Crimson Trace Laser grip

[MotorCityGun]

Recently, I purchased and installed a CT grip on my M&P 40c. Took it to the range and "zeroed" it in at 10yds/30 ft. The "purists" on this site will probably grumble, however, I have found that, in terms of quick target acquisition, the laser is unsurpassed. Has anyone else installed or used these?

 

[bpeddicord]

Lasergrips

I have Crimson Trase Lasergrips on several of my revolvers and auto pistols. They are great in dim light or during evening hours when you can't quite make out the front sight on your gun. I still train using the sights on the gun, but the laser grips aid when you can't fully extend your arms to assume a strong shooting position.

 

[1 old 0311]

I have Crimson Trase Lasergrips on several of my revolvers and auto pistols. They are great in dim light or during evening hours when you can't quite make out the front sight on your gun. I still train using the sights on the gun, but the laser grips aid when you can't fully extend your arms to assume a strong shooting position.

+1 I have two sets and am looking for a third.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Yup, I, too, still practice without the laser (75% to 80% of my rounds) and can group them as tight without the laser, which is probably due to the fact that I'm much more "deliberate" when aiming/firing without it. The laser tends to make me pull the trigger "opportunistically" i.e. as soon as I see the laser on target. In a live fire, real world situation this will probably be a good thing. But in a practice/range mode when you have all the time in the world to aim/fire, there's no real advantage.

I took my buddy, who has never fired or handled a weapon, to the range. I instructed him without the laser on. After he fired about 50 rds, I turned it on. Well, after one mag's worth of shooting with the laser, he insisted I turn it off. Ironically, his groupings were tighter with the laser than without it. But he did not like the distraction of looking at that laser point jumping all over the place. It does take a while to get used to that.

 

[fat tom]

Outstanding product! EVERYONE should at least try a set on your favorite carry piece.
f.t.

 

[biggaluka]

i will never leave my home without, I also own a mp40c with the ctc and a laser is what it is fast acquisition target in dim light situation,love them.

 

[MotorCityGun]

i will never leave my home without, I also own a mp40c with the ctc and a laser is what it is fast acquisition target in dim light situation,love them.

There's something to be said about how intuitive and simple it is with regard to the ease of target acquisition, when both of your eyes are open. Plus, the fact that there is no need to raise your weapon up to eye level in order to aim. With the laser on, it can be fired "from the hip" so to speak, which makes up for the time loss due to recognizing the threat, pulling your weapon, and decision to fire. A second or two gained in a life and death situation can make all the difference in the world.

 

[007BondJamesBond007]

Go to Crimson Trace | Laser Sight Grips for Guns and get their dvd and that will convince you to get one.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Go to Crimson Trace | Laser Sight Grips for Guns and get their dvd and that will convince you to get one.

I found the best price for my pistol on this site: Shooting & Hunting - ManVenture Outpost, LLC

Not only do they have the best price (I could find), they drop ship directly from CTC.

 

[m37dodge]

I have them on a couple 686 units my wife carries, they have proven to be a great aid to her as she has loss of site in one eye. It allows to focus on the threat and just place the dot there. She has become very proficent with there use.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

I have CT grips on my 642 and M&P9c and have used them for 6 years. Better shooters than I use them, as well as the guys in Iraq, so I figure they are good enough for me.

Watch these videos, lots of useful information.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Laser Grips Video | Crimson Trace Laser Grips

 

[lockon]

I like my HD guns with a laser/light combo-purist can bash all they want-I prefer to have a phone in the other hand instead of a flashlight. It makes it easier for my wife to use as well. We practice without it but its always good just in case. The lasers combined with a snap cap are great trigger control tools.

 

[postban]

... Has anyone else installed or used these?

Yeah, ordered mine from Budsgunshop with them "factory installed" if you will. They had a combo deal last year. Including the CT grip.

Laser works great for showing you how stable you are. also good for speed shooting in bowling pin matches.



Hey where in MI are you? I am downriver, Wyandotte. There is a local guy that does lots of customization to M&Ps including a great drop in sear, really improves the trigger feel and reset.

