Laser for Shield

SavageSmoker

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Hi All,

I am shopping for a laser for my .40 Shield. I have a Crimson Trace on my G19 and like it a lot. I understand the activation for a laser on the Shield is in a different location. I have it narrowed between the CT and the LaserMax model. From what I can tell they are very similar but the LaserMax gives you the option to turn the laser on when needed and the CT automatically comes on when held in a firing position. The LaserMax is also about $100 less then the CT. I do not have any experience with the LaserMax product line and was wondering how it compares in terms of quality. Anyone?

Thx...Brian
 
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Savage
I currently have and am in the market to sell the CT LG489 for the Shield.
It's a great product but this was my first try at using a laser on any pistol for carry.
I guess I am a purist and have determined that the laser isn't for me.
While installed I put 100 rds thru the shield with no issues at all. CT never failed to light or had any issues at all.
if you are interested check out my post in the Classifieds section of this forum.
Truth be known, I had purchased an awesome IWB holster for my shield without the laser attachment and I cannot bring myself to part with it. I do enjoy the CT Laser, but I am so used to using sights that it just isn't my thing.



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Savage
I currently have and am in the market to sell the CT LG489 for the Shield.
It's a great product but this was my first try at using a laser on any pistol for carry.
I guess I am a purist and have determined that the laser isn't for me.
While installed I put 100 rds thru the shield with no issues at all. CT never failed to light or had any issues at all.
if you are interested check out my post in the Classifieds section of this forum.
Truth be known, I had purchased an awesome IWB holster for my shield without the laser attachment and I cannot bring myself to part with it. I do enjoy the CT Laser, but I am so used to using sights that it just isn't my thing.



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Hi, is there an on/off switch other than the instant actuated one by you finger? The CT laser on my M&P 9mm compact has a feature whereby you can turn the laser off if you don't want it on.
 
There is NO on off switch on this unit. But alas, I sold it minutes after my original post.
great product but just not for me.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Lasermax on a Shield

I got the new Lasermax laser for Shield 9MM, and I really like it. I am fortunate that Lasermax is located two towns away from where I live. I have two internal Lasermax lasers on two non S&W I own and shoot on a regular basis, and have had no problems with them at all. I also have three CT lasers on other guns, including a revolver which have worked very well also. I think for the money, and especially being used on a Shield that the Lasermax laser would be the way to go. (My Shield with Lasermax laser pictyred below)
lasermax007.jpg
 
I have a Crimson Trace laser on my Ruger LC9. It is real good quality, but on a small gun you may not like the on/off button location, below the trigger guard. The button sticks out 1/4 inch from the grip. Most people can only get two fingers on a subcompact grip, like the Shield, when using the flush magazine. This makes for an uncomfortable grip, with the upper finger sticking 1/4 inch further out than the bottom finger. I fixed this uneven grip by glueing a small rubber block under the laser button and wrapping it with a Talon grip. Another problem I had with the CT laser was when taking my grip, if I did not get my hand in the perfect position, the laser light would not come on. This is supposed to be the idea of the CT laser, you don't have to think about turning it on, just grip it and it should turn on. This occurred before and after I added the rubber block. So I had a laser that did not consistently light. I called CT and they sent out another laser. I had the same problem with the new laser. The only way it would always light was with a "death grip". My finger contacted the switch at around 60-70 degrees and the laser would not turn on. Pushing the button in at any angle other than near 90 degrees straight in, it would not light. The death grip (super tight) squeeze would push the button in enough to allow the laser to turn on.

I've got a LaserMax on my Shield 40. The on/off button is perfectly placed for the trigger finger resting on the side of the slide. My first trip to the range and after a few shots the pinpoint (dime sized) laser dot looked about 3 inches in diameter and was hardly visable. The recoil did something to the laser focus. LaserMax sent out a replacement and it works fine and I am happy with this laser.

I think the Lasermax for the Shield looks a little better than the Crimson Trace for the Shield (not comparing the looks to the photo for my LC9). Both have almost exactly the same shape, but the Lasermax has the 'stippling". The CT is plain, no stippling. Paid $86 on Ebay for the Lasermax, which included shipping. Both have almost identical specs for the laser, brightness, color, focus.


Bob


Crimson Trace on Ruger LC9. Showing step out of switch and rubber block I added.
LC9-Laser.jpg


LaserMax on Shield 40
ShieldLaser.jpg


The Lasermax frame on my Shield does not take up much room, on the trigger guard. At the most it takes up 1/16 inch. The photo of my LC9 shows it has a longer trigger guard.
Lasercoveroff.jpg
 
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I have the Crimson Trace LG-489 Laserguard on my .40 Shield, and really like it. But this is my fifth CT product, so I am a CT fan. The Laserguard line for small pistols such as the Shield fit in front of the trigger guard and do not have an on/off switch, unlike the larger units that are built into grips. Since all my grip-mounted units are the type where the grips are replaced with units that contain the laser (all these are on SIGs), I'm not sure about the Glock-type units. i do have a Laserguard unit on a a Kahr PM9 and like it, so the decision on my part to get one for the Shield was a no-brainer.

I actually got a Crossbreed Supertuck IWB holster for my Shield before the Laserguard was available. I ordered the Laserguard soon after it became available for the Shield, and was happy to see that Crossbreed almost immediately came out with a Supertuck that accepted the Shield with a Laserguard. I just shot it with the Laserguard installed today (had to wait while my gunsmith installed Truglo TFOs and an Apex Shield Carry kit), and it fits the new Supertuck for the Shield with Laserguard perfectly. After shooting both Gold Dots and PDX1's reliably through the Shield, it will join the PM9 as my EDC.

Incidentally, this Shield is one of those that had to be sent back to S&W. The repair sheet says that only the mags were dimpled -- apparently the mag release was not changed. But at least the mags don't drop now.
 
Thanks all,

I decided to go with the LaserMax to try it out. For $85 on eBay it seemed the right economic choice. I just hope the quality is as good as my current CT laser I have on another gun.

Thx
 
Thanks all,

I decided to go with the LaserMax to try it out. For $85 on eBay it seemed the right economic choice. I just hope the quality is as good as my current CT laser I have on another gun.

Thx

It is $75 at cheaper than dirt.

Dave
 
Thanks Dave. You know the saying..."better late than pregnant". Guess I should have checked ther first. I did a google search and Cheaper did not show up at all.
 
I just put the CTC LG-489 on my Shield 9. It fit perfectly and works like a charm. I like it and would not hesitate to recommend it. It was almost $200, though. I prefer not having any extra switches to touch, especially on a defense gun--with this one I just grip the gun normally and the laser is always there. Seems like I read somewhere that one of the non-CTC brands (LaserMax?) had a delayed auto-off function after a certain number of minutes, and I didn't like the sound of that. Can you imagine having the auto-off activate at a "bad time" in the middle of a house search or something similar? Grip-activated lasers are just one more step that my foggy half-asleep brain doesn't have to remember in the middle of the night, and with my old brain the fewer things to remember the better! Part of the K.I.S.S. principle, I guess.
 
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