Who shoots with a laser: What guns and why?

[Rembrandt]

On my son's first tour in Afghanistan I sent him Crimson Trace grips for his Berretta. He was one of the first to use them in his outfit, soon after everyone was getting them sent over. Not long after that the military began issuing them.

(edited: to add Son's experience with a laser) While on watch one night a truck driven by some potential terrosists tried to run a check point. Truck came to screeching halt when the laser light began dancing through their windshield. No shots fired....they knew what the laser beam meant.

Later bought a set for my 92FS (nightstand gun).

 

[Jimbo80]

My Sig P229 came with CT laser grips which I took off in short order. I have a green CT rail master on one of my nightstand guns and a TLR 8 on the other, both were freebies. I don't shoot with them and find them kind of gimmicky to tell the truth.

 

[chicharrones]

On my son's first tour in Afghanistan I sent him Crimson Trace grips for his Berretta. He was one of the first to use them in his outfit, soon after everyone was getting them sent over. Not long after that the military began issuing them. He has a few stories that illustrate how well they worked in the field.

Later bought a set for my 92FS (nightstand gun).

View attachment 1002963

Just like with a DA revolver, metal framed pistols and laser grips sure make for an unobtrusive sighting option.

 

[mavracer]

I've had several on handguns IMHO their value as a dry fire training aid is infinitely more valuable than their actual use shooting.
I've seen a few in this thread talk about hunting the dot, with some practice you can put the dot on a light switch across the basement every time ask me bow I know

 

[chicharrones]

I've seen a few in this thread talk about hunting the dot, with some practice you can put the dot on a light switch across the basement every time ask me bow I know

Exactly. After some practice time, you simply look at the target and let the laser dot come into your line of sight. Not much different than a using a red dot.

 

[Styx]

Exactly. After some practice time, you simply look at the target and let the laser dot come into your line of sight. Not much different than a using a red dot.

It's usually those who have little to no experience with lasers or red dots who are the most critical.

 

[Hugger-4641]

It's usually those who have little to no experience with lasers or red dots who are the most critical.

I can agree with that. While I don't think I would suffer any without one, they are just another tool in the box, not for everyone.
I will say that if you are going to use one, get a good one. I wasted money on a couple cheaper ones that would not hold zero for more than a couple shots, usually drifting to the right or left with each shot. They are now cat toys.
I have a green one under an Ar that has not lost zero since the day I put it on.

 

[mavracer]

I will say that if you are going to use one, get a good one. I wasted money on a couple cheaper ones that would not hold zero for more than a couple shots, usually drifting to the right or left with each shot.

The one exemption would be in dry fire to master DA trigger for that a cheap one is fine and will pay huge dividends.

 

[THEWELSHM]

My Sig .40 night stand gun has a Crimson Trace laser grip with a rail light. The SHTF gun for night use. Although I would not chase a target in my home during a break in, I would have local advantage, while they came to find me, if the alarm and dogs don’t scare them off...

Thewelshm

 

[usp9]

I like lasers. I have seven on pistols and a couple on rifles. Lasers make more sense on pistols, IMHO, because most rifles are used at longer distances practical and often can accommodate a more useful and/or larger sight.

Green is my preferred color, as it is easier for me to see although my usual CCW, a Beretta Pico, sports a red laser, as green isn't available on the model. I also have one on a Beretta 92 Vertec which is my go to home defense gun. The other guns have a laser mainly for range fun and easier plinking. They are on a couple .22lrs and 9mm pistols.

I have also gravitated towards various red dot sights. I'll use anything that gives me some advantage over my aging eyes. In addition to the two guns mentioned, I have either a laser or red dot sight on a Hellcat, HK P2000sk, Canik TP9 and TP9 compact, Taurus TP22, Kahr K9, Ruger SR22. Laser technology has progressed to the point that they are easy to use, very reliable and much cheaper than when newer. I like anything that allows me to shoot better, more accurate and in some cases faster. A great tool to have in the tool box if you ask me.

 

[AzShooter1]

For a while I shot with this laser on my Volquartsen Black Mamba .22. It was fun to shoot and real nice at the indoor range but even the green is hard for me to see outdoors.

I still play with it sometimes but since most of my shooting is competition and I find it harder to pick up as fast as my red dot I've take the laser off.

 

[velocette]

I have been using Crimson Trace lasers on my handguns ever since they came out. I have used red and green & prefer the red. (less expensive, much longer battery life and not much difference in daylight visibility - - - - almost none) For target shooting or daylight shooting they are not much help. Dim the lights and they flat work. You can be totally out of position, not able to even see your pistol and still get center mass hits. In the 15 or so years, I have had at least 6 different CT lasers with never a failure or problem ever.
If you believe that your need to defend yourself will happen in broad daylight or even in a well lit room so you can clearly see your sights, you will not need a laser.
If the possibility of an armed encounter may occur at night, in a dark room or you flat on the ground out of position or no time to carefully align your sights then maybe a laser would save your life.
My club has a shoot booth that needs lights to see the targets. I have given laser naysayers my EDC 19ll compact put them in the booth, turned off the lights and they hit the target center all the time. Turn off the laser and not so much and much slower.
Change the batteries every year, AND make sure the pistol has Tritium nite sights just in case.