 

[skeeterbait]

Laser grips are not the be all, end all solution for every scenario but they are an important feature for any home defense or low light personal defense weapon. You must understand there limitations however. They rely on batteries, get on a schedule of replacing the batteries about every 6 months whether you think they need it or not. Buy quality brand, fresh batteries. Teach yourself not to key the laser until ready to shoot. They can give away your position. Do not let them become a crutch. Practice with your metalic sights.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Yeah, ordered mine from Budsgunshop with them "factory installed" if you will. They had a combo deal last year. Including the CT grip.

Laser works great for showing you how stable you are. also good for speed shooting in bowling pin matches.



Hey where in MI are you? I am downriver, Wyandotte. There is a local guy that does lots of customization to M&Ps including a great drop in sear, really improves the trigger feel and reset.

I'm in Canton. Not sure if I would go that far to change trigger feel. Anyway, I want to get used to it the way it's set up from the factory. Thanks for the info, though.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Laser grips are not the be all, end all solution for every scenario but they are an important feature for any home defense or low light personal defense weapon. You must understand there limitations however. They rely on batteries, get on a schedule of replacing the batteries about every 6 months whether you think they need it or not. Buy quality brand, fresh batteries. Teach yourself not to key the laser until ready to shoot. They can give away your position. Do not let them become a crutch. Practice with your metalic sights.

Hmmm, I agree with checking/changing out your batteries in a proactive/preventative manner. However, I do not agree with turning off the laser, especially when carrying. The batteries are drained only when the laser is activitated. CTC claims 4 hrs of laser "on" time. I'm guessing that is conservative and it's more like 5 to 6 hrs. When I'm carrying, I always keep the laser in the "on" position. If I need to pull and point, and God forbid, fire, I don't want to think about turning it on, nor do I want to waist valuable time needed to turn it on, even if that "only" takes a second or two. As long as the batteries are maintained/fresh, per your recommendation, I don't see a need to turn it off.

 

[skeeterbait]

Sorry Motorcitygun, I didn't make myself clear enough. I did not mean turn the master switch off. I meant learn to keep your finger pressure off the button that activates the laser until you are also ready to squeeze the trigger. The master on/off switch should always be in the on position like you say. The scenario I am considering is something like investigating a noise in your home with a drawn gun in a low ready position. Don't walk with the laser keyed shining around the room and on walls where it might give you away.

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Sorry Motorcitygun, I didn't make myself clear enough. I did not mean turn the master switch off. I meant learn to keep your finger pressure off the button that activates the laser until you are also ready to squeeze the trigger. The master on/off switch should always be in the on position like you say.

The CT laser for the M&P is activated by pressure from the palm of your hand, not a finger like on the 642. You can simply use your trigger finger along the side of the slide to block the beam if desired.

 

[lockon]

I'm in Canton. Not sure if I would go that far to change trigger feel. Anyway, I want to get used to it the way it's set up from the factory. Thanks for the info, though.

You are close enough to postban or dougs shop-plus it takes only a few minutes. Try out his trigger job on his M&P before you buy-I'll bet you'll buy too.

 

[CF2]

I was planning on getting some, but after reading some of Gabe Suarez's discussions on the warriortalk.com forum, I decided to hold off. His main point was that in his FORCE ON FORCE testing scenarios, folks were not as fast as they thought in getting off their shots. It seems counter intuitive, but I I have not conducted 100's of force-on-force scenario drills/tests/competitions.

For arm's reach self defense to about seven yards, listen now - YOU DO NOT NEED ANY SIGHTS ON YOUR PISTOL. SI grads can hit a man at this range with the stock sights that come on a glock, enhanced sights like trijicons and warrens, and even with red dot sights like the RMR and J Point....even if the battery has been removed and there is no dot.

Additionally, the laser is asserted to have value in specific circumstances (some mentioned above, e.g., sighting at long distance), but the logic is that a red dot would perform much better since the laser point is not easily seen at farther distances during the daylight, where you don't have the issue with a red dot sight. Of course the cost of the red dot is 3-4 times that of the laser, which is a real consideration. He says that he sells lasers, but would not put one on his gun.

