Posted: 2/26/2003 4:04:32 PM EDT
| So lets hear it. Is it worth it? It will cost me good/hard earned money and I want some opinions. Thanks to all who input |
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I had one. Then I took a defensive pistol course and learned that the front sight is ten times faster than the laser. I don't have it anymore. Lasermax advertises it as essentially a less-than-lethal deterrent. That's probably all it's really good for, if you think that it makes the presentation of a firearm a more powerful statement than it already is. With the intelligence level of the average bad guy being what it is, maybe they might be more scared of Hollywood effects than the real threat of your finger on the trigger. If you don't already have them, you might consider getting some Tritium sights first, you will probably find them far more useful. |
| A quality laser (and Lasermax is one of the good ones) will help any shooter that is willing to take the time to learn how to use it. Most that complain about them have either never used one at all or never had any training in how to use them. The laser offers an alternative sighting method that works with the natural tendency to look at your target. It is faster than iron sights once you learn to use it. It can also be used in a number of situations where iron sights cannot be used. Now, having said that, unless you are already a fairly experienced and well-trained shooter you will be better off spending the money on ammo and training. The laser is not a shortcut or a way around learning and perfecting the basics, it is a supplement to them. |
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Hi all - First, I'm not going to slam or defend Lasermax. What I know from our experience working with LE agencies, civilians and some of the nation's top trainers is that under low-light conditions our lasers beat traditional sights in a contest of speed. Yes, even nite sights. If you are looking for a laser dot in broad daylight you WILL be 10 times slower, but that's a shooter problem, not a laser problem. Not saying a laser is a substitute for irons, just an option. Anyone can feel free to give me a call or email direct if they want to chat about this. Not sure if this is going to help or just add fuel to the fire, but... -Z |
| You can't beat a laser in the dark. And you can't beat Iron's in the light. One guy said it best, the best thing you can do first is pratice, pratice, pratice. And I LOVE my lasermax. It's not for bull shotting. Bullet impact is about 1 1/2" from the dot at 15 yards. But I can hit you in the chest FAST and all night long !!!!! |
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They definitely have a certain intimidation level. One of our SWAT guys had a bad guy at gunpoint during a high-risk entry on a drug house. There was a gun lying next to the bad guy. He looked at the gun, then at the laser dot on his chest, and replied that it wasn't worth it because "even you stupid cops can hit me with a laser". It is also good for an officer holding a shield so he/she can shoot around the shield. I don't like a laser that can mess up the gun if it breaks. We have one officer who has broken two of them. His gun wouldn't function until we dis-assembled it and removed the laser. They do have some advantages but also have several disadvantages. |
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Keep in mind that a laser is not for precision aiming, it is for fast target acquisition. But lets not forget about the psychological defense effects of having a laser, especially a pulsating one, one your home defense firearm. Picture this: Some breaks into your home at night and while they are sneaking around your house wanting God knows what you yell out "I HAVE A GUN". Now picture the same guy sneaking down your hallway toward one of your daughters bedrooms when he suddenly noticing a flashing red dot on his chest. After he leaves you will be cleaning up after the mess he made in his pants. |
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I know it is not a common occurrence, but a laser is also the only real means of aiming if and when you find it necessary to fire in a position where a traditional sight picture or point-shooting is impossible, e.g., around an irregular or transparent barrier, from cover, out of/around a vehicle, etc. or if you're forced (for whatever reason) to hip-shoot. Yes, the odds are against such a situation, but civilian concealed carry is all about making preparations for the unlikely scenarios, not about playing the odds. The laser should always be considered a supplement to traditional sights and techniques and should never be considered a substitute for practice, etc. FWIW, I have a Lasermax in my M19 and in one of my M17s and I have never had a problem with either unit. |
| I have one of the Crimson Trace units on a suppressed Ruger MKII pistol. It's just cool as hell. In broad daylight, 10 yrds is about the max, but indoors or at night you can see it waaaay out there. I've put rounds into the head of an IPSC target as fast as I could pull the trigger at an indoor 25 yrd range. I'm soon to be putting a laser on my carry gun, but I'll probably go with the Lasermax. |
I have CT Lasergrips on one of my Beretta's & one of my 1911s, and I like them as well as the Lasermax for weapons with traditional grips (i.e., not integral, as on a Glock). FWIW, if you want to practice with or sight-in your lasers in broad daylight, there are red-filter shooting glasses that make visible lasers highly visible at distance in daylight. I don't remember who makes them, but I picked up a couple of pairs 2 or 3 years ago. Not practical for use or carry (unless you want to be accused of looking at the world through rose-colored glasses), but very useful for training/practice. |