crimson trace, useful or a waste of money?

[Shooting4life]

I put a set on my wifes model 60. It is in her night stand. Told her you put the dot where you want the bullets to go and you get 5 trys. I could not get her to really train like she should so this is the next best thing.

 

[dieselgrin]

The guys who say night sites are the way to go probably aren't trying to line up 3 little dots using tri-focals in dim light. My head bobbles up and down like a wobble head doll when trying to focus on the front sight. CT lasers give me instant target acquisition. I concentrate on the threat and not squint to get a sight picture. Daytime is for target practice using iron sights.

 

[Wee Hooker]

I have them on two of my snubbies. IMHO, they do help me to shoot more accurately and get back on target quicker. I will also admit that I Have reservations about using it in a "cat and mouse" situation. FWIW, I practice with it off most of the time and switch it on only at the end of the session. Botto, line is that it's a tool, not a magic wand. Learn to use the gun with/without and utilize the lazer when it's to your advantage.

Worth noting is that I've owned 105's, 305's and 405's and found the 305's to be the best mix for compact size and recoil control .

 

[bountyhunter]

The guys who say night sites are the way to go probably aren't trying to line up 3 little dots using tri-focals in dim light. My head bobbles up and down like a wobble head doll when trying to focus on the front sight. CT lasers give me instant target acquisition. I concentrate on the threat and not squint to get a sight picture. Daytime is for target practice using iron sights.

Actually, in combat shooting it is best done with both eyes open and focused on the target. The gun is brought up into the line of sight of the dominant eye but both eyes remain focused on the target. This method is called "indirect sighting". The sights are fuzzy, but for close range shooting, it's very easy to line up three colored dots when the outside two are green and the center one is yellow.

I am also 57 years old and have to use progressive lenses to see close, so indirect sighting eliminates the need to try to focus on the front sight (you stay target focused). Indirect sighting is covered by Michael Plaxco in his book "Shooting From Within".

 

[Revolver King]

CT Grips

I have them on several of my revolvers. I think they are worth the money.

 

[dieselgrin]

Actually, in combat shooting it is best done with both eyes open and focused on the target. The gun is brought up into the line of sight of the dominant eye but both eyes remain focused on the target. This method is called "indirect sighting". The sights are fuzzy, but for close range shooting, it's very easy to line up three colored dots when the outside two are green and the center one is yellow.

I am also 57 years old and have to use progressive lenses to see close, so indirect sighting eliminates the need to try to focus on the front sight (you stay target focused). Indirect sighting is covered by Michael Plaxco in his book "Shooting From Within".

Agree Bountyhunter, with instinct shooting or indirect. Try a laser and you will see the immediate target concentration. In dim lighting, w/o progressives, the fuziness increases. Not withstanding, always be sure of your target and what's behind it. Thanks.

 

[KEN L]

I wish I had been the first to respond to this thread, cause my answer would have been, "You're kidding, right?!"

They say there's no such thing as a dumb question, but that one comes pretty close........

 

[cowboy117]

I don't have them on my CCW-IMHO in an encounter with a BG you won't use them anyway.Learn to shoot instead without them.My 2 cents.

 

[one eye joe]

Massad Ayoob uses them and extolls their virtues for CCW. 'Nuff said ! !

 

[Jamie]

I put a set on my wifes model 60. It is in her night stand. Told her you put the dot where you want the bullets to go and you get 5 trys. I could not get her to really train like she should so this is the next best thing.

Yeah, I'm with you, the wife has a 442, bought her a LG405, Christmas present, every little bit helps, (I hope)

 

[S&W-Keeper]

I have almost talked myself into trying them out, but I pinch myself, and forget about it again. Maybe one day.

 

[one eye joe]

The LG-405s are what I use on my 642. They are great. Your wife will be well served by them, Jamie.

 

[JayDubya]

Wow! Four pages of replies in a 24 hour period, mostly favorable. Add me to that list. I purchased my J-frame (a 637) eight - nine years ago with dealer installed LG-305 Crimson Trace grips. I was so pleased that I bought a set for my T-series Browning Hi Power a year later. Five years ago, when I bought my 686+, I installed them on it as well. In short, I would not buy a handgun that Crimson Trace did not make a set for -- that is how sold I am.

