Should I Get A Laser?

For a LEO the intimidation value of a laser sighted weapon is alone worth the money spent. Most criminals recognize what the laser dot means and what is going to happen next if they do not cease their acitivity immediately. It can de escalate a potential shooting situation quickly.
 
Moderators,

I have recieved great advice, and am no longer in need of this forum. I hereby ask that you delete it, as I have no more use of it.
 
IMO opinion lasers don't serve most shooters well because they will not train adequately to know that they are (at very best) a secondary aiming tool.

A laser could get the novice to somewhat experienced shooter killed due to over reliance and over confidence.
 
I actually put a laser on my CCW. I know how to use the sights of the gun, because if I didn't, I wouldn't have been able to pass the academy. I think that the laser will actually help out in situations, such as me waking up in the middle of the night, and not being able to aim properly because I am still half-way asleep.
 
It's (still) a free country. Buy a laser for your handgun if you want one and don't get one if you don't want one. Do whatever you want, it is your life that's going to depend on how open or close minded you choose to be. I have 6 sets of Crimson Trace lasergrips. I have them for every single gun I conceal-carry. I can not imagine a real-life self-defense situation where I would NOT want a lasergrip sighting system on my handgun. Some of the objections posted in this and other related threads are just plain ridiculous. While I respect the right of each forum member to have his or her own opinion, I do not even remotely see the logic behind many of these posts that object to lasergrips. Some of these posts remind me of the people who say that they are not worried about recoil preventing them from quickly and accurately getting off follow up shots since they plan to knock the bad guy out with the first shot. Yeah, whatever dude.

I do have the utmost respect for the opinions of Bill Wilson, Ken Hackethorn, Michael Bayne and many, many other firearms training experts who endorse the use of Crimson Trace lasergrips on self-defense handguns.
 
Are you expecting trouble from the Klingons or the Romulans?

If so, maybe you just need to get Scotty to beam you up.

Long before the laser was invented, people were winning gunfights with standard sights. Some of which were pretty small compared to what is on a cop's duty weapon today.

All the tactical duty gear in the world won't make up for poor training and poor skills.
If you want this doodad go ahead and get one. But you would be better off spending the money on more ammo and training.
 
All the tactical duty gear in the world won't make up for poor training and poor skills.
Click to expand...

You're absolutely right. On the other hand, all the training in the world won't help you see a set of iron sights in the dark.

I can see several situations where a laser would be handy. Other than conditions with poor visibility, what if you get in a scuffle and your glasses are knocked to the ground or you can't bring the firearm up even with your line of sight to aim properly? The ability to plant a shiny red dot on your target in any of those cases would be invaluable.
 
I'll throw in my two cents... :)

If I was a PERP, and I was seeing red dots in or around a room or building that I was in or near, and I KNEW the authorities were looking for me, you can bet your butt that I'd be Looking MYSELF over for any hint of those lasers touching me so I didn't get shot.

I see it as a tool to distract the Perp. Since you cannot feel them, and they give off no ambient light, the perp will be more concerned with not getting a dot placed on himself than he will with concealment or his surroundings.

Most perps are dumb, and many cannot concentrate on too many things at the same time...

If it helps to confuse or to increase the Perp's chances of movement or screwing up then I say use it! It's also a secondary aiming aide and that's a bonus as well...

Glad I don't do that for a living!
 
Long before the laser was invented, people were winning gunfights with standard sights.
Click to expand...

and long before guns, people were winning with swords and axes...it doesn't mean you can't spend "YOUR" hard earned money on something thats technologically advanced.
 
If I was a perp, I would huddle in the darkness and follow your red dot back to you and blow a hole in you too.

Which is also why I don't care much for lights mounted on guns either....

Mounted lights and the Harries flashlight technique work great on the range....
But bad guys, who do not keep up on the latest techniques and training tend to do what they were told to do fifty years ago. Aim at the light.
Now, if you hold your light out to your side, you have less to worry about than these Chairborn Rangers with their tacticool gear.

Reality check, if its so dark you need a laser to hit what you are shooting at, you could wind up in trouble for shooting a target you can't properly identify.

And as for swords and axes, if it still maims, kills or destroys its not obsolete, no matter how much somebody who is hoping to make a buck off the buyer wants you to beleive.
 
If I was a perp, I would huddle in the darkness and follow your red dot back to you and blow a hole in you too.
Click to expand...

thanx :rolleyes:

But bad guys, who do not keep up on the latest techniques and training tend to do what they were told to do fifty years ago. Aim at the light.
Now, if you hold your light out to your side, you have less to worry about than these Chairborn Rangers with their tacticool gear.
Click to expand...

and you're an expert on the matter? :rolleyes:

the fact is, a laser/tac light combo is used to spot the so called attacker in the DARK. without it, I wouldn't see them. So I wont heed your advice and will continue to use light in a dark spot.
 
