Laser deterrant?

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It’s hard to understand what the little red dot on your chest means when you’re methed up out of your mind.

I disagree.

I view lasers as trigger training devices only. Maybe I’ll change my mind when I get really old and it’s the only way for me to aim quickly. But I don’t believe they are a deterrent.
 
How often do you look down at your own chest? Lasers are fine, but in the real world, unless it is completely dark, a laser is not visible enough to be a deterrent. Besides that, if it has escalated to the point that I am pointing my pistol at someone, they better be deterred super quick, because there are about to be rounds inbound to their position.
 
I was taught to use the sights on the revolver. It is now instinctive that when I draw and present my revolver the sights are already aligned, it is now up to me to bring the sights to the final target.

The day I don’t use my sights it will be because they are caught in the targets clothing.

Kevin
 
Knowing how quickly things can go awry I have always felt the extra time to find where your laser is could be the cause of getting yourself killed. Much better to learn to point shoot than to depend on waiting to get your laser on target. Things happen FAST and a fraction of a second can be the difference between life and death.
 
A laser CAN be beneficial. From my perspective the biggest advantage is that it allows you to aim a weapon from an unconventional position where you may not be able to see the sights. It could help as a deterrent, but I'd not count on it. If it works and the threat goes away then mission accomplished. As a private citizen it is not my job to detain and arrest someone. If I can convince them to go elsewhere without firing a shot I'm fine with that.
 
I see lasers as a supplemental low light specialty tool.

As a primary aiming device, they are worthless in daylight, too vulnerable to battery depletion, and searching for the dot is generally slower than using good sights/optics.

As a supplemental low light sight, it's probably best for unconventional shots or to supplement poor/unlit sights. Much like racking a pump shotgun, intimidation value is a nice theoretical bonus. However, that's not what it's for, and depending on it for that purpose is using it wrong.

Civilian CCW laser use is likely different than military checkpoint use, but YMMV.
 
JTHunter said:
They might not look down and see the laser dot but dance it across their eyeballs and they will notice.
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Why am I going to waste time dancing a laser across their eyeballs? I’m pointing centermass and if they get the message and back off that’s fine. Otherwise, rounds are headed down range. I’m not spending an extra second to try to warn them that I have a gun.
 
Will a laser pointed at an aggressor cause them to think twice or abort the aggression? Yes AND no. Depends on the aggressor but that however is not the reason I have them on most of my defensive pistols ( I only have 2 defensive pistols with no laser and one of those will have a green CT soon).
The primary reason for me and this is just my take on the need for it but you may find yourself in a struggle and not able to grasp the the gun in the typical two handed standing position. For example in a struggle where you are trying to fight off your attacker and access your weapon. You may have only one hand available and not able to get the gun up to align the sights. You can imagine a number of defensive scenarios where you are not able to align the front sights with your eye. In this type of situation the laser would let you know when the gun is on target and can be fired assuring a hit to the assailant. Some of you will say that is not likely to happen because you are in condition yellow constantly and the assailant would never catch you off guard.
I by no means advocate lasers are necessary because in most cases they indeed are not. I am just comforted in knowing it 'could' give me an edge in a bad situation and after all. It just follows the along the same line of reasoning why we CCW. It gives us an edge in a bad situation.
Like is said of insurance. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have.
As always, YMMV....
 
I have one gun with a laser attached (Bodyguard 38) and rail lasers for my .45's. I wouldn't rely on them to intimidate an attacker, since I'm already pointing a gun at them. If it does give them pause, great, but it's just another tool to help me aim.
 
It really bugs me on laser discussions about wasting time looking for the dot. Do you waste time looking for the sights? Really. Lasers compliment the sights. If you can’t see the laser dot you can still use the sights and in low low light you still have the dot.
 
Mnlefty said:
It really bugs me on laser discussions about wasting time looking for the dot. Do you waste time looking for the sights? Really. Lasers compliment the sights. If you can’t see the laser dot you can still use the sights and in low low light you still have the dot.
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Welcome to the forum. The reason that the "looking for the dot" is often brought up is because it's popular for people to just rely on the laser. Most gun owners don't train or practice enough with their weapon as it is. Training to instantly switch back and forth between sights and laser is not common.
 
