Laser sight?

[brucev]

Will keep it brief. Beginning to have some problems w/ my vision. Glaucoma. Surgery. Worked. Now ... cataracts starting. Can still do alright out to 15 yds. Not so good at 25 yds. Have been thinking about a green laser since it appears to be more useful than red.

Need to know ... anyone w/ experience with such units. Would likely end up putting it on a Sig P-226. Would not be for carry. Would expect to be using it at the range. Understand such units can be mounted as grips on a 1911. Appreciate any helpful info. from owner/users, etc. Sincerely. bruce.

 

[kthom]

I am a big fan of laser sights. For me, they do not replace my sights, especially in daylight, but they certainly enhance them, especially in low or no light. The green lasers will likely be more easily seen in bright daylight, but either one works very well in low or no light. I've been using Crimson Trace lasergrips and laserguard sights since they became available. I like their method of activation the best. Be aware that any laser sight other than the laser grip models will likely require a purpose built holster to carry your handgun. Not all holster makers accomodate some or all of these sights. And I am not familiar with what lasers sights will work with the Sig model you describe.

Hopefully, you might find a dealer or someone who has both red and green laser sights that you could try out before you buy. For your stated purpose, the method of activating the laser might not be a problem, but for personal protection you might find a style that works best for you.

Every gun I own that is used for personal or home protection has a CT laser grip or laser guard sight installed. I have had very good service from this brand and as I said, for me, they work and work well. I would think in your situation, a good laser sight would certainly help you with being able to see where you are aiming.

 

[Whitwabit]

I don't know anyone using Lasers because of eye sight issues .. but if you know of anyone that has one ask to borrow it for a range day and see how you do with it .. if you do well and are then interested I would suggest you get a god one ..

I have a Viridian C5L that is a light and green laser .. I use it for dry fire practice and other training ..

My thoughts though are you would be better off and think would like a red dot sight much more then a laser .. you would be looking at something much closer that you just cover the target with verse trying to find a small red dot at a distance that you may not be even able to see ..

 

[Lee in Quartzsite]

Would not be for carry. Would expect to be using it at the range.

Personal protection is what the lasers were designed for, not range target practice. All of my carry guns have Crimson Trace lasers, and I have recently made the expensive switch to the green lasers. In bright sun with the right target I can see the green dot out to about 15-20 yds max, in low light and darkness they can be seen at very long distances, farther than the gun can shoot.

You might want to consider getting a good red dot sight. I have one on my Ruger 22/45 I use for Bullseye, and recently put one on my Springfield 1911. I also have an EOTech HWS on my AR. They are not affected by sunlight, can be used at varying distances out to 100 yds if that's what you are looking for.

I have the same eye issues you have and find iron sights difficult to use with multi-lens glasses, that's why I use both lasers for carry and red dots for target practice. Good Luck.

 

[ohioseabee]

I do all of my shooting at about 25' which is, I feel, the most likely distance at which I would have to engage a target. My vision has been deteriorating for years and now the front sight is blurry. I have lasers on all of the likely "self defense" guns. I could never envision a situation where I could calmly take the time to properly align night sights.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

If your range is indoors red will work fine. If you're shooting outside green is a must.

You'll likely discover that your aiming significantly improves immediately. You might think you're suffering a seizure by how much the laser is jumping around on the target while you think you're holding the gun steady... no worries... most folks are surprised how much the gun moves in their hands.

Red dots were mentioned. I use red dots on many of my recreational handguns. I don't know about your eyes with surgery and all that, but folks with astigmatism (I suffer) need to wear their corrective distance glasses while shooting or the dot looks horrible. Even with their corrective glasses some people say the dot still looks distorted. I don't think lasers are quite so bad in that regard, but without my corrective glasses I see a large triangular shape that looks like a Christmas tree with ornaments instead of a nice round laser green dot.

I paid about $200 for a green laser designed for an AR platform. It didn't stay on the rifle. Took too long to acquire the green laser dot. At night green lasers are wicked cool... looks like a solid tube of light that extends to infinity. My dog loves to chase it around the house... so ya know... it is what it is.

Some gun shops around here have lasers and red dots out of the box on display that you can see for yourself how pleased or displeased your eyes are with them. That's a good place to start.

 

[codenamedave]

Sounds like everybody's covered the ins & outs, and what to do to fit your particular eyesight & situation. I'd just like to add that the green laser I've experimented with (Viridian) really took it to the HNL*.

I also have CTC's on my serious use handgun(s), have for years with no failures. I've noticed recently my eyes can't pick up the dot as well as I'd like, so I may have to switch to green lasers in the near future.



* That's a Hole Nother Level.