Defensive Carry banner

Laser sights on wrong side

2212 Views 22 Replies 18 Participants Last post by  Thanis
A friend of mine bought his wife a Glock 19 on my recommendation. :hand10: I was over at his house the other day and he showed it to me. He installed a laser sight on it. I believe it was a Crimson Trace laser.



I was "playing" with it (ya, ya, triple checked, unloaded, mag out, etc) and it was very nice. Helped substantially in shot placement. If the BG sees exactly where the bullet will be going, he may think twice.

HOWEVER, my biggest issue is that if my finger is off the trigger and in a properly safe position on the slide, it is blocking the path of the laser. My friend is left handed, so he never noticed this.

I searched CT's sight, and did not notice if they have any lasers with the actual laser on the LEFT side of the slide where my proper finger placement will not block the path of the laser. I would think they would have thought of this.

Most salesmen tell me to just lower my finger a lot to keep the laser unobstructed, but it just seems like bad design given that a majority of shooters are right handed.
See less See more
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
Since your friend is left handed, I would consider it a non issue.
A laser in the left side would interfere with your side when it is holstered. The left side of the firearm needs to be flat.
I think you're 'right' in thinking about this. No pun intended. I do know what you're saying though. I've tried these out at the gun shop, and I just don't like the idea of them coming on when I grip the pistol naturally. Not only that, my grip on my Glocks is so high, my trigger finger knuckle usually blocks it's path (on the Crimson Trace you're talking about). I want something like that to come on when I want it to come on..when on or close to target. I don't want to sweep anything with the laser before hand, as my grip is taken soon from the draw. Don't want to become the pied piper of cats in a defensive situation if you know what I mean. However...aids (terms of assisting devices in one form or another..in this case sighting) are always a compromise.
Maybe CT hasn't thought of it, and in which case, you should contact them with your suggestions, then charge a fee for your R&D, then dedicate a percentage of your profit to this site.
See less See more
A laser in the left side would interfere with your side when it is holstered. The left side of the firearm needs to be flat.
Only if you're right handed.
The CT laser on my 1911 is just above my index finger. I have at times, noticed that my finger blocked the laser when activated. I have now trained my finger to ride lower so its not in the way of the beam. My finger was riding along the slide instead of along side the trigger guard. It was a bad habit but now a non issue. Now I have no interference with my hands and the laser.
Glock 19 ... Crimson Trace laser ... left handed
I have not had a CT laser on a pistol before. Nice to know they've designed them lefty, from the get-go. :smile:

Most salesmen tell me to just lower my finger a lot to keep the laser unobstructed, but it just seems like bad design given that a majority of shooters are right handed.
As a lefty speaking: welcome to my world. :tongue:
I have this same setup on my G19 - no problems blocking the beam.

You could look into the LaserGuard, which I have on my G26 - it puts the laser under the dust cover.
(1) I don't understand why some think the only "proper" position for one's trigger finger, other than the trigger, is 'way up there on the slide. With my several handguns, the "natural" position varies a bit, sometimes the frame, sometimes the slide. I see some folks strain and struggle to get their trigger fingers up onto that slide.

(2) When my muzzle finds a target, my finger is finding the trigger. In that case, it won't be blocking the laser by the time I need to verify the sight picture, whether using sights or dotting the target. IOW, blocking the laser's beam with the trigger finger is quite simply a non-issue.

(3) Don't use the laser's dot to "walk" the weapon onto the desired point of impact! Point the pistol at the target, then use the laser to verify and/or fine-tune point of aim. As indicated above, by that point in time, the place for the trigger finger is somewhere other than 'way up there on the slide.

I see no reason for the laser to be needed when in a ready position.

Just my $0.02.
See less See more
I have not had a CT laser on a pistol before. Nice to know they've designed them lefty, from the get-go. :smile:


As a lefty speaking: welcome to my world. :tongue:
They're NOT designed for lefties....I'm a leftie & they don't work for me. I shoot 'high thumbs' & they block the laser!
I see this as an advantage. One can use their finger to block the laser so as to not "sweep" the laser prematurely. In a clearing situation this would be useful because you don't want the BG to see the little red dot coming through the door.
I always considered that feature. If I am not aiming at something I don't want it to know where I am... necessarily. If I decide to alert it I will be doing so with my voice so the little red dot would be a non-issue.
well put rexter, if there is onething shooters should understand it is that everybody shoots a bit differently, for me i put my index on the trigger guard like i'm pointing strait at my target
They're NOT designed for lefties....I'm a leftie & they don't work for me. I shoot 'high thumbs' & they block the laser!
+1, I'm a lefty too.
You are absolutely correct sir! Might work if I'm shooting with one hand, but that would be rare.
There are not many things that are designed for lefties, this certainly is not one of them.
It for the very reason Censored stated, they talk about it on thier video. You can block the laser with your finger while moving around as not to alert some one that you are coming around the corner. Then you simply move your finger to the trigger when you have aquired your target.
With practice you'll learn to not place your trigger finger so high. I had the same issue with my M&P 340CT. I now place my finger on the face of the trigger guard with that weapon. :wink:
It for the very reason Censored stated, they talk about it on their video. You can block the laser with your finger while moving around as not to alert some one that you are coming around the corner. Then you simply move your finger to the trigger when you have acquired your target.
I am sorry, but under stress, I don't want to be concerned about where my trigger finger is. I train to keep it on the slide so I don't accidentally pull the trigger under the severe stress of a BG in my house, or wherever. I do not need to be training two different ways, one with laser, one without. Then I need to remember which gun I have and and and. Too many variables. I would rather keep it simple and have NO laser than have to think under stress. (BTW, have I stressed the word "stress" enough?)
I am sorry, but under stress, I don't want to be concerned about where my trigger finger is. I train to keep it on the slide so I don't accidentally pull the trigger under the severe stress of a BG in my house, or wherever. I do not need to be training two different ways, one with laser, one without. Then I need to remember which gun I have and and and. Too many variables. I would rather keep it simple and have NO laser than have to think under stress. (BTW, have I stressed the word "stress" enough?)
As all my carry guns have CT, I train with them all the time and there is no change under stress. I have range guns without them, but it's doubtful that I would incur a stressful situation at the range, so it's not a problem.
I don't see what there is to stress about. The only time you need the laser is to find your target, which is the same time your finger should be finding your trigger. When your finger is on the slide and you are not pointed at the target there is no need for the laser. JMHO
Sorry. Didn't mean to bite anyone's head off. But I have sooooo many guns, that to put laser sights on all of them would be too expensive. I would only have it on my HD gun, possibly my carry gun, but I doubt it. In any case, in the event of using my firearm, I don't want to have to think which gun I have, do I have a laser, where do I put my finger on this one, etc.

If I came across as, well, stressed out, I apologize.
1 - 20 of 23 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top