Laser sights on defensive weapons...important?

[m_kirk2001]

How important are laser sights on defensive weapons? I don't want to buy into hype, but the advertisements and promotional information put forth by companies like Crimson Trace make it seem like any rational person would secure a laser sight for their primary carry and home defense weapons.

 

[TAB]

Carry no, HD yes.

The only reason why I say yes for the HD gun is, I might not be the one using the gun.

If a non-shooting member of the house hold needed to use the gun, they would be of great benfit.

They do make great training aids, you can see what your doing with the trigger.

 

[hobgob]

I chose Luxury, tho now that I think about it, tritium 3-dot night sights are much more tactically sound. they are made for use in bright and low light conditions and they don't give away your position as a laser would. I feel that they arent worth the money. Learn to shoot with your normal 3-dots. they dont run out of batteries.

 

[Grey_Mana]

Using lasers on guns is like sex - a lot of the naysayers haven't tried it. And if they have and didn't like it, they weren't doing it right.

 

[Kind of Blued]

The main advantage to laser grips has little to do with "aiming", and much more to do with focus. Once your target is identified, you can remain focused on that target instead of having to refocus on your front sight.

No matter how much I train, I don't trust my sleepy 3AM eyes to focus on my front sight when a 250lb. crackhead with a butcher's knife is running up my stairs.

 

[LaVere]

My shooting buddy got a laser sight for his Kahr k9 That alone improved his shooting accuracy tremendously. Whether it tought him better tiggger control or something else I don't know. I do know he shoots alot better now.

 

[winterset]

I have to agree with Kind of Blued...My eyesight won't be at its best for a few minutes after being suddenly awakened.

Also, as I get older It's becoming very difficult for me to focus on my front sight in the daylight, without my glasses, let alone in the dark...I don't think I'll take the time to find and put on my glasses in a life threatening situation. So, for me, I think a laser is a must have

 

[divemedic]

I can't answer the poll- the choices are all either that you don't need them, or that you must have them, with no middle ground.

Laser sights are a tool that can be useful in some situations. They are not a replacement for your 3 dot sights, but they can be used to augment them. Two of my pistols have a laser on them, and I find them to be useful under some conditions.

Those same pistols have 3 dot tritium and fiber optic high vis sights on them.

 

[jhco]

I do feel that they can serve a good purpose but not at all a necessity. As it has already been said you might not be the one in the house using it so it may help a lesser trained member of the house who might need to use to gun.
For me I do carry a 642 with a crimson trace for the fact that it is hard to aim a pistol in a vehicle and this might help me keep the shots on target in that situation.

 

[Deanimator]

I avoid "doo dads" like the plague. No lights, lasers, vibrators, etc.

Iron sights for self defense (no fiber optic front sights either).
1" dot sights for bullseye competition.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Must have with a qualifier.

I think the ability to focus on the BG is critically important and the laser dot helps that. In a stressful situation I think that dot will be a huge advantage. Unless you've actually "been there done that" in a real-world situation, you have no idea how you'll react, so any advantage is a good one.

That being said, I think it's just as important to be proficient with your iron sights and point shooting.

My self defense practice is generally 15% with the CT laser, 35% focusing on the sights and 50% instinct/point shooting. All between 5-15 yards.

 

[pbearperry]

One advantage of the laser is that you don't have to place the gun in front of your face to sight it on a bad guy.This gives you a much better picture of the BG and all around the area.

 

[Eightball]

For a defensive weapon, having the ability to make accurate shots in a less-than-ideal stance/without having your firearm in the ideal firing position, is an incredible aid. I thought that the laser sights were a gimmick.....until I was able to plant a whole mag within .75" out of a 1911 at 15 yards with my weak hand, shooting with the gun held low towards my hip.

If you think that in a situation you'll be able to take up a perfect stance, etc....good luck with that. I, for one, with any gun on which I rely for my own safety, prefer to have every possible disadvantage mitigated or removed, in the hopes that I'm the one still "alive and well" after an incident......and that doesn't necessitate thinking that I'll have the time to get a correct sight picture at X-o'clock, or at a bizarre angle, or.....etc.

 

[bnkrazy]

Lasers have their place. Low light and night shooting, as well as immediate feedback on shot placement are the top reasons I have CT grips on my nightstand gun.

As mentioned, the laser also helps provide valuable feedback when training, and is a great visual indicator of common problems such as flinching when used with snap-caps, etc.

 

[bnkrazy]

Excellent advice Eightball.

I challenge anyone to shoot from retention / at the hip / any uncommon stance with and without a laser. Difference will be night and day.

 

[Ky Larry]

10 years ago I would have called a laser sight a "gimmick." Now, with advancing age, failing eyesight, and diabetes, I'll take every advantage I can get.

 

[waterhouse]

I can't answer the poll- the choices are all either that you don't need them, or that you must have them, with no middle ground.

+1. I think they are useful, and worth having, but not a "must have." I have them on my 642. If they made them for my P7 I'd probably get them for that one, but they don't.

 

[smktr8]

LaserMax Internal Laser works great on my glock 17. I think you can never have to much of an Advantage. It works well if you ever needed to move from one target to another or have to reset you positon. Let face it no matter who you are the days of 2 guys in a open street in duel is over. The days of CQC are here.

 

[mljdeckard]

I won't say 'never', but I haven't missed having one yet. It's trusting a battery-powered electrical device.

I advise people to get a laser AFTER learning the fundamentals of shooting, not INSTEAD OF learning the fundamentals of shooting.

 

[Mark K. C.]

I've got Crimson Trace on my .357 snubby and If I could afford to, I would have a set on each and every handgun that I own. If the battery should die all you do is revert to the normal way you've been trained to shoot anyway. Money well spent.

 

[KenWP]

Also with a laser sight you can just shine it in their eyes and they will panic anyways. Who wants to be in jail and blind at the same time. Pretty easy to run down then.

 

[hso]

Your poll needs another category for "Useful, but not essential" since lasers are neither a necessity or a useless luxury.

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

I won't say 'never', but I haven't missed having one yet. It's trusting a battery-powered electrical device.

This is why I don't own any flashlights, cellphones, laptop computer, or a car with one of those new-fangled batteries. A crank is good enough for me!

 

[jmorris]

My first thought other than KISS is that in many potential defensive situations I wouldn’t want to give away my position with a beam of light. As a matter of fact the only time I can think I wouldn’t mind would be if the light was so bright to night blind someone.

 

[21bubba]

Absolutely my thoughts exactly.