Let’s face it…
Comparatively, the vast majority of people have never been in a real gunfight, right?
I have… and I can tell you that it’s nothing like your typical “range day” practice routine.
Real attacks are shockingly fast and there’s so much for your brain (and body) to deal with while you’re fighting to get to your pistol… drawing your weapon… moving off the line of attack… and trying to avoid all the obstacles around you so you don’t fall on your ass.
Training for these real-world dynamics is (of course) critical in order to lessen the “cognitive load” needed to deal with these dynamics.
But one big factor I teach in our counter-ambush courses is to “pre-prep” your gun for a worst-case scenario.
One of the ways you can do this is with adding any kind of feature that will improve your handling and accuracy with your firearm, even in low-light or if you’re shooting from awkward positions.
In fact, browsing the interwebs the other night, I came across a post that took a good look at lasers and rightfully outlined how…
The Odds Will Always Be Stacked Against You, So You Need Every Advantage You Can Get – And…
This Reddit User’s Comment About The Single Best Use For Adding A Laser To Your Pistol NAILED IT! (Well, Almost…)
As our Redditor points out, the HUGE advantage a gun laser gives you is being able to line up a shot when you’re at a weird angle to your attacker.
In a compromised position – and especially under low-light in close-quarters – there’s NO WAY you’re going to see your sights or even the barrel of the gun when the attack is full-on.
When even point shooting won’t work, a laser is the only way to know where the bullet is going to go.
If you miss your shot, it isn’t just YOUR life that’s at risk – it’s the lives of those you’re protecting and anybody else who might be in the path of that stray bullet!
You And I Both Know That No Gizmo Can Substitute For Good Quality Training When It Comes To Using Your Firearm…
…But There’s One Big Mistake In This Analysis Of “When” A Laser Is Your Best Friend In Defending Against A Violent Attack…
The only mistake our Redditor made was that he said these situations were “very rare.”
They’re not!
In fact, a real gunfight looks nothing like the training you’re doing down at the gun range and the chances of you being in something other than “perfect stance” is more likely than you think.
Consider this…
- Most gunfights happen is super close-quarters – usually 9′ away or even less!
- Criminals prefer to target you when you least expect it and in an awkward position that doesn’t allow you to quickly fight back – like when you’re sitting down… hunched over putting groceries in your car… laying on the couch or in bed, etc.
- Ambushes that start with a physical assault will always take you off-balance – and can even force you to fall down, forced to defend yourself while you’re flat on your back.
- In a real attack, you likely won’t be stationary and will “get off the X”… which can also lead to you tripping over an obstacle in your environment that puts you on the ground.
All of these scenarios make it harder for you to defend against criminal attacks… and they know it!
This is why, one of the first modifications I make to all of my firearms is to add a laser system to each of them to give all of my guns better odds at doing the job.
And since prices have really come down in recent years, there’s really no reason NOT have add a laser to your firearms.
But a word of caution here: Not all laser sights are made the same…
Here Are A Few Things To Look For When Choosing The Best Laser-Sight System For Your Firearms…
I’ve tested a bunch of laser systems – ranging from super cheap ones off of Amazon, to high-priced ones at local gun shows.
If you’re going to look for one for any of your firearms, I suggest you find one that has a very low “profile” (meaning as small and shallow as possible) so that it doesn’t interfere with your draw stroke or any movements you need to do with your hands.
Also, you need one that you can adjust the sights on because they do need to be zeroed in with your pistol’s sights.
So look for one that allows both “windage” and “elevation” adjustments so you can make sure it’s dead-on accurate.
I really like the Crimson Trace pistol laser for my “micro-pistol” I keep in my back pocket.
The only problems are that, the ones I purchased don’t allow for adjustments and these are also pretty expensive ($200 minimum).
I prefer a “happy medium” when picking one out.
One of the lasers I’ve liked a lot that works with all of my home defense firearms is the Predator laser system from MCG because it offers the best balance of all the options I was looking for at a very affordable price.
Just be cautious about “cheaping out” your pick too much because some of the “bargains” I’ve found seem like a great deal, but are really just worthless “toys”.
In any case, find one you like and get it to the range ASAP! 🙂
How long does the battery last? When stored, unloaded, should the battery be taken out?
My Crimson Trace LG-919 are sighted in at 15 yards. I replace the batteries once a year whether they need it or not and is the only time I touch the batteries. The LG-919 is adjustable for both windage and elevation. After replacing the batteries, I put a Laser cartridge in the chamber and make sure the two dots line up The red laser is embedded in the grip which makes it compatible with standard holsters.
