Sights on hand guns

[Keena OBrien]

Does a laser sight really help with accuracy when shooting a hand gun?

 

[Rich_S]

If you can shoot well without a lazer I wouldn't use one. Also, some J frames with crimson trace grips require you to keep your finger on the trigger to not obstruct the lazer. That forces bad safety practices.

 

[Providence Ranch]

My opinion, laser sights are simply for intimidation and "cool factor." Learn to use your sights through sight acquisition drills, and to point shoot at conversational distances.

 

[DemocratGunOwner]

The way I see it, they are useful in sudden self-defense situations, not in target shooting. The "I've got adrenaline pumping through my system, so a simple 'get the dot on the target' solution is good" principle. Obviously, if you have enough training and experience to not have that happen to you (police/military) you should do fine without, but if you don't have under-stress training, it would be a slight help under pressure.

 

[Cotillion]

I don't think sights are used very often in sudden SD situations so yes I think It's a huge bonus

 

[jtg452]

My opinion, laser sights are simply for intimidation and "cool factor." Learn to use your sights through sight acquisition drills, and to point shoot at conversational distances.

If the sight of a gun being pointed at them isn't intimidating, then I doubt that little red dot is going to make a difference.

 

[rogerw]

I would not depend on laser sites if you are out side and the sun is shining. Older people tell me they have bivolcos that laser helps them out. Intimidation should not be a factor. Only pull gun out if you intend on using it.

 

[nraynes]

They are an additive, not a replacement for iron sights.
If you can shoot your gun accurately with irons. Then sight the laser in for the standard distance of 8-10 yards (according to my ccw instructor that is the high average distance of a self-defense shooting)
As others have said this will help when SHTF and you dont have time for a proper sight picture.

 

[NavyLCDR]

My answer is absolutely yes. Put the laser on the gun, double check that the gun is unloaded. Put a spot on a wall, preferably in a basement where the wall is actually underground. Now concentrate on keeping the laser trained on the spot while dry firing the gun.

Once you've mastered keeping the laser on the spot while dry firing, take the gun to the range and live fire. Again, the object is to keep the laser on the bullseye the entire time while firing. Concentrate on keeping the laser on target, rather than making the gun go off. It doesn't even matter if the laser is "sighted in" or not. Your object is to keep the laser on bullseye through the entire trigger squeeze and to produce as tight of a shot group as you can.

Now take the laser off the gun and shoot exactly the same way you did with the laser on.

This will teach you how to concentrate on keeping proper sight alignment and aim throughout the trigger squeeze rather than thinking about making the gun fire.

 

[Larry Saxon]

have them on my kimpro, use them very rarely, prefer the metoprolite fiber optic nite sites i installed on my ultra carry. great by day, bright at night.

 

[CapGun]

Does a laser sight really help with accuracy when shooting a hand gun?

The short answer to your question is NO! OK now for my $.02. I do think you want more info.
There were some responses here that were totally wrong and some close to the money.
The best reasons for a laser and what they can do was told to me by a Sig instructor. He was among other impressive things a SWAT team leader.

As an example he told me>>>>> "One of the guys gets knocked to the ground or falls and hits his head and is a bit dizzy as a result. (make this during a firefight)With the laser he doesn't have to get a sight picture
is such a sorry state. All he has to do is put the dot on the threat which is easier then lining up front and rear sight or just front sight. Don't get ahead of me, patience, I'll cover your questions.
Another situation...you get dirt and dust in your eyes. Hard to see with blurred vision but that dot of light will make target acquisition easier.
Finally, important for a LEO and I guess the rest of us. In a stressful shootout most people without experience will almost automatically focus on the threat and not your sight, now for the important part especially for a LEO. You can now have the prescience of mind to see the whole threat with your dot on it and you might be able to notice the weapon you thought he had was not a weapon but a ________ you fill in the blank, Coke can in this case, and now know it was not a threat with a weapon.
As to a deterrent, many crazy people out there assume you can't shoot straight but with that dot on them they think that the bullet will "Automagically" go there and therefore stop their assault.
I was at an indoor range with my wife and we witnessed a guy in a nearby lane put his laser right on the target. Saw him shoot ten rounds and this was slow fire, he hit the target that was 15 to 20 feet away a total of 0, yes zero times! We watched as he pulled that trigger the laser dot move all over the place off the target. The laser will not make you a more accurate shooter. Only trigger control and practice will!
The laser will help in many situations but it will not "Automagically" make you hit your target. It is a great tool but like many tools, only effective if you use it correctly and know what it's limitations are.
Bottom line> > > > Practice. Get a laser. Sight it in and know what it's limitations are and how it can be a helpful tool. If you can't hit your target consistently at "combat range" without a laser don't assume you will be able to with a laser. Practice! It is a handy tool if you respect it's capabilities and understand what it was intended for.
Phew, thanks

 

[CapGun]

Hey Navy, I agree except the answer to the OP is no! That is, until he takes your excellent advice on the rest or your response. Then the answer can be yes.

 

[BC1]

BENEFITS

Valuable training tool to teach trigger control (probably the most important fundamental). Use snap caps and dry-fire to develop a trigger pull that maintains dot placement. The trigger skills should transfer to shooting with regular sights. One advantage in PP situations is visibility. Some shooters may close one eye and aim at a perp. The peripheral vision is closed-off and hands partially block the view of the perp. Using a laser one can open both eyes, improving peripheral vision, square-up their head improving orientation and lower the gun an inch or two giving a full view of the perp's body and background.

CONS

People think a laser replaces training and proper fundamentals thus they rely on it too much.

 

[Deserteagle]

If you have time to draw your gun, bring it to eye level, line those sights up nice and neat, get a good solid grip, and then fire, you have enough time that you should just be running away instead. But then again, if you practice enough, you can probably get your sights lined up nice in a very short time. But a laser sight could help some people get on target in a shorter time. I dont have one of those so I havent tested this idea yet, but with that said, knowing iron sights is always a must.

 

[liquidr1]

Lasers are for nothing more than really fast target aquisistion. Your accuracy all depends on your ability to pull the trigger while keeping the laser dot right on the spot you intend to hit. The only thing that will acomplish this is practice.

I have a crimson trace laser for my glock 27 and i would dry fire the gun and learn to not let the laser move at all while firing.