Laser/light combo or light / red dot combo??

[Foxtrot]

I am a believer in the laser infra red dot and my favorite is Crimson Trace. I don't think for home protection it can be beat. Imagine the punk in your dark house seeing THE light pointing at him and looking down at his chest and seeing THE red dot on his ever increasing heart beat. Hank wrote a song about it _ I Saw The Light _ or no, wait, I guess he didn't mean that light.

The on/off problem mentioned above is really not a problem as the battery is not activated until the warmth on your hand activates it. Mine stays on all the time.

You pointed out the main reason why a laser would not be better than a light in such situations with this statement > "Imagine the punk in your dark house..."

If the house is dark, most likely you will not be able to see the bad guy, or see them clearly enough quickly enough, upon which to put the laser dot. You need to be able to see the target before you can put the laser dot on it. The light will be quicker for target acquistion, and presents a fuller field of view for sighting and firing, a laser dot doesn't do this. The most important thing is to "see first and act first", and hunting for a target with a laser dot does not do that. Those precious seconds count when you consider if the bad guy is armed that almost all close range gun battles in such situations are over in a few seconds. I sure would not want to waste them chasing a laser dot around.

 

[Blindsquirrel]

And the light will keep you from shooting your drunk son in law, who lost his keys or your teenager who snuck out and forgot to leave the door unlocked.

See the target, identify the target, hit the target. In the dark with your heart pounding mistakes can and do happen. Like the man said train for it, have a plan for when it happens. Then practice for it, walk the whole family thru it. Know who is calling 911 before you walk down the hall. You can always call LEO back and say oops latter.

 

[lrrgrr]

I think most reponses miss the entire point--sorry guys. Rule #1O NOT CLEAR YOUR HOUSE. Assume a preconceived concealed position(s) and wait for the intruder to come to you. Put night lights in proper places--not where you will hide, but where your perp will have to, say, come up the stairs. Sit and wait. Then, to me, the laser sight has more appeal, and the light, which will become an immediate give away to your location and element of surprise, a detrement. DO NOT GO SEARCHING FOR YOUR INTRUDER. ALL BETS ARE THEN OFF. HE/SHE WILL HEAR YOU COMING AND YOU WILL LOOSE. Wait, and your odds are in your favor, regardless of your weapon of choice or other paraphenalia. Words to live by!