A red Dot a Laser, or neither on a Carry gun?

[george burns]

As I, put at least a front Night Site on all my guns, "some front and rear", I left that out as a given due to it not really making the gun more difficult to conceal or require any type of maintenence, or holster modifications.
I have a couple light and laser/light combo's on guns I own, but almost plunked down some cash on the new Sig 320x compact before. I then thought about how often I would actually carry around a gun with the additional akwardness of a red dot on it, and the holster I would need, and stopped myself to ponder it here with you all.
I just sold a 357 that I recently purchased because after getting it, I realized it made no sense to carry just that one gun "for me", anyway. It weighed more than my 19, and held 5 rounds. Granted they are a hell of a round, but 5 is just not a comfort to me as I sit and watch another terrorist attack in the UK tonight.
It's more disconcerting as of late, that you could easily end up in some kind of an incident between domestic and foreign bad guys seeming to take up more news time every month.
So is having a red dot on a "carry" gun even a little better than not having one considering the limits to convienience and the ability to conceal it in those states that do not yet allow open carry?
I have a laser/light on my nightstand gun, a Glock 19 with a 20 round mag and that should be sufficient even if I miss a few times. The idea of a sustained shootout is bizzare to begin with but everyday we are hearing "at least in FL" that a dozen or more shots were fired. Nothing is worse than running out of ammo in the middle of a gun battle, so that's a given for me, easily remidied by chosing to have more mags available, but realizing that by then it will likely have been too little too late. But getting back to a Red Dot, is that really going to make a difference?
I see a laser as being able to make difficult shots without having to expose oneself, as well as lighting up an intruder, as a good idea with little to no downside, "you can take it off the rail". But would you think a Dot would help at all?

 

[grampajack]

I would take all three. It just boils down to cost and ease of concealment for me. To outfit a Glock with a laser/light combo and RMR with the appropriate holster would put you well into the thousand dollar range.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

You have to remember that a gun for concealed carry is for the most part for personal protection. Your not carrying so that you can save the world or engage in a shoot out.
Your goal should be to conceal and have enough ammunition to get out a bad situation.
Most shootings are at close range. Making difficult shots in a shootout are things done in movies.
Night sights and a good quality holster would serve you better then a red dot and laser..

 

[Snyper]

If it doesn't hinder the ability to conceal or handle the firearm, extras sighting options are good.
The best part about Tritium night sights though is there are no batteries required and no switches to use or that could fail.

 

[Deaf Smith]

A red Dot a Laser, or neither on a Carry gun?

Neither. Instead learn to shoot, go to the range often, and practice good techniques. That will do more than any combination of 'gizmos'.

Deaf

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have night sights and or lasers on all my carry guns. Red dots are great for target shooting and hunting but for both concealment and reliability reasons I wouldn't have one on a carry gun.

 

[george burns]

Neither. Instead learn to shoot, go to the range often, and practice good techniques. That will do more than any combination of 'gizmos'.

Deaf

After 50 years of competing and carrying, I hit what I aim at, but if the dot can make a good shot a great shot, that alone deserves some atention. Of course practice is key, but the dot thing is catching traction with the gun community now in a big way, when they start selling guns with dots on them fom the factory, you need to at least look into it.

 

[browningguy]

Neither. Instead learn to shoot, go to the range often, and practice good techniques. That will do more than any combination of 'gizmos'.

Deaf

That's a pretty unnecessary attempt at an answer. Firstly, many people train and practice, and even more don't, but that has nothing to do with the question. Secondly they aren't "gizmos", they are called "tools", and they work well. A gun like the 320 with suppressor height sights to cowitness seems ideal to me. Good quality red dots are an excellent aid in my view, and now they are small and light enough to be practical on a carry gun.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

As my eyes get older and small red dot sights get better, I may consider one on a carry gun at some point.

 

[denton]

I have a Sig P238 with a laser.

My reasoning was that the laser is very intimidating, and perhaps enough to get a bad guy to back off. And that might be right. I really, really don't ever want to shoot someone unless there is no alternative.

If I had it to do over though, I would probably just stick with the night sights that came with the gun. After a few years of carrying the P238, I'm less sure the laser grants as much advantage as I had thought.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I have a Sig P238 with a laser.

My reasoning was that the laser is very intimidating, and perhaps enough to get a bad guy to back off. And that might be right. I really, really don't ever want to shoot someone unless there is no alternative.

If I had it to do over though, I would probably just stick with the night sights that came with the gun. After a few years of carrying the P238, I'm less sure the laser grants as much advantage as I had thought.

Maybe not, but it grants no disadvantage.

 

[grampajack]

Out of all the surveillance videos of actual self defense gunfights, you would be surprised how many of them involve the victim using cover. This most often results in them pushing the pistol up over the cover one handed, sometimes not having a clear line of sight through the sights to the target. In that situation, a laser would be worth its weight in gold.

