Crimson Trace Laser

Hi from Ohio! I am a new gun owner and shooter. My previous experience is a cap gun when I was a kid. LOL I bought a S&W MP 380 EZ shield. I have taken a few saftely class lessons and have gone to the range several times. Would a Crimson Trace Laser be a benefit to me? Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

How are you shooting with the sights that came with it?

My eyes are 73 years old, and a laser or red dot sight benefit me a great deal. My old eyes have a hard time focusing on the front sight and still seeing the target. With a laser, you only have to focus on the target, with both eyes. It also makes it much easier to make "from the hip" shots.

However, lasers can be pretty hard to see in sunlight. You might say lasers aren't too hot in the sun. (Pun intended)

It's best to first learn to shoot with the iron sights, then graduate to a laser.

Keep practicing with the sights. Start close, 5 to 7 1/2 yards. You need to learn to shoot before going to a laser.

I would also suggest a laser trainer cartridge, one that emits a laser on every trigger pull. Practice with this in your home. This is also good to practice instinctive self defense shooting. Don't use the sights just look at the target and fire.

Another good idea is put a dime on the slide and dry fire practice keeping the dime from falling off.

Once you can shoot proficient then a laser can help in self dense situations.

One thing a laser can do is show how bad your flinching. It won't help you shoot if you can't.

This M&P 357c has the Crimson Trace laser back strap installed. These work very well

A laser is of enormous benefit to a new/novice shooter . . . . Especially during practice

Since the laser lets you "SEE" how much movement you really have during the trigger pull, it helps you oncentrate on keeping the dot steady

Students with Laser equipped firearms improved their trigger control dramatically faster than students with out lasers.

Bourbon&Bullets said:

Hi from Ohio! I am a new gun owner and shooter. My previous experience is a cap gun when I was a kid. LOL I bought a S&W MP 380 EZ shield. I have taken a few saftely class lessons and have gone to the range several times. Would a Crimson Trace Laser be a benefit to me? Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

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I too am new to gun owning. I have the BodyGuard 380 with Crimson Trace laser. I decided that I would not use the laser until I got to the point where i could repeatedly hit my target using the iron sights. Ive been to the range about five times and am just now getting to the point where I'm close to trying the laser. Not quite though. I also checked to see if the laser was aligned with the iron sights without any ammo and it is way off. So before I start using it I have to adjust it.

I have a lot of military training and have shot competitive handgun matches for over 30 years. My family and I have CT lasers on every gun we carry defensively. I could go on and on but let me just share this quote from a man many of us will recognize.

Quote by Larry Vickers:

Visible Lasers & CTC Lasergrips
As many of you know I am a consultant for Crimson Trace Lasergrips. I am sure some of you will quit reading right now expecting this to be a “puff piece” talking about how great they are and not admitting any downside. Those of you in that category certainly don’t know me very well. The following is the reality of visible lasers & CTC Lasergrips according to Larry Vickers with no punches pulled.

I used to think, like many others, that pistol lasers were a joke. Fortunately for me I have not had to eat as much crow over this topic as my good friend Ken Hackathorn but I have eaten my fair share. After giving them an honest assessment here is what it really boils down to: a laser on a pistol offers much the same advantages as red dot reflex sights on a carbine or SMG. Under stress shooting scenarios they make shooting a handgun a much easier task; they are a very useful tool in the toolbox.

I highlight CTC lasers in my night fire portion of my handgun instruction along with night sights and white light principles and techniques. At night and in conditions of limited visibility they are nothing short of awesome; they make accurate handgun shooting easier than any other sighting system currently on the market. Don’t get me wrong, night sights and white light have their place but a visible laser at night rules. Period. Anyone who has had one of my classes or been taught by Ken Hackathorn can attest to that. They dramatically improve the shooters ability to get accurate hits at night. Of course like anything else visible lasers have pros and cons and we will highlight those in detail.

