why laser sites?

[2muchfun]

A dear friend passed, and I'm in possession of his guns to sell. One is a shield 2.0 with inegrated crimson trace. At first I thought I may purchase it and sell my shied 2.0. But when raising the gun to firing position I noticed I couldnt see the dot on the target because the front iron site blocked it.

Do you remove the iron sites if you want to use lhe laser or adjust the dot to be just above the post? In either case I don't really see the benefit?



I'll definitely try it on the range, but at this point, I'm skeptical.



What is your experience???

 

[geeollie]

A friend is cross dominate......left handed but right eye is the aiming eye.
A Laser on his Glock 17 was helpful for him.

I shot it and in that very limited trial it seemed slower than iron sights to get on target. I felt I was chasing the red dot like a cat instead of bring the gun up and on target. Again....my very limited 1st try.

 

[Screwball]

My main use for laser grips are for dry fire practice. I confirm zero when I shoot, then practice without them. I don’t use the laser for normal shooting.

Now, if I’m on the ground or some position where I can’t get a sight picture… that is the lower chance that I’d use it for.

I used to run a laser with my LCP and still have one on my 642-1. The LCP was given to a coworker/friend, and I upgraded to the LCP Max. Better sights and bigger gun, I opted to not do a laser on that.

Shy of that, I really don’t see lasers useful if you always are going to use your sights. There is the intimation factor, but I’d hope the gun pointed at the person would be a better deterrent than a red dot…

 

[Fishinfool]

I was always kind of skeptical about lasers on handguns. Years ago, I bought a Kimber Ultra Carry .45 with Crimson Trace laser grips attached.

I did find a couple benefits. As stated above, if you have to fire from an awkward position, say from behind cover, you can just raise your gun hand over your head, and as long as you are in position to see that dot on your target, fire away.

Another benefit, in poor light, if you have to fire fast, you can hit your target from the hip, without having to raise the gun and use your sights - which brings up another benefit - point shooting from a low position. Point shooting saves valuable time in some SD situations. Practicing point shooting from the hip with a laser insures better hits, and helps build muscle memory for those times you don't have a laser, increasing your hit potential.

A laser isn't the end all tactical tool some say it is, but it is a useful addition in a limited number of situations. Don't try shooting with the laser and your irons sights at the same time - Either use the laser on target, or use the irons, trying to decide between the two at the same time can slow you down under pressure.

Larry

 

[ajgunner]

Definitely have to include the fact that a laser doing crazy things inside a dark house at night, just might be enough intimidation to keep any bad guys from bothering with your house/wife.

 

[Tom S.]

Definitely have to include the fact that a laser doing crazy things inside a dark house at night, just might be enough intimidation to keep any bad guys from bothering your with your house/wife.

Add to that, you don't have to have the gun at eye level to see if you are on target.

 

[snubbyfan]

I got myself a Laserlyte side mount laser for dry fire practice and zeroed it in at 25 feet.
I then used it to "adjust" my front site by filing it a bit at a time until it lined up with the red dot at 25 feet.

 

[silverstateS&W]

Lasers are great for short barrel guns and instinctive shooting.
don't try to aim with a great trigger press or the bouncing dot will drive you nuts.
all the 'experts' will tell you they dont need them,
but try to aim when you're awakened at 3 am and dont have your glasses. no good in daylight.
BUT shoot weak side, wrong eye, bad position, anything like that and they are great on small guns.
It allows you to FOCUS ON THE THREAT and not the sights

 

[pasound]

I have a 637 which came with factory CT laser sight grips. It was zeroed at 25 feet. Like snubbyfan said, it's handy to do dry fire practice. The dot sits right on top of the front sight. I put a full size CT grip set on my GP100 for the same reason. Set up like classic grips with factory wood inserts, it's unobtrusive. But I admit if in close quarters, it is an advantage to "shoot around corners" if necessary.

 

[pocketsand]

Laser sights are inferior in every way to an optic. Lasers build bad habits, are interrupted by smoke at night, are hard to pick up on anything other than paper, let alone a patterned shirt at 7 yards, and aren’t any faster than building an adequate grip and acquiring a flash sight picture. Hard pass, every time.