Final thoughts:
Don’t buy your batterys from Chyna as their QC sucks !
Now Can Older 1911 Style Firearms Be Fitted
With Laser Sight System? A Little Info On The Firearm In Question, Is A 1956 F.B .Radom Polish design And Manufactured For The Polish Military Side Arm .
How old is OLD ? My Crimson Trace LG-919 replaces the handgrips and is good to go. I’ve called Crimson Trace and asked them what model(s) will work with which 1911. The Full Size Government Colt is a different model than the smaller Kimber Ultra Carry.
I’ve seen 1000 times that a laser creates a shooter that stares at the laser and loses situational awareness. If it’s too dark to see your sights… It’s too dark to see and identify the target, and the laser will not help much. You’re much better off using the available real estate on your pistol for a good weapons mounted light. A modern WML has a tight enough beam to use as an aiming device at pistol distances, PLUS it illuminates the target and surroundings, which is the source of your problem in the first place. I would never rely on a laser for a pistol.
Good advise. I’m looking for a different switch so my laser and light is light only and easy to activate. Would be nice if what I have, had dip switches or something so I could set it and forget it the way I want it. That leg less runner would have been happier had he used your advice. Hitting a dark silhouette in low light at close range is not hard but what if that silhouette is you sleep walking loved one. Flashlight practice and training and gun mounted lights are both good investments.
Good points, Jeff. What about color? Red vs Green, especially during daylight?
When you get your eyes checked professionally the next time, ask the Optometrist to see if you have any level of color blindness in the green or red spectrum. Some people may not have had color blindness as a child, but over the years, our eyes do diminish.
If you do, ask him which color is best for you when you play laser tag with your children. This way he/she does not know the REAL reason WHY you are asking for this simple test to be done on your eyes !
Great question PopPop!
Most shooters prefer green because it’s much more visible in brighter light. However, if it’s at all bright enough in my environment – and especially if it’s daytime – I’m not going to be using my laser at all, so to me, it makes no difference. Red lasers are cheaper, their batteries last longer, work in a greater range of environmental conditions, and while green laser’s may be brighter in darkness, that doesn’t mean you CAN’T see a red laser. So for these reasons, I personally have red lasers on my guns… but of course it’s all personal preference, eh? 🙂
Generally, a green laser will be easier to see, both during brighter daytime lighting and at increased distances. An oft-times overlooked issue is that of ambient temperature. General rule of thumb is that green lasers work in temp ranges of 40-100 degrees F, while reds will function 15-120 degrees F. Additionally, red lasers generally require less power, so batteries will last longer. Lesson to the wise is to consider your prevailing environment and confirm that your selected optic is a good match to your individual circumstances.
Another point. never a dead battery on iron sights. I’ve had dead batteries on rifle scopes when that light up reticle would have been nice but that was on targets at the range.. Batteries are always likely to go dead at the worst time. My car batteries always died on dates, high, school college and after. (do dates kill batteries?) Yes one should be ready and keep batteries fresh but then there’s reality.
If all you have is a laser or that’s all you’re used to, when you activate it in a crises and nothing happens you’re both distracted and not at peak. In an ambush do you have time to activate a laser along with all the other things you have to do, and consider? You don’t get a time out.
I am a believer in laser sighting. First, I doubt an attacker will give me a time-out to allow me to use my reading glasses. Second, yes, it is great for assisting with odd shooting positions. And third, it helps with training the shooter to pull the trigger cleanly with minimal disruption from the original site picture that was there moments before the trigger was pulled.
I really appreciated the third benefit when attempting to dispatch a potentially rabid skunk from my property. Not wanting to be too close, (a firearm is a distance tool, right?) – I drew a bead on the critter at between 15 and 20 yds. With a small dose of adrenaline pumping, I noticed as I started my squeeze I was pulling the dot left. I stopped and focused, then proceeded to dispatch the varmit w one shot. Surprised my little LCP2 pocket pistol was so efficient, this time…
No insults intended but. If your adrenaline is pumping from a skunk, you’ll be in trouble in real bad situation. Training training training and practice…………..At 15 yrds a skunk is not a threat. and an easy iron sights hit if you’re practiced. When your fine motor skills fly away during the real nail-biter just turning that laser on will be an issue, never mind holding steady.
I have a quality top name laser light. But I gave up on it for defense. One click laser or light or laser and light or blinking light or or or .. WTH On a rifle for farm pests the bright light shines 100yrds plus but at range the laser is useless. On a had gun in a hurry you never know what setting it will be on. and a double hit to the switch under stress and now you have a blinking light and maybe a laser. At close range you don’t need a lot of light. know your gun and practice at low light.