1) Where and when to use lasers – a rule of thumb is any time you have any degree of difficulty seeing your pistol sights then a visible laser will be an advantage. For instance coming into a building from outside even during the day the laser will be of value indoors. Out in bright daylight I prefer my iron sights and find the laser a bit of a distraction. Anytime you combine low or reduced visibility with shooting on the move or unconventional shooting positions the laser is a distinct advantage. Police have found that visible lasers to be a distinct advantage while using a shield; that would fall into the unconventional shooting position category mentioned above. They are also excellent training aids for watching shooter trigger control as any movement during the trigger squeeze will show up on target. When first using the laser shooters will try and eliminate all movement and early on this can cause shooters snatching or jerking the trigger. Once you learn to accept your wobble zone (which is now more visible due to the visible laser on target) then fast and accurate shooting comes more naturally. Once mastered you can shoot faster and more accurate under low light conditions than you ever could with regular pistol sights or even night sights for that matter.

2) Special Considerations with lasers – As a battery operated device occasionally they will need new batteries. Crimson Trace advertises a 4 hour continuous run time on their laser grips. That is sufficient for most use as I can attest; I have not had to change any batteries to date. Oil, solvents, water and dust can all play a part in making the visible laser less than 100% functional. Because of this they do occasionally need maintenance and cleaning. I know that is a shocker to many but it is probably a good idea once in awhile to make sure your pistol is properly cleaned, lubricated, and maintained. That would include your visible laser aiming device. I am a believer in having your laser separate from your white light for a couple reasons. You will always have an enhanced night fighting capability even when your white light is removed and you can have serious issues with retaining zero depending on the light/laser mounting system. For these reasons and others I prefer Crimson Trace Lasergrips over accessory rail mounted light/laser units. One downside is CTC does not make Lasergrips for every service pistol on the market so depending on your gun you may not have an option.

3) Durability and reliability – CTC has sold thousands of M9 Beretta Laser Grips to the US Military. They have been received with overwhelming positive feedback. Remember the M9 does not even have night sights so the Lasergrips add a low light capability that simply did not exist before. This is a huge advantage and many of the troops appreciate it. The visible laser is also very useful for crowd control as the “red dot” seems to cross all language and cultural barriers. As we know combat is the ultimate test bed and CTC has taken lessons learned in the sandbox and is moving forward with a true milspec M9 Lasergrip: water and dust proof. It is being developed as this is written so it is too soon to project a date when they will be available.

My personal favorite CTC Lasergrips are the S&W J frame versions (every J frame on the planet should have them; it is nothing short of a revolutionary shooting aid on that gun), the model 401 M1911 version, and the M9 Beretta Lasergrips. I use and endorse all three of these. That is not to say these are the only ones worth using just that they are my favorites. Another little trick is to send the plastic Lasergrips to David Bowie (not the singer) at Bowie Tactical Concepts Home Page for his superb stippling. This makes them less slippery and because of the way Dave stipples them it actually enhances the appearance of the grips. I was the first to start this trend with David and I would not use a set without it. Highly recommended.

I will close this by saying if you have not tried a visible laser you should. Especially if CTC makes a pair of Lasergrips for your favorite blaster. Remember they are meant to augment the standard pistol sights, not replace them. They are simply another tool in the tool box.

I have a Crimson Trace on my concealed carry gun and one other. These lasers are a great help to me. If you wish to shoot without them you can simply switch them off. The biggest benefit I see is that they can get you on target real fast with either hand and the gun will put the bullet very close to the laser spot. Can't ask for more than that.

I am also a new gun owner and also bought a Crimson Trace GREEN laser for my pistol.

My first trip to the range I found that I could shoot without using it.....even though it has the activation pad on the grip.

I fired a bunch of rounds with the iron sites alone and then my son shot some with the laser.....I was shocked at how I could watch the bullet hit at the laser....LOL

Seems like there is a 50/50 split on whether its a good thing to have or not.....depends on who ya talk to.

Gonna leave mine on and see how it works out.

The pistol grip activation pad is nice and also a pain at the same time.....nice because there is no on/off button to worry about....its always READY to go.

But then if you want to shoot without it, unless you can grip without activating it, no option to turn it off.

My biggest issue right now is trying to figure out if I can use my new Hogue beavertail grip with it....or not.

