To laser or not to laser...

[Impureclient]

.....That is the question.

I know this has been beaten to death but I still would like to hear from LEOs or civilians that have used a laser or not under stress.

Somebody in the Kahr Glock talk forum said this when most had to say that they train with and would use the sight:
"If you guys think you are going to use your sights in a defensive shooting you are sadly mistaken."

That seems true as you would be looking at the attacker/threat and not your guns sight. If you are faced with a situation
around 20 feet would you be actually aiming with the sights? I would imagine you would have trained yourself by repetition
with your carry gun to have the gun pointed center on the target just by raising it up to shoot. Then the laser would just
be a second assurance that it is on the target.

I know I'll get some arm chair answers and I respect them to a point but, I really want to hear mainly from somebody that
has drawn the gun on a threat. Whether it was fired or not isn't really important. I just would like to know if you were paying
attention to the sights.

 

[GRIZ22]

I retired after over 30 years as a LEO, most of that time as a firearms instructor. I've tried lasers and feel they have some specialized applications but are not needed crutches for most purposes and really don't add much.

It's easy to learn to point shoot past 20 feet.

If you are faced with a situation
around 20 feet would you be actually aiming with the sights?

It's very easy and perhaps faster to acquire a flash sight picture at 20 feet and farther. You can spend too much time looking for that dot of light.

I would imagine you would have trained yourself by repetition
with your carry gun to have the gun pointed center on the target just by raising it up to shoot. Then the laser would just
be a second assurance that it is on the target.


If you learn to do this you don't need a second assurance.

if you train to look at your sights you will look at your sights, be it a flash or more precise sight picture.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I think they're great. You basically are enabled to focus on the rear sight, the front sight, and the target simultaneously. I think the point is to use them as a "point shooting" aid, but if you have the time, you can certainly use them to make the most accurate shot possible.

I've never had to point a gun at anybody, so I can't say how that shapes my opinion.

 

[chris in va]

I seem to remember a show on TV where the LEO used his laser dot to good effect when the BG was throwing lead his way. One of those 'World's Scariest' deals.

 

[noob_shooter]

laser to me is only to look cool.. or when you have the gun pointed at someone, that other person know it's on target...

 

[Speedo66]

I'm a soon to be retired LEO and most of our training takes place where the majority of gunfights happen, very short distances.

The laser may help in some specialized circumstance, but up close and personal probably will not do you any good. If you have to click it on and look for the dot, you're wasting much too much time.

Just another thing to think about when you should not be thinking, just reacting based on your training.

 

[divemedic]

I used to be against laser sights. I thought the money was better spent on more range time.

Until my wife got one, against my advice.

I now have a laser on two of my weapons, one of them is the one I carry full time.

Things a laser will do for you:
It enables you to know you are on target during those times when the situation dictates that you cannot take a Weaver stance.
It enables you to know that you are on target. The bullet hits where the laser is.
During dry fire practice, and even during range time, it lets you see if your aim shifts as you press the trigger. This enhances your trigger control.

Things a laser will not do for you:
It does not work very well in full daylight.
It will not guarantee a hit. The basics of grip and trigger control are still important.

There is no "clicking it on"- I am using Crimson Trace grips, and the laser activates when you take a shooting grip on your weapon. There is no "looking for the dot" because as you bring your weapon on target, your eye is drawn to it. I find that the people who oppose lasers (myself included, when I opposed them) are people who have never spent much time shooting with one.
Overall, I view it as another tool in the tool box, and IMO one worth having.

 

[chuckusaret]

I believe in the old saying--practice and practice. Most SD situations will happen at less than 10 to 15 feet and the point and shoot method I find to be the best, but it does require practice. I just don't see the need of a laser for close quarters self defense. I have LG446 Crimson Trace grips but are not mounted that was a gift. I don't use weapon mounted lights either. A light light held out at arms length to the side of your body would make a less deadly target for the BG. IMO it would be better to get shot in the arm than the center of mass.

 

[KarenTOC]

I'm also interested in whether or not the laser has helped in actual, real-life situations, and I'm looking forward to reading about them.

That being said, I'll now add my no-experience comments

I am a new shooter. My son gave me a set of CT grips for Christmas for my HD gun. He wants me to be able to hit the target while I'm still learning all the skills that "come naturally" after years and years of practice. Since I'm 59 years old, and live alone, my son didn't want me to have to wait until I have years and years of practice before being able to defend myself.

I use it for dry-fire practice at home. It has been a big help in pointing out things I'm doing wrong. I don't use it when I'm practicing at the indoor range I go to because I find other folks' flying red dots distracting, so I don't inflict mine on them.

I don't consider the laser a substitute for learning the basics. But I think it will improve my chances if, God forbid, the need arises before I'm even close to the skill level of most members of this forum.

 

[Hungry Seagull]

I use laser on both shotguns zeroed and boresighted to about 25 feet. No matter where the dot is, the slug is going there. I am legally blind in one eye and need that laser to make it on-target.

