Thoughts On Pistol-Mounted Lights/Lasers?

[jyl]

I know, YAGT (Yet Another Gun Thread) but at least this is not a political thread so VINMAN will be happy.

I am interested in opinions on pistol-mounted lights and lasers. Do you have one, do they really make sense for a home defense pistol, any downsides?

My Glock is a 1st gen model (1986) with no accessory rail. I just found out about an $65 aftermarket accessory rail that I could add (clamps to trigger guard and positions the rail along the bottom of the dust cover), and also learned that refurbished Glock tactical lights and light/lasers are pretty cheap (start at $45). Hmm, for $110 I could spiff up the old Glock a bit. My brother-in-law recently bought a new Glock complete with tactical light, I guess I am feeling a bit outdated . . .

This pistol never sees a holster, just the bedside gunsafe, so the difficulty of finding a light-compatible holster isn't an issue.

There is a groovy internal laser that replaces the recoil guide rod and is activated by a modified takedown lever (LaserMAX) but I'm not inclined to spend $300 for something that could reduce the reliability of my pistol.

[911boost]

Unless you really want it for the "coolness factor", it just gives the bad guy something to shoot at in your house. Unless you are breaching doors, building, etc. at night, I don't think you need it.

Bill

[on2wheels52]

Have you looked into the Crimson Trace line? Normally they are replacement grips with a built in laser, not an option on a Glock. They came up with a laser that wraps around the upper rear of the grip, as unobtrusive as their other models. And like the others, once turned on squeezing the grip activates the laser. Should find one for $250 or so.
Jim

[red-beard]

I bought one for my one of my pistols. The alignment of the laser was off and it affected the aim of the pistol. And remember the "offset". If the laser is properly lined up, parallel with the barrel. you actually will have an offset to where the bullet will hit.

I would go laser before an actual light. And I would get one of the ones built into the grip, so it activates when you squeeze the grip.

For training, the "laser bullets" are great. They can help you see what happends when you pull the trigger.

[DavidI]

Many people use the laser sights as a replacement for good old fashion "sight alignment, trigger control." As long as you understand the basics for shooting and use the sight as a supplement, go for it.

Have fun, David

[Rick Lee]

I would never do it. I just don't trust the alignment of the laser and especially with the ones that clamp onto the triggerguard, I'd always wonder if it had been bumped or moved. I put Trijicon or other night sights on most of my handguns that I ever carry. The SIG P220 I keep in the night table is on its second set. There's no way to mess up their alignment without a press, they're always bright green and don't give the BG anything to see on the business end of the gun. They're around $110. In fact, on my SIG Pro 2340 I bought the special sight pusher tool on eBay, used it to install and set up the sights and then sold it for almost enough more than I paid for it to cover the cost of the night sights.

[sjf911]

I have a Crimson Trace grip laser on my Baretta 92 and a rail mounted light/laser on my XD40. I don't think of the laser as the main sight, rather an intimidation device and practice with the main sights ignoring the laser. You need to be able to look through the sights at the whole target (especially center of mass) and not get focused on a single point. I agree that the light is probably useless or at worse, makes you more of a target and destroys your night vision. I would say that the grip laser has the best "feel" and balance.

[Mo_Gearhead]

Get a RED laser (hand) pointer instead. Do NOT mount one on your firearm. Noises? Open the bedroom door slightly, stick pointer through crack, wave it slowly about the area. Announce; "I have a gun, is this the day you've chosen to die?"

If running footsteps are not heard, open up with the 12 gauge!

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by jyl

I know, YAGT (Yet Another Gun Thread) but at least this is not a political thread so VINMAN will be happy..

Hey, I am always happy to see a gun thread!

I had a Crimson Trace on my USP Wasnt real happy with it. It looks cool but I'd rather have a tactical light on it instead of the laser. To me the Laser is more for effect. Go for the Trijicon sights intstead of the laser.

[Jeff Higgins]

Why doesn't anyone make one that will fit my Peacemaker?

[Rot 911]

Another vote for night sights over laser.

[sjf911]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Why doesn't anyone make one that will fit my Peacemaker?

The haven't figured out how to get the wick lit without setting off the powder .

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Why doesn't anyone make one that will fit my Peacemaker?

A 4-cell Mag-Lite would bolt right up to that!

[jriera]

Take a look at the Streamlight TLR-2, laser/light combo.

Very easy to mount and take off, sighting remains there.

[alf]

For $110 you could get 1000 rounds of reloads for some range time.

[tabs]

Lasers are for fagg0ts, pimps and wanabe gangstas. So knowing U JYL, go for it!

I personally am old school, and that is using the old fashion way of learning how to aim and shoot.

[JTO]

I like the idea of a gun mounted light, like the Surefire product. It allows you to negotiate the house, open doors, reload, etc. Most importantly, you have your threat identifier with the gun, not separate.

I currently use a Surefire E2D as my tactical light. During a night shoot with IDPA where reloads were required, I found fumbling with the E2D burdensome and risked dropping something trying to manage the spent magazine, the fresh magazine and the flashlight. Although a weapon mounted light isn't legal for IDPA, I realized for my own personal defensive use, a weapon mounted light would be trick.

No to lasers, yes to night sights and a good weapon light.
Troy

[Wrecked944]

Laser beams do not belong on guns. They belong on the frickin' heads of frickin' sharks!

[pwd72s]

[QUOTE=Mo_Gearhead;3636353]Get a RED laser (hand) pointer instead. Do NOT mount one on your firearm. Noises? Open the bedroom door slightly, stick pointer through crack, wave it slowly about the area. Announce; "I have a gun, is this the day you've chosen to die?"

HOOT! This one I like...but why warn him with a laser?

Seriously, I've been taught that most in the home combat is close "point and shoot" stuff...I think a laser would only confuse things more. When at the range, practice ignoring your sights at the longest shooting distance in your house. Most houses, this is way under 50 feet...even down a hallway. Measure your home, practice various scenarios at various distances when at the range...again, "point and shoot", ignoring the sights...practice grips that "point" best for you. After 1,000 rounds or so, you'll be amazed at how accurate you can become while ignoring the sights...

Home defense isn't about having the tightest group on paper...it's about winning, about hitting first and hardest.

[HardDrive]

Will any of these lasers fit on a sharks head?