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Do you use a laser on your carry gun?

12K views 227 replies 97 participants last post by  Lt. Donn 
#1 ·
Thinking that a self defense situation could easily occur at night, and might well happen too fast to bring my gun to a normal aiming position, I installed a Crimson Trace laser on both of my EDC's. I've practiced shooting without aiming, and while I am starting to improve with my 9mm semi auto, I am not making much progress with my j-frame snubbie, so the laser is almost essential for other than bad breath shooting distance. My only concern would be if the laser failed or the battery died unexpectedly. I wondered how many on the forum use a laser as well.
 
#200 ·
Another laser story.

A couple years ago I taught a retired Hollywood Stunt Woman to shoot. Very cool lady. Along with being a stunt woman she held the Woman's motorcycle speed record for many years.

After shooting a couple weeks she wanted to shoot at the local range that had one of those full size live fire computer setups. I don't know what it's called. Many different shooting scenarios can be run. Indoors, outdoors, one bad guy or many. The local police use it for training.

After shooting a few scenarios the operator told the lady the next would be a number of bad guys, so she will need extra magazines.
I offered her my Crimson Trace laser equipped Ruger SR9 and spare mags.

I wish I had a video of the woman shooting using the laser. Bad guys were coming at her from all over and she nailed every one.

When it was done the operator told her,
No one had ever gotten through that drill with out being shot. She was the first.

She liked the CT/Ruger setup so much she made me sell it to her. :)
 
#202 ·
Although I have five Glocks, I'm not a big Glock fan.

One of them, a G19, I keep in the car's door panel. It's equipped with a Green Crimson Trace laser.
The Green laser is more expensive and harder on the batteries than the Red laser but the Green is brighter.

Periodically I shoot the G19, like today. The CT rail laser is a good setup for a lot of rail equipped pistols.

 
#210 ·
There are certainly valid arguments here against using only a laser. I haven't read any valid arguments for not using a laser as an additional sighting tool?

I see lasers typically used as a backup, if the baddie isn't squared off to you, 7 yards ahead, in daylight.

Last I checked, when you install a laser you don't saw off the iron sights.

Personally I don't use night sights, I could train with them but when they get dim in 25 years, that could get me killed. Or the bad guy could see the color and know where I am.
 
#211 ·
There are certainly valid arguments here against using only a laser. I haven't read any valid arguments for not using a laser as an additional sighting tool?

I see lasers typically used as a backup, if the baddie isn't squared off to you, 7 yards ahead, in daylight.

Last I checked, when you install a laser you don't saw off the iron sights.

Personally I don't use night sights, I could train with them but when they get dim in 25 years, that could get me killed. Or the bad guy could see the color and know where I am.
Good point about night sights as one of the sides on my nights sights went bad not long after I installed them. Sent back to get replaced but was a pain. I did have some problems with my LazerMax also after about 5 years. Called them they said sent it to them and they would replace. There was just no questions. Before sending it to them I did some trouble shooting and fixed it. No didn't need new batteries. I have also only replaced batteries once in the time I have had two LazerMax, and 0 with my Stream light. It just a tool. You train and get good at them or you probably not even install.

Can someone educate me on how to post a new thread. I did a new conversation and it is there but I think I need to post a new post with new title
 
#213 ·
"There are certainly valid arguments here against using only a laser. I haven't read any valid arguments for not using a laser as an additional sighting tool?"


The laser is a light.
It's not for use in strong light, that's what iron sights are for.

You look at where you want to hit and keep your attention on that point as you pull the gun to that point (or close).
You DO NOT look for the laser dot. This is a common mistake and slows you way down.
If it's dark enough, when you light the laser it will appear in your vision. If you can point the gun at all, the laser dot will be close to where you are looking.
As you pull the trigger you will also be "pulling" the laser dot on center as the gun fires.

If you watched this fast firing drill you would swear the shooter isn't hitting anything because the dot is wildly swinging around as the gun is firing and the shooter is moving. But your mind is constantly pulling the dot to where you are looking.


On the other hand, if there's time, you just line up the dot on the target with handgun, rifle or shotgun, and take the shot.

 
#216 ·
"The laser will still reach out there, but it is harder to see."


If the laser is "harder to see", that's not the time to be using a laser. It's too time consuming.
A competent shooter will probably beat you using iron sights.