That green beam is a great tool to have. Ive rigged the switch on the rear of the lasers that they are one turn away from full-on. Grab weapon out of gun-grabber on the wall, twist laser on and hand goes to foregrip and deploy weapon very fast.

I dont bother with remote switches, ive tried them and they get crushed on my hands the first time. Too much truck driving in my day.

Dont worry, that gun is up and full on 6 seconds or less, about 14 seconds before any BG who has breached either door. Just dont get caught with dead batteries.

I can always have surgery on the bad eye but risk multipule imagery that is not compensated by the brain so normal sights other than the tridot on the handgun is out of question for me. Besides that big iron sight on the moss or rem will do the job if things get really tight; not pretty but done.

Remember nothing is gauranteed. Good luck!

 

[black bear]

I will NOT be without one.

I have a laser grip on my .45, it is my primary home defense gun, together with a Borealis 1050 lumens flashlight.

After the alarm sounded...
My tactic is to get to the bedroom door and from there control the passage way and the living room, with the body protected by the frame and with only my half face exposed, one hand holding the pistol and the other hand the Borealis flashlight.

With a laser is not need to line up your face with the pistol, no tunnel vision, no exposing body parts to get into a shooting position.
If you are going to have a gunfight, this is the best way!

This, for me is the most valuable feature of the laser.

The flashlight with the 1050 lumens (two millions candlepower) will cook the eyes of an intruder.

Colt .45 with laser grips and the Borealis 1050 lumens flashlight.








Cheers
Black Bear

 

[Birddog1911]

I'm mostly a rifle shooter, always have been. While I have qualified Expert with a handgun, my confidence level is not as high as that of a rifle. Yes, I'm working on that as money and time allow.

I always thought laser grips were hoakey, until I picked up a 1911 with them on, and pointed it. Wow, talk about on target. Then I had to analyze myself; If I have to draw and fire in a bad situation, how likely, in that extremely short amount of time, am I likely to ensure I have a good sight picture with my level of expertise with a handgun? Not as likely.

For me, the laser gives me the confidence and knowledge that if I have to fire on someone, I'm gonna hit the right person. If I fail to get a good sight picture and instead focus on the target, I still know just where that slug is going. To me, that is important.

 

[amd6547]

I never owned a laser sight till I bought a Beretta 92FS. I couldn't afford the good ones, and figured the cheap ones were junk.
After I got my 92FS, I was looking at used holsters on EBAY, and noticed there were a few sets of the older CTC grips on there--the two panel model.
I bid on a couple, and ended up getting a set brand new in the box for less than $100.
Long story short, I love them. I don't think I would spend the $$'s for a full retail set of CTC's, but for the set I got for the price I paid, I am very happy.
Walking around the house trying them out from low ready position, they are great. While I wouldn't trust it fully, I do feel there is some intimidation factor in putting that dot on somebodies chest.
Overall, the pluses outway any minuses.

 

[theotherwaldo]

I like my Lasermax. It takes a conscious effort to turn it on, but the switch is under the thumb of my off hand (whichever hand that happens to be) if I find myself unable to see my front sight. It doesn't turn itself on when I grip my weapon - and give away my position and the direction that I'm facing.

I think of it as a useful back-up sight for adverse conditions and awkward positions.

 

[PT1911]

a friend of mine stumbled upon a potential thief attempting to break into a neighbors home while walking his dog... when the thief noticed he had been seen, he turned and started walking toward this friend of mine with what looked like a pipe.. at this point, my friend pulled out his P-22 equipped with a laser, turned the laser on and proceeded to trace it across the ground and up the threat's leg.. about the level of the knee-cap, he noticed, and...full sprint the other way... the laser actually prevented him from having to fire his weapon... I have heard several similar stories.

 

[divemedic]

I like my Lasermax. It takes a conscious effort to turn it on, but the switch is under the thumb of my off hand (whichever hand that happens to be) if I find myself unable to see my front sight. It doesn't turn itself on when I grip my weapon - and give away my position and the direction that I'm facing.

The only problem with Lasermax is that you have just replaced your guiderod with a sensitive electronic device, and if it breaks your gun is now a hammer.

If a grip laser worries you that much, they have an override switch that you can shut the laser off, so you don't "give away your position."

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Like anything else, if you TRAIN with it, such that its use is 2nd nature, I can see where it could be an asset.

 

[Grey_Mana]

For $4, you can buy a laser pointer at Target. Buy one, affix with duct-tape, and try out the cheapie version.

Laser pointers make great pet toys. Cats and dogs love to chase that red dot around the room.

 

[lanternlad1]

My wife has lasergrips on her Taurus 85 - came in very handy when someone tried to carjack her at a stop sign downtown. She pulled her gun, and the laser went right on his nose. She couldn't have missed if she tried. He ran off, and she didn't have to fire. I'd say the laser is a good thing.