Looking for the dot comes about because in certain conditions the dot is not that visible. Daylight, distance, color composition of the target - all can decrease visibility. Try a red dot in various circumstances to test this, as in competitions with varying components. Sights are usually visible and come up to view as you bring the gun up to the sight line. In situations, where you can't (as already discussed), the laser in close is useful. Lasers are adjuncts to good sighted technique.
 
GEM said:
Looking for the dot comes about because in certain conditions the dot is not that visible. Daylight, distance, color composition of the target - all can decrease visibility. Try a red dot in various circumstances to test this, as in competitions with varying components. Sights are usually visible and come up to view as you bring the gun up to the sight line. In situations, where you can't (as already discussed), the laser in close is useful. Lasers are adjuncts to good sighted technique.
Click to expand...
 
I have shot a IDPA BUG match with my S&W 940 with CT grips. I’m usually in the lower end of a group of 20+ shooters. I came in 3rd and I took the disqualification for laser(I wanted too see what I could do with laser). On one target I didn’t grip right so no dot, I had sight on center mass and got perfect hit. I have lasers on 3 ccw guns I use. Nightstand gun also has night sights. I believe lasers are a great option .
 
MI2600 said:
I recently bought a Beretta with my first laser sight, a CTC. During my one range test I found it helped acquire the target much easier. I also found out how wobbly I am. but that's another story.

Later, I began thinking that maybe seeing a red dot his chest might be a deterrent in itself for a bad guy.

Anyone have thoughts? Agree. Disagree.
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You gonna hold a mirror up for him to see it?

Guns are NOT for "deterrent". They are for shooting attackers. If you aren't going to shoot it, don't get it out.
 
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Mnlefty said:
It really bugs me on laser discussions about wasting time looking for the dot. Do you waste time looking for the sights? Really. Lasers compliment the sights. If you can’t see the laser dot you can still use the sights and in low low light you still have the dot.
Click to expand...

Yup. When sighted properly the laser and sights are going to be pretty close (if not exactly) next to each other.
 
marksman13 said:
Why am I going to waste time dancing a laser across their eyeballs? I’m pointing centermass and if they get the message and back off that’s fine. Otherwise, rounds are headed down range. I’m not spending an extra second to try to warn them that I have a gun.
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If this is an "in the dark" situation, flashing the laser in their eyes can temporarily blind them. Look at some of the so-called "tactical lights" out there that have a strobe function. The problem there is that, being white light, they can blind you as well as the perp. Being "linear", a laser won't. And, if they are temporarily blinded, you just might avoid the "legal entanglements" of a shooting.
 
GEM said:
Looking for the dot comes about because in certain conditions the dot is not that visible. Daylight, distance, color composition of the target - all can decrease visibility. Try a red dot in various circumstances to test this, as in competitions with varying components. Sights are usually visible and come up to view as you bring the gun up to the sight line. In situations, where you can't (as already discussed), the laser in close is useful. Lasers are adjuncts to good sighted technique.
Click to expand...

For over a year, I tried various lasers at both local stores and a local gun show. Different models, different manufacturers, even different colors. While red is the most popular, I also tried a blue one. Even in the relatively low light levels of the show hall, the blue was hard to see. The easiest for me to see was a green laser. Then I got lucky and a new Academy store had a sale on small lasers, red or green, for $49.99. Even in full sunlight, I can aim the laser at the neighbors house across the street (I asked for their help with this) and still see it against the dark brick at about 80 ft. I could even see it when I shined it through the glass of their storm door and the dot was on their kitchen cabinets 30' beyond the door.
 
Think about it... if you have a laser spotted on your chest, or even forehead, will you see it? Try it on your dog or cat and see how they respond.

I think you'd have to dance the dot around on the floor and wall or on the hands (paws) to get their attention. Do you really want to do this with a BG sneaking around your house?
 
JTHunter said:
If this is an "in the dark" situation, flashing the laser in their eyes can temporarily blind them. Look at some of the so-called "tactical lights" out there that have a strobe function. The problem there is that, being white light, they can blind you as well as the perp. Being "linear", a laser won't. And, if they are temporarily blinded, you just might avoid the "legal entanglements" of a shooting.
Click to expand...

If I draw and point my weapon, I’m going to be facing the legal entanglements of a shooting. A laser is a fine tool, but I’m not using it as a deterrent. It’s there to assist in aiming from awkward positions.
 
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