What's the current consensus on laser sight.

[BubbaBlades]

These are boxes from most of my Crimson Trace lasers. I also have lasers from LaserMax and other.

I tell/show people that by activating the laser when the gun leaves the holster there is no wasted time in the extremely rare case of the laser not working. You just continue to elevate the gun to the normal position and use the "iron sights."

Pointing a laser is like pointing a flashlight. If you have to fire the gun it goes bang and the bad guy will see a flash and know where you are.
Both of my on the job discharge of firearms took place at night. I would have loved to have a laser available back in the day.

 

[Old cop]

If you have time to look for that dot on your target you probably aren’t in a gunfight.

Speaking from experience, that’s for sure!

 

[sipowicz]

And if you are thinking of a laser because your eyesight isn’t what it used to be, a red dot optic will be much easier to pick up in the screen on your slide than a dot down range on your target.

 

[BE Mike]

It does not matter if you are "in military combat" or "defending your home", a gunfight is a gunfight. Take every advantage that you can. Have some kind of plan on what to do. Yes, I know that plans tend to fall apart when in contact with the adversary. Crimson Trace wants to sell you products.....

I disagree. Combat is completely different than civilian self-defense, although apparently the top tier special operators of the different services use lasers, at least sometimes. Lasers have a lot of advantages and few disadvantages. Giving up one's location is not one of those disadvantages. Hell yes, companies want to sell products, but that's not a consideration here. In a low light situation when one cannot see one's sights, what is a better option?

 

[RobzGuns]

Most people agree, the dot is a pretty good target, and will give your position away to an attacker.

Nothing like carrying a red flag around at night saying "Here I am!".

Actually, unless I was in a smoke-filled room, I have never really seen the red beam leading back to the shooter, just the red dot. Seeing the beam flash around seems to be a Hollywood effect.

 

[AJ]

I disagree. Combat is completely different than civilian self-defense, although apparently the top tier special operators of the different services use lasers, at least sometimes. Lasers have a lot of advantages and few disadvantages. Giving up one's location is not one of those disadvantages. Hell yes, companies want to sell products, but that's not a consideration here. In a low light situation when one cannot see one's sights, what is a better option?

We can agree to disagree.......

 

[Old cop]

Nothing wrong w/laser sights but in my ‘74 gunfight it was all fast point shooting across the hoods of our cars on a dark parking lot. No time for an aimed shot of any kind.

 

[AJ]

Nothing wrong w/laser sights but in my ‘74 gunfight it was all fast point shooting across the hoods of our cars on a dark parking lot. No time for an aimed shot of any kind.

For me it was watch for muzzle flashes and did point shooting at those.

 

[Dusty Miller]

Yeah, I've got that "old eyes" problem as well. The light from the laser is really easy to pick up and getting it on target is a piece of cake.

 

[lrrifleman]

For me, the jury is still out. Fortunately, I've never been in a gunfight and hope to never be in one. That said, I believe in preparing for the worst and hoping for the best.

Let me address red dot sights on a defensive pistol. I have a Glock 17 with a red dot that I use in GSSF matches. It is taking a lot to get accustomed to. Ninety nine times out of a hundred, I find myself hunting for the dot in the window when I present the pistol at the target. For this, I am old school and would NOT consider it an advantage on a pistol carried for self-defense.

Concerning lasers, I have a more positive outlook. I have 2 Sigs that are wearing lasers: a P320 Xcompact (CMR204) and a P365 (Lima365). I use the P320 as a competition gun at the Adaptive Defensive Shooting Summit, and the laser is very advantageous on the "near total dark" stages. Flashlights are prohibited for these stages, and the green laser helps me acquire the threat targets and benefits my times. I use a Black Rhino holster for this pistol.

When I acquired my P365, I purchased a red laser Lima 365 for it. I have found that when the Lima is installed on the micro grip module, my grip changes as I break the shot, and the pressure on the activation button is removed. For me, the Lima 365 and the micro grip module is a "no go". However, I did acquire an X/XL grip module, and put the Lima 365 on it. I found a winner, because I am now able to keep enough pressure on the activation button through out the trigger squeeze.

For a defensive pistol, I don't need to worry about giving away my position, because the predator is already moving on me. Being disabled, with 2 bum legs and a bum arm, I will take advantage of any unfair advantage I can get. I know that I own every round that I fire, so that is why I like the concept of the laser. My belief is that if the predator is advancing faster than what I anticipated, I can point shoot with a higher degree of confidence that I'll hit my target when I show him/her/it that they chose a victim with teeth. With a properly zeroed laser, I know that if I can paint the target with the laser, I will hit the target.

