I am interested in a more compact hunting handgun. Compact to me excludes scopes and aimpoints. Compact also means short, limiting sight radius and makes iron sights less effective. I guess a laser comes to mind as a possible solution but I’ve never used one. Has anyone hunted with a Crimson Trace type laser sight? How far can you shoot with it easily? What are the downsides? How accurate can you be?

FWIW I would like to have something I could use out to 50-75 yards or so on animals from groundhogs up to deer. I’m thinking of 44 mag for caliber, but if it works well I may get a second one for a J-frame 357! BTW it is legal (finally) to use them for hunting in my state.

Haven't done it for a couple of reasons, one is that the laser runs the risk of spooking game. The second is that the laser will subtend a pretty large area as the range gets out about 50 yds. If I wanted the convienence I would go with an aimpoint or holosight designed for the big bores. You get the red dot, no paralax, and your game can't see it...

John

You will not be able to see a red laser in the daylight unless it is very powerful. You need an expensive green laser. Then there is a problem of recoil on them, some just get crushed internally. I don't trust any of them. There are red dots that can come apart too. Some will not fit between handgun rings also.
The best so far is the Ultra Dot. I have thousands of rounds with mine on .475 and 45-70 revolvers without any problem at all.

I am pertty sure it is illegal to hunt with any light source that extends past the barrel in MI (with the exception of nighttime small game hunting, and then you are limited to a rimfire).

I have yet to see any game regulation that allows the use of a laser sight.

You may want to check.

I hunt with compact handguns - if a 4 inch S&W M629 Mtn Gun qualifies - using the stock iron sights. Last time I encountered a whitetail a single shot let the air out at 35 yards.

I dropped a large doe in her tracks with my Vaquero at 100 yd's but it was full light. I can't see the open sights early or late in the day. I haven't found a scope that I can find a deer in when the light starts to fade either.
Some of us old guys need more light and the red dot it just the ticket.
You guys with young eyes shouldn't pick on us old fogies!

It's illegal in Ohio.

Looks like I heard wrong or they have not updated their web site. It looks to be legal in Indiana though, incase others are lurking.

Indiana pdf

Michigan usually catches up with Indiana within 10 yrs

Well I'll be!

you can in indiana!

That is the first time I have ever seen that!

Its legal in the land of communism (CA) if you are a disabled hunter....

John

I have done a lot of shooting with a under the barrel laser on a 22 pistol makes hitting a target out to 35 yards or easy. even from the hip. Past that I found the bullet path and the laser site path got to far apart to not need some correction.

Would be just the trick for coons in a tree at night. Would also work well on a defensive hand gun in low light.

My sight hung about a 1 below the barrel line a in the line with the barrel sight could very will work better.

I use a set of crimson laser grips just a bit wasn't all that well sighted in but could easy pick a spot on the target and hit it out too 7 yards or so. shooting from the hip hand out to the side ect. I am sure if it would have been sighted in better I could have placed hits with it out farther.

"Its legal in the land of communism (CA) if you are a disabled hunter...."

Why in the world would someone wheelchair bound need a laser sight if normal hunters could not use them? I'm all for disabled people hunting, but do they not need to look down the sights?

WAIT
Maybe if you had arm issues? I don't think if you can't hold a gun up to eye level you should be out hunting live game, doesn't seem ethical to me.

quote:

Originally posted by Tyler Kemp:
"Its legal in the land of communism (CA) if you are a disabled hunter...."

I hope you some day scrape together enough cash to visit sunny California yourself and develop an opinion based on first hand experience.

quote:

Why in the world would someone wheelchair bound need a laser sight if normal hunters could not use them? I'm all for disabled people hunting, but do they not need to look down the sights?

WAIT
Maybe if you had arm issues? I don't think if you can't hold a gun up to eye level you should be out hunting live game, doesn't seem ethical to me.

Then I imagine the parapalegic shooters I've known are glad you're not making the call.

I've never hunted with a lazer on any of my guns even though I have lazers and lights on some of my self-protection guns. I find that the first shot at a target pinpointed with a lazer is accurate and effective but if the target moves very quickly, as would be the case of a wounded animal or doped-up felon, and follow up shots were needed, then I could put more accurate and effecive fire on target using the iron sights.

namibiahunter

IMHO laser sights work a lot better with movie actors than they do with me! Part of it is training, but other than shooting from the hip I've yet to find an advantage to them. For all hunting situations, a red dot sight will be superior.

PS- I used the word all out of curiosity, just to see if there is something that I am unaware of, though I can't see what that would be.

I also think that a "hunting" handgun needs to have a 6" barrel if you plan on hitting anything (including deer) at 75 yards. You could remove the sights and mill a mount into the barrel and install a small diameter dot sight. I think for me that would be pretty much the limit for the size/useability compromise issue.

Not legal in Mo either.