RMR vs Laser for home defense pistol
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Glock and Smith and Wesson are both making RMR-compatible guns now.
Bowie Tactical Concepts has been building custom set-ups since the mid-'90's.
Bowie Tactical Concepts Home Page
I own and carry two Bowie guns. Here is my edc Glock 21:
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Red dots are better at longer range, but that's not an issue at home defense distances.
Red dots require you to bring the gun up to eye level, while lasers can be used from unconventional positions, like shooting around a barricade. This is very possible in a home defense situation.
A laser will not interfere with your iron sights, assuming your vision can still make some use of them. A red dot has the potential of blocking your iron sights if the lens gets broken or obscured.
Lasers have been known to cause criminals to back off. Red dots have never been documented as having that psychological impact, to my knowledge.
If it's either/or my vote would be for the laser. Crimson Trace offers substantial discounts to instructors, FYI.
My father wears bifocals, and can't focus on the front sight of a handgun. When he shot one of my laser equipped pistols, he remarked that it was like cheating.
Red dots require you to bring the gun up to eye level, while lasers can be used from unconventional positions, like shooting around a barricade. This is very possible in a home defense situation.
A laser will not interfere with your iron sights, assuming your vision can still make some use of them. A red dot has the potential of blocking your iron sights if the lens gets broken or obscured.
Lasers have been known to cause criminals to back off. Red dots have never been documented as having that psychological impact, to my knowledge.
If it's either/or my vote would be for the laser. Crimson Trace offers substantial discounts to instructors, FYI.
My father wears bifocals, and can't focus on the front sight of a handgun. When he shot one of my laser equipped pistols, he remarked that it was like cheating.
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17 Posts
Springfield Armory also makes an optic ready model.
I don't think either would help you see your target at night. Maybe a WML/laser combo?
I wonder if the beam of a WML would wash out the red dot in dark environment...?
I don't think either would help you see your target at night. Maybe a WML/laser combo?
I wonder if the beam of a WML would wash out the red dot in dark environment...?
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No.
I have already put CT lasers on 3 of my handguns, and the fourth is ordered and on the way. I absolutely love them. Two others, HD bedside weapons, will eventually have streamlite TLR-4s, with light and laser. I have a red dot sight on my Daniel Defense carbine that works well for me, but I think that for me anyway, lasers work better on the handgun. Similar to @10thmtn's father, I cannot see the front sight very well (cataract surgery gave me great distance vision and 12" reading vision, but at arms length-like the front sight on a handgun, or the GPS in the car-I can't see much). The laser really puts the bullet where I want it.
I would take the laser over the red dot. If you ever find yourself in a life or death situation, you might find that your eyes will only focus on the threat rather than a sighting system. Also, a red (or green) dot dancing around on someone's chest will really make them think twice about what they are doing.
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A laser will not give away your position unless there is smoke or dust in the air. Of course, if the threat is looking right at you, they will see the laser diode light up on your weapon...but if they are looking right at you, chances are they already see you. It's not like the movies - you don't see the beam going from the laser to the target.
A white light, of course, is another matter.
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Across the living room, definitely laser.
Red dot gives you speed, but only if you can bring it up to eye level. Laser gives you about the same speed, but you can fire the gun from any position. In a tight space laser is better.
As always, when in doubt, get both :duh:
Red dot gives you speed, but only if you can bring it up to eye level. Laser gives you about the same speed, but you can fire the gun from any position. In a tight space laser is better.
As always, when in doubt, get both :duh:
I have old eyes as well and can assure you that the CT Laser makes a world of difference for close range self defense. I have them on two S&W revolvers and find them an excellent option for us older folks needing a little something extra to help with our eyesight issues. I still practice with the laser off as a way to stay proficient with regular sights. But........I have found the CT Laser worth every penny at my age.
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For home defense, either will work but give the advantage to a laser for 2 reasons. It can be used effectively without ever raising the gun to eye level, and if you CC that same weapon, holsters and/or pockets will accept a CT laser gripped weapon much more easily.
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And I'm at the opposite opinion. I just give the RMR the big +1
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I'm an old guy with trifocals.
A laser works best for me on my carry gun because it doesn't increase the size and weight much, it allows for shooting the gun from almost any position, and doesn't require focusing on the sight(s).
For a nightstand gun, if I could afford it I'd use both the RMR and laser. If I couldn't afford both I'd stick with the laser only.
Bobo
A laser works best for me on my carry gun because it doesn't increase the size and weight much, it allows for shooting the gun from almost any position, and doesn't require focusing on the sight(s).
For a nightstand gun, if I could afford it I'd use both the RMR and laser. If I couldn't afford both I'd stick with the laser only.
Bobo
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