We have lasers on all our defense guns, pistols and rifles. If you want to try their effectiveness get a cheap pencil laser and tape it on your pistol. Make sure it is empty, make sure it is empty, make sure it is empty, and walk around your house at night. When you see a lamp shade or ?? pretend it is a bad guy and shoot it. Try this on a bunch of fake badguys w/ and w/o the laser. Next go to the range so you can actually shoot. Set a target at 20 ft, hold your gun at low ready, bring it up, and shoot as fast as you can. I shot a box of 50 that way once w/ the laser. Then turned it off. Using the iron sights was so old school and slow for me.

I have the 9MM EZ and put a Crimson Trace red laser on the rail. Getting up there in years and have had to wear progressive bifocals for a long time. I have a lot of issues with front sight focus because of the glasses and personally the laser has made a HUGE difference for me being able to shoot accurately. After getting the laser sighted in I set the target in the photo below at 15 yards and after a couple mags getting accustomed to the trigger (was throwing shots to the left) I was able to put a nice hole in his chest.

Yes lasers work great! What's not to love about having a laser on your handgun? Green lasers work well in daylight red no so well but, in low light conditions both are very bright. I have CT on two of my 1911's and would not ever go back to regular grips. In a gun fight bad guys don't stand still they will move around and go for cover too. If your strong hand becomes disabled and you must use your week hand you can still get on target with a laser. (try using your week hand with iron sights) If you have to shoot from a bad angle you can still get on target with a laser. I'm a fan!!!!

OP,

I have shot pistols since about 1977, and I had never contemplated using a laser until I won one last year. I am waiting for my permit in order to pick up the Sig P320 Xcompact that I won (at the same event), which will wear the Crimson Trace CMR204. This particular laser has both a tactical white light and a green laser. I have tested this laser on a G17 Gen5 MOS that will be used for GSSF matches. I have found that the green laser is significantly easier to see during the day.

After having my cataract surgery, while I now have good distance vision, I am not ecstatic with the sight picture when I wear plain glass/reading glasses.

What I perceive to be an advantage, is with trigger discipline, I can activate the laser during the draw, and once the laser beam is on the threat, I can then engage the threat.

I only have one semi that is not laser equipped, and I will be installing one on that handgun shortly. A use perspective;
-completely familiarize yourself with your chosen weapon pre-laser installation, put mutiple box's of ammo through it on target.
-after installing the laser take the time to dial it in. This will require a rest and pad with careful vertical and horizontal adjustments between rounds until the hard sights and laser are perfectly aligned and rounds are hitting center target.
-regarding laser choice, green lasers are easier to see and pick up than red lasers, and are also 2x expensive, so I make do with red.
-once lasers are dialed in whatever that dot paints is where the bullet should hit. So in a crisis situation, a laser equipped handgun can be fired accurately prior to the hard sights being lined up on target, and that may be the most important attribute of laser equipped handguns.
-I practice drawing and firing with both hard sights and with laser dot only, firing as soon at the target is painted and it is always quicker.

LCC said:

I only have one semi that is not laser equipped, and I will be installing one on that handgun shortly. A use perspective;
-completely familiarize yourself with your chosen weapon pre-laser installation, put mutiple box's of ammo through it on target.
-after installing the laser take the time to dial it in. This will require a rest and pad with careful vertical and horizontal adjustments between rounds until the hard sights and laser are perfectly aligned and rounds are hitting center target.
-regarding laser choice, green lasers are easier to see and pick up than red lasers, and are also 2x expensive, so I make do with red.
-once lasers are dialed in whatever that dot paints is where the bullet should hit. So in a crisis situation, a laser equipped handgun can be fired accurately prior to the hard sights being lined up on target, and that may be the most important attribute of laser equipped handguns.
-I practice drawing and firing with both hard sights and with laser dot only, firing as soon at the target is painted and it is always quicker.

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If you iron sights are accurate it takes only a minute to zero your laser. All you have to do is co witness it with your irons.

One thing to note about adjusting your laser. Since it is close but not that close to the barrel, you need to pick what distance you want to sight it in for. I usually do 30-40 ft figuring that is the max distance I would need to hit a threat in my home. Once done at that distance, compare it to the irons at say 15 ft. It will be slightly off but only an inch or so.