 

[swg1]

On some of my guns and all of my wife's defensive firearms. Proof of concept was watching a teenage kid from England visiting and shooting my wife's three inch barreled M60. He'd never handled a gun before and was hitting full pop cans at 25yds more often than not. Take away the laser and most folks struggle to hit anything with that revolver. They work. I prefer green, but have both.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

None.

Back in my younger days, right after I bought my Beretta 92FS, I bought a laser and mounted it.

I find that it was by far the most annoying PITA accessory I could have ever bought.

Oh, I sighted it in quite well bench shooting. But outside of bench shooting, I found I was far too busy chasing that dot.

Laser sights are NEVER as steady as shown in the movies, except maybe from bench rested rifles.

Open sights on my pistols are the way to go for me.

Now, a holographic sight on my wife's M&P 15? Nice...I could get to love that. On a pistol? I dunno...maybe. I've not tried.

 

[hemiram]

I guess it all depends on how steady your hands are. I do little "dot chasing", and when I practice, I use the closet door handle as a point of aim, and I'm rarely more than a couple of inches off it at the 32 feet it is from my chair as I swing up the gun. But my hands, unlike the rest of me, are just insanely steady. At 50 feet, the laser dots barely vibrate, just about 1/2-3/4", and I can, most of the time, get them calmed down more than that after practicing a while.

 

[robhof]

I use the laser on my bedside gun and on my carry gun for low light conditions, no need to sight; just place the dot and pull the trigger.

 

[Ric]

Carry gun,
I’ve tried red dots and they just don’t click with me

 

[geologist]

I have lasers/lights on my "action" guns. 1911, G17, PC9, MR-1 (IR laser).

It just give me more options. More options are usually good.

 

[toivo]

Same as some others -- my nightstand gun (SIG P320 Carry) has a CT green laser. It's fairly small and lightweight. I can shoot center-mass with it pretty well out to about 15 yards. I haven't tried beyond that because I don't think I would realistically have to in a self-defense situation in my home.

 

[Roknstevo]

Shot a gun with a laser sight for the first time last week. It was a long gun (fella was shooting it at 15 yards, indoors, with a can on the end in 5.56 I think. Don't ask.)

But I was interested.

I've always shot iron sights on my handguns, both pistol and revolver. Never really considered a laser.

So I'm wondering how many folks use 'em and on what type of guns.

I was thinking of putting laser grips on a S&W 642PC as it's for close up work (if, god forbid) I ever had to use it. Or maybe getting one of those pocket rockets ala a Taurus G2s (just to have one) and putting a laser on it.)

But do folks put them on their semis ala a Smith 4513 or Beretta PX4c. Or on other revolvers, say a Smith 66-2?

My eyes ain't getting any younger (into their 70th decade) but with my specs I see just fine. Do folks aging peepers find the laser easier/better to shoot that regular iron (or even red dot optics)?

And then what's a good model without breaking the bank and going all "tactical?"

I bought my SP101 with laser grips new. The grips would lose zero very quickly. I got tired of having to re-zero. Couldn’t trust them. Took them off and have been much more accurate and comfortable since. I’m pretty old school anyway....somewhere in my 80th decade on the planet. Just my little experience during sharing period.

 

[JTHunter]

After getting a Keltec PMR-30, I haunted both the gun shows and the LGS, trying out different models and colors of lasers. I even tried one that had a blue beam. It was the worst of all I tried as it was too dim to see clearly at 25 yds., esp. in daylight. Many of the red lasers had small, weak dots that were also unsuitable for daylight but every green one I tried was fairly visible out to 25 yds.
About a year after they opened a new store here, Academy had a sale on lasers with both red and green for the same $50 price. They were nice enough to let me put batteries in and try them and I went with the green. With help from a neighbor, I stood on my driveway and shined the laser onto the wood of their kitchen cabinets at the back of their house. Even looking into the afternoon daylight and a well-lit kitchen, the green dot was clearly visible at about 25 yds. The brick on their house is a very dark reddish-brown {burgundy color?} (like a good red wine) and, while dimmer in full daylight at about 50', was still visible against the dark brick.
Works for me.

 

[velocette]

None.

Back in my younger days, right after I bought my Beretta 92FS, I bought a laser and mounted it.

I find that it was by far the most annoying PITA accessory I could have ever bought.

Oh, I sighted it in quite well bench shooting. But outside of bench shooting, I found I was far too busy chasing that dot.

Laser sights are NEVER as steady as shown in the movies, except maybe from bench rested rifles.

Open sights on my pistols are the way to go for me.

Now, a holographic sight on my wife's M&P 15? Nice...I could get to love that. On a pistol? I dunno...maybe. I've not tried.

With RESPECT Chief, In most of your post, you are completely correct. Chasing the little red dot / green etc. is a frustrating effort.
However, what is not said is late at night, dark room, laying in bed or injured on the floor, people screaming, no time or ability to carefully align sights or find a dot in an RMR,
That red laser dot works. Remember, hope for the best, but plan for the worst.
No matter what, thank your for your service to our country. Stay safe.

 

[geologist]

 

[cfullgraf]

I dabbled with laser sights about 20 years ago and was not impressed under normal light conditions.

Maybe lasers are better for low light conditions.

Maybe the lasers are better today than 20 years ago.

Regardless, they are a neat concept.

 

[Bill Raby]

Why would you put a kitty toy on your gun? It is certainly very cute watching your kitty chase that light all around the house, but you have your gun pointed at him the whole time. Not very safe! Kitty cats like the lasers just fine when they are not mounted on guns.