crimson trace, useful or a waste of money?

[feesix]

Im looking to buy ct frips for my 442. But will they serve a purpose or be a waste of money?

 

[ken158]

I have CT grips on a 642 and like them for their intended purpose.

 

[diamonback68]

They are well worth the money. They will also show you unsteady your hand hold really is when you are on target.

 

[tlr16]

Worth it even tho I got them on my 60-9, 1911 bobtail, 1911 Defender and soon my officers. I have had them on my M&PC, other 1911 bobtail, 686 4in and loved them so far on everything that I have put them on. When carry and the time comes you may need to use your gun it helps alot cause your nerves will be all over the place or the red dot itself works as a deterrent also.

 

[damond1]

I think they are practical and worth the $$.

I never had one before, but I plan on getting one for my g/f's new 642. It'll be a new experience for the both of us. I would teach her to shoot w/o the laser initially. I think in such a short barreled handgun, it could only help and my make a difference one day.

I have to add though, you can't see the dot in daylight out past like 15yds.

 

[Iggy]

My wife and I both have them on our EDC guns.

They are not a substitute for proper training and practice, but they are handy with small concealed guns in less than optimum light and circumstances.

 

[alde]

They are not a substitute for proper training and practice, but they are handy with small concealed guns in less than optimum light and circumstances.

What Iggy said. I have them on my 642 and feel they would give an edge in a bad situation. They are also good for dry fire training and dry point shooting practice.

 

[surfdog76]

Mass w/ some training pointers: YouTube - 018Teaching

Sighting in your 442: YouTube - 018 Crimson Trace Review

 

[cougar14]

Now's a good time to buy...

I just got a set for my new 627, paid $178, no tax and free prepaid shipping, ordered Thursday, were in Monday's mail. I paid $300 for my first set several years ago for my 1911. Just Google crimson Trace and the discounters will pop up.

One thing I wish they had done better: The material on the back of the grips is too smooth and slippery for my smallish hands. I'm going to have to figure out how to make them stay put, maybe stipple them or something. Anyone else have this concern?

 

[bountyhunter]

Im looking to buy ct frips for my 442. But will they serve a purpose or be a waste of money?

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.

 

[bountyhunter]

They will also show you how unsteady your hand hold really is when you are on target.

That's actually a huge problem. I used to work with newbies who got new guns with lasers and they all got a bad case of the "dot dazzle" where they would watch the dancing dot until it hit the center of the target... then they would yank the trigger and jerk the shot two feet offline. They could never figure out why the bullet hole didn't magically appear where the dot was.... it always did on Miami Vice. Lasers and newbies are not good. Learn to shoot first.

 

[feesix]

i can get a pair for 160.00 from a buddy. And i pocket carry so im drawing form the hip. Do you feel the lasers are still a waste for civilians?

 

[frankw]

I have them on my 442 and they work very well. I have it adjusted so the dot is visible just above my front sight.
They are good for training as they show your mistakes.
Less than perfect shooting positions and conditions are where they really shine.
As said above, not a replacement for sights or for training but another valuable tool in the kit.

 

[bountyhunter]

i can get a pair for 160.00 from a buddy. And i pocket carry so im drawing form the hip. Do you feel the lasers are still a waste for civilians?

YES. I have a laser "bore sighter" that throws a red dot on bore line when the hammer falls. I train with it at seven yards and even shooting from the hip, it's pretty hard to miss a center mass hit. I am not advocating point and shoot for everybody (I would aim if there is time) but the #1 rule of surviving a gunfight is SHOOT FIRST. At close range, shoot as soon as the barrel is level and on target (not necessarily up to eyeline).

You have to understand that the stress of such an encounter is so extreme, most people are not helped by having anything else to think about beyond point and pull. Not only will they not use a laser, they will likely forget it is even there. They will see only the muzzle of the gun pointed at them.

But, having confidence in your weapon is key. Set it up the way you shoot it best.

 

[Will Carry]

I have crimson trace grips on my 1911 and my Glock 36. They are great for training and can be excellent for self defense, if you train with them. I keep the Glock 36 in a hollowed out book on my bedside table. It's big advantage is in the dark. The advantage Crimson Trace gives you is you don't have to align the target, with your front sight, and you rear sight and your eye. Crimson Trace has some excellent you tube videos that explain the tactical advantages these devices offer. BUT in my humble opinion, in order to be able to utilize this tactical advantage you need to first be well trained on shooting without the laser. I would not want to trust my life on anything that is battery operated. I also would not want anyone to get a false sense of security because they have a laser sight. Is it worth the money?
Yes! I used it to stop my flinching and improve my trigger pull. It's a lot of fun at the range. It can save your life, if you train with and without it.

 

[hdfinder47]

Whereas the laser is indeed a "bullet magnet", the upside is that you can hold the gun away from your center of mass and still place a shot on your opponent - assuming dark conditions (home defense). If just in low-light, your position is compromised anyway. Therefore, I use them and have for many years - still have my first generation LG105 on my 642.

 

[bountyhunter]

Whereas the laser is indeed a "bullet magnet", the upside is that you can hold the gun away from your center of mass and still place a shot on your opponent - assuming dark conditions (home defense).

I've actually trained for that hold and I doubt even 1 in 100 average shooters could hit their target while doing it. You basically are shooting one handed with your arm extended straight out and your wrist at a right angle. People who have lasers should try this at the range if they think it's feasible. If you want a bullet magnet to hold away from your body, use a flashlight in your left hand extended out away from you. At least that doesn't screw up your shooting hand aim.

The real problem with lasers and lights in home defense is that it takes away your biggest advantage: you know where everything is in your house and the BG doesn't know (especially where you are or where cover is). I'll take night sights and my best friend which is the darkness.

 

[bountyhunter]

I would not want to trust my life on anything that is battery operated.

Probably the biggest single advantage of night sights.

 

[roundgunner]

I have quite a few guns equipped with Crimson Trace.

I think even in bright daylight they work for my eyes. I find it hard to see the front site and the rear is of course worse. I can see everything well from 15 feet to infinity. When I compete I use glasses that focus right on the front sight but then the target is tough. When I go about daily life I use the variable progressive lenses, but when shooting it takes a long time to find the sights.

With the Crimson Trace I can focus on the target look down the barrel, the sights are there but pretty fuzzy but the dot is right where the round is going. I can see the dot on the brightest days to 15 or 20 yards. If I got in trouble beyond that range I guess I have a bit more time to find the sweet spot in my glasses and will use the iron sights.

I recommend them to all my students and friends. My wife and daughter have them on their guns too.

Better to have them and not need them, than to need them and not have them.

I wish they made a more compact grip for the N frame, I had to cut down the Hog Hunter on my 629 for carry. I would buy 3 more if they would.

I agree with some of the other opinions, about just another tool in the box, don't depend on just them etc… but I also think you should practice with them in daylight doing lots of target transitions and weak hand, strong hand shooting. I like to keep fiber optics on my 629 also, if it is too bright out to see the dot, the fibers ought to be jumping right out at ya.

 

[TLG]

Iv'e had one on my 442 for about 6 months. In my case I have bad eye sight. I can see the red dot pretty plain. It's no waist of money. For an EDC gun you can't go wrong. I know if I have to shoot, my shot will go where I want it to.

TLG, the old guy from WV.....

 

[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)