All posts tagged Sig 228 laser grips

Using tools properly and not depending on them…

crimson trace laser gripsThere are many things you can attach to your firearm, whether it’s a handgun or a rifle, will help you get the job done.  Flashlights are a must for home defense but it’s  up to you to decide if you want to attach it directly to your firearm or keep it separately.   It’s not a good argument to shoot into the darkness, and I have to admit that I have heard of accidents where people shot family members or pets because they did not identify them.   One tactic that is often overlooked in many situations is that a home owner can simply turn on the lights in their home and wiring your home to be able to turn on major rooms from the second floor of your  home is something worth considering.  If you did have your electrical wiring done like this, you would simply flip a switch and get more candle power than any flashlight would give you.

Lasers are something that we see more often these days and it’s mostly for the smaller frame semi-autos.  I personally keep one of the Crimson Trace laser grips on my j-frame revolver because it gives me more confidence in hitting my target at close ranges, and in low light.   The small radius of a .380 or a snub nose revolver gives reason to attach a laser grip.   Laser grips and battery life have dramatically improved in the last decade and even the color has changed from red, to the widely  used green lasers that the military has already been adopting.  There are different flashlights that have laser and light combinations also worth considering.

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Are lasers useful or just cool?

That’s an easy answer for anyone that has been on a range as long as I have.  My first experience with a firearm with a laser was with one of my friends and he mentioned that he had bad eyes and need it.   That was about all I needed to know about why somebody would put a laser on a firearm.  Look at the changes that have taken place on firearms and the way people put hi visibility sights on Glocks and rifles.   I’ve seen AKs glowing sights and watched how well someone could shoot with them.   Even though you may turn your gun into something that has pink and yellow sights, you will find the contrast will improve target acquisition.

Lasers are showing up on everthing and now that most handguns being issued to police and military have rails on them for flashlights, lasers are also put in the mix.  We are seeing lights like the Veridian flashlights and we’ve been moving plenty of Crimson Trace Laser grips for concealed carry pistols.   The LCP is hands down the most popular concealed carry gun, but I still have issues with the .380 caliber and what it does for the average crackhead.  Do some research on what type of holster you want and make sure it works with your laser properly, lasers are are good when you need them.

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Your lasers shoot straight but your bullets never will

Lasers have been around for a long time and there are plenty of stories out there with credibility that involved Law Enforcement using them on firearms and then removing them because they were a liability.  With each accessory you put on a firearm, there is always a chance that it will fail or snag on something or change your perception of  the way you are engaging a target.  Although laser grips can have their advantages, you have to train to use  them properly. If you are looking for that dot to exactly where you want it to be you are wasting time and giving your opponent an opportunity to get his sights on you.  I have done enough testing and evaluations with new students to know that the majority of individuals act a certain way when given laser grips, they slow down when engaging targets.

For those of us that have taken Carbine Courses, we know that the AR15 his a very  high sighting picture and in a home defense or hostage situation, you better know your point of impact or something catastrophic can occur.  Crimson Trace Laser Grips have really picked up for the concealed carry market and they fly out of the door for those carrying pocket guns.  The reality about most pocket guns is the sights are never used.  Some guns like the Rohrbaugh R9 come with and without sights, why… because at certain ranges and certain calibers you train not to use them.  If you using laser grips for carry purposes, you are better off training to use it as a highlighter for low light threats but you must always be aware that your point of impact changes over distances.

 

 

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Laser grips finally being accepted?

I remember when they first started showing up in law enforcement circles and then there were the debates about how cops were getting show because they were not using instinctive shooting skills and worry about trying to get the dot on target and ended up getting killed.  I can’t name a story to back that up, but with my experience in shooting and training on the firing line, I believe that it is true.  I jumped back into the laser grip world with my Smith & Wesson Model 637.   There is a place for laser sights, but it really seems to have caught on with smaller pocket guns than duty guns.

I think it’s not a debate that getting hits on target is more important than taking your time and trying to get the perfect hit.   In the real world one stop shots are not a reality.   Crimson trace laser grips are pricey, but i can’t complain about battery life.   I’ve put clost to 1000rds through my Smith & Wesson j-frame and I have not had to change a batter yet.  The real advantage I see with having a laser like this on a carry gun is to get a little bit more range out them and be able to use them in low light situations.

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