Universal laser

[Motega]

Looking for any experiences with a laser that can mount to any handgun. Thinking of the laserlyte trigger guard mounted... any suggestions? It is for home defense.

http://www.cabelas.com/catalog/prod...e1db3c66f25a&destination=/checkout/basket.jsp

 

[Zundfolge]

Most of the time universal stuff doesn't work well and "one size fits all" really means "one size fits none quite right".

I just can't see that thing holding zero well (and clearly you aren't putting the gun in a holster anymore). Looks like if you bump it or set it down on a shooting bench or even from recoil it would move too easily.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Thinking of the laserlyte trigger guard mounted... any suggestions? It is for home defense.

Save your money, that stuff is junk, only good for playing with the cat and you can get cheaper lasers for the cat. I have a junk box of those cheap lasers I tried over the years. Complete waste of money for the laser and the ammunition to try it out.

I've been using lasers for some years now. I have a home range and shoot with the lasers a couple evenings a week. All my defense guns, shotguns, rifles and handguns have (good) lasers, if available for the gun. So I know what works and what doesn't.

If you want to put a laser on your defense gun, and I recommend it, get a good laser like the Crimson Trace or Streamlight TLR-2 and learn how to properly use it.

 

[Motega]

I need something that will fit on a snubnose .38 and my National Match 1911

 

[Redlegvzv]

Good info M2 Carbine. Thanks.

 

[Zundfolge]

I need something that will fit on a snubnose .38 and my National Match 1911

For 1911

For the Snubbie (assuming its a S&W J Frame)

I just don't think you're going to find a single laser to fit both guns unless both guns have rails on them, then this would work.

Besides, moving the laser from gun to gun is going to be a pain because you have to re-sight it in.

 

[rcmodel]

+1
Once you sight in a laser on a gun, you need to leave it on the gun, unmolested.

Sighting in every time you move it back and forth would be a royal PITA.

If you buy one of the cheap "universal" lasers, you will end up spending what a really good set of laser grips from Crimson Trace costs burning up ammo trying to get it zeroed and stay zeroed.
Which just ain't gonna happen anyway.

rc

 

[Cop Bob]

M2 Carbine got it right, those linked to are junk... useless... maybe for a classroom as a pointer... (er ahh, I would leave it off the gun for that one!)

Anything with Streamlights name on it will most likely be a good product.. they built for real world use, and there are dang few police officers in the country, and many overseas that do not use their products in some form..

Now a word about Crimson Trace...... Smokin... A numba 1.... I own about 6 or 7 of them, I bought them for my Family, and several of my friends... They are the benchmark for handgun lazer systems... Clean, comfortable, easy to install and maintain. Batteries are cheap and available at any drug/grocery/auto parts store... and the customer service is rocking.. (at least for me it has)..

 

[M2 Carbine]

Some lasers ideas on different guns.

Crimson Trace on S&W J Frames. (Must be round butt gun)


Crimson Trace on Ruger LCP.


Crimson Trace on 1911 (Kimber)


Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light on Ruger 22/45 night time practice gun (a rail is required)


Typical laser/light setup on home defense pistol. (Beretta PX4)


AR home defense rifle with Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light.


And the typical home defense shotgun with a magazine rail mount and Streamlight TLR-2.


Finally, just a fun Kel Tec PLR with the Streamlight.

 

[M2 Carbine]

Oh, as far as shooting, this is the kind of thing the laser will help you do (if you learn how to use it and practice a little)


2 inch J Frame, 25 yards, almost dark, standing, loading and point shooting as fast I'm able.





In the dark, from the hip, 25 yards.




The gun is a S&W M&P 15-22, that's equipped like my HD AR, for low light and dark laser light practice. (the 22 is a little more neighbor friendly that the .223 after dark. )

 

[Motega]

No rails on any of my handguns, but it appears that the crimson trace is a grip replacement which would work just fine. The price on them is astronomical though! A small side-hobby of mine is lasers and even a laser designed to stand up to some shock is a mass-produced and stunningly cheap piece of technology.
Green lasers that are powerful enough to burn your skin (200mW) and burn holes through black plastic can be had for under $50- even built into a "laser pointer" type device they are well under $100. RED lasers that are just as powerful are HALF the price. Another example of how a foolish sportsman and his money are soon parted. We get shanked on our equipment BIG TIME.
PS- I'm not advocating the use of lasers above 5mW as they are illegal.

Anyway, there must be an Asian knockoff that works just as well for under $50. And it isn't because they are using child labor, it's because materials are dirt cheap. This is exactly the reason that some USA made stuff becomes almost impossible to purchase these days.

I really appreciate taking the time to post pictures for me and appreciate all the advice. I know that it involves taking some of all of your valuable time to take/post photos and responses and I don't take it for granted. Thanks folks!

 

[M2 Carbine]

No rails on any of my handguns, but it appears that the crimson trace is a grip replacement which would work just fine. The price on them is astronomical though! A small side-hobby of mine is lasers and even a laser designed to stand up to some shock is a mass-produced and stunningly cheap piece of technology.
Green lasers that are powerful enough to burn your skin (200mW) and burn holes through black plastic can be had for under $50- even built into a "laser pointer" type device they are well under $100. RED lasers that are just as powerful are HALF the price. Another example of how a foolish sportsman and his money are soon parted. We get shanked on our equipment BIG TIME.

Do us a favor and get into manufacturing (good) inexpensive gun lasers because, No, what's available is not cheap.

The thing is though, ones like the Crimson Trace, if you do your part, can be counted on putting the bullets where you want them if your welfare depends on it.
If I need the laser in low light or dark, the couple hundred dollars I spent on the laser is a whole lot more important than the thousand I spent on the gun. A cheaper gun would probably get the job done, but a cheap laser won't.



.

 

[rcmodel]

is a mass-produced and stunningly cheap piece of technology.

Yes, but try buying the injection mold machines, and the injection mold dies to produce the grips in several different types & styles, for a few dozen different models of guns.

That right there will set you back a real big chunk of change!

rc

 

[Zundfolge]

Its not the lasers that make CT Grips expensive, its the grips themselves. They have to be somewhat precise and the mount between the grip and the laser has to be both adjustable and non-moving.

If you can figure out an inexpensive but solid method for attaching lasers to non-railed handguns you'll probably be able to quit your day job.


Even then you have to remember that prices are not set by the seller, they're set by the buyer ... so if you come up with a good system you can sell for $50, you'll end up selling it for $150 because that's what the market will bear.

 

[Motega]

I agree with you 100% Zund, on the other hand a free market also produces competition, so while the market will bear one price, if I can sell my product cheaper than the competitor that also comes into play.

I also see the point regarding the many different molds needed, which is why the innovation would be to create something that utilizes the existing grips.

If I could figure it out, I'd be making money on it of course- my whole point is that I'm very surprised that given the price drop of lasers in the last 5 years that we don't see a corresponding drop in the price of these devices or more competition poppin up.