 

[Tom K]

I have a green laser/LED flashlight combo unit on my Rock Island 1911 in .22TCM. When I go out for a critter check at night I start off with a Dewalt spotlight. If I see an armadillo I switch on the light and laser on the pistol, so I don't have to worry about sight alignment. Put the green dot where I want it, press the trigger. I assume it would work similarly for a self defense situation.

 

[pasound]

Optics and lasers are not for first contact. They are for practice, and for emergencies if necessary.

 

[sophie]

2muchfun, depending on the style of the laser, you may want to shoot the pistol first. You may like it.
The laser really shines in a low light or a no light situation. Example—-down the hall of your house at night or outside at dusk. Once the laser is sighted in on your gun you don’t pay attention to the iron sights, only the dot of the laser, because that’s where the bullet will hit.
My Kimber 1911 CDP ll Ultra has the red Crimson Trace Laser and is a proven laser and works well. The Kimber also has Tritium Night Sights. I would not depend on a laser in broad daylight unless you are very close to the person or target.

My S&W M&P 9c has the green Crimson Trace Laser and is much brighter and easier to see in bright daylight. Again, I wouldn’t depend on a laser in broad daylight in a self defense situation. This pistol has an Apex one piece trigger and carry kit and is one of my favorite pistols.

 

[agksimon]

The ONLY advantage with a laser sighting device is when you're chasing another vehicle and put your gun out the window and and laser your target. (This is a joke).

 

[bobsguns]

I think lasers are a huge waste of $$$ & here's why.

They're virtually useless outdoors in daylight. Why waste $$ on useless trinkets? Spend it on ammo instead.

They're battery operated. How many times have we picked up a flashlight & the batteries didn't work? What does the shooter do now? They've predicated their entire ability to shoot upon a device that is now not working. They've practically stopped practicing with irons because "I HAVE A LASER!!!!"

They get out of point. Getting banged, dropping the gun in a brawl with a perp, however it might happen, they're very sensitive to getting off point. This will most likely happen when one needs them the most.

They're not good for any sort of distance because the light broadens as the distance increases. Try a 50-yard shot sometime with a laser, see how well that works. Never mind a 100-yard shot. So now the shooter can't make a long distance shot that might save his life or someone else's life BECAUSE I HAVE A LASER.

As some point, that laser is going to die. It's an electrical device, they all die at some point. Once again, it will die when you need it the most, not at the range.

People are always looking for the easiest path possible. I get that, I really do. They think a device will turn them into the guy who-never-misses-a-shot. That sort of thinking will get one killed in a self-defense situation, IMO.

For the record, I don't like optics on a carry gun either for most of the same reasons. Most guns have excellent sights. Use them!

My .o2

 

[Hawg Rider]

Lasers can be a helpful tool, particularly in low light conditions where iron sights may be difficult to see. I have only two revolvers with lasers...my PC Model 627-5 with Crimson Trace red laser stocks, and my wife's Ruger LCR .22 Magnum with a LaserMax trigger guard red laser. We both practice with the lasers, but my wife usually turns hers off because she "bounces" it around so much! She had trouble with the Ruger's small black front sight (with white line) so I installed an XS yellow dot sight to help her get on target.

 

[Bald1]

I think lasers are a huge waste of $$$ & here's why.

They're virtually useless outdoors in daylight. Why waste $$ on useless trinkets? Spend it on ammo instead.

They're battery operated. How many times have we picked up a flashlight & the batteries didn't work? What does the shooter do now? They've predicated their entire ability to shoot upon a device that is now not working. They've practically stopped practicing with irons because "I HAVE A LASER!!!!"

They get out of point. Getting banged, dropping the gun in a brawl with a perp, however it might happen, they're very sensitive to getting off point. This will most likely happen when one needs them the most.

They're not good for any sort of distance because the light broadens as the distance increases. Try a 50-yard shot sometime with a laser, see how well that works. Never mind a 100-yard shot. So now the shooter can't make a long distance shot that might save his life or someone else's life BECAUSE I HAVE A LASER.

As some point, that laser is going to die. It's an electrical device, they all die at some point. Once again, it will die when you need it the most, not at the range.

People are always looking for the easiest path possible. I get that, I really do. They think a device will turn them into the guy who-never-misses-a-shot. That sort of thinking will get one killed in a self-defense situation, IMO.

For the record, I don't like optics on a carry gun either for most of the same reasons. Most guns have excellent sights. Use them!

