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Crimson Trace Grips worth the money?
- Thread starter oneloudvous
- Start date
How could you guys ever hit a target if your batteries ran down, or in bright daylight?
Laser sights are usefull in limited situations, but they are no substitute for practice. Learn to point shoot your weapon WITHOUT the laser. Relying on an electronic device on a carry gun is not a good idea at all.
"I want it now" does not work with self defense guns-practice does.
I agree with Bill and will add that if you are proficient with point shooting, hip shooting and using the sights, you don't need a laser. That if you are proficient with a laser you are probably deficient without it and at a distinct disadvantage if it fails when you need it. If I refuse to trust a mechanical device like S&W's internal lock with my life, I sure as hell ain't gonna trust it to an electronic sighting device.
Besides, if I'm paying that much for grips, they better be stag, ivory or French walnut!
I have CT grips on a Sig P226 (9mm) and on a 1911 style Kimber (45acp).
My only 'issue' with them is that after I shoot 100+ rounds, the little lens covering the laser gets dirty easily and that thing can be hard to clean. A little cleaning with the swabs they give you works it out, but I've never found anything like those swabs available retail. I called CT and they mailed me a whole bunch of them free of charge.
Regarding RED versus GREEN: I have a green Viridian X5L laser that I mounted on my AR15 style rifle (M6A3 from LWRC). It is SUPER bright. It is also mountable on handguns and I did in fact put it on a gun I have my CT grips on -- the Sig P226. I was able to directly compare the two lasers, literally side by side.
The GREEN is much brighter, or, more correctly, more easily perceived by the human eye. The only worry I'd have with green is that it may be too bright when used in a DARK situation. At night, if you bounce the green beam off a wall close to yourself, you'll hurt your own nightvision. Also, others have commented that GREEN at night is quite the (temporary) blinder -- if flashed in someone's face. I can believe that.
To my knowledge, GREEN is not available from Crimson Trace. It may be more difficult for it to be so, in fact, due to the greater complexity in the laser construction and the additional battery power needed.
My only 'issue' with them is that after I shoot 100+ rounds, the little lens covering the laser gets dirty easily and that thing can be hard to clean. A little cleaning with the swabs they give you works it out, but I've never found anything like those swabs available retail. I called CT and they mailed me a whole bunch of them free of charge.
Regarding RED versus GREEN: I have a green Viridian X5L laser that I mounted on my AR15 style rifle (M6A3 from LWRC). It is SUPER bright. It is also mountable on handguns and I did in fact put it on a gun I have my CT grips on -- the Sig P226. I was able to directly compare the two lasers, literally side by side.
The GREEN is much brighter, or, more correctly, more easily perceived by the human eye. The only worry I'd have with green is that it may be too bright when used in a DARK situation. At night, if you bounce the green beam off a wall close to yourself, you'll hurt your own nightvision. Also, others have commented that GREEN at night is quite the (temporary) blinder -- if flashed in someone's face. I can believe that.
To my knowledge, GREEN is not available from Crimson Trace. It may be more difficult for it to be so, in fact, due to the greater complexity in the laser construction and the additional battery power needed.
Quote:
Bill, respectfully, you are just plain wrong. Saying that lasergrips are only useful in limited situations is very untrue. You are risking misleading people and that is unfortunate.
No hes not. Hes just pointing out, as even Vickers says, that Laser grips are just another tool in the toolbox. Bills quote bears repeating:
"Laser sights are usefull in limited situations, but they are no substitute for practice. Learn to point shoot your weapon WITHOUT the laser"
They aint a crutch, they are an adjunct to a person that knows how to use a handgun without them.....
WildidontownanylasergripsAlaska TM
I must agree with this
Bismarck357
New member
Friend, I can get them custom made for less then $250! Drop me a line and we'll see if I can't save you some $$$$$.
Crimson Trace For SD
The wife has the Crimson Trace Grips on her 642 and its a great tool for SD. I don't care one bit if it doesn't make her a better shooter, it won't as it's a crutch. All I really care about though is when the time comes that she can hit the BG center of mass even in the dark whether its a home invasion or in the mall parking lot. For that purpose they are definetly worth it and would be a valuable addition to any concealed carry gun as well.
The wife has the Crimson Trace Grips on her 642 and its a great tool for SD. I don't care one bit if it doesn't make her a better shooter, it won't as it's a crutch. All I really care about though is when the time comes that she can hit the BG center of mass even in the dark whether its a home invasion or in the mall parking lot. For that purpose they are definetly worth it and would be a valuable addition to any concealed carry gun as well.
Took my SP101 with CTC to the range yesterday.
