To laser or to not laser

[glock34]

As i have got older i have needed to pull out the reading glasses to look at anything close and this now included my sights on my pistols. since i don't need to wear my glasses all the time there are often times i don't have them on. So the thought of adding a laser to my G19 or looking at a shield or G43 with a laser.

looking for input on past experience from people that have had a laser on their carry of bedside gun.If i add the laser shoul i do a type that mounts on grip or rail.

 

[eric001]

I put a Crimson Trace green laser on my EDC's rail. Even in fairly bright sunlight I can still see it out to 15-20 feet or so (used it to drive away a squirrel who was barking up a storm at me yesterday, and he was about 30-35 feet away). If you go with a laser, I would highly recommend green, and CT makes good stuff as far as I'm concerned. Small device, light, powerful, and bright as all...heck. And I'd absolutely stick with one mounted to a rail--much more secure and less likely to get off adjustment.

Here's mine:Amazon.com : Crimson Trace CMR-206 RAIL MASTER UNIVERSAL GREEN LASER SIGHT : Sports & Outdoors

 

[jinks]

One of my bedside handgun is a SAR K2 .45 with a Viridian C5L green laser / light mounted on the rail. The fifteen shot full sized 45 is a good bedside handgun. As a carry gun it is a little large and few holsters are made specifically for the SAR with a laser. Vigilance Tactical Holsters are available for the SAR with the C5L.

 

[Bfish]

I know you having problems seeing things up close but would an RMR be an option for aging eyes? Just asking, because to me that is a better option than a laser.

 

[SSGSAD]

I saw a guy, at an indoor range, in a wheel chair, with a handgun w/ a laser..... he hit where the red dot was .....

REMEMBER, lasers, work BOTH ways .....

 

[NHT3]

Everything I carry has one,, Great tool IMHO.. One of the 3 things you can spend money on that will increase your potential for accuracy.. The other two being a quality firearm and a good trigger.

[FONT=&amp]NRA Life Member[/FONT][FONT=&amp]-- [/FONT][FONT=&amp]GSSF member[/FONT]
Glock Armorer-M&P Armorer
NRA Basic pistol instructor[FONT=&amp] /[/FONT][FONT=&amp] RSO[/FONT]

 

[wizardfitz]

My wife has a crimson trace on her glock 19, its activated when she grips the gun. A small button on the rear. Works great

 

[TheJuggernaut]

I would say try it out and see if it works for you. I had a Crimson Trace Grip Laser once on my Glock 22 Gen 3. Alas, the laser is gone and so is the Glock. My biggest gripe about the laser is/was that I spent more time trying to acquire it and get on target than I did with a pair of TruGlo TFO's. As for the Glock, opportunity smiled upon me to part with it. I just don't care for .40 cal in general.

But I have seen others that can use a laser just fine. In the end it is a matter of whether or not it works for you.

 

[looney2ns]

I vote for the Crimson Trace Laserguards. With a proper gun grip they instinctively come on.
In the heat of the moment, you don't want to be looking for activation buttons.
I have one on both our LCP's. Mine has about 1500 rnds through the gun and still works flawless.
Like anything else, it needs practice. Dryfire practice works well.
Also is great to show you how good or bad your trigger control is.

 

[Mustang1911]

Lasers can not only help when you can't focus on the sights but it also helps you to focus on the target like people tend to naturally do and just see the dot on target; very similar to red dots. Whichever you get, get something good quality (like Crimson Trace etc) because you get what you pay for in the long run. Red dots have become pretty popular and it actually wouldn't make it too much harder to conceal. For lasers, I personally can see the greed dots on targets much easier than red; red washes out very easily in bright light. And I believe Crimson Trace makes some lasers for Glocks that go onto the back of the grip which wouldn't require a new holster. I personally wouldn't get a rail mounted laser that has to be activated with a separate action; I'd stick with the Crimson Trace style that your grip automatically turns the laser on. That's just my personal preference though and what works for me might not work for you. Whichever you go with, still practice with just the sights sometimes though. Lasers, red dots, etc can all break, batteries do dead, etc but your sights are still there as a backup if that happens.

 

[Bigtanker]

I know you having problems seeing things up close but would an RMR be an option for aging eyes? Just asking, because to me that is a better option than a laser.

I like this thinking. The RMRs come so small now, this would be worth looking into. Yeah, you might have to buy a gun ready for it (oh darn) or have your slide milled for it but no special holsters needed.

 

[BE Mike]

I put a Crimson Trace green laser on my EDC's rail. Even in fairly bright sunlight I can still see it out to 15-20 feet or so (used it to drive away a squirrel who was barking up a storm at me yesterday, and he was about 30-35 feet away). If you go with a laser, I would highly recommend green, and CT makes good stuff as far as I'm concerned. Small device, light, powerful, and bright as all...heck. And I'd absolutely stick with one mounted to a rail--much more secure and less likely to get off adjustment.

Here's mine:Amazon.com : Crimson Trace CMR-206 RAIL MASTER UNIVERSAL GREEN LASER SIGHT : Sports & Outdoors

I have three red CT laser sights on handguns and for me, over 40 eyes, they work better than night sights. They aren't much use in the daytime, but that's what the sights are for. What advantage does the green have over the red?

 

[BJones]

I have old eyes and have lasers on all of my carry guns and bedside guns. I am a firm believer in crimson trace products. Their customer service and their products are outstanding. Look on eBay and Amazon for the best prices.

 

[looney2ns]

Green has much better visibility in day light.

 

[indiucky]

I am old school...Use a razor or if you are brave you can go with a bikini wax....

 

[Dkamm23]

something i have come in to with the lasers is they are not friendly to left handers. i also am a firm believer that a laser is not something you should completely rely on. you should become confident with point shooting first.

 

[Hopper]

Has anyone ever tried one of the Laser Max "guide rod" lasers? I like that you wouldn't need to change holsters, but they are pricey. They do come in green, which as other have suggested, would be my choice, but it doesn't appear they support very many manufacturers (CZ is not on their list).

https://www.lasermax.com/products#!guide-rod-lasers

 

[ajeandy]

Has anyone ever tried one of the Laser Max "guide rod" lasers? I like that you wouldn't need to change holsters, but they are pricey. They do come in green, which as other have suggested, would be my choice, but it doesn't appear they support very many manufacturers (CZ is not on their list).

https://www.lasermax.com/products#!guide-rod-lasers

Maybe if they bring the price down...I can't pay more for the laser than I did for the gun....

I do really like my green laser on my sub2000

 

[Hopper]

Maybe if they bring the price down...I can't pay more for the laser than I did for the gun....

Agreed. I did some price checking after that last post, and holy wow are they expensive. I saw $400 for the XDm guide rod. No way.

 

[BE Mike]

something i have come in to with the lasers is they are not friendly to left handers. i also am a firm believer that a laser is not something you should completely rely on. you should become confident with point shooting first.

Before that, one needs to develop good trigger control. You are correct that a laser doesn't help one who is not schooled in old fashioned marksmanship fundamentals and point shooting, to a degree.