Light/Laser Combo or just the Light?

[insin]

What do you guys think? Is the added price of the laser to the weapon light worth it? I'm considering one for my main HD handgun. I'm not even 100% sure I want to become used to having a laser for target acquisition instead of being natural with the sights.

Any thoughts

[USN CHIEF]

Having a laser added is a good thing IMHO. Sometimes you just can't see the sights very well or eat would be alot easier to shoot your gun when SHTF...

[insin]

Yeah you have a point

[ar15barrels]

I found the laser to actually be useful during night matches as you don't have to align sights.
Just look over the gun and shoot.

[Vin496]

Seems lasers get a bad rap on gun boards for some reason. Maybe because most the time it's beginners slapping a laser on a gun, going to a range and still not being able to hit anything. I think this turns off a lot of people.

If you have good skills with your gun, I can see the laser as being a great addition, for home defense or for plain plinking fun every now and them. Just don't become dependent on the laser.

[Ballistic043]

you are partially right. people put a laser on their gun, suddenly they think they dont have to aim the damn thing. people become careless, beligerant, and accidents can happen.


But that doesnt speak for everyone. lasers are excellent for quick sight acquisition without using the sights. especially in aggressive or low light conditions. but you must be properly educated to utilize the laser effectively. if not, you could be doing yourself worse than if you had just a light or regular sights.

[hawk1]

As a side question, have you given any thought of having the light off the weapon versus on?

[What Just Happened?]

And with a laser, you can see any flinching you might have. I personally think it's funny when some gangbanger comes to the range with one and you see them flinch so hard the laser dot moves off the silhouette target they're using.

[Ballistic043]

if i have time, i grab my surefire L6. theres a TLR1 already under my USP; but having light off the gun is crucial as well. and if need be, the light can be dropped to further utilize the other hand

[Ironchef]

I would get either the laser or the light on the gun, not both. I think operating two different things on your gun might be a bit much..when it matters. I also think the POI from the laser in a combo piece might be too acute to be very accurate. But then, in a HD scenario where you usually have no more than 50 feet to make quick target acquisitions, the POI won't be more than a few inches off..and for when it's most important/likely, adjusting the POI at 7 yards is where it should be.

Maybe get a laser grip or one of those lasermax guide rod lasers to get you closer to the bore of the gun (and centered making the POI even more accurate), and then hold a small, super bright Fenix P3D in your hand and give the BG 215 lumens strobed and see how he feels after that.

Or just get the TLR-1 flashlight for $80 shipped and all will be well.

[Ballistic043]

good post iron chef. crimson trace grips, internal lasers are absolutely awesome in conjunction with a tactical light. when the heat is on and adrenaline is pumping, simplicity is essential.

[Sumo99]

A light/laser combo, mounted laser and handheld flashlight, or a gun mounted light and lasergrips (or internal) all have advantages and disadvantages. You just need to pick the one that works best for you.

For me, I like the crimson trace grips and a surefire x200 with a pressure switch mounted under the trigger guard of my 1911. So if I grip the gun properly both the light and laser turn on. Ease up on my grip with my left hand and the light turns off, let up on my middle finger of my right and laser turns off. I like everything on the gun just so I only have to grab one thing, plus if I have to open a door, or pick something up, I don't have to put my flashlight down.

[ontmark]

Lasers are very useful to help you work on your trigger pull during dry fire practice with snap caps. Point it at the wall ( safe backstop ) and pull the trigger and watch what the little red dot can tell you about your flinch. They will not show up on outdoor ranger in the daylight.

[Bongos]

I've tried the Surefire and Insight light laser combo and settled on the M6 series Insights, they have a plastic body but very well made, the metal bodoed surefires are nice but I feel they add too much weight to the pistol G34, these are great fro home defense and SHTF scenerios

[JTROKS]

I don't have any lasers on my handguns, but have one on my SHTF rifle. As mentioned the laser can be a very good tool to enhance target engagement while you're on the move. Most folks think the laser can intimidate an adversary, in my opinion once a laser is pointed it pronounces your presence and your location. If you want to use that for your tactical advantage more power to you. I'm not sure if you want to do a "Bonzai" charge with all guns blazing towards your opponent, but if you have to the laser can definitely give you an advantage in engaging your target(s) during dark hours. Shooting on the move and keeping the red dot is not an easy thing to do, it takes practice and lots of batteries. If someone shines a laser at me, I'm calling the cops. I don't intend to be where I'm not welcomed plus it's a violation.