Laser sight on a polymer handgun?

L

Logistar

New member
I bought a cheap laser sight ($30 at Wal-mart) today. I bought it to help my future daughter-in-law shoot better. I thought having the dot show her that she was off-target might help somehow (nothing else seems to help!). I also think it will show her jerking the gun downward when she pulls the trigger!

BUT... after installing it on a Ruger .22 semi-auto and playing around with it, I WANT ONE FOR MY HOME DEFENSE GUN! I see a lot of advantages if you need to use your gun at home. - Don't really need to align the sights, just place the dot and pull the trigger. My peripheral vision (watching for additional BGs to my left and right) is much better if I do not have to concentrate on aligning the sights. I can definitely get a good shot off more quickly using the laser sight.

Here's my question:

To install this laser sight, you clamp it down on the trigger guard. Obviously you want it tight. If it moves at all, you are off target and that could be bad. My Rugar has a metal trigger guard. - No problem there... BUT my 9mm semi-auto has a polymer trigger guard. Is there a good chance that tightening the laser sight firmly around that polymer trigger guard might cause it to crack or break?

Would you feel comfortable putting this laser sight on YOUR 9mm (polymer trigger guard) or would you try and find another type of mount (OR maybe avoid using a laser sight altogether)?

Thanks in advance! You guys are the best!
:p

Logistar
 
Logistar -
I tried one of those cheapie trigger guard mounted lasers a while back. It was sort of fun once I got it zeroed in, but the fun quickly went away 'cause the darn thing wouldn't stay zeroed, and it made a nasty mar on the trigger guard (allow frame).

I agree that lasers are useful as training aids, and can be otherswise entertaining at the range, but for duty use (including HD), you REALLY need one that is FIRMLY mounted to the pistol such as Laser Grips or rail mounted ( I have no experience with the laser in a recoil rod devices), the trigger guard mount is just too flimsy.

you mentioned a poly-framed HD pistol, so Laser Grips are probably out, so if your gun has accesory rails, you should be able to find something appropriate for not too much $$$. YMMV, good luck.
 
Guide rod replacement type allows use of same holster but they market for around $300. If your polymer pistol has molded in accessory rail thats the way to go.
 
I've been checking out this red dot sight gizmo that is very small and could be mounted as a replacement of the rear sight, but it costs $300+. The disadvantage as i see it is that you have to re-align to target every time you fire. (but isn't this the case every time?)

thought this might help...

New_comer:cool:
 
Mike, I was kind of afraid of alignment problems. Really when I think about it, the mount probably is just not sturdy enough - even if the polymer holds up. I can't afford to drop the gun, pick it up, then fire 3 or 4 shots before I realize I am way off target. (If I knew I was on target I wouldn't need the laser sights!)

Popeye, I will check a "guide rod replacement type" (not sure what that is exactly) but I don't have accessory rails as far as I know (I'll check when I get home tonight).

New_comer, I am going to check out the red dot sight thing. I have never actually seen one but I THINK it just puts a red dot on the target (kinda like the center of a crosshair???) -Kinda like a 0-power scope with a red dot in the middle?? I think that would still require you to use the "sights" anyway.

I still wanted my original sights available and the laser sight an option. Really for what I need maybe the laser sight is mostly useless. When I purchase my next gun, I will check to see if I can get a good laser sight on it anyway. - Just might be a while!

THANKS GUYS!
 
The guide rod replacements go where the guide rod is. On most pistols, the guide rod has a hole so it can 'see' out the front of the slide (look under the barrel). The guide rod replacements manage to fit a laser into this guide rod and usually use a modified takedown lever as a on/off switch.
 
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