SIGP250

Technology is amazing when you think about it. When I started in business, there were no personal computers, copiers, calculators, digital cameras. cell phones or lasers.

Lasers have changed the world. After talking about them last night I got out my new Green pointer that I use at work. They are better than red. I think you will soon see many more Green laser sights for handguns and rifles. Right now they are not as practical as red because they require somewhat more battery power.

There have actually been many significant advances in pistols and handguns as well. Many users though seem to cling to proven older designs like the 1911, Sig P220, etc.

__________________
If you understand, things are just as they are... If you do not understand, things are just as they are....
- Zen Saying

George B

Nothing on my carry guns, but a light on my HD wepon

__________________
" Americans love a winner and will not tolerate a loser. Americans play to win all the time. I would'nt give a hoot in hell for a man who lost and laughed. "- General George S. Patton Jr. May 31, 1944

Superhouse 15

I don't have any on my EDC guns, but I do have a light (Procyon strobe) on my dedicated HD gun. All it does is sit in a safe and make the occasional range trip. I'm a lefty and my thumb gets in the way of the Crimson Trace grips laser.

My wife has CT grips on both her CCWs. A Tomcat Beretta and a Glock 26. Loves them. Her dedicated HD gun is an SP101, no light possible there.

SIGP250

It is not so much my thumb but my trigger finger that gets in the way of the laser beam on the right hand side of the pistol. The button on the front of the grip though can also be a distraction.

As I have said, I will sell you one, install it but would much rather train other ways to be an accurate defensive shooter.

I don't know any LEO's that use lasers.

Perhaps I am incorrect about this.

__________________
If you understand, things are just as they are... If you do not understand, things are just as they are....
- Zen Saying

ToddG

• The beam is only visible along a very narrow arc unless there is heavy density of particulate in the air. So while you can see the beam while holding the gun, someone off to the side likely cannot.
• Even if the beam is visible to some people under some circumstances, how does this impact its usefulness in a defensive situation? You're actively engaged in a fight with someone who is a threat. He already knows where you are. As soon as you touch off a round -- you mentioned gun smoke as one thing that causes the beam to become visible -- everyone knows where you are. Is an activated visible laser a good idea for someone who is hiding in the bushes preparing an ambush? No. For a defensive weapon? Yes.

That is incorrect. The front sight and the laser are both pointed at the same thing and are both moving in the same arc. What the laser is showing you is just how large your wobble zone is even if you mistakenly believe you're holding the gun perfectly still.

With thousands of LE officers deploying lasers for years, not to mention thousands more MPs doing it in Iraq/Afghanistan for the past few years, evidence indicates that the laser will actually induce compliance more often, not less. Plenty of criminals are used to having guns pointed at them, many have been shot at. But a little dot dancing around over your heart & lungs showing exactly where that bullet will land seems to provide a different level of de-escalation motivation.

This would be true if you had one eye and incredibly narrow arc of vision. But even bringing the gun up to the exact same point, with two eyes and focused on the target, the laser is visible without needing any conscious thought or plan.

The trigger finger (for a right-handed shooter using Lasergrips) allows you to practice light discipline. Obviously, it's not blocking the beam when you're firing the gun.

It's not an all-or-nothing decision. Putting a laser on your gun doesn't mean you're banned from using iron sights. It doesn't prevent you from practicing with your iron sights. But it also gives you a way to deal with the stress induced tendency to focus on a threat without giving up the ability to see where your gun is aimed.

The laser also provides all sorts of other benefits in terms of use of cover, wounded officer response, etc.

Quite a few agencies issue them and many more authorize individual officers to add them to service weapons. Many .mil units, including MPs, also issue them.

__________________
Train Hard, Stay Safe!
Todd Louis Green
pistol-training.com

mfcmb

Agreed.

Not saying it's the RIGHT answer, just saying that I've read a number of reports via the internet, some regarding a single incident, and at least one where a number of LEO incidents were analyzed, that indicate that it's not uncommon for people trained in sighted shooting to not use one or both of their sights in the heat of action.

Fairborn-Sykes-Applegate (FSA) is not shooting from the hip, nor is Quick Kill (QK). But then those are formal methods that one studies when one intentionally wishes to learn point-shooting. In any case I didn't mean to to imply that when the SHTF everyone always forgets all their training and starts shooting from the hip. It's just my impression that it's not uncommon for people to not have the time or patience to fully line up their sights when under fire or under attack, resulting in what effectively is point shooting even though there was no conscious intention to do so.

ExSoldier

ToddG makes some excellent points. As some of you know I'm preparing to undertake the training of a new student (although he's a very old friend of mine) who is a wheelchair bound Pastor (my Pastor in fact). I was wondering if a laser on whatever gun we choose for his defensive piece would be a good idea. Nearly his entire left side is paralyzed. I have to determine to what extent his left hand may be of some use so that reloads are safe. He should be okay even if he can only cradle the revolver (if that's what we get) in an upright or steady position. If we decide on a semi auto like a Glock M19, I might rig up an impromptu mini vice to grip a magazine so he can reload a magazine in relative comfort. Maybe something I can temporarily attach to the wheelchair. I've already got holster rig ideas that will attach to the WC.

__________________
Former Infantry Captain; 20 yrs as an NRA Certified Instructor; Avid practitioner of the martial art: KLIK-PAO.

crzy4guns

I have no laser and/or light on my EDC, however at home, I do use a Glock tactical light on my Glock 19. If and when I get a Kahr PM9, I may make my Glock 19 a dedicated home defense pistol.

ExSoldier I think you are really cool helping your pastor, and IMO I think a laser is an excellent idea. He would get instant feedback of where his pistol was pointed and it may be a deterrent to some miscreant out to do him harm.

__________________
Kick the bums out of congress. Vote in 2010!

Sig master

Just look at my pic to the left and you will see my answer

__________________
Sig P220R .45ACP
Taurus PT92 9mm
Rem 870 12ga.
Bushmaster M-4 .223/5.56
HK P2000 9mm
Glock 31 .357

mfcmb

Are you talking about the time before an active attack begins, or during an exchange of fire? I was thinking about the latter, and that an assailant would be focused on you as a target rather than examining himself for the presence of a laser dot.

I can see a laser acting as a deterrent as an assailant is still jockeying for position preparatory to attack, but since the OP was asking about a laser for his wife, I was assuming a civilian victim who generally is not allowed by law to draw a gun until it's the only way to prevent death, etc., which is usually after the attack has begun and there's only time to respond, not to deter.

Conversely, it's my understanding the LEO's have more legal leeway in which to pre-emptively draw a weapon, and to use it (and optionally a laser) as a deterrent.

Does that make sense, or is your experience that a laser is usually noticed and considered by assailants regardless of the phase of the engagement in which it comes into play?