I am probably the biggest gun laser fan you will ever see but even I know the laser has limits (day light) when iron sights should be used instead of the laser.
The laser is an outstanding gun sighting system but it is not a total replacement for iron sights.
 
#219 ·
"Yes too bright or too far and it will be too hard to see is what I intended to communicate"


Just within the last 5-6 months I got my first Green lasers. Much brighter than the Red.
But have you seen the laser design "experts" say that the Red and Green are the same brightness. That's hard to believe, but they say our eyes see Green better than Red.
So even though the Red and Green are the same (power) brightness, we see the Green as brighter.

We are strange animals. :)
 
#221 ·
"No lasers here either. I use Trijicon Night Sights as well."


So here's the situation. It's dark, inside or outside, and the bad guy is here. (actually my back yard range)


You must have a light, gun mounted or hand held.
After you identify the bad guy with the light, you must shift your focus to the sights, a couple feet in front of your face, while trying to keep the light and sights on the bad guy.

While you are doing this the laser or laser/light equipped bad guy is looking at you and at the laser dot on your chest as he pulls the trigger.

Early on (I think I may already have said this earlier), when I was trying out and learning about this laser thing, I timed myself, a number of times, when using the laser and laser/light.
I compared the times, and as important the accuracy, between the laser equipped pistols and night sight equipped pistols.

Now your time and accuracy might be different, but every time, using the laser or laser/light I could get off one to three well aimed shots before I could get off the first, not so accurate shot using night sights.

In the dark, looking at night sights an arm's length away, with the bad guy further away in the darkness, didn't work for me at all.

It's said that 70% of all defense shootings take place in low light.

I'm just passing on what I've learned with years of shooting with these lasers and laser/light things.

But whatever works for you. :)
 
#222 · (Edited)
Appreciate the scenario, but your range and lighting conditions have never emulated my bedroom or a car parked somewhere in harms way.

I do not use lights either because I pocket carry or smart carry and I've not seen the need in over 40 years of concealed carry in private and public practice. In a civilian self defense situation,the state I live in does not allow an offensive posturing only a defensive one in reaction to an event that I'm certain of deadly harm. My decision to react will be based on survival of an assault technically already launched. Whatever encounters experienced my defensive posturing will be to react, not give a position away if concealed. I believe too many people assume they have the same authority as Police, this is where many get into trouble depending on your laws( which by the way change frequently).

For those that seek comfort with the added assistance, it's available,personally I'm not convinced it suits my needs in defensive carry.
 
#225 ·
"O have no lasers or lights .. But Im thinking about a light on my 41"


Streamlight makes a laser/light for the rail, that's just slightly larger than just the light and not much more expensive. It's called the TLR-4. It would probably fit your 41 fine.
Optics Planet has them for $127.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/streamlight-tlr-4-compact-handgun-laser-sight-flashlight.html

(BTW if you ever order from OP, type anything in the "Coupon Box". Usually they will reject it, then give you 5% off your order)

I have several of the TLR-4's, one on a Ruger SR22, that I have hanging by the back door. I use this gun as a flashlight and after dark critter gun if necessary.
Very bright light, you will see stars after looking into it. It's good, out my back door, for about 50 yards



Streamlight also has the same compact light without the laser called the TLR-3. $85 I believe.

http://www.opticsplanet.com/s/streamlight-tlr--1?_iv_gridSize=240
 
#228 ·
I see from the posts the majority are saying "no" to lasers...I was also not a fan of them until CTC began producing such reliable and well engineered models. I have been instructing my CHL folks that it makes good sense to have a laser equipped home defense platform...especially for folks who are occasional shooters, the elderly, and those who are visually challenged....the ability to focus on the red/green dot vs traditional sights may be the only option available for some folks with failing vision.
(I have 2 folks with failing eyes who simply cannot hit the target w/o their lasers) The instant feedback provided when dry-firing also aids novices learning how to control their trigger press, and such practice does not require them to leave the house or spend $...Lastly, the ability to place shots on target from non-traditional positions...like lying in bed, without your glasses on, at night...could make them a game changer....Are their negatives?...absolutely...you still need to learn how to hit with traditional sights, as any electronic device can fail.
A bonus to all this: The new Green modules are nearly as effective during daylight as in darkness.
As an Instructor, I am able to purchase 3 CTC models each year @ cost...every year I have a waiting list of CHL folks wanting them
 
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