Lasers have their place. Respectively, one should understand the purpose of their laser, and keep it within those limits. A laser does NOT replace the ability to sight your weapon the way it was intended to be. A lot of people get it as a "speed modifier" so-to-speak. This is a mistake. Relying on the red dot means you won't be relying on honed skill under conditions that require it. I have a laser, don't get me wrong. It's on my home defense handgun. The purpose being, at 3AM coming out of a dead sleep, the red dot stands out on target like a pimple on the prom queen even with the accompanying spotlight in confined spaces, where blurry-eyes and glo-sights make for straining to see and stray rounds. Those are the conditions a laser was meant to fill the gap of for me, and I leave it in that catagory.

And as for swords and axes... :D I have those too. Long-time collector/practitioner of medieval weaponry. They still work well! Bit messy though.
 
i uae a laser to practice trigger control
Click to expand...

I use one to practice instinctive point of aim. I don't actually have a LASER sight on any of my weapons... When I'm working nights and doing my rounds (every other week on is nights) I occasionally bring my IR temperature gun that has a LASER on it. I'll pick an object, point and "shoot" to see if I can "hit" the target without using sights. Instinctive shooting is a necessary skill in a QCB type situation. I think a weapon mounted LASER could be used for the same sort of practice. Sounds like Hogdogs is a natural at instinctive shooting. I have a longbow and recurve as well, although I haven't picked up either in quite some time:(
 
I know this is an older thread, but this type of thing scares me the most when shooting in low light conditions.

http://www.kentucky.com/513/story/971476.html
WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. -- A man who thought there was an intruder in his house shot and killed his fiancee the day before they were to be married, police said Friday.

"Right now everything points to a tragic accident," Police Chief Kevin Brunelle told The Associated Press, adding investigators were awaiting forensic results.

John Tabutt, 62, told investigators he got his gun when he thought he heard an intruder, then fired at a figure in the hallway, according to Brunelle. It was Tabutt's live-in fiancee, 62-year-old Nancy Dinsmore, who family members say he was going to marry Saturday. Tabutt told authorities he thought she was next to him in bed the whole time.

A message left for a phone number listed for the house was not returned.

Brunelle said no charges have been filed against Tabutt, adding the information he provided has been verified and he appeared "very distraught."

Tabutt was "very concerned about her well-being," standing by while she was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, Brunelle added.

The couple planned to wed in a small ceremony Saturday at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Winter Springs, Dinsmore's son-in-law Scott Sposato, of Vero Beach, told the Orlando Sentinel.

"They loved each other," he said. "It was quite apparent."

Tabutt called 911 shortly after 2:30 a.m. Friday, moaning and sobbing, the newspaper reported.

"I thought I had an intruder in the house," he told the emergency dispatcher. "Honest to God, she looks dead."

He then thought he heard her take a breath.

"Hang in there, Honey. Hang in there," he said.

Winter Springs is about 15 miles north of Orlando.
Click to expand...

I can see how a laser would work for shooting accurately at an IDENTIFIED target, but a flashlight is still necessary.
 
The laser is like everything else on your belt, it is a tool for you to use as long as you have and maintain good marksmanship skills as well. I have Crimson Trace on my sig226 357Sig and my backup S&W 340PD and highly recommend them. Especially on a BUG they can increase your effective range easily. I rely on my Streamlight for target Identification and have no gun mounted flashlights.
 
My department has sent out new regs, and they say that we are now allowed to put a laser on our service weapons. I don't know if it would be a good idea to get a butt mounted laser, because if I am going into a house, I might accidentally push the button, and give away my location to the person inside.
Click to expand...

First off, Handguns do not have butts.

Secondly, if you are startled, and suddenly find yourself needing your laser to help you defend yourself, do you really think that you will have time to be able to push a switch??

Order a free copy of Crimson Trace's Training DVD. That will then help you decide if a laser is for you or not. It will also show you how to properly use one in tactical situations.

Just go to this web page, and fill out the form:

http://www.crimsontrace.com/Home/GetACatalog/tabid/265/Default.aspx



--
 
All the tactical duty gear in the world won't make up for poor training and poor skills.
If you want this doodad go ahead and get one. But you would be better off spending the money on more ammo and training.
Click to expand...

All the aforementioned training doesn't make up for not being able to see the sights on a J-frame (or other pistol) in dim light, or for eyes that don't see as well as they used to.

In spite of your strong opinion, a CT Laser grip most certainly does. In spectacular fashion, I might add, in dim light or most indoor environments---like a parking garage, stairwell, etc. A laser dot is, after all, simply a sight that you can see on your target. If light conditions are too bright for it, I can probably see my sights.

I think I'll stick with my Doodads.

Just my thoughts on the matter.
 
Last edited:
LanceOregon>> Respectfully, the way mine is set up--when I cup with my off-hand, my thumb is perfectly positioned to toggle on my light/laser rig, which was exactly the way I intended it to be when I built the mounts to begin with. So yes, I'll have you (the hypothetical perp) lighted and dotted every time I need to in a home invasion situation.

To further, I'll just echo Nnobby45, as well as what I've already said. When it comes to close-quarters, low/no light, and coming out of sleep, I go with my doodad combo willingly. I have my light and sight mounted. No fuss. I can keep a two-handed grip for control, and I can see that bright red dot a whole lot better than glo-dot tridium sights at O'dark-thirty while otherwise tryign to sight instinctive or siloetted (sp) only semi-supported with an off-handed mag-light and sleepy eyes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top