At ten yards, in sunlight, the red dot was barely visible against the orange circle at center, and virtually invisible against the white paper.
OTOH, it works very well at indoor ranges, and in the dark.
When it is visible, it is helpful, both for training, and for hitting a target. However, it may not always be visible. (Also, you have to remember to switch it on at bottom of grip, and then grip it properly with middle finger. With the length of my fingers, this is a bit of a chore, since my middle finger is long enough that it floats a little in front of most front straps. For me to use the CTC, it actually takes a bit of mental effort, and a finger move similar to playing guitar...)
But I do think they are worth the money, so long as you train around their limitations. You really do need to know how to use the sights, too, though.
At ten yards, in sunlight, the red dot was barely visible against the orange circle at center, and virtually invisible against the white paper.
OTOH, it works very well at indoor ranges, and in the dark.
When it is visible, it is helpful, both for training, and for hitting a target. However, it may not always be visible. (Also, you have to remember to switch it on at bottom of grip, and then grip it properly with middle finger. With the length of my fingers, this is a bit of a chore, since my middle finger is long enough that it floats a little in front of most front straps. For me to use the CTC, it actually takes a bit of mental effort, and a finger move similar to playing guitar...)
But I do think they are worth the money, so long as you train around their limitations. You really do need to know how to use the sights, too, though.
They can make her a better shooter. CT a real good tool to use when practicing trigger control especially shooting DA. Lets you see just how shakey you are when squeezing or tells on you for squeezing other hand muscle`s while your squeezing trigger. Dot will be pulling,pushing. IMO, they`re worth the money.I don`t care one bit if it makes her a better shooter, it won`t as its a crutch.
A friend's wife had them added to her S&W Chief's Spl. Her proficiency increased 1000%! She needed to make hits at 'across the bedroom' range and the CT sights allow her to do that. The reality is that she's not going to do the practice needed to become instinctively accurate in the dark...it's just not going to happen. The CT grips give her the help needed.
That said....I found that when shooting with them, they told me a lot about what was actually happening when I shot double action...they revealed a twitch to the left when I shot that I'd not been aware of.
I don't have a pair on any of the guns that I use...including the Chief's Spl that sits on my night stand, but to deny their usefullness is pointless. Our GI's in the Middle East are making good use of them in daily, intense, combat situations. Looks to me like that is the ultimate test.
Regards, Rodfac
That said....I found that when shooting with them, they told me a lot about what was actually happening when I shot double action...they revealed a twitch to the left when I shot that I'd not been aware of.
I don't have a pair on any of the guns that I use...including the Chief's Spl that sits on my night stand, but to deny their usefullness is pointless. Our GI's in the Middle East are making good use of them in daily, intense, combat situations. Looks to me like that is the ultimate test.
Regards, Rodfac
Crutch vs Tactical Advantage
If you become dependent upon the laser to the point that you can't use open sights or point-shooting techniques effectively, then perhaps the laser is a crutch.
I do find it easier with a laser, indoors, to put rounds near COM with a snubby at 25 yards. At ranges inside 10 or 15, I don't see an accuracy gain, but acquisition speed is marginally faster with the laser. Again, that's at the range, with stationary targets.
Tactically speaking, though, the laser allows one to keep a much better scan going, with focus on the bad guy vs the front sight. Practice point shooting enough that you can get in the ball park with the little dot, and it's easy to move the little dot to COM or whatever you want to hit, all while still keeping a better level of situational awareness than can be maintained while focused on a front sight.
If you become dependent upon the laser to the point that you can't use open sights or point-shooting techniques effectively, then perhaps the laser is a crutch.
I do find it easier with a laser, indoors, to put rounds near COM with a snubby at 25 yards. At ranges inside 10 or 15, I don't see an accuracy gain, but acquisition speed is marginally faster with the laser. Again, that's at the range, with stationary targets.
Tactically speaking, though, the laser allows one to keep a much better scan going, with focus on the bad guy vs the front sight. Practice point shooting enough that you can get in the ball park with the little dot, and it's easy to move the little dot to COM or whatever you want to hit, all while still keeping a better level of situational awareness than can be maintained while focused on a front sight.
Madcap_Magician
New member
I love them. They're a great training tool for new shooters, you can see exactly how your point of aim is wavering and where you screw up on the trigger pull.
That being said, I don't think you should teach with them as a consistent device, because it's awful easy to start relying on it.
That being said, I don't think you should teach with them as a consistent device, because it's awful easy to start relying on it.
kidcoltoutlaw
New member
Get the
Free video it make some good points. like with them you don't have to line your eye up with the sights,
Thanks,Keith
Free video it make some good points. like with them you don't have to line your eye up with the sights,
Thanks,Keith