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Green or Red Laser - looking for opinions/advice

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green laser red
5K views 52 replies 27 participants last post by  john marinelli 
#1 ·
I am thinking about adding a laser to my G19 & see quite a bit of good info on brands & models, but I was wondering in general, what color laser works best for all around use? Thanks in advance.
 
#2 ·
Almost universally, the green laser is considered more effective visually. But there is no simple green laser diode system as there is for red. The green laser is considerably more complex and expensive than red. Most importantly, IMHO, it also has higher power consumption.

Look at this recent article for a quick overview:

https://www.nrafamily.org/articles/2016/11/15/laser-sights-red-vs-green/

I'd use green, regardless of higher price, were it not for the significantly higher power consumption. (That's not addressed in the overview above.) That's the deal breaker for me.
 
#5 ·
Inside, both work, but if the ambient light is bright, the green really excels! I prefer green, but they are more expensive.

I would love to hear feedback from those who tactically train, but the one thing I do notice is that on light colored walls at night, the green does impact your night vision far more than the red does. Red is a great color for retaining your good night vision (ask astronomers!). The green may have a bit of a disadvantage in that regard.
 
#32 ·
I found it interesting "Red is a great color for retaining your good night vision". Why? During
World War Two those submarines (all sides) spent nights on the surface and before surfacing
all lights inside submarines turned on all red lights inside for a period of time before surfacing and as soon as the sub surfaced essential officers and enlisted watch sailors went top side.
So, not just astronomers are aware of this.
Good discussion on color of lasers. Personally I have laser with both red and green and in
bright daylight (and ouf sunlight is very bright here in the desert) I haven't found my green
lasers that much better than the red. Maybe something larger than a small dot may show
green superior.
Poli Viejo
 
#7 ·
Think about how far a laser will move during recoil versus the front sight.
I'll bite, how far?

Seems to me the laser will move the same distance as the sight.

Do you mean, the laser dot?

I've tried both lasers side by side and I cannot tell any difference in them.

I did this, me, myself, and I. I said I cannot tell any difference.

There are a couple guys on GT that got their panties in knots because they felt I had badmouthed their lasers and their eyeballs.

I suspect they overpaid for the green laser because they heard they were better...heehee.
 
#16 ·
1MOA@100yards=1/2MOA@50yards=1/4MOA@25yards

Does it make sense now?
Um, what does the position of the laser dot after firing have to do with anything? Properly set for x range, the front sight and laser dot are in alignment, in a fixed, mechanically held position, sharing the same point of impact. After the pistol is fired, due to recoil forces, the laser dot moves up expotentially higher from the target than the front sight due to it's greater distance from the muzzle (picture a 30°/60°/90° triangle laid on it's side); recoil then diminishes, allowing both the front sight and laser to then move down in the reverse direction, still in alignment, and ready to utilize while aiming at the target for any successive shots - as they were before.

Am I missing something?
 
#9 · (Edited)
I have dozens of Crimson Trace and Streamlight laser/lights on all my defense guns and a number of plinking guns.
Practice with them 3-4 times a week.

The last 5 days I've been shooting a Green Laser equipped 22 Mare's Leg.
Green because I'll probably be shooting this gun during the day.


The Red is fine for dark or low light, even in the house during the day.

The Green is very bright and can be seen during daylight but not much in bright Sunlight.
The Green can be TOO bright at night.

I have Red on all my defense guns.

Just minutes ago I was shooting my carry SIG P938.
Crimson Trace Red laser.
10 yards.



.
 
#13 ·
Just how accurate do you think you are going to be in a real situation? Well,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,probably not.
Unless something has changed a green laser can be traced back to you in low light.
Learn to shoot without sights.
There are reasons people say to get a pistol that feels natural in the hand and points naturally.

Happy shopping.
 
#18 ·
Your theory is flawed. Light travels at a constant 186,282 miles per second (in a vacuum), and is mechanically more accurate and takes less time to observe on target than the time that's required for your eyes to focus and realign both front & rear sights with the target.

If the set point of impact at a particular distance while shooting horizontal on a target as observed by sight and laser are identical, ballistics will only change as the targeting angle moves up and down - but that will take place no matter what sighting system is used. As recoil fades BOTH laser and sights move downward on the same plane as they return to target.
 
#19 ·
Red, green?

I prefer blue:



Wicked Lasers ARCTIC SPYDER III blue laser, power: 1 watt. It lights matches at a distance of 13 feet.

It's not firearm rated and that's probably not a good idea anyway as the light emitted from it will permanently blind you in .25 seconds.

Anyway, green is the easiest color for the human eye to see, which is why they make sense for daytime use, so I vote green.
 
#20 ·
OK my turn, I have no experience with green lasers, but I do have a Crimson Trace Railmaster pro red laser on my gen 3 G-22. Now mine is very accurate, and set up with the light laser concept for low light night operations. Now red or green both used accurately will hit a target, and this will spark debate I am sure, Thugs grow up learning green means GO and red means STOP. Most are thugging and bugging anyway its what they do, however, it seems funny to me that most not all bad guys see red and think "Geez I's about to get popped", and green comes from a toy, "so feet do your stuff", then again red or green, if the person behind the gun has it clearly on your chest, and it is zeroed in......................SUPRISE...........one slight squeeze of the trigger and ?!?
 