My .o2

IDK, I like the Crimson Trace laser grips I have on my .32 Tomcat
I’ve put a lot of rounds through it over a 15 yr period. I’ve changed battery twice as a matter of maintenance. They did not die and CT will send you free ones. I don’t think anyone is suggesting you stop practicing with factory sights. A laser is just another tool. A layer of preparedness. But I do know this. People that have never fired a handgun shoot my little Tomcat pretty good.

 

[cracker57]

2muchfun
I see this is your first post, welcome.
I also see after 17 post no one has answered your question. If the pistol is set up for a six oclock hold your laser dot should sit on top of your front site, no need to remove it. This is how I would run my gun, if the laser don't work you can use the irons.
whats nice about the laser for SD is you don't have to have a sight picture meaning you have your gun in front of your face. This blocks your view of the BG. You can shoot from the hip with accuracy and keep your eyes on the threat.
One of the most important things to remember in a SD situation is the BG don't kill you his hands do. Never take your eyes off their hands!
Is there a learning curve , of course there is. This is why one should train with the equipment they have and are betting their life on.
AS far as seeing the dot at 100 or even 50 yards, in a SD shooting I would hate to be telling the DA I was in fear of my life from a threat that's 100 yrds from me.
Good luck, stay safe...

 

[lrrifleman]

Before I had the opportunity to train in the Sig Academy shoot house, I had a laser on my P320 and on one of my P365 frames. The lasers were sighted, and then I disregarded the sights and place the laser dot on my target.

Then I experienced the Shoot House! Life and perspectives changed. I found that once I made a fast draw without stuff hanging on the pistol, I never used the sights. I would be point shooting, looking over the slide, and making kill zone hits. But that is after years of shooting.

 

[GnarlsR2]

I think lasers are a huge waste of $$$ & here's why.

My .o2

I think lasers are a huge benefit and here’s why:

My experience has been great with my lasers.

At my age my vision, although my prescription glasses correct my vision to 20-20, is not good enough to focus on gun sights and the target at the same time.

After practicing at the range with my P365 iron sights, I quickly realized my vision was not good enough. I added a Romeo Red Dot. I practiced and practiced but still could not find the red dot quick enough for my comfort in a SD situation. I removed the red dot and added a Sig Lima Green laser on my P365. The design is small and smoothly integrates with the pistol. With my middle finger grip activation, I found it to be very quick to activate the laser and the required grip actually improved my pistol grip.

My ability, and confidence, to quickly target and accurately hit my POA was greatly improved.

Then I added a Viridian HS1 with Green Laser to my DPMS Panther. This design is very small and provides a natural grip. My left-hand fore finger activates the laser during a natural grip, so I do not have to change my grip. After sighting it with a bore laser, I went to the range and tested it. I shot at several closer distances, then pushed the target to 25 yards. The range lighting was dim at the distance. The green laser was very visible on the target. I shot 5 rounds and pulled the target in. Two range buddies were watching and when they saw the target their jaws dropped a little.

All 5 rounds were with a 3” circle. Without benching it, I don’t know that I can get it more accurately sighted in.

Then I added a Gmconn Green laser to my favorite fun-gun - Kel-Tec P17.

During a range day, any one of my 14 range buddies have shot one of my laser-equipped firearms and they are always surprised at the accuracy and quickness to POA.

I understand the “gimmickry” perception and trade-offs to having a laser on a firearm.

In bright daylight, at beyond 10 feet the green laser is nearly invisible and would not be useable for targeting. In an overcast day, the green laser is visible at 25 feet, but it is not bright enough to use it for quick targeting.

The disadvantage of exposing your location is another common criticism. Changing batteries every 6 months makes the dead battery issue a non-issue for me. The history of battery powered optics, red dots, and lasers has shown the devices to be extremely reliable.

The benefit for quick targeting in low-light conditions is incredible.

Not having to hold the gun at eye level to see your POA can be a huge plus in many potential environments and situations.

Visually seeing a green dot on a practice target at 4 to 7 yards has been highly beneficial for me to practice and hone stance, breathing, grip, and trigger pull. Practicing POA with a laser on a target has greatly improved my overall proficiency and confidence with my self-defense firearms.

The biggest plus for me is the higher level of confidence in a self-defense situation that the laser sights have provided.