laser sight on your carry gun

I think a bad guy will see the laser on the gun rather than his chest. It's the gun that counts. The laser just makes the moment a little more startling for the bad guy.
 
Might also give him something to shoot at...

What are the legalities of pointing a gun at someone to scare them off?
 
@Koda94,

Not sure if any argument is going to convince you, but firearms are used all the time to prevent a crime without ever having to fire a shot. Just read American rifleman for plenty of examples. I'm not pulling the trigger unless I absolutely have to. It doesn't mean I'm not prepared to do so if I have to.

You can say the intimidation factor is a total myth. You can argue that batteries fail. My question is what is the downside to having an ADDITIONAL tool at your disposal? You mentioned giving the bad guy something to shoot at. If this is some sort of ambush situation, possibly, but simply taking pressure off the switch will turn off the light/laser. As for hunting for a laser dot, my laser is adjusted to land exactly on point of impact, or basically, right where my sights line up. For point shooting, it is a great confirmation of point of aim.

To each his own I guess.
 
Aaaah, the great laser/open sight debate, once again!.....i have no objections to the laser being attached to a pistol...someone else's pistol. In an up close and personal fight i have trained to use the pistol as an extension of my arm, pick up the front sight and target then go boom! In very low light conditions where the target is a shadow and the sights are non existant that same practiced pointing of the arm to center of mass is quite effective.
I issued pistols with night sights, i did not issue lasers, training focused on the aformentioned technique which did not include the use of additional brain cells to activate a laser and get it on a hostile target.
Unless constantlly training with the laser, something the average schmoe will not do, the only thing you get in actual use is the firer's eyes focused on the dot and attempting to bring it to a point to fire.
 
My question is what is the downside to having an ADDITIONAL tool at your disposal?
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No downside if you don't learn to lean on something that has a higher probability of failure. Unfortunatly too many people believe the TV ads, and movie scenes that make lasers look like the be all, end all to accurately shooting.
As for intimidation, if an assailant has a gun I'm not wasting time tryingg to scare him with a little dot that he may or may not even notice. If he does not display a gun, and is not imediatly on me, I am going to verbally warn him that I feel threatened while I prepare to draw.
In a home situation in a dark inviornment a super intense flashlight is much more of a deterrent. Blinding, and disorienting the subject. Not one mounted on my gun either. I'm not fond of covering someone I don't intend to shoot because my light is attached the my gun.
I can shoot quite well with supporting my gun hand by laying it wrist o er wrist of the hand holding the flashlight if need be. But I don't have to have the gun pointed at what I am searching with the light until needed.

That's just my choices, and meant as food for thought about relying on lasers as your primary aiming tool.
 
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In the end, you can always turn the laser OFF if you so choose. Nice to have choices isn't it? :) And with Crimson Trace, you don't have some big, blocky box hanging under your barrel.

I think the word FREEZE or STOP will startle most in the dark, but if they hear freeze then see the laser, it has extra impact. They will have an extra degree of confidence that you do indeed have a gun aimed at them, and are not just bluffing, especially if in the dark.
 
There is no laser sight on my carry gun. I am personally not a fan of lasers on guns. Lights yes - Lasers no. Night Sights - always. :D
 
Big fan of Laser sights here; especially those from CT with the front actuator. I have them on my 1911 and Smith 642. There was a time when I could easily focus on iron sights, whether they had tritium night sights or not. Sadly those days have passed, especially in low light situations or without my glasses on.

AFAIC, the only downside to red laser sights is that they really don't show up well in daylight(at least not beyond 3-7yds or so. My son just got the newer CT green laser grips on his LCR and WOW, what a difference. Much more visible in bright light!! I gotta switch over to those.

The only possible downside to them that I can see is they do need batteries, but hey, CT sends me new ones for free each year, whether I need them or not.
 
@Koda94,

Not sure if any argument is going to convince you, but firearms are used all the time to prevent a crime without ever having to fire a shot.
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And not a one of those were because of a laser beam


Folks, I get how a laser 'could' be used to intimidate someone. But you guys are watching too much TV and are missing the point... Its illegal to intimidate someone with a laser sight. If your not justified in pulling the trigger, your not justified in pointing the gun. The reason many cases end without a shot fired is because the threat ended when the gun was presented. Bad guys do not care what you use to aim with...
 
Koda94 said:
And not a one of those were because of a laser beam


Folks, I get how a laser 'could' be used to intimidate someone. But you guys are watching too much TV and are missing the point... Its illegal to intimidate someone with a laser sight. If your not justified in pulling the trigger, your not justified in pointing the gun. The reason many cases end without a shot fired is because the threat ended when the gun was presented. Bad guys do not care what you use to aim with...
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Probably beating this dead horse till its hamburger meat but...

When the laser is attached to a firearm and you already have the gun trained on someone, it can be a very real deterrent. No one is saying to use the laser sight to INTIMIDATE someone. You're the one missing the point. Just because you are justified to point the gun and pull the trigger, DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO PULL THE TRIGGER. A self defense situation will undoubtedly complicate your life even if completely justified. If the bad guy gives up and I don't have to pull the trigger, great. If the laser has even a small impact on convincing him to stop his aggression, then great. If not, it provides an additional sighting tool which CAN increase my probability of making good critical hits.
 
When the laser is attached to a firearm and you already have the gun trained on someone, it can be a very real deterrent. No one is saying to use the laser sight to INTIMIDATE someone. You're the one missing the point. Just because you are justified to point the gun and pull the trigger, DOESN'T MEAN YOU HAVE TO PULL THE TRIGGER.
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If a situation gets to the point I draw my gun, because the bad guy has some sort of deadly weapon, I am not waiting to see the assailants reaction! I'm also not going to be looking for a little dot I may, or may not see. That seems to be the point you are missing.
 
Had both CT grips and LaserMaxs on various self defense pistols. Never used them in a serious situation.

I see a lot of them installed on guns sold to elderly women who recently qualified for their concealed carry permits. All those little red dots dancing all over the target, the ceiling, the floor...OH MY!
 
My carry weapon is a Colt New Agent 45ACP came with Crimson Trace laser grips, Just a down & dirty pistol, trench sights, great firearm. Can switch the laser on or off. With the laser on just point and shoot. For a conceal carry 21' accuracy is what I expect , where the dot is, is where the bullet is going. It's not only deadly but fun to shoot. Never thought a 3" barrel could be that accurate. Love my NA.
 
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