#21 ·
Glad see this thread. Recently bought a glock 23 G4. I plan to use it for the house and limited concealed Carry.

I was planning on mounting Crimson Trace Railmaster Pro. I couldn't decide on red or green laser.

It will more or less replace my Ruger SR9c with Crimson trace laserguard.
 
#22 ·
I think Mike-M's post was spot-on ( pun intended)...I have been a staunch advocate for CTC Lasers for about a decade now...I advise my CHL folks that every household should have a laser equipped platform...one of the often unspoken benefits is the "training" component. Using a laser during dry-fire practice is an economic, invaluable aid to developing a better trigger press. Now, with the availability of the green modules, for a modest increase in cost, [they] are my recommendation.
And, I cannot say enough about CTC...125% customer support!
 
#23 ·
Understand most of these lasers will not help you outdoors in the sunlight. Some say the green is easier to see in the daylight. I haven't found that much difference. And, the brochures will show a red beam (line) from the pistol to the target. Not so! There's no beam so there's only the dot on the perps chest. He'll never know its there. If you feel your life is in danger put it in
his eyes! Yes, a liberal will say a laser can injure one's eyes. So what! So will a bullet ruin his
life, you hope. He'll notice that laser in his eyes instantly and that may be just enough to
persuade him to go away.
I don't care for lasers that hang on the pistol. I have a G43 with the LaserMax Guide Rod Laser installed. Nothing hangs on the pistol and there's no adjusting required since the laser is coming our where the end of the original guide rod showed below the muzzle. I keep the G43 in a sticky mount next to my recliner. I don't pack it. I EDC a Shield sands a laser or my Sig P320 Compact. I do have a hanging weapon light/ laser (Hanging) on the Sig in a sticky mount on
my bed. When packing I remove the weapon light/laser. In short, I only have a laser for inside.
The laser will instantly allow exactly where the bullet will hit. So, I believe in a laser indoors or
in subdued light. In total darkness you may not be able to see your target. That's when a weapon light comes into play. No weapon light? One of several 700 to 900 LED flash lights
in you off hand will do nicely. These will blind the target.
G'luck in your quest.
Stay safe
Poli Viejo
 
#26 ·
Um, what does the position of the laser dot after firing have to do with anything? Properly set for x range, the front sight and laser dot are in alignment, in a fixed, mechanically held position, sharing the same point of impact. After the pistol is fired, due to recoil forces, the laser dot moves up expotentially higher from the target than the front sight due to it's greater distance from the muzzle (picture a 30°/60°/90° triangle laid on it's side); recoil then diminishes, allowing both the front sight and laser to then move down in the reverse direction, still in alignment, and ready to utilize while aiming at the target for any successive shots - as they were before.

Am I missing something?
No, you're not missing anything. If you are rapid firing youare not actually waiting to reacquire a front sight picture, you are squeezing off the next round as soon as you "feel" you are back on target. If you're firing slowly enough to reacquire a front sight picture you could also reacquire the red dot.
 
#28 ·
I have a red railmaster on my 30s and it works just fine for what I'm asking it to do. Its not for shooting during the day at the range. It's for at night, under pressure, just after waking up to help me put the gun on target. For that I think it works great and it may allow my wife, who doesn't shoot much, a chance to successfully defend herself if need be.
 
#30 ·
I love my Rail Master pro red laser, very accurate for me just point and shoot, and stays in place although I check the light laser and secure attachment frequently. But.....for some reason I just go through the Cr2 batteries more than I like.
 
#31 · (Edited)
I'm awaiting the green CT for a Glock 42! I researched hell out of the red/green choice and am confident that the green will provide quicker visual attainment than the red under a variety of environments. It better for two hundred and serious change.

And for the people who say that a laser is a gimmick, fad, unreliable......I had the red CT on my LCP, and once minor adjustments were applied I became very accurate using the laser with that little spitfire.
 
#33 ·
I have lasers on several of my pistols, some green and some red. I've found LaserMax Guide Rod Lasers exceptonal. They're available for some Glock pistols. (My G43 has one) The factory guide rod is replaced with the LaserMax guide rod so no adjustment is required and can't really come out of adjustment. Also, the take down lever is replaced (used to activate the laser) so you wind up with an extended take down lever to boot. Straight forward install procedure.
Good luck in your quest.
Poli Viejo
 
#34 ·
I just found this picture.
Unless there is smoke, humidity, dust, etc in the air you can't see the Red laser at night.

This us why I don't have Green lasers on my (after dark) defense guns.



I do have several Green lasers on guns I like to practice (laser shooting) during the day, and the G19 I leave in my car.

Today was the first time in about a week I didn't shoot using a laser equipped gun. Today I shot a SIG P938 using iron sights.
 
#37 ·
In the sudden action typical of most encounters, neither you or the bad guy will see the laser

If you have time, heck yeah, a laser speaks a warning that is understood in all languages

Also have the CT rail mount green, no complaints ... easy to see even in bright Sun, and the activation lever naturally meets up to your trigger finger.

A grip mounted / hand-squeeze activated laser would be best thou IMO
 
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#38 ·
A front sight is easier to find. This is not even debatable. At most a front sight is three feet in front of you compared to however far the threat is with a laser. If the threat is less than three feet away you're not using sights nor a laser.
 
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