Posted: 2/5/2013 6:49:53 AM EDT
| I know nothing about handgun lasers. Are there any reliable lasers that are affordable? I'm looking to spend around $50-100. I see plenty of cheap ones on amazon and such but figure they are junk after a few shots. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks. |
|
buy once, cry once. You probably wont find anything that cheap that isn't crap. Crimson trace is the best or buy a surefire x400 so you can get the best light available with a quality laser. I disagree with the above poster. For a night home invasion i will be half asleep and will have blurry eyes. honestly, fuck form at that time. I need to shoot fast and a lot at a target at the most 10 yards away. No one needs to be focusing on their tiny little night sights in this situation. |
|
Lasers are great as long as you aren't using them as your primary sight. You should always master using your iron sights before shooting with a laser. Once you've done that lasers can give you some great advantages in low light situations, situations where you may have an injury or shooting from odd angles or positions. All that said the laser should never be used as your primary sight.
You are right about all the cheap lasers out there...you get what you pay for. There are several good brands including but not limited to Crimson Trace, Veridian and Surefire. My personal favorite is the Surefire X400 light/laser combo that I keep on my Beretta 92A1. Lasermax has good lasers for Glocks that replace the recoil rod with a laser. Crimson Trace has a universal rail mount laser that's probably the best quality for the money at around $130. Whatever you do don't skimp or you'll regret it. Buy the best you can afford and if you can't afford a good laser, save up and then buy it instead of buying something cheap because that's money thrown away. |
|
I agree with Brandi and djburnett.
You'll get a lot of replies like the first one where people assume that the minute you put a laser on a gun is the last time you ever look down your sights at the range. 
I had a laser on my Sig (Crimson Trace) but NEVER activated it at the range. When I would carry it I would activate the laser. The Crimson Trace buttons are so instinctive that you pretty much automatically activate it when you grip the gun. My thinking was that in a panic, real life situation, the more information going to my brain, the better. I would plan to use my sights, but having that red dot on the bad guy would help getting off a quick first shot. I took my Crimson Trace off because the battery kept dying. I think they way it would sit in my holster, my hip would activate the button and the laser so the battery would drain without me knowing it. If using for home defense (in a night stand etc) I think the Crimson Trace would be very reliable. I also agree with the "buy once, cry once". Get a quality one if you will need to rely on. Crimson Trace is good, and the buttons are set up so you don't have to actually think about it, it will just come on when you grip the pistol. Finally, I tried to sight in my laser at the range. Then I realized you can just aim it at a wall and adjust the laser until it lines up with the aim point of your iron sights. |
|
Quoted:
First off, lasers are a mechanical solution for a training problem. I don't like them. .... i disagree as well, use iron sights at night, half asleep, and see if you hit what you want. ive been going back and forth on this myself, laser, light, or night sights. i keep ending up at laser. obviously get a good one. buy and cry or whatnot. but to me, night sights would be close second, in that you can use them at night, when you're awake and dont wanna give away your position or that your even there. the third, a light, is fine, but, by the time you light up the target, it could be too late. yeah, laser now.... green or red 
seriously.... .....Then I realized you can just aim it at a wall and adjust the laser until it lines up with the aim point of your iron sights.
hmmmm, never really thought about that, cool! (obviously, taking into account the change of angle at "x" distance. i think i would measure the centerline of the barrel and the CL of the laser and then set the gun up at say 21 feet, solidly and see where the irons are then set the laser below that the CL to CL distance, that way you KNOW the POE is so many inches above the dot always (parallel basically)) |
| I've got Crimson Trace on one of my pistols. I think it gives the shooter an advantage in high-stress situations, shooting at odd angles (lying under a vehicle, for instance), low-light situations, and running and shooting, just to name a few. It's not a replacement for iron sights, but an enhancement. |
|
Quoted:
buy once, cry once. You probably wont find anything that cheap that isn't crap. Crimson trace is the best or buy a surefire x400 so you can get the best light available with a quality laser. I disagree with the above poster. For a night home invasion i will be half asleep and will have blurry eyes. honestly, fuck form at that time. I need to shoot fast and a lot at a target at the most 10 yards away. No one needs to be focusing on their tiny little night sights in this situation. First gun mount light or laser I bought was an x400 and worth every penny. |
|
Just remember they are another tool in the toolbox, same with a handheld or weapons mounted light. In broad daylight on a flat range they are slower but at night or at odd shooting stances they work to get you on target. I've used several different CT grips for years in Iraq (M1911, M9, SIG226 and as a vertical foregrip on my M4). Got a personal set for my bedside 1911. I've found the CT verisons to be rugged and realiable. Looking for a pair now for my Smith 442 J frame. Better to have and not need then need and not have.
CD |
|
Quoted:
First off, lasers are a mechanical solution for a training problem. No, they're a very effective low-light aiming reference. I frequently see great confusion on what various bits attached to handguns do, so here's a brief rundown: 1. Night sights - exist as a low light aiming reference. Usable, but not ideal in low light. 2. Lasers - exist as a low light aiming reference. The fastest, most effective low light aiming reference. 3. Weapon lights - exist as a means of identifying what it is you will be putting bullets into. |