle and don't use a car." I know my iron sights, and I don't think I'll forget how to use them. I still practice with them. I love the fact that in the darkness of night, when I can't see my sights, I'll know exactly which direction I'm pointing in; high, low, dot is 5' away, 10' away, ect.

Mine are very accurate and hold zero. I have removed them twice for cleaning and have not had to make any adjustments.

 

[wow6599]

A very wise man once told me to "either put them on every gun you own or don't use them on any". If you ever did need to use a gun (god forbid) you need to be able to react in a split second, and trying to get your "laser" on someone seems, well.......I'll shut up.
I'm actually embarrassed I ever had one in the first place; I'll let the mall ninjas have 'em.

 

[ccjcc81]

Some pictures. My front door in the dead of night at 30' or so. This is when this laser "shines" (pun intended.) First with camera flash, second without.

 

[psyopspec]

The guy who's job I took over in Afghanistan passed off a set to me. The grips were on their 4th or 5th year of downrange use and they showed their age with some nicks in the rubber and the checkering having been worn smooth in places where gripped. I threw in a new set of batteries last October and they were still going strong when I took them off a couple days ago to hand off to my replacement. These were for an M9. Observations follow:

Pros:
-They absolutely work in low-light situations where the front sight cannot be easily acquired. Yeah, you have to know your target and what's beyond it, but if I see the outline of a man with a rag on his head and AK in his hand coming over the wire, that's probably not Joe Snuffy coming over to borrow my 1151.

-Batteries still G2G after 10 months of use. I'm a fobbit most of the time, so "use" included a couple dozen missions, monthly range trips, helicopter rides, snow, rain, heat, dust, and multiple dives into the dirt for incoming.

-Mine rode in a SERPA while on the FOB and a Safariland drop leg while OTW. Mine where a slightly older generation with finger groves. The rubber texturing and the finger groves fit okay and did not interfere at all with other operations of the pistol.

-I never found myself becoming absolutely dependant on on the laser. YMMV.

-If they fail, laser grips don't break down. They just become grips.

-Used a couple times in escalation of force situations with good results.

Cons:
-Not visible in bright light. This is just a light neg against the product IMO; front sight is fine for this most of the time. I turned the switch on when going on mission or when the sun was going down. Kept them off if I was outside most of the day. I suspect the batteries would last quite a while this way.

-The hex screw to adjust the sights wasn't commonly available (not going to be an issue for most users, as it comes new in the packaging). POI was 6 inches low for me at 25m.

-I didn't have this problem with the M9 model, but some others that I've tried holding have resulted in my indexed trigger fingering covering the port where the laser comes out.

Overall opinion: Nice to have, but not an absolute necessity. The grips have great potential to help, and used/maintained/trained with properly they can't hurt. If you become dependant on them and they fail at a critical moment, that's on you and not the grips (see my sig line). Not going to pay 250USD for a pair of my own, but if I find a good deal on a pair that fit my carry gun I'd probably bite.

 

[valorius]

I have the CT laserguard on my LCP. It lets me shoot the pistol with excellent precision at ranges far beyond the capability of the terrible little factory iron sights. It is very bright, the batteries last a long time even if you use the laser to have your cat go nuts chasing it every day, and i am sure that it adds to the intimidation effect of having a gun held on you.
I carry my LCP every day, and the laser is very durable to all the bumps of EDC too.

I recommend a CT laser very highly.

 

[Phil Meyer]

I have an MP9c that shoots very well with factory sights. The addition of CT laser grips have made it absolutely deadly for me (and my wife). I think I may lose that one to her.

 

[Just One Shot]

I have one that will fit both my M&P Cs (9mm & .40 - requires rezeroing when changed between platforms) and it's great when used in the low light situations for which it was designed.

Is it worth it? That depends. If you never use it then maybe not but, if it helps to save your life or the life of a loved one, what's that worth to you?

I look at it this way, it's not the all in all in my self defense tool box but I'd rather have it and not need it then to be in a situation where having it may have made me a split second faster in responding to a threat.

Ultimately this is a personal choice that only the individual can make. Before you decide I would suggest you contact CT and get the free DVD they offer. It has some information and demonstrations that might give you a better insight on their product.