I might have to break down and get a laser for one of my handguns. I would be interested in your experiences and comments on the different types: grip mounted, guide rod or frame mounted.
Thanks, Peter.

Peter:

I have a S&W 642CT with the larger Crimson Trace red laser grips. This set up is from the factory. I really like the slightly larger grips when shooting although they are a little more difficult to conceal in a pocket. I is very easy to activate and use. The fixed stainless steel sights on these J frames are fairly rudimentary and difficult to pick up in certain light.


For this revolver the CT grip laser makes sense. It is a pull and shoot handgun. The only complaint I have is the trigger and action on this type of revolver. It is a stiff DAO and a bit on the rough side. Lawyer trigger I guess. When shooting at paper, I sometimes look like I have Parkinson's Disease as the red dot dances a bit with the long slightly rough pull. I get darn near the same groups if I give it a good hard yank when the dot lines up.

I need to find a good gunsmith who can smooth and possibly lighten the action without compromising reliability.

Good luck.. RCG

I have a laser on one pistol they have there place

If you can get them for your pistol I like the grip types a little better then the other types.

p dog, I have seen a few episodes of First Person Defender (?) and indoors, a laser seemed very fast and effective. I am somewhat late to this party, but as you say, they have their place, and this seems to be it.
Peter.

p dog, is Crimson Trace the only company that makes the grip type lasers?
Peter.

I have one of the Ruger 380's with built-in laser by Viridian. Push the button, the green light comes on. Push it again, it flashes. Push it again, it turns off. I put in one front pants pocket and my 6+ in the other, and nobody can tell which is which, or what either one is.
The definition of CCW.

My S&W 642 is setup similar to RCG, except that I bought the revolver first and added the Crimson Trace laser grips later. Part of this was to put a better grip on the gun than the little "boot grip" it came with, and also to provide the laser. I found that the laser allows me to be make more consistent hits than with the very short radius iron sights, even at 5-10 yards. And with only five rounds to use, every shot counts even more.

Ordered an LG 401 for my Kimber Pro carry HDII in 38 Super. Will let you how how well it zeros.
Peter

Don't forget Murphy's Law. The batteries on your laser sight will fail the moment you have to use said laser sight in a self defense shooting. Your steel sights have no batteries. Just something to consider.....

I hope you purchased the center activation model.

Nope, jwp, front activation. I did not know about the center activation, whatever that is. Just installed the grips, works fine once I figured out the battery contacts. Now to sight it in. Laser is bright indoors, in daylight. Gun is sighted in with open sights for 25 yards. I will probably zero the laser for wherever I can see the laser dot in sunlight, 15 yards?
Peter

quote:

Originally posted by Peter:
Nope, jwp, front activation. I did not know about the center activation, whatever that is. Just installed the grips, works fine once I figured out the battery contacts. Now to sight it in. Laser is bright indoors, in daylight. Gun is sighted in with open sights for 25 yards. I will probably zero the laser for wherever I can see the laser dot in sunlight, 15 yards?
Peter

That is what I am referring to. The switch is center of the grip panels or in front

Took the gun (Kimber Pro Carry II in 38 Super) to the range yesterday. CT says that the laser is sighted in at 50 feet. I was shooting at about 12 yards and I did not adjust the laser at all. It was close enough! I was shooting 2 handed as the bench was too far away to see the laser dot in bright sunlight. Two comments:
1. It was a little odd shooting "over" the gun as opposed to shooting "through" the sights. Still the dot was easy to pick up and shoot accurately. Head shots would be easy at the range I shot at.
2. The position of the trigger finger is critical. If the finger is alongside the slide/frame in a "safe" position, then it interferes with the laser. It took me a while to figure out what was wrong! The best position for the trigger finger seems to be on the trigger.
3. The laser is on only while the "button" is depressed. Take the finger off the button and the laser is off. I will call CT to see if this is as designed. Accessory rail mounted lasers have a switch that leaves the laser on until it is turned off by the switch. In a defensive situation I think I would want the laser on until the situation was safe.
Peter.

Peter:
Just a few advantages to remember about laser sighted pistols.

First: You can practice dry firing with the laser on at stationary targets. Naturally you want to achieve keeping the laser on target after you pull the trigger. This practice will show if you are pulling your shots in any given direction.

Second: Remember with a laser you do not HAVE to bring your handgun up to eye level to engage the sights. Example if you are on the ground and your arm is pinned or hurt. You can squeeze your middle finger engage your red laser and just put it on the target. Same goes inside your auto if you are trapped.

I have (4) Crimson Trace Lasers on my (4) CCW handguns. I would never have one without it.

PAH

My wife has the S&W Airweight with the CT grip. Biggest advantage to the laser is that she cannot see sights without glasses but can put the laser on target without glasses.

I just installed the Crimson Trace Laserguard on my S&W Shield. Have yet to get to the range, but it works very well, as expected, in the home.

All the talk about battery failure has pretty much been put to rest by the US military, who have been using battery powered optics and lasers for over 20 years under most adverse conditions. It is easy to track your battery condition.

quote:

It is easy to track your battery condition.

I would be interested in knowing how to do this with my CR 2032 batteries.
Peter.

Good question. From the Navy's point of view we exchange batteries on Periodic Maintenance Schedules. I'd imagine operators change them out more often.

Personally, when I use a Reddot, I can't get two seasons out of one for the .22 league. The wife's Smith gets new batteries annually.

You going to trust your life to a BATTERY? Fuggitabouttit! Don't bet your life on a gimmick! Learn to shoot with iron sights! If not, place on your headstone: I replaced my battery and thought for sure my laser sight would work! After all, the GOVERNMENT said it was OK. Seriously, what a crock. Remember Murphy's Law.....

quote:

Originally posted by Shootshellz:
You going to trust your life to a BATTERY? Fuggitabouttit! Don't bet your life on a gimmick! Learn to shoot with iron sights! If not, place on your headstone: I replaced my battery and thought for sure my laser sight would work! After all, the GOVERNMENT said it was OK. Seriously, what a crock. Remember Murphy's Law.....

I would really like to know your personal experience with self defense situations that your making these statements.

Just like anything a laser is just another tool.

They're fun to play with but if I'm in a situation that bad I'm looking at the bad guy over my barrel, not for a red dot somewhere on his body. In a real gunfight, you go looking for that dot and you're probably dead before you find it.