 

[Danoobie]

A lot of the folks using a laser on a pistol are completely unaware
of a couple simple principles. 1st is that POI is going to change
from POA at different distances from zero. 2nd is just because you
painted it with the laser doesn't mean you're going to hit it, if your
trigger control is crappy.
Night sights? Spend up, get the best. You probably won't need them,
for S/D, but they may come in handy. As to red dots and lasers
on a carry gun, IMO, not practical, nor what they are meant for.

 

[Snyper]

A lot of the folks using a laser on a pistol are completely unaware
of a couple simple principles. 1st is that POI is going to change
from POA at different distances from zero.

That applies to all sights.
At typical "self defense" distances it won't be off enough to matter

 

[FL-NC]

On a CCW gun? Neither. Too much bulk and $ involved. Just night sights for me, and a small flashlight in pocket.

 

[Jack B.]

I have a Ruger LCR with Crimson Trace grips. I shot the gun with regular grips and with the Crimson Trace grips. World of difference. You can be accurate from any position (sitting ,standing, laying on the ground in the dark, strong or support hand) with the laser and you don't have to look down the sights just put the laser dot on your target. Works really great for me. You never know under what condition you might have to defend yourself

 

[springer99]

For concealed carry, red-dots just don't seem to make sense for me and I restrict them to mostly range use. I mostly pocket carry and anything that adds weight/bulk are a no-no. Laser (grips) are a different story. I find that they are a great asset for quickly sighting; especially where you have subdued lighting and/or are unable to bring the weapon up to eye level. If you have difficulty seeing iron sights at all, they also make it easy to get on target quickly.

 

[CDW4ME]

Night sights on Glock 19 loaded with good HP (HST, Golden Saber +P) ammo is sufficient.
I would take a Glock 19 over any revolver for SD against human attacker.
Revolver (or small pistol Kahr PM9) does have a place as a 2nd option to the Glock on my belt.
I carry a 2nd option in pocket, if approached by someone "shady" in parking lot / pumping gas (look like they gonna ask for money ...) I can put hand in pocket onto gun without revealing I'm carrying. 2nd option (pocket gun) would not be my choice for a primary (only option).

 

[chicharrones]

As my eyes get older and small red dot sights get better, I may consider one one a carry gun at some point.

Right there is a good enough reason to consider a red dot or laser. Those items aren't always the answer, as not all carry guns are able to take them well, but for some guns and some people it can be a decent sighting system.

Just don't chase the wiggle on a laser, though.

For me night sights have become blurry and therefore appear much dimmer than they are. It's rather discouraging. I still have them on two guns, but once they have gone too dim to use, I might not be replacing them.

 

[sbwaters]

Just don't chase the wiggle on a laser, though.

+1. Unless you practice, practice, practice, it is a distraction.

 

[entropy]

That applies to all sights.
At typical "self defense" distances it won't be off enough to matter

True. I took the sights off my PT145; it is much more accurate without them. I use the back of the slide as my aiming mechanism. At CCW distances, it puts them where I want them. With the sights, I was always hitting low. (no, it was not me. I've shot 1911's for 45 years) Yes, if I have to "thread the needle" at 25 yards with it, I'm SOL, but that would be the case anyway with that gun, sights or no. I tried it after reading another thread here in which someone took their sights off, I think it was about point shooting. The two guys I was shooting with Monday both shot it as well or better than their 1911's at 5 yds.

 

[340PD]

As an instructor I see it all. That said, every one of my small revolvers, six j-frames and a Kimber K6S are equipped with Crimson Trace lasergrips. I verified my decision to do this yesterday by firing 25/25 into the 3" black center of a standard bullseye target at 30' with ease.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

I prefer a small and unencumbered package, not reliant on batteries.

I'll take simple night sights.

 

[grampajack]

On a CCW gun? Neither. Too much bulk and $ involved. Just night sights for me, and a small flashlight in pocket.

That's my main issue is the extra bulk. However, that's slowly becoming a non issue with ever smaller modules. If only the price would get smaller along with them...

 

[george burns]

Night sights on Glock 19 loaded with good HP (HST, Golden Saber +P) ammo is sufficient.
I would take a Glock 19 over any revolver for SD against human attacker.
Revolver (or small pistol Kahr PM9) does have a place as a 2nd option to the Glock on my belt.
I carry a 2nd option in pocket, if approached by someone "shady" in parking lot / pumping gas (look like they gonna ask for money ...) I can put hand in pocket onto gun without revealing I'm carrying. 2nd option (pocket gun) would not be my choice for a primary (only option).

I also carry a PM9 in my pocket with the 7+1 in it. 2 spare mags in my belt pouch, gives me20 rounds. I feel adequatelly protected around the home, but if I am getting in the car, I put either a 26 or a xd on my hip, just too much going on in big cities these days.