Laser sights, how many of your handguns have 'em?

[brokedownbiker]

I'm seeing more and more ads for grip mounted lasers these days. I have one handgun with a laser, a Taurus 24/7 .45 acp with a red laser under the front of the barrel. It is my bedside gun for night time prowlers. I figure that when responding to an intruder in the middle of the night, sight picture acquisition will be a problem and the laser will greatly simplify the situation. The downside is that now the pistol won't fit any of my holsters.

I have zero experience with the grip type lasers but it seems that they will still allow the gun to be carried in a standard holster for the gun.

Comments, personal experience, thoughts?

[rice paddy daddy]

Too much money. One hundred (or more) for Crimson Trace laser grips. Can't afford them.
None of my hand guns have rails so it would have to be the grip type.

[240gr JHP]

I have been attending shooting classes about once a month and my wife will come along about 40% of the time. These are tactical classes taught by a police instructor. Many are in limited or low light venues. Last Sunday we had a handgun class in almost total darkness with hand-held and weapon mounted lights. I only took handguns with lasers. My primary weapon was a S&W 5906 with a Crimson Trace laser in a normal holster. I had adjusted the laser to the proper point of the sight picture but had not fired the gun before class. I was astonished by how easy it was to keep the rounds center of mass even in the dark. I pulled a few out of the center due to trying to fire too fast or problems activating the laser (the button is different than on our other laser equipped guns), but I think my groups were tighter than with iron sights and good light. The laser I have practiced with the most is a Crimson Trace on a J-Frame. At 7 yards one hole groups are not unusual with the laser (single action). My wife's handguns are a Glock 19 and a Ruger LCR. The Glock has a Glock light/laser combo and the Ruger uses a Crimson Trace. She shoots well with both guns. We did have a problem with the Glock system but Glock quickly repaired it. There is a tendency to lower the gun and point the laser rather than line up the sights. I would recommend grip mounted lasers.

[thedreamers]

Thanks for the post we just seen these grip lasers at the gun show up in Jacksonville. Fl. Was trying to get more info on them.

[xdpatriot]

I think the only drawback to lasers is sometimes the user tends to rely too much on them. If you get used to them and expect them, you may panic if you're put in a high stress situation.

EX: You have to use your weapon and the laser malfunctions. You freeze for a split second because your rhythm is thrown off.

That split second may cost you your life. I had a laser on one gun, thought about this scenario and got rid of it. Just my two cents.

[Grinnan Barrett]

None. I prefer to rely on less tech and more shooting skill. GB

[45B]

Had a set on my Beretta M9 and still have them sitting in the safe. Had a Lasermax guide rod in a Glock I bought once, turned on by itself during the draw from a holster, so I took it out and sold it replacing it with factory guide rod.

Would not spend too much money on them. Got mine pretty cheap or with a gun I purchased. NEver really used them much.

[monkeybird]

My new S&W 380 Bodyguard comes with a built in laser. I like it. How it works in real life, I hope I never find out.

[Lowdown3]

Thanks for the post we just seen these grip lasers at the gun show up in Jacksonville. Fl. Was trying to get more info on them.

At the Fairgrounds? We were there on Saturday. Too bad I didn't know folks from the board were going, we could have met. I almost posted a quick meetup option for the show but didn't....

[thedreamers]

Yea we came up to see my dad. We go all the time, he lives down in the world golf area. Would have loved to hooked up on that saturday. Maybe next time.

[tech]

Only one, on one of the wife's carry choices. That was because it only came with it, not because it was wanted or needed. Pulled the battery so corrosion wouldn't be an issue.

[BillM]

I am a retired Deputy Sheriff. I was taught to point shoot. This is best practiced by dry firing your weapon a lot. The thing to make sure of is that the grips fit your hand in such a way that when your trigger finger is pointing at the center mass of the target , it is parrallel to the barrel.
If it points up, you will shoot low. If it points down , you will shoot high.

Point shooting is predicated on your natural ability to point your index finger directly at a target.

When you aim useing the sights , you focus on the front sight and you blur out the rear sight and the target.

If you are trying to kill me, the last thing I want to do is to blur you out!

I have installed Crimson Trace sights on my 38 snub and my 1911 a .45 ACP.

I still practice the point shooting method but when useing the dry fireing drills, I find that I can point and then depress the switch on my laser sights to confirm my point shooting aiming method.

They have made me a better point shooter.

[CLT46910]

I have two. A LazerMax on a Glock 19 and a Crimson Trace on a 1911. While both work good for me, I do like the Crimson Trace better.

Learn to use both the laser and your normal sights. They both have their place and will do the job they are suppose to do. You just learn to do yours and they will work for you.

They are great for training with point shooting as well. Have to agree with BillM on that. point your gun and then turn on the laser.

[Matt In Oklahoma]

I just put a green laser on my AR last month that I got for Christmas from my son. I had a small red one for a while before but it apparently wasnt concrete dummy proof. It really shined when my strong arm was out of commision for a bit and in a cast. I stripped the AR down of everthing but the laser and a 20rd mag to make it useable with one hand. It really shined right there because i couldnt properly mount the rifle due to the angle of the cast and could only use my weak arm to hold it. I can see where it would really come to light in unorthodox poitions or if injured or if a feller forgot his glasses when the kitchen window broke at 2am. I dont walk around with it on like the movies show, thats not really a good technique. I've even seen some that come on when you grip the gun. I disagree with that totally unless you are already in the fight with multiple targets. It should come on just before the trigger squeeze for verification and minor adjustments.
99% of my training and shooting is done without it because it is not a replacement for accurate shooting or proper techniques.

[Bill Foster]

Like Billm, I have practiced point shoot for a long time. When I get a new weapon, I practice picking it up and pointing and verifying by the sights. I had this argument with my police trainer friend. He told me that I needed to find the front sight blade. I told him that as long as you pick the gun up the same way every time, you should be able to hit most anything close range. We went to the range and I proved my point by picking up the gun from the bench and firing it quickly at 7 yards. My time was better than his and we had the same hit score. Neener-neener.