To Crimson Trace or not to Crimson Trace? That is the question.

[Rockrivr1]

Ok, yeah the title is a little cheesy, but the question is valid. I have a S&W 642 as my primary CCW piece. I normally carry it in my front pants pocket, sometimes in a IWB hoster and most recently in the front inside pocket of my winter coat.

Since getting the 642 I've been practicing with it a lot and notice that it's not the easiest gun to aim and shoot. Plus I'm thinking in a real situation I may only get the chance to point and shoot without really aiming with the sights.

Recently I've been thinking of putting on a set of the Crimson Trace grips that have the laser pointer to help out in the aiming. I'm thinking this will speed up that first shot and any follow up shots as needed.

I'm wondering though if by carrying the 642 in tight confines like my pants pocket, that it will turn on the laser function intermittently and waste the battery. Plus I'm not sure if it will add any discerning print that may make it easier to recongnize as a firearm in my pocket

Also, do you prefer the 205 or 305 model and why.

So what do you think about these laser pointer grips? Worth the money?

 

[Sportcat]

I carry my 642 w/ Crimson Trace grips in an Uncle Mike's front pocket holster. To my knowledge the holster does NOT activate the laser.

I, too, believe the 642 is hard to aim in a pickle, but the grips do help.

 

[1 old 0311]

The C.T. is also great to practice point shooting with. Sit in your living room. aim at wall outlet, picture, door knob, etc. then hit the laser button. A few HOURS of this and you will be amazed how tour point aim has improved. Mine are on my S&W M60.

Kevin

 

[Sportcat]

The C.T. is also great to practice point shooting with. Sit in your living room. aim at wall outlet, picture, door knob, etc. then hit the laser button. A few HOURS of this and you will be amazed how tour point aim has improved. Mine are on my S&W M60.

Kevin

Unloaded, of course

 

[Rockrivr1]

On the Crimson Trace grips, do you have the 205 or 305 model? Did you test out each? I'm also updating my original post with those questions

 

[Preacherman]

I have the small CT grips on all my S&W snubbies for pocket carry. They're great for this use - one can draw and shoot from just outside the pocket, and still be on target. Given that any use of a pocket gun is likely to be at halitosis range, and one may not be able to bring the gun up to use the sights (for fear it will be grabbed by one's attacker), this ability to shoot unsighted is a Very Good Thing.

Another advantage of the CT grips - if one dials them in properly, one can confidently take a head shot at up to 50 yards range. Great for a situation where one might have to pick out the BG against family members who are in the way.

I chose the small, hard grips because they conceal much more easily in a pocket than the soft rubber, larger grips (which tend to "grab" at pocket material, slowing the draw and "printing" more while carrying). I don't find the lack of an on/off switch to be a problem, as I carry in a DeSantis Nemesis pocket holster, which prevents the laser from being activated inadvertently. Yes, recoil is harder to control with the smaller grips (particularly with my carry load, the Speer 135gr. JHP +P Gold Dot round, which is quite "hot"), but that's a trade-off against ease of concealment, and with practice, they're not unmanageable.

 

[Werewolf]

I've got CT's (205) on a S&W 638 that I carry in an Uncle Mikes pocket holster. At first I didn't get it. The laser dot was hard to find and useless in daylight. Thanks to the fine folks on THR who steered me in the right direction I now am a believer.

Use them as they are intended to be used and they are an asset. Use them otherwise and they are a detriment.

 

[Rockrivr1]

"Use them as they are intended to be used and they are an asset. Use them otherwise and they are a detriment."

How do you use them so they are a detriment?

 

[Biker]

Although I don't even know if CTs are available for my Taurus 450, I've entertained the thought of throwing a set on the gun. However, I almost always carry it in an ankle holster. Would this present a problem?
Biker

 

[M2 Carbine]

"Use them as they are intended to be used and they are an asset. Use them otherwise and they are a detriment."

How do you use them so they are a detriment?

Shining them around like a flashlight, as is always shown in the movies, and making yourself a target.

In most cases the BG should just see a flash of Red about the time he is getting hit by a bullet.


I've got three CT lasers and would have several more if they were made for the guns.

It's such a no brainer. Red Dot, then bullet hole.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Although I don't even know if CTs are available for my Taurus 450, I've entertained the thought of throwing a set on the gun. However, I almost always carry it in an ankle holster. Would this present a problem?
Biker

I don't know about the Taurus 450 but I know they don't make one for the Taurus PT99 AFS or Makarov or I'd have several.
I've got them on 2 Smiths and a Kimber. The laser is just a small bump on the right side that shouldn't interfere with most holsters, I would think.

 

[Biker]

Thanks, M2 Carbine. Guess I'll do some googling. *Hope it doesn't make me go blind!*
Biker

 

[Preacherman]

Errr... Biker... if you're going blind because of misuse of a laser, I really, really don't want to know how that happened, OK?

