Posted: 4/13/2006 6:19:20 AM EDT
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Any one ever used one? How accurate are they? Pros/Cons??? thanks |
they are supposed to be accurate within a few inches from the factory. you can't adjust them yourself though so if it's way off, you'll have to send it and the gun back so they can calibrate it. the lasermax laser pulsates or strobes instead of a constant on laser. it supposedly makes it easier to see as your eyes are drawn to it. some people prefer to have a solid laser. the on/off switch is incorperated into the takedown lever. on certain holsters, the laser could accidentally be turned on while in its holster. hope this was of some help. |
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Sorry I'm just now stumbling across this thread. I have muliple versions of both the LaserMax (2 Glocks and 1 SIG 226) and the Crimson Trace (3 Berettas and 1 1911) lasers. Personally, even though I love the LaserMax units in my Glocks (for which CTC wasn't an option without sending the gun in for permanent mods, at least until the new "saddle-style" unit that just came out), I frankly prefer the CTCs on a gun with traditional grips. If nothing else, I like the passive on/off operation of the CTCs. The only reason I have a Lasermax for the 226 instead of the CTCs is that I picked it up used on EE at a very good price. The on/off operation isn't as smooth/secure as it is in my Glock units - that could either be a problem with the switch design or I may just have a defective switch. I don't carry the 226 or use it for HD/SD, so I haven't bothered to send it in for repair/replacement. Once I make sure it is/stays on, it is spot on POA at reasonable handgun distances, just like the ones in my Glocks. |
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I have made the "laser" decision for the third time and still concluded Lasergrips are the best option. The Lasermax requires fitting of a non-standard recoil guide rod/laser unit which varies in complexity/involvement depending on which gun you own. Its non a constant beam, which I don't prefer, but there is some information indicating that its a better choice for battery conservation and ease of sight. The lasermax unit illuminates from beneith the barrel, making it right in the middle of ground zero on your handgun. If you have ever looked at that area after shooting a few magazines, you will notice the soot/carbon buildup from muzzle flash and residue. This debris will eventually obscure the laser and you will need to clean it off in order to restore total function. Testing with a Glock showed that it dims from carbon buildup after around 25 rounds. When the lasermax/guide rod unit is removed during cleaning, it will need to be re-zeroed as the removal will cause a shift in POI. Too me, this seemed like a cycle of zeroing my laser, then cleaning my gun and then zeroing my laser because I cleaned my gun.....sillyness. The activation switch isn't nearly as comfortable/user friendly as the CTC 'grips.Also, changing batteries isn't nearly as easy as changing them in lasergrips. The biggest concern for me was durability as that area of the gun is subjected to a considerable amount of force, though they seem to hold up quite well. Another advantage is its not mounted off to the side, as well as below the muzzle like the lasergrips, which "could" aid in accuracy. Lasergrips are much more simplistic. Batteries can be changed in seconds and its unaffected by almost everything. Its clear of all internal mechanisims and does not require replacing anything more substantial than the grips, and many times they are a large improvement. Price is negligible between them both. Besides being directly beneith the muzzle, and its decent durability I can't think of any other advantage. Though, durability can't compare to the 'grips. Military/LE service is extremely limited with the Lasermax while Lasergrips are extremely popular and are used by the DoD and many LE agencies. Accuracy is