Interesting. I'm not sure I understand how a laser could be slower than sights. I'm not saying it isn't, but I don't understand it. Slower than pure point shooting, I get that. Slower than sights is hard to imagine.
It's kind of like using too high a magnification on a scope.
You know, I think I have heard that somewhere before.
Laser grips are NOT a must. Some people benefit from them. Some people end up being much slower with them because they end up watching the dot more than watching what is going on or because they are waiting for the dot to settle (like rifle shooters with too much magnification in their scopes).
The first problem I called "watching" the dot, some say "chasing" the dot, Boats said "hunting" the dot and noted that if you are doing that, then you are not using the sights correctly, but time and time again I have seen people with laser sights do exactly that.
What I have found most amusing and disturbing is to see people try to take advantage of not having to aim with the iron sights and shoot from the hip or around a corner (IDPA) and then seeing them flounder as they realize the dot is not where they intended for it to be pointing and so they start visually looking for the dot that also tends to jump around as they are looking for it. They almost always find it, but by then they have lost 2, 3, 4, or 5 seconds. So...FAIL.
The other problem is when that can't get the activation to be on or consistent given their grip and so they try some hip-rock and shoot stance expecting the dot to appear on the target, they look for it, don't see it, and start looking around before realizing that it isn't because they have aimed so poorly that the dot isn't anywhere near the target, it is that the light isn't even on because the grip on the grip isn't such to activate the light. First the 2-5 second dot search occurs and then the functional assessment on the gun occurs and more time is gone. Again...FAIL.
People directly or more likely indirectly think that lasers will replace their need for training and/or practice and I can't help but to think that ad campaigns and salespeople promoting lasers are partially to blame. The basic concept is that you put the dot on the target and pull the trigger and you will hit the target. I have seen this promoted in several places. What they never tell you in the glossy gun rag ads or in the YT videos is that while it may be fairly easily once your learn the skills and so long as you stay proficient, that you first must learn and stay proficient with laser skills and you already need to be proficient with your gun skills. They don't tell you that seeing your laser dot dance all around on your target may keep you from firing because you can't seem to keep your gun properly aimed. They don't tell you that if you are nervous or scared in a gun fight, your dot is NEVER going to look calm and settled like it does on the video and that a tiny tremor on your end can make it appear that you have a completely unstable platform. They don't tell you that you still must have proper gun handling and trigger skills - that if you have a bad trigger yank or you have an anticapatory jerk, all the laser is going to do is to show it to you a split second before your bullet impacts in the wrong location (which is part of the reason many folks think lasers are good training tools...to help show problems). Nope, they indicate that lasers make things look so much easier and so much more accurate. In other words, the advertised benefits come without the unspoken costs and shortcomings.
Imagine Bob Munden being a revolver salesman and telling you how easy it is to shoot revolvers very fast and accurately at 50 yards without going into explaining all the years of training and millions of rounds fired he has under his belt. You can do amazing things with revolvers (not me) if you know how and are proficient. You can do some amazing things with lasers too if you know how and are proficient. Problem is, most people aren't.
