[G19 fan]

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.

 

[Mike-M]

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.

 

[Superzuki]

I have both, It;'s true green is a bit more costly. Green is usable in the daylight and my red disappears in sunlight.

 

[praetoriani]

I have both and green is better. I ended up putting my red laser on my truck gun and use the green on my EDC

 

[boilergonzo]

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.

 

[nikolaz]

Lasers are gimmicks. Learn to find your front sight. It is faster. Think about how far a laser will move during recoil versus the front sight.

 

[bustedknee]

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.

 

[RPMSTL]

Red lasers are invisible outside during the day.

I use one to measure distances for work and if it is even slightly sunny - the tool is useless.

 

[M2 Carbine]

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.



.

 

[M2 Carbine]

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.

I keep a Crimson Trace Green rail laser equipped G19 in my car 24/7.
Since, if I ever needed this gun it would probably be during the day I use the brighter laser.



.

 

[nikolaz]

I'll bite, how far?

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

Do you mean, the laser dot?

Yes, the laser dot. Say during recoil the front sight moves 3 inches. The laser dot is going to move a lot more than 3 inches. Also, a front sight is easier to find initially than a laser dot.

 

[Cpt.America]

Red lasers are invisible outside during the day.

That's not true! I can see my red laser during the day. If I get real close, squint my eyes really tight... I can usually spot it.

 

[LostinTexas]

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.

 

[NDcent]

Yes, the laser dot. Say during recoil the front sight moves 3 inches. The laser dot is going to move a lot more than 3 inches. Also, a front sight is easier to find initially than a laser dot.

I'll have an ounce of what you're smoking. :crazy:

 

[nikolaz]

I'll have an ounce of what you're smoking. :crazy:

[email protected]=1/[email protected]=1/[email protected]

Does it make sense now?

 

[DrewBone]

[email protected]=1/[email protected]=1/[email protected]

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?

 

[nikolaz]

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. That is the point. The laser dot moves more than a front sight during recoil so a front sight is quicker to reacquire because of what you said and the front sight is a lot closer to your eyes which also helps.

That one guy did not understand and automatically assumed drugs because he doesn't have a basic understanding of trigonometry. I tried using MOA over distance to help explain using firearm methodology.

 

[DrewBone]

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.

 

[DrewBone]

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.

 

[cadillacguns]

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 ?!?