laser sight, grip or rail?

I have a m&p full size 9mm and would like to add a laser sight. (crimson Trace). Any preference over the grip laser vs the rail add-on? I'm leaning towards the rail since I can use it with my other guns. Thanks.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Is the gun more for fun, home defense, CCW,etc?

A rail mounted laser has the advantage of placing the laser in line with the bore. It can (as you said) be mounted to multiple weapons, though that brings it's own headaches with re-zeroing.
Activation is not as ideal as with lasergrips, but depending on dedication to training can work alright.

Lasergrips are by far my preference. The activation is almost automatic, which is a big advantage for reactive low-light shooting. It doesn't mess with placement of a light on the rail, which I consider much more important than a laser for a LE or home defense handgun. The lasergrips also allow the use of most holsters, so if you CCW you will be less likely to have to find a new holster, and holsters in general will be more easy to find.

Either way, CTC is a good company and either system will serve you well with practice and training.

I really like the crimson trace rail master it is very well made and works very well. Looks like it was made for the gun.

There are pros & cons to both.

A rail laser can be used on multiple guns - pro. It also requires a special holster - con. It can throw the balance of the gun off. With a brand new gun it probably won't matter. You'll get accustomed to it.

A grip laser is easier to use - pro. Since I only handled one once I found the grip to be sort of uncomfortable. I use the medium palm swells on my M&Ps & the laser one felt bigger. (I could probably get used to it) - con

There are some rail mounted lasers (most) that also include a flashlight. That could be handy.

That CT Rail Master that jstanfield looks intriguing & I think they sell for about $150 for red & $240 for green.

I have CT laser grips on my 40C and really like it. It's very intuitive and feels pretty much non-existent in my hand. The pistol fits well into both OWB and IWB holsters without modification and lights up every time.

Save your money and spend it on trigger time and ammo. That will serve you better in the long run.

If you just have to have a laser, get one that comes on when the gun is gripped. The only job the trigger finger should do is get ready to press the trigger. Any other motion is wasted movement.

I am a big fan of lasers , and would like them on all of my guns, but only have them on a few. I would say the instinctive activation is best for a stressful situation. If you want to be able to use it during the day then you MUST get a Green laser! The red just cannot be seen in sunlight .

Laser Grip is what I have on my M&P40c and I could not be more pleased. The intuitive "on-off" feature will be most useful in a high stress situation, which is why I bought it. Either way, grip or rail, I bet you love it!

bassman,
I'd go with the rail mount mainly to see if you like them. It's not as big an investment as the grip laser and like you said it can go on other guns that have a rail, even a shotgun, AR, rifle or other pistol. I'd like to mount one on my bow if I can rig up a mounting system.

I like grip lasers

I do not care for lights or lasers (or anything hanging under my gun).

If your M&P has an external safety (as all mine do) - you can't mount a grip Crimson Trace Laser on it.

I have grip lasers on several of my guns and after proper alinement - I love them.

If I were to do laser I would get the ct grip.

Lasers, grip vs. rail

I have several CTC lasers, mostly on Kimbers, several full frame and one Ultra (small). I also have them on a Glock 26. All work great. The Kimber ones don't affect holstering, the Glock one (which fits in front of trigger guard) does.

I do have a couple of rail mounts. They work fine. Being in bore alignment is a Plus, as is being able to move it from gun to gun. Not auto activating is a Negative, as is the problem with no longer fitting the holsters you've acquired. Oh, another Negative, I have a Sig P238. When you hold the gun lower and aim with the laser and don't use the sights. I found you hit the target fine, but the spent cartridge also hits you in the face LOL.

All mine are red so tough to see in daylight unless you are close to your target.

SoCalDep said:

There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Is the gun more for fun, home defense, CCW,etc?

A rail mounted laser has the advantage of placing the laser in line with the bore. It can (as you said) be mounted to multiple weapons, though that brings it's own headaches with re-zeroing.
Activation is not as ideal as with lasergrips, but depending on dedication to training can work alright.

Lasergrips are by far my preference. The activation is almost automatic, which is a big advantage for reactive low-light shooting. It doesn't mess with placement of a light on the rail, which I consider much more important than a laser for a LE or home defense handgun. The lasergrips also allow the use of most holsters, so if you CCW you will be less likely to have to find a new holster, and holsters in general will be more easy to find.

