Do you believe that a laser is beneficial on a CCW?

[dad45acp]

The thing is, is that I don't have a laser on my edc. I do however have a grip laser on my snub .38spl. The benefit is that the revolver has fixed sights that basically suck and particularly at night, the laser would come in handy especially if my wife had to grab it, she wouldn't have to worry about much other than acquire target and let the lead fly. During the darker, colder time of the year, I attach a weapon light to my edc and use a tactical holster. It also has night sights so target acquisition and aiming won't be an issue in a dark parking lot. Lasers have a purpose but sheer reliance on them particularly for your edc would be an unwise move.

 

[no2gates]

You should learn to aim & fire your weapon accuratly without depending on a crutch. Also they seem to get off calibration very easily. At the range I see these dots dancing all over targets and rarely does the round go where the dot is.
Learn to use your weapon properly. Forget the novelty items.
Also mounting a flashlight on your gun?? Yeah right. the light is an easy primary target.

This says it perfectly. Plus, what happens if you forget to change out the laser batteries every 6 months or so, go to aim it with that laser and CRAP! Dead batteries!
Normal sights don't rely on batteries.
Now as a scare tactic if someone is coming at you? You betcha! sound of chambering a round, plus the warm glow of a laser... Yeah, that might make the BG think twice.

 

[no2gates]

The thing is, is that I don't have a laser on my edc. I do however have a grip laser on my snub .38spl. The benefit is that the revolver has fixed sights that basically suck and particularly at night, the laser would come in handy especially if my wife had to grab it, she wouldn't have to worry about much other than acquire target and let the lead fly. During the darker, colder time of the year, I attach a weapon light to my edc and use a tactical holster. It also has night sights so target acquisition and aiming won't be an issue in a dark parking lot. Lasers have a purpose but sheer reliance on them particularly for your edc would be an unwise move.

Only potential problem with a weapon light, is that's where the BG now knows where to aim his weapon.

 

[dad45acp]

Only potential problem with a weapon light, is that's where the BG now knows where to aim his weapon.

There's a lot of differing opinions on that. As far as civilian carry, a BG isn't assuming his victim is armed in the majority of cases and lighting him up w a light to see him and/or his hands is worth a lot to me before I decide to use lethal force.

Sent from my NSA screened Smartphone

 

[Firefighterchen]

Only potential problem with a weapon light, is that's where the BG now knows where to aim his weapon.

It's not impossible for that to happen, but on top of identifying your target, the intense light will blind them, if used properly, they won't be able to shoot in any direction accurately.

Sent from my HTCONE using USA Carry mobile app

 

[Silvercliff_46]

I practice with my laser occasionally to see if it is still on, and stay familiar with it. I live in a semi wilderness area, no street lights. I am more likely to use my pistol on a bear as a bad guy. I do have plenty of bad guys as the drug dealers plant in the National forest. That being said, I don't have street lights, and I like the edge of having the laser on my gun. Of coarse I have a good flash light, but I don't shine it on my sights I shine it in a bad guys eyes. It's an edge that's all, and I'll take all I can get.

 

[Jay]

It's not impossible for that to happen, but on top of identifying your target, the intense light will blind them, if used properly, they won't be able to shoot in any direction accurately.

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I would suggest that if you could aim a laser-thin beam of light into an attacker's eyes in the midst of confrontational mayhem, you could much more successfully aim your firearm and impact center-mass.

 

[Silvercliff_46]

I agree you don't use the laser to blind him, that's what a high intensity flashlight is for. You have to admit though, having a little red dot on your chest can distract your attention.

 

[Jay]

I would also suggest that having to go through an available lighting checklist, would be detrimental to surviving an attack.

 

[Jay]

You have to admit though, having a little red dot on your chest can distract your attention.

only if you see it... ...you would be assuming that the aggressor's attention is focused on his chest, so he can see the red dot that MAY appear.

 

[apvbguy]

the laser will slow you down and get you killed, learn how to point shoot.

 

[Firefighterchen]

I would suggest that if you could aim a laser-thin beam of light into an attacker's eyes in the midst of confrontational mayhem, you could much more successfully aim your firearm and impact center-mass.

um...

My post was in response to a weapon light....

But good point lol

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[Silvercliff_46]

I don't understand some of your argument though, If you are saying laser's are never good, I would like to know how you get target acquisition in the dark without night vision or a flashlight. Seems that a laser is a good option for night use. Where I live the only other option is moonlight. If you have a full moon, maybe on a bright night. I guess I'm not macho enough to go without on a dark night. Heck I use a lighted scope on my crossbow, and rifle just for early morning and twilight use. I have to ask, why not a laser??????

 

[Silvercliff_46]

If I am surprised I'll point and shoot, If I am on alert I will use laser and flash light.

 

[apvbguy]

I don't understand some of your argument though, If you are saying laser's are never good, I would like to know how you get target acquisition in the dark without night vision or a flashlight. Seems that a laser is a good option for night use. Where I live the only other option is moonlight. If you have a full moon, maybe on a bright night. I guess I'm not macho enough to go without on a dark night. Heck I use a lighted scope on my crossbow, and rifle just for early morning and twilight use. I have to ask, why not a laser??????

if you cannot see your target, he probably cannot see you as well, sending out a light looking for him and giving him something he can aim for is not a good thing. no matter how you slice it a laser is a poor solution for a SD situation.

 

[bo_leggs]

Back in the day, I didn't have to aim with my .22 revolver because it became second nature to me. The thing is, however, that it sometimes becomes necessary to use a crutch. I walk with a cane now, I see no problem with having a laser on my pistol. You do what you have to do. I never felt vulnerable until a month ago, and that's when I decided it was time to buy a good pistol and get my CCP. I hope I never have to use it, but from now on it will be with me at all times, and it is getting a lot of practice use now. Those who diss lasers may someday need to rely on them. I'd rather have them and not need them than to not have them and when I really did need them. As far as batteries, Crimson Trace gives you a free set every year.

 

[bo_leggs]

the laser will slow you down and get you killed, learn how to point shoot.

The Crimson Trace on my LC9 comes on when I grip it. It doesn't slow anything down.

 

[Jay]

um...

My post was in response to a weapon light....

But good point lol

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You're correct, sir. My apologies.

 

[apvbguy]

The Crimson Trace on my LC9 comes on when I grip it. It doesn't slow anything down.

looking for where the laser is on your target slows you down

 

[wolf_fire]

I consider a laser a great dry-fire practice tool only. It allows the user to see if the firearm is being jostled while depressing the trigger. In this use, a laser is a wonderful and incredibly useful tool and you don't have to spend much money to get one.

However, when I had one on my firearm with live fire, I noticed I started to rely too heavily on it, to the point of not using my sights as much. I have trained in bright light, low light, and no light situations. I would much rather have a small, high lumen, flashlight with me, that I can turn on and off quickly to gain sight acquisition than to rely on a laser. A better investment would be tritium/fiber optic sights. They are great in the day and wonderful at night... and carry a small flashlight if it's not daytime.