Not sure if you can read this thread as a visitor or if you have to sign in:

Update On Red Dots and Pistols - Warrior Talk Forums

An excerpt:

... Another proposed solution has been the laser. This attractive techno- advancement seems to give you the answer and on the shooting range, it is a great thing, but it is far too slow in actual practice. It takes excessively long to get that dot just right. Its hard for someone who has dropped $200 or $300 on a laser to admit they made a mistake, but I have yet to see anyone with a laser keep up in our drills if they actually rely on it.

A better solution, again in my opinion, is the pistol mounted red dot sight. There are several, and I got to see many of them at SHOT that I will discuss.

The pistol mounted red dot gives you the ability to focus on the target, and still see the sight indexed perfectly. The red dot is not actually placed on the target as is required with a laser, but is one the same visual plane as the target so it seems like it is. You can focus on the target and still see the dot. There is no visual bounce of focus as you have with steel sights (target - sights - target - front sight - etc.), and those with extreme eye-dominance differences can still keep both eyes open.

Most importantly, a laser on a target at 25 yards is barely visible because as the distance to target increases the appearance of the laser dot decreases. Not so with the mini red dot sights. The dot is one size regardless of the size or distance to target.

These are not for the economically challenged. A red dot of quality will run you about $300 with the best ones reaching $500. A melted low mount will be at least another $100. But in a world where guys will buy free floated handguards for their AR for about the same maybe its not so bad.

The discussions that ensued got a bit heated, in the end the force-on-force training to test use of lasers, red dots, traditional aiming, point shooting, etc. ,,,, seemed to me to be the way to evaluate effectiveness.

If the technology and your appropriate training build your confidence, which is key in an SD scenario, then I would say that is what counts.

 

[MotorCityGun]

Sorry Motorcitygun, I didn't make myself clear enough. I did not mean turn the master switch off. I meant learn to keep your finger pressure off the button that activates the laser until you are also ready to squeeze the trigger. The master on/off switch should always be in the on position like you say. The scenario I am considering is something like investigating a noise in your home with a drawn gun in a low ready position. Don't walk with the laser keyed shining around the room and on walls where it might give you away.

Agree. BTW, on my CTC grips the laser is activated by the webb between my thumb and forefinger. Therefore, it does take some subtle grip(ping) pressure to turn off or on...I like it though. I am aware that in the "heat of the moment", I'm going to have to be careful not to let my "heightened state" cause me to grip too hard to avoid what you're describing.

 

[MotorCityGun]

I was planning on getting some, but after reading some of Gabe Suarez's discussions on the warriortalk.com forum, I decided to hold off. His main point was that in his FORCE ON FORCE testing scenarios, folks were not as fast as they thought in getting off their shots. It seems counter intuitive, but I I have not conducted 100's of force-on-force scenario drills/tests/competitions.

Additionally, the laser is asserted to have value in specific circumstances (some mentioned above, e.g., sighting at long distance), but the logic is that a red dot would perform much better since the laser point is not easily seen at farther distances during the daylight, where you don't have the issue with a red dot sight. Of course the cost of the red dot is 3-4 times that of the laser, which is a real consideration. He says that he sells lasers, but would not put one on his gun.

Not sure if you can read this thread as a visitor or if you have to sign in:

Update On Red Dots and Pistols - Warrior Talk Forums

An excerpt:
The discussions that ensued got a bit heated, in the end the force-on-force training to test use of lasers, red dots, traditional aiming, point shooting, etc. ,,,, seemed to me to be the way to evaluate effectiveness.

If the technology and your appropriate training build your confidence, which is key in an SD scenario, then I would say that is what counts.

I've never used one of these Trijicon red dot sights, however, I don't doubt their efficacy, etc. I'm just unsure how these would be mounted and then holstered, particularly for CCW, which is the primary purpose for my M&P 40c. Anyway, at this point in time, I do not regret my decision to purchase the CTC grips.