Yes, I too fell for all the “myths” about using a laser sight for my personal protection firearms.
I’m sure you’ve probably heard them also (or maybe even thought these yourself?)…
Myth: Lasers give away your position in the dark (They don’t.)
Myth: Lasers aren’t as effective as “red dot” scopes (They are.)
Or my favorite…
Myth: Using a laser is “cheating”. (Well, sort of, but if it saves a loved one’s life, do you really care?)
In any case, I’ve changed my tune and become a HUGE fan of lasers over the years – especially for home defense – so…
Here Are 6 Reasons YOU Should Have A Laser On EVERY Home Defense Gun…
Ok, first of all, it’s important to realize that lasers are NOT a “magic talisman” that takes away your need to train with your firearm.
You’re ALWAYS going to need to develop proper fundamentals because no matter how pinpoint that laser is on the center mass of your target, it’s not going to steady the weapon for you as you pull the trigger.
But if you’ve been holding off on arming your weapon with a laser for ANY of the myths I just shared, then it’s time to reconsider your defense plan, for these 6 reasons…
1. Nighttime Targeting
This is the most obvious reason – but it’s a great one…
If you’re shooting under low-light conditions (like a nighttime home invasion), you’re most likely NOT going to see your weapon’s regular sights.
Lasers won’t illuminate your attacker for you, but they WILL give you back the ability to make sure your bullet is headed at the enemy, and not way off to the left or right where it could hit a loved one in another room.
2. Poor Vision
It could be because you’ve gotten “older” and your eyesight has gotten worse…
Or maybe it’s a nighttime home invasion and you have “sleep eyes” as you’re startled out of bed by a breaking window…
Either way, lasers offer a way to confirm your target sighting when your vision is less than perfect.
3. Off-Hand Shooting
Shooting with your left hand when you’re a right handed shooter is one of those things most gun-owners don’t think about – and especially don’t train for (even though you KNOW it’s a critical skill, right?)
It can’t be stressed enough…
When your shooting hand gets wounded (or if you have to switch hands for other reasons), you and your loved ones are counting on the accuracy of your OTHER hand to stop the bad guy.
Lasers provide an off-hand “instant accuracy boost“ that could keep you alive.
4. Cross-Eye Dominance
This is more of an issue with rifles and shotguns than it is with handguns, but a lot of times, people who are right-handed shooters, naturally use their left eye for sighting instead of their right one.
This confuses a lot of shooters – ESPECIALLY in the chaos of a real gunfight.
Lasers will shorten the time it takes you to acquire your target and pull the trigger while your eyes and brain are arguing back and forth about where you should be shooting.
5. Shooting Around Corners
If you’re right handed (for example) and have to move around your home to get to a loved one, you may come to a “right turn” corner of your home you need to get past.
When “slicing the pie” around that corner, you’re going to expose the entire left side of your head before your right (shooting) eye can see what’s around the corner.
This makes you an easier target for an armed attacker.
A laser allows you to easily switch eyes… keep you better covered/concealed… and still quickly engage your target once the “red spot” is on your target.
6. Your “Back-Up Defense Team”
In a home invasion, you need all the help you can get.
That could mean your spouse and/or a child who can back you up with their own firearm in a saferoom.
Or it could even be a scenario where someone is trying to break into your home and you’re NOT there to come to a family members’ rescue.
If you have loved ones in your home who aren’t as skilled as you are with a firearm, a laser offers them better accuracy than just pointing and praying they’re on target when they pull the trigger.
Whether It’s For Your Handgun, Rifle, Or Shotgun…
Here’s How To Choose The Right Laser System For Your Home Defense Weapons…
Selecting the perfect laser sight for your weapon system should take you through several key elements to make sure you find one that naturally fits your needs…
Universal Compatibility
To start, you want to make sure your laser system is compatible with ALL of your weapons.
Laser sights are not all universally fitting, and I prefer a system that I know I can switch over to another firearm if I need to – whether that’s my pistol, rifle, or my shotgun.
Do This: Look for a laser that will fit both a Weaver and the military’s standard 1913 “Picatinny” rail system, as these are the most common setups.
Choosing Which Laser Color To Use
Next, you’re going to want to choose between colors for the laser itself – namely, red or green.
Green is picked up by more receptors in the eye so it can appear brighter and in more lighting conditions – but it’s also more expensive.
Do This: I recommend starting off with a red laser.
One reason for this is to keep the cost down for you – especially if you’re outfitting more than one weapon.
But here’s another (strange) reason you might want to opt for a red laser…
I always assume that any fight I get into (armed or unarmed) is a multiple attacker scenario – so if I’m pointing my laser at a home invader, I want to be able to see the red dot on his torso… but if I’m looking to get the drop on my attackers, I don’t want an accomplice to notice it from another angle.
That might sound a little strange and it’s not a common tip you’ll hear… but I’m a firm believer that you should always plan for “worst-case” scenarios.
Aiming System Profile
Another factor that’s really eliminated a lot of lasers I’ve shopped for is in the laser’s profile (ie. how far out from your gun it projects)…
Do This: You want the lowest profile laser you can find
In other words, you want your laser to be as small and shallow as possible – so that it doesn’t get in the way of any movement of your hands, or of you and your weapon as you navigate obstacles in your home.
The reason why this has always been one of my biggest concerns is because of how I grip my pistol (ie. the “Harkins Grip”, with a finger around the front of the trigger guard).
Not many lasers allow a shallow enough profile to allow this grip.
Accuracy
Finally, you need to understand that lasers – just like regular firearms sights – will need to be zeroed in to make sure the bullet hits where the laser is showing up.
Do This: Choose a laser sighting system that allows you to adjust its windage and elevation.