I have killed many Skunks. They spray in a stream if they know where the threat is and if they don’t it’s a fanned out release. They can spray 20 feet in a stream and when it’s fanned out it’s less than that. Just don’t be downwind from them. LOL
WOOLY said 15 yards not 15 feet. far out of skunk range easy 22 lr hit.
Last night large racoon in hen house. 50 feet away from kitchen window. Used brightest flashlight and a scoped 22. The racoon stood up to stare into the light it was hard to keep the tight beam and the scope view in the same area. when I had a clear view landed first shot center chest. instant kill BUT my two favorite pet cats were all over investigating the commotion. In the same area in tall grass I could see 5 moving eyes. Not sure if I hit the racoon. Went out with a 22 target pistol. looking back toward the house, there was one pair of eyes under the porch and another in the grass. I resisted temptation to take an eye shot and found the dead Racoon. then my cat emerges from the porch and the other from the grass. At that point either eyes shot would have killed a cat. From the house the dead raccoon’s eye was clearly visible but in the grass impossible to differentiate from a cats. .
Runner Pistorious served 8 yrs in prison for shooting his girlfriend. The jury decided it was murder. He claimed He thought an intruder had come in the bathroom window. It is not unlikely for a loved one to be emerging from the bathroom in the middle of the night Where he lived it was possible for it to be an intruder but much less likely than a loved one only using the bathroom. He had no problem hitting his target. But, if it was accidental then he did have a target identification issue. A laser would not have changed that situation. As defenders, we are always at a disadvantage. A murderous criminal doesn’t care about the body count. In almost all situations a justified self defense will still land you in court, a mistaken self defense resulting from a non attack or the accidental hitting of bystanders will also get you in prison. The NBA player who killed the innocent guy who thought he was his Uber ride, went to prison for second degree murder. He didn’t even shoot the guy. He just shoved him and the guy hit his head too hard on the pavement. As a defender you are obligated to determine if your response is reasonable before pulling the trigger, and to make sure there is no one else in the line of fire. The criminal doesn’t have to to do any of this. Even law enforcement correctly using force in the line of duty have been tried and convicted. The situation is much worse for civilians.
I have a LaserMax on my Glock. No profile at all. Replaces the guide rod so the beam is going exactly where the gun is pointed. No adjustment but none is really needed since it’s for pistols which they are short range, anyway. Spring a little stiffer than stock. Green beam but could be red for home defense.
I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A VIRIDIAN C-5 LASER. HAVE ONLY GONE TO THE RANGE TWICE WITH IT. THE FIRST TIME IT CAME LOSE AFTER A FEW ROUNDS. THE SECOND TIME I GOT BETTER RESULTS AFTER SOME LOC TIGHT. THE JURY IS STILL OUT. HAVE TO TRAIN MORE WITH IT.
A tube of Loctite is a must for any range bag and bugout bag. Another less messy option is some white plumber’s tape but not as strong as the Loctite. Thanks Ceasar!
Yes, All my defensive guns have a laser sight and a flashlight because you can’t shoot what you can’t see.
Because I believe my focus will be totally on the bad guy, I chose a laser instead of a red dot.
I use a LaserMax with GripSense. It has an electronic eye that automatically activates the laser when it senses my hand on the grip.
It would be perfect if it were rechargeable since that little bit of “always on” eats batteries.
I have an laserlyte guide rod, green beam. On my G19. It’s activated by pressing the slide bar as you draw. It’s not perfect but pretty close to point of aim at 10 feet to 15 yards. It was a good investment. I’m thinking of of one for my 26.
Be careful if you use the mcg tactical site, it keeps trying to push membership even after deselecting. For example add another site with membership in smaller prinr the pop up click.
Otherwise thanks for links to affordable option.
Best
Yeah, these days you have to really read the checkout forms and “up-offers” for any site to make sure you’re not signing up for anything you don’t want to pay for. I’ve discovered I was a “member” of a few monthly programs for supplements, skin care products (from wife’s Christmas gift) and some digital training sites. You’ve gotta be real cautious these days.
Recover Tactical makes a “grip/rail’ for the 1911. “https://recovertactical.com/product/cc3h-grip-and-rail-system-for-the-1911/ ” Mounts easily, is strong and I’ve got a O-Light BALDR laser/light mounted. It’s my bedside go to.
Why are these time stamps 5 hrs off. Where are you jeff? 3:10 central time US