 

[BryanP]

I don't even know if CTs are available for my Taurus 450
Biker

They're not. CT makes grips only for Taurus small-frame revolvers such as the 85, 94 and CIA series. The 450 is a "compact" frame similar to my 617, so no lasergrips.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Since getting the 642 I've been practicing with it a lot and notice that it's not the easiest gun to aim and shoot. Plus I'm thinking in a real situation I may only get the chance to point and shoot without really aiming with the sights.
QUOTE]
-----------------------------------------------------------------
For what it's worth,
A few weeks ago I swapped a CT from my Smith Model 60 to a blue 2 inch J Frame about the time it was getting dark.
That's the laser's time of day, when the gun sights are useless

I can't usually shoot the little 38 this good using the sights.
I sight the lasers at, at least 25 yards. That theoretically keeps the bullet just to the right of the barrel out to where it hits the Red Dot.
I need to come a little left with the laser yet (you move the laser to the bullet strike when sighting in).

 

[Biker]

Errr... Biker... if you're going blind because of misuse of a laser, I really, really don't want to know how that happened, OK?

Unbelievable...I'm speechless!

Biker

 

[Biker]

They're not. CT makes grips only for Taurus small-frame revolvers such as the 85, 94 and CIA series. The 450 is a "compact" frame similar to my 617, so no lasergrips.

Yeah. That's a shame. Thanks for the reply.
Biker

 

[sturmruger]

I have a pait of the CT grips on my 637. What a difference these little grips make. Just buy'em you will not regret it.

 

[Werewolf]

"Use them as they are intended to be used and they are an asset. Use them otherwise and they are a detriment."

How do you use them so they are a detriment?

Before I was straightened out by the THR crowd:

When I first acquired my CT's I wrongly assumed that they would be highly visible in the day. NOT so. This caused me to have to hunt for the dot and thus extended firing time.

Once I figured out that the CT's worked best in lower light conditions (cloudy days, dusk, dawn, night) I would draw, raise my 638 to point of aim and then turn on the laser. If it wasn't where I thought it was supposed to be then I hunted for it. Again - BAD! For obvious reasons.

In both cases I was trying to get on target with iron's then use laser to refine point of aim.

Now what I do is draw, activate laser as weapon is being raised and track the dot up to the target. I don't use the irons at all. This is what I was advised to do. Tried it. Works for me very well and very fast. With the 638 I can draw, turn on laser and cock the hammer (I don't like DA) all on the upswing and get on target very quickly.

I couldn't do that before because I used the laser wrong and it slowed down getting a round on target considerably.

 

[Rockrivr1]

Thank Werewolf, I'll definitely have to remember that when I get a pair.

 

[Biker]

Thank Werewolf, I'll definitely have to remember that when I get a pair.

Ooooohhhh...Lord Friend, you have no idea how much effort I'm exerting to *not* make a joke out of that!

Biker

 

[Rockrivr1]

LOL, Wow, I can't believe I wrote that. Talk about typing yourself into a joke.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Just to add one thing to what Werewolf said.

Look at the target, don't look for the laser. Most of the time you will see the laser close by with your peripheral vision as the gun gets close to pointed at the target.
As you raise the gun and light the laser, you will naturally bring the laser to where you are looking.

With a little practice, as the gun comes level the laser will be very close to exactly where you want it and if off too far you can be squeezing the trigger as you are correcting.
It all becomes pretty fast and accurate.

One thing that gives some people trouble is the laser button is another "trigger". Some people will go off target after pulling the laser "trigger" because it seems their minds told them they fired the gun. For some it takes a little practice to continue to squeeze the trigger after "firing" the laser.

For others that have shot my guns, the extra step in firing the gun doesn't seem to bother them at all.

Like other shooting skills, practice, practice.

 

[gfen]

I have the 305s on a Model 38 S&W, replaced the original little wood grips.

Went from owning a convient carry gun that I couldn't use worth a damn to a deadly weapon that I can easily put the slugs where I want 'em.

It was a toss up between the 205 and 305, but the way I've been pocket carrying leaves the handle up, anyways, so I didn't see a major change in concealability, and the fact that this is my first snub, since I knew accuracy was gonna be a project, I preferred something that had comfort before conceal.

I believe the 205 model is due to be replaced, perhaps with a smaller model made from the soft rubber.

 

[bubbygator]

What Preacherman said.

I've had both the 205 & the 305. The 305 is slightly large enough that it is very awkward to pocket-carry & the rubber surface is stickier to shirts for under-shirt wear in a holster. The 305 is really great in an outer holster, and it really cushions recoil well. But the 205 is what's needed for pocket carry.