Either way, CTC is a good company and either system will serve you well with practice and training.

Click to expand...

I own 2 CT LaserGrips and a CT rail light and could not agree more! Go with the LaserGrip. You will not be sorry.

Grip...for all the above reasons.

Well, I won a little competition today and got a gift certificate for a CTC product. Looks like I'll be adding a lasergrip set for my M&P!

My choice is neither. They make you look at the wrong thing!

You should be looking at the front sight!

These things slow you down. Seems like they would help, but they don't.

Short cuts to skill usually don't get you where you want to go.

Rpg said:

My choice is neither. They make you look at the wrong thing!

You should be looking at the front sight!

These things slow you down. Seems like they would help, but they don't.

Short cuts to skill usually don't get you where you want to go.

Click to expand...

I find that most of the time people make blanket statements, they are just wrong. They don't "make" you do anything. A lack of training and a reliance on the laser over proper tactics and techniques "results" in one looking "at the wrong thing".

I have been using lasers for around 13 years. I primarily train and shoot without the laser but in low light, when using the laser, I am substantially faster than with iron sights. People use the laser in the day and say it's slower...No ****. In the day you can see your sights well. In low light you can't.

One could argue for night sights. I could go on and on about low light, it's effect on vision, especially depth perception and close range vision making focus on sights while still maintaining minimal perception of a target, particularly a living one that is moving and reacting, but I'll make it short and sweet. It is EXCEEDINGLY difficult (note I don't say impossible...blanket statements are never good) to see night sights in a reactive low light environment. A laser, however, works. It just plain works...Well.

Now, as with any piece of equipment, training is key. Equipment is not a substitute for training. That said, good training and good equipment makes for a good result.

A light is (in my opinion) much more important than a laser. They both, however, have their place.

Now, as to some technique. I train and teach that when presenting the handgun, the shooter is always looking for the front sight, and always presenting the gun in the same manner (ie: isosceles or weaver stance with pistol in line with eye). As the handgun is presented to the target if the shooter sees the front sight (as in day light) then the focus shifts from target (ID) to sights. If the shooter sees the laser (usually in low light or indoors) then they are able to maintain a target focus for better evaluation of hit effectiveness and continued threat identification, while making issues of sight alignment and sight picture moot. As the pistol is presented into the field of view, the shooter keeps both eyes open and looks through the pistol (which is a see-through blurred image) at the target. If the laser dies, it's a simple transition to sights.

There are multiple drills that can reinforce this sights/laser transition.

Skill is good, but skill going up against skill and good equipment is gonna get smoked. Every. Time.

Lasers on pistols

Personally I don't bother with lasers for target shooting; iron sights work much better for me. I do have them on my CCW (Fighting) pistols though and train with them. If you are on your back after being knocked down, shooting while trying to dodge in-coming fire, etc. and doing this under low light or in the dark I think making a hit will be more likely with a laser than trying to find normal sights. I use C/T grip activated; trigger guard on auto's, grip mount on Revo's.
As to lights on rails, you are pointing a loaded gun at everything and everyone you scan(might not be good in a home invasion when you don't know where the "good" guys are) and giving away your position easier than the flash light & pistol method. My 2cts.ymmv....

http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-...-p-laser-sight-suggestions.html#post137149180
check this thread

SoCalDep said:

I find that most of the time people make blanket statements, they are just wrong.

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OK, now that's just funny right there and I don't care who ya are!

Even so, I agree; blanket statements rarely prove true.

However, there is a general issue with lasers. They tend to make people lazy. They give a false impression that it will be easier to shoot by just using the laser. By relying on the laser a shooter then becomes limited by that.

SoCalDep you are the exception. By your own admission the laser has limited application. You work hard on focusing on the sights and only rely on the laser in low light conditions. I would even bet that you're still looking, at least 60%, for the sights even in the low light and the laser is just being used as an assist.

Like I said earlier, if you have to have a laser, it must be one that is activated by a normal grip. Any additional action is bad and slows you down. The trigger finger should have only one job; activating the trigger.

"Skill is good, but skill going up against skill and good equipment is gonna get smoked. Every. Time." I completely agree with this statement. But, the best equipment means nothing if not used properly.