I am looking to put a light laser combo on my M&P full size .45.
Some of the pricing is blowing me away. I pulled the trigger on a Sigtac light the other day and ending up returning. I could not dial in the laser reliabley.

This is a HDW; I want my wife to be able to practice, practice and practice again with it. So I would prefer a green laser as I have an outdoor range at my hunt club.

Any suggestion on what to look at would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe

If cost is an issue, perhaps you could just get a green laser, with no light. In peeking at Crimson Trace's web site, there is currently a $100 difference between the two.

Universal Fit Laser Sights and Lights | Official Crimson Trace

(I don't have a laser myself.)

Cost is not the issue. Just shocking to see that a possible better light/laser combo is upwards of $340 - $370.00. That is half the price of the gun.

U Boat. No question. (Surefire X300U or X400U, which ever it is that is the combo.)

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NHI, 10-8.

I'm not a fan of gun mounted lights. When searching your house, you're covering everything with the muzzle if the light is mounted on the gun.

Lasers have their place, but substituting for proper use of the sights is not one of them.

Crimson Trace makes the best laser by far. Yes, you'll pay $300 for it, but you'll be happy you did. For it to be effective for defense, it must come on when the gun is gripped with a normal firing grip. The last thing you want in a tense situation is to fumble for some tiny switch.

This is why I recommend practicing with the sights first and using the laser as a back up. If the batteries die, and you haven't practiced with the sights, you're in trouble.

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Freedom isn't free.

The Surefire X400/X400U are great lights but they are very expensive. I have a Streamlight TLR-2 and TLR-2G and like them both. A couple quick thoughts...

The laser is an excellent tool but one of the worst things one can do with a laser is to train to use it as the primary sighting system.

During daylight, iron sights are faster. It doesn't matter if you're using a red or green laser...a trained shooter will be faster with irons. The laser makes very little difference in overall accuracy unless one has mastered trigger control, and I don't consider the laser an aid to accuracy as much as an aid to speed in lower light conditions. In low light and most indoor conditions, it doesn't matter...red or green... both will be clearly visible. Thus I generally recommend red as it's significantly cheaper, more reliable over a greater range of temperatures, and in the case of the Streamlight, you get a brighter light (more important) with a red as opposed to a green laser. There are times, places, and people who will benefit from the green laser, so it does have its place, but the question one must ask is whether it's worth the slight and specialized advantage over red.

Another consideration is switching. Both Surefire and Streamlight offer pressure switches for their lights. I am a firm believer in this method of activation over a manual toggle-system on the light itself. Both systems can work with proper training, but I strongly feel pressure switches are more intuitive, versatile, and much more likely to be used under stress compared to a light-mounted switching system.

My duty gun has a set of CTC lasergrips and a Surefire X300U with pressure switch. I have my TLR-2 on a demo gun and like it a lot but don't have a holster for it so I don't carry it. My TLR-2G is mounted to an AR.

This times ten, unless the light is on a rifle. Not a fan of lasers either, but I suppose they could be of use to someone who doesn't train a whole lot, like my wife.

Having been a marine and through extensive training I do not worry about myself. Just trying to give my wife and daughter an advantage if the time ever comes.
I appreciate all your input.

Streamlight on a bottom railed gun, by all means.

I use a Streamlight Tlr-4 on my FS M&P. It is easy too use and holds zero. I have a handheld light next too it, but it is nice having the option of the light on the pistol.

This is an admirable thought. In that same vein I took my wife to a 4 day handgun class. She was amazed at how much she learned and had a really good time there.

I use a laser all the time when teaching. It shows dramatically how important trigger control is. The laser is only an advantage if you have good trigger control. If you don't, you'll pull the barrel off line as you attempt to shoot.

So, by all means, get the laser. Just don't fool yourself that a laser will make them better shots, it won't. More importantly, get those women out to the range and have them shoot. Also, do some dry practice with them. This is how they gain the advantage they need.

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Freedom isn't free.

Ended up settling on a TLR2; I agree with the trigger control. A laser can definitely speed up that part of the training.