Lasers

My buddy has been talking about lasers the past couple of days. We looked at the crimson trace. Heard alot of good stories. He thinks the same way I do. How does the laser work correctly if it is located on the side of the gun? Would not the lasers that fit into the guide rod or mount under the barrel be more accuate as the barrel is almost right there at the laser?

I know it wouldnt be popular if it didnt work well I was curious. I like the idea of the guide rod lasers but I didnt know how they were functional wise.

I never looked closely at one but I assume it would have a pair of set screws for fine tuning the horizontal and vertical alignment. The advantage over a guide rod laser is that it comes on when you squeeze the grip, so you don't have to reach forward and flip a switch.

I handled a few guns with Crimson Traces at shows, and I found my fingers get in the way.

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Originally Posted by Brevard

How does the laser work correctly if it is located on the side of the gun? Would not the lasers that fit into the guide rod or mount under the barrel be more accuate as the barrel is almost right there at the laser?

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It doesn't matter where the LASER is positioned. It can be 10 feet away from the bore and still work. It only has to be pointed at the same place where the bullet goes.

A LASER under the barrel, or anyplace other than above the barrel for that matter, will only intersect the bullet's path in one place.

I have a Kimber Crimson Ultra Carry II. It has two very small allen screws, one on the side and one on the top. One is for up and down and one is for left to right. All you have to do is adjust the laser until its lined up with the sights on your gun. They are actually pretty accurate too.

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Originally Posted by Brevard

How does the laser work correctly if it is located on the side of the gun? Would not the lasers that fit into the guide rod or mount under the barrel be more accuate as the barrel is almost right there at the laser?

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The laser is offset from the bore, just as a telescopic sight would be, or even the factory 'iron sights,' for that matter. As has been said, the line of sight of the laser will only intersect the path of the bullet at the precise point where is sighted to.

However, almost nobody shoots a handgun so well that this 'offset error' has any effect on their shooting precision, except at very close range. If you sight your laser in at 50 feet, like they do at the factory, on models that come equipped with CT Lasergrips, you will probably still be more accurate than usual at normal pistol ranges.

As for the guide rod lasers, I have heard and read about an equal number of comments for and against. The Lasergrips, which I have some experience with, seem to be the way to go. Mine, one on a revolver and one on a semi-auto, have performed flawlessly and have provided the assist I was looking for, in shooting small CCW guns accurately and quickly.

The main point I would make, to someone who is considering a laser sight on a CCW, is not to allow yourself to become dependent on it. The laser is not a good substitute for developing marksmanship skills. It should be regarded as an 'enhancement,' that may or may not be available to you at the moment of truth in a self-defense situation. I don't want to have to depend on anything that uses a watch battery in a situation where my life is being threatened. I look at the laser sight as something that could give me an edge...I just don't assume that it will work when I need it.

I spoke to a LaserMax rep at SHOT...

Most LaserMax Guiderod lasers are accurate to 2" at 20 yds.

Most combat guns are not capable of 2" accuracy at 20 yds.

Very few shooters are capable of 2" accuracy at 10 yds... :)

The guide rod lasers are plenty accurate for their intended use.

JeffWard

I has a bolt on laser in the mid 1990s - they were super expensive back then.

I want to get the laser grips for my Beretta 92FS one of these days - I looked at the guiderods, but they cost even more, and I still have my doubts about their longevity.

Thanks everyone. I did see a laser that you tapped the side of it to turn it on and off. Like when your index finger is extended and not on the trigger. Made for subcompact guns too.

But I never thought of it like a scope or anything like that. Thanks for the help. I am definitely going to be checking on one if I ever get a full sized pistol with a rail attached.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brevard

Thanks everyone. I did see a laser that you tapped the side of it to turn it on and off. Like when your index finger is extended and not on the trigger. Made for subcompact guns too.

But I never thought of it like a scope or anything like that. Thanks for the help. I am definitely going to be checking on one if I ever get a full sized pistol with a rail attached.

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http://www.laserlyte.com/Laser_Gun_S...-00V2-140.html