That said, I have not yet tested my current configuration on the range, but I feel confident that it will work.

 

[fatcat3]

A brief time out for a round of applause for the timely reintroduction of “clowder of cats” into the modern vernacular. Well done.

We now resume our regularly scheduled programming.

I am a cat lover and just learned something new THANK YOU

OH,oh,Laser sights, not for me but if it lifts your skirt have at it.

 

[AJ]

I am a cat lover and just learned something new THANK YOU

OH,oh,Laser sights, not for me but if it lifts your skirt have at it.

Have to agree with you on both subjects. Have four of the furballs running around here!

 

[LostintheOzone]

Yeah, no. Laser light goes both ways, kind of a " shoot me here" accessory.........just my 0.02

They're a lot like tracer rounds. They work both ways.

 

[Old cop]

For me it was watch for muzzle flashes and did point shooting at those.

Same here.

 

[Imissedagain]

Bought the LCP with Laser and removed it so the pistol fit in my ankle holster and the pocket carry holster.
That was all Lou's Police Supply had in stock that day.

Best use when it was attached was to clear the gun, pick an object on the wall/floor, close my eyes and bring the gun up on target.
Then open my eyes, see how close and repeat until on target.
Point and shoot practice.

Red Dots are interesting and tried the 460 with the Trijicon RMR with moderate loads and will try it with the Leupold and stout loads soon. Better warranty.

Only irons and lotsa practice with carry guns.

 

[BB57]

As a general rule I do not use any sight that requires batteries on a self defense weapon or survival weapon. Batteries and electronics are just two unnecessary things that can and will fail at the worst possible moment.

I’m ok with a prism sight like the burros 332 on a personal defense carbine as it’ll work with a dead battery or without being switched on as the battery just illuminates a reticle that is always there.

Lasers and red dot sights do not provide a method of aiming when the power is off and on a handgun they just add weight, bulk and complexity that works against the primary purpose of a concealed carry handgun.

I am a firm believer in night sights as they are essential to accurate shooting in low light conditions.

That said, I am also a firm believer in training your self to use the sights even under extreme stress. That’s accomplished by drawing and bringing the handgun up into your line of sight and on target, pausing to align the sights, and then holding the sights on alignment while you pull the trigger. Over time and with practice the grip required to align the sights becomes muscle memory and the front and rear sights will automatically be aligned when you bring the front sight on target. At that point you can draw and shoot extremely fast and the “pause” is a small fraction of a second where you are not aligning the sights but rather confirming the front sight is on target and that you need to shoot.

If you don’t train to use the sights, then having night sights isn’t really a benefit.

 

[AJ]

I use to laugh at point shooting. Then when I went to Security Force Battalion Schools I was trained a bit differently then old school Bullseye shooting. We were taught that out to 10-15 yards just to catch the front sight in our peripheral vision before we fired. It works and works well. I will even do it with a rifle or shotgun out to about 50 yards. If anyone lives close to Sebastian, Florida will be glad to teach it. We were taught and taught our trainees how to win a gun fight. Never told my people that we were teaching them to kill, but if the other guy died, it was his fault as he started it.

 

[Old cop]

I use to laugh at point shooting. Then when I went to Security Force Battalion Schools I was trained a bit differently then old school Bullseye shooting. We were taught that out to 10-15 yards just to catch the front sight in our peripheral vision before we fired. It works and works well. I will even do it with a rifle or shotgun out to about 50 yards. If anyone lives close to Sebastian, Florida will be glad to teach it. We were taught and taught our trainees how to win a gun fight. Never told my people that we were teaching them to kill, but if the other guy died, it was his fault as he started it.

Our training changed from bulls eye to fighting w/a gun, or point shooting, following my 1974 OIS. I still qualify for LEOSA every summer and close in point shooting is part of the qual.

 

[AJ]

Our training changed from bulls eye to fighting w/a gun, or point shooting, following my 1974 OIS. I still qualify for LEOSA every summer and close in point shooting is part of the qual.

I help with the .22 Steel Challenge at the local range every month. After we run the shooters through, then the score keepers and safety guys get to shoot. I still use the point shoot/catch the front sight when I am shooting it. Never miss a 8 inch steel plate at 15 yards..........works for me.

 

[sourdough44]

Yeah, opinions, here’s mine, no lasers or dots for me. That said, I have nothing against them, various requirements for different people.

I’ll go one more, that’s about sights themselves. I’m more a fan of ‘bent elbow’ or ‘point shooting’ at ultra-close CC ranges. Maybe there’s time to distinguish the front sight, I’m normally not feeling the need to see ANY sight. Again, this is at the close CC ranges.