Many are turned off because they first attempt to use laser sights at the range, and are humiliated by the way the laser dot herky-jerks all over the place. That is NOT the place to start. Do it at home, dry firing at door knobs, light bulbs, whatever -- come to grips with the problem in private. Then, and only then, go to the range.

As for the laser giving your location away in a self/home defense situation, activating the laser should be the last thing you do before pulling the trigger. If you believe you can scare your opponent away by flashing him with the laser sight (or worse yet, blinding him with it!), you might as well give the gun to him. You sure aren't prepared to use it.

Cordially, Jack

 

[Will Carry]

You got that right Jack! The first time I tried my CT grip at the range it looked like a Pink Floyd concert. I thought it was funny and started laughing, which made it worse. When ever I bring a non-shooter to the range for training we start out with my 1911, unloaded, with the Crimson Trace grips.

 

[Dogguy]

Does anyone with large hands who is using CT sights on their 442/642 models have problems with your grip interfering with the laser? I maintain a very high grip on these guns to control recoil and my trigger finger looks as if it would cover the laser at that angle.

 

[Frank237]

I have several lasers and don't use any of them. They are useful for LE's who can put a laser spot on a guy's chest to make him rethink his belligerent attitude. For civilians, a waste of money IMHO. Night sights are far more useful. At home, the laser just gives the bad guy a point to aim at to kill you. At the range, I believe you will find you shoot less accurately with a laser since you are forced to hold the gun in an unnatural way to be able to "see around" the sights to pick up the laser. I always shoot tighter groups looking down the sights than using a laser. About 99.9% of civilian defense shootings are at 7 yards or less so you probably won't even need to sight the gun to hit center mass (assuming you practice regularly). Take the $250 and buy practice ammo. It will serve you much better.

I would have written basically the same thing. I think the AVERAGE gun owner would be better served with competant training or practice ammo.

FN in MT

 

[bountyhunter]

I would have written basically the same thing. I think the AVERAGE gun owner would be better served with competant training or practice ammo.

FN in MT

As for useful lasers, I own a gadget called a "dry fire laser blaster" which is self contained laser that slides into the end of the barrel and flashes a red dot on target when the hammer hits the frame (vibration activated laser spot). That is REALLY useful for dry fire practice. I don't know if the company is still in business.

This loks like a similar product currently available:

http://www.opticsplanet.net/laserly...-lt-pro.html?gclid=CNzCnJ2d-qUCFRQ8gwodogrieA

That's how I learned that it's pretty hard to miss a man sized center mass at seven yards or less.... even unaimed shooting from the hip. That's good news and bad news. The good news is you're very likely to hit your target in a CQB fight. The bad news is the guy shooting at you is too.

 

[feesix]

I wish I had been the first to respond to this thread, cause my answer would have been, "You're kidding, right?!"

They say there's no such thing as a dumb question, but that one comes pretty close........

To be honest i dont need advice like this from the likes of you.

 

[hogdoc357]

I love Crimson Trace Laser Grips! I have read both sides of the argument and I too believe that we all should be proficient with iron sights. BUT, that red laser dot gives confidence in a stressful situation, low light situation, and immediately puts me on target. I know, and the perp knows, that my bullet is going to hit where I have place the red dot. It has that intimidation factor. I made sure my wife has Crimson on her snub revolver too.

 

[bountyhunter]

that red laser dot gives confidence in a stressful situation, low light situation, and immediately puts me on target. I know, and the perp knows, that my bullet is going to hit where I have place the red dot. It has that intimidation factor.

Honestly, that sounds like a TV gunfight not a real one. There is no thinking involved when confronted by an armed belligerent person, no "display of force" to intimidate them because if you do any of that, you will die. Police sometimes will give an armed guy one chance to disarm, but they wear kevlar vests. And, in truth, they usually don't either. They see a gun or anything that looks like a gun in a perp's hand and about five shots get fired immediately. I've seen cops use the laser to get a drunken jerk to settle down. Don't try that in a gunfight. If your life is actually in danger, you just shoot as quickly as you can get the barrel level with the ceiling and the muzzle pointed in the bad guy's direction. Screw around and you die.

BTW: even if a person in your house has no gun or knife, he is a deadly threat. At the range involved (about five yards) he can be on you in less than a second if he breaks for you to take your gun. That gives you time for about one aimed shot, maybe two. Assuming you are not screwing around pointing a laser.