By being able to adjust your laser’s windage and elevation, you can fine-tune the placement of the laser so your shots are on-target every time.
One of the lasers I’ve steered people toward to outfit all of your weapons is the Predator laser system from MCG because it offers the best balance of all of these options for the best price I could find.
I’ve purchased cheaper ones, but they ended up performing cheaper as well – and “reliability” is a huge factor in making sure you have the right system to support your home defense needs.
Whatever one you buy, I know you’ll be a lifelong convert after seeing the life-saving “tactical advantage” that lasers give you for some of the worst conditions you could face in a real gunfight.
I feel the same way regarding a laser dot and not the scope. Another application is on my EDC. In the event someone tries to car jack you are not in a good position to look down the axis of the weapon and with the Crimson Trace units that I use it is just a matter of getting the dot on the target.
Yeah, that’s the same reason I added a Crimson Trace laser grip to my Ruger LCP backup gun. If I have to transition to that one, I’m in a hard spot and there won’t likely be any aiming at all. Helps to just be able to confirm the target by seeing the dot on his chest – even if it’s a hip shot!
Thanks Mike!
On almost all of my weapons, I have a Laser. More importantly, all have first been bore sighted, then lined up with the attached laser, at the appropriate ranges, to be more accurate.
Great point Henry!
And, remember to have extra batteries on hand. A laser will not work without a good battery.
Don’t forget to periodically check your lasers for battery leaks
Every couple of weeks for me. Only takes a few seconds and may save your life or the life of someone you love. Obsessive? I don’t think so.
To those that don’t have a rail on their pistol or revolver; you can get a laser that is incorporated into the grips. They sell you new grips that have the laser molded as part of the grip. There are also lasers that mount under the barrel by attaching to the front of the trigger guard. I believe Crimson Trace carries both types of laser sights. I have an Arma Laser on my Sccy pistol since it didn’t come with a rail. Some of the newer lasers use rechargeable batteries, which will save you some money by not having to buy batteries regularly.
Thanks Pedro!
I actually have a Crimson Trace grip laser on my Ruger LCP that I use for my back pocket backup gun to be used as a last resort.
But I would only recommend this type of laser for this purpose. For a primary carry gun or home defense gun, I suggest something that you can zero in the laser vs. one with no adjustment capabilities.
Just some food for thought. 🙂
Pump shotguns and anyother weapons (SBS too) have considerably more recoil. Proper torque and fixatives are highly recommended. Want to see check out 500 round shotgun trials.
Yup! And that increased recoil can play hell with your accessories if they’re not solidly built and solidly affixed to your firearm.
I never trust the tiny screws and rail grips as they come right out of the box.
I suggest adding some LocTite (blue) to the threads whenever you’re attaching any accessories.
Also, check the installation guide that comes with anything for torque settings.
A simple torque wrench is a must-have for any gun owner who’s looking to trick out their firearms (IMHO).
Thanks Sam!
I recently purchased a Veridian Laser for my CCW & Home defense weapon. I’m glad I did. It came with a Kydex holster and charging usb cable and back-up power bank if needed. No batteries needed. Target zero and acquisitioning is a breeze.
My issue: I have a 30 yr. old Beretta 96 “Centuion” in .40 S& W. No rail of any kind. Is there a laser sight that wll work for me? Any ideas out there?
Check out the LG-402M at Optics Planet (Dealer) or Crimson Trace (OEM home) – other sites may offer as well … hope this helps you.
Dan. See if either might have recoil spring guide rod laser for tour firearm. Maybe if you are lucky they will. Might be a bit more expensive, but hey what’s your, or a loved one’s life worth to you?
I have a question about lasers:
I’ve been looking at them, but HOW do I know IF it will actually work or fit or even attach at all to my pistol? I see in the descriptions how they will work on any standard or picatinny rail etc. but I am thinking that mine does not even HAVE a rail at ALL!? It is a Taurus GX4 & I love it, I bought it for it subcompact-ness but I am just not seeing WHERE I would actually mount anything? Same goes for a light. Anyone have any input on this by chance? It would be greatly appreciated!
Dane
Most subcompacts won’t have a rail because there’s simply not enough real estate to add a lot of gizmos to it. But these shouldn’t really be your “primary carry gun” or “home defense gun” unless you have some extenuating circumstances for concealment.
Your best bet for a subcompact may be switching out your grips with a Crimson Trace integrated grip laser. I have one for my Ruger LCR subcompact that goes in my back pocket as a “back up gun” and I like it a lot… but I also won’t be needing the laser to be as accurate because if I have to use my backup, I’m already in a world of hurt and won’t be using my sights at extreme close ranges anyway.
As for flashlights… I’m not a fan of adding one to my primary carry gun at all and choose instead to carry it in my weak size front pocket.
I use my flashlight ALL THE TIME (you’d be surprised how often you do when you actually carry one!) and having the flashlight separate from your handgun gives you more options and doesn’t run the risk of interfering with your drawstroke.
Long guns are an exception. I have flashlights on my home defense rifle and shotguns – as well as a laser and red dot.
Streamlight makes the TLR-6 specifically for the GX4. It attaches to the front of the trigger guard. I cannot vouch for it, as I have not used it, but I have used other Streamlight products and have been quite pleased with them.
I do use lasers on most of my weapons. I also use the SeeAll tritium ‘look-over’ sight. I cannot use red-dots and other sights where having both eyes open is important. I am left eye dominate and right handed, which prevents me from being able to keep both eyes open.
Just my opinion. Please do your own due diligence research before making any decisions. And always be aware of shipping costs.
Jerry D Young
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and always remember TANSTAAFL
(“There Ain’t No Such Thing As A Free Lunch” Manny, from The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress by Robert A Heinlein)
Yep, yep! If you want peace, prepare for war.