Crimson Trace and CCW

[TxIronWolf]

I am one who does not buy into hype and find out as much as I can about a product before I buy it. I carry a 1911 Ulta Compact and have been looking into gett a set, but before I spend $330 on a set of grips I want to know everything I can about them. What are the good points and bad point of a laser sight on a CCW Personal Defense Weapon. I thank everyone for thier time and help now.

[SigShooter]

I've never heard anything bad about them. I listen to the podcasts and they're one of the advertisers, so I don't know if that's the whole story. Being a visible light laser, it will show you were the gun is aimed and it will also show the bad guy. This works well when the dot's on him, but if you're moving threw an area with your gun drawn, you might give away your position if it would be otherwise unrevealed. But for CCW purposes, when the gun is only drawn after the threat has revealed itself first, then you don't really have an issue.

If you think about it, so many shooting instructors will tell you to pay attention to your front sight to shoot accurately. However, during a life or death struggle, you will be looking at the threat by programming, and your front sight won't be important. The laser dot on the target acts like an extented front sight and takes advantage of your threat-orienented focus.

[tombogan03884]

I have not used one myself but, from what friends have told me, BAD POINT, uses batteries, batteries have limited lifespan, GOOD POINT, must robberies take place at close range and a laser site allows you to get a site when you have just been knocked on your a$$, or are in some other akward position that does not allow conventional siting. Also, using a laser site removes the site radius from the accuracy equation, your short barreled pistol will be just as accurate as one with a much longer distance between front and rear sites.

[Solus]

I am a proponent of laser sights.

As stated above, it allows you to put your front sight on the target itself.

I have read the statement about defensive shooting:   "If you have a good shooting stance, you are not moving enough and not using cover effectively".

Any time you cannot have a good two handed stance, the laser will give you a tremendous advantage.  Shooting around a barrier...like a doorway or corner in your home...it will allow you to get on target without bringing the weapon to eye level.  It provides the same advantage from any non-standard shooting position:  prone, on your back, across your body, turned looking over your shoulder behind you.

True, they do use batteries which can fail but you are no worse off with a failed laser than you would be with no laser and if you maintain them, they should be ready when you need them.

You still need to practice standard shooting techniques without the laser to maintain your trigger control skills and body indexing, but you will find adding the laser to your training session will be a big assist.

Your first impression will be that using a laser makes you a crumby shot.  That dot will be jiggling all over the place.  Of course it has not made your hold go to crap, it simply is showing you the facts...movement that you could not perceive with your normal sight picture.  I do believe you could take an accurate pulse by watching the movement of the laser dot on target....

Dry practice with the laser is embarrassingly revealing but allows you to work on better control.

Sight your laser so it's point of impact is the same as the one you choose for your normal sight allignment.  Some laser sights are not adjustable (LaserMax internal laser in a Glock, for example) but they are accurate enough for defense work as is.

Ideally, you would want a switch that would automatically turn on the laser when your trigger finger contacts the trigger, but I don't think that will be practically available.  I do think there is a model that senses the finger inside the trigger guard to turn it on and off.  You don't want it on until you are on target and your finger is on the trigger so a switch near or under your trigger finger extended before placement on the trigger would be good.  I avoid any off hand switch to turn the laser on because I don't thing a two handed grip is likely in a defense scenario.

In any situation where "point shooting" is called for, the laser makes it as close to fast aimed fire as you will get.

I used to practice "fast draw" with a Ruger Blackhawk with wax bullets in special cases using a powerful primer for propellant and a shirt on a coat hanger for "hip shots".  You could see where the wax bullets hit to check accuracy.  With the laser, you can see where it is when the shot would have gone off.

I have an internal LaserMAX installed in my Glock 21 and 23 and intend to install one in my 21SF. 

I am putting together a tactical 870 and intend to install a laser sight on it, a Viridian is under consideration.  Their green laser is easier to spot in all light conditions, particularly brighter light, compared to a red laser and they have models with a laser and a strobing light.  (they have a green laser and light combo that will mount on a pistol rail, but I prefer not to have a light mounted on a handgun).

Take care.



   

[Robin]

Hmm, let's see:
1. CT uses a grip-mounted switch. This beats any other activation method.
2. Agree on the "awkward position/aim" advantage. This is especially helpful with snubby revolvers.
3. Can also be useful as a training tool. Use during dry fire to see if you're pulling the shot.

However: always be mindful of falling into the trap of thinking hardware is a substitute for experience. $300 can buy 1000 rounds of .45 ammo. Use that ammo properly for training and you'll probably become a better shot with any CCW weapon than you would with just the Kimber and CT w/o any training at all.

[Sponsor]

[jaybet]

Having just installed our first laser on my wife's 686, I'm convinced that for personal protection or home protection it's the best way to go.

I can hold that pistol near my hip and keep the laser on a doorknob 20' away while I can see the ENTIRE ROOM...I'm not looking down my barrel at one man's center mass.  It allows you much greater scene awareness and the ability to fire from virtually any position.

[TAB]

I've gone back and forth when it comes lasesr on guns for sd.


I think they are a very good training tool as they give the shooter instant feed back on thier trigger control.

The reason why I don't like them is this guy named Murphy( we really need to find that bastard and whip his butt) If your so use to using them, what happends when they fail?  yes I know they don't fail often, but if your luck is anything like mine...

[SigShooter]

I've gone back and forth when it comes lasesr on guns for sd.


I think they are a very good training tool as they give the shooter instant feed back on thier trigger control.

The reason why I don't like them is this guy named Murphy( we really need to find that bastard and whip his butt) If your so use to using them, what happends when they fail?  yes I know they don't fail often, but if your luck is anything like mine...

It's still important to use your regular sights when training. The laser gives you more options, which is always helpful.

[TAB]

Thats true it does give you another option, but it is very hard to look at the sites when you are fixed on the dot.( trust me.)

[Michael Bane]

I bought a set of CT LaserGrips the week they became available and I have had them on my self-defense gun ever since. I believe a self-defense gun isn't complete without them. That's why I agreed to appear on CT's training video (with Todd Jarrett, Ken Hackathorn, Wes Doss and Julie Goloski) and waved any fee. Lasers are superb for:

1) "Broken"positions
2) Plaster. dust, glass, smoke in the air
3) Positions when you are under fire and would prefer not to even let a pinkie be exposed
4) There is a teeny tiny chance that the red dot will make the miscreant decide to reform, join the clergy and lobby for whirled peas

They don't replace practicing with sights, but basically give you an additional option. My bedside Sig 226 has LaserGrips, night sights and a SureFire X300...belt and suspenders. I will use ANY AND ALL tricks to win, because my butt is on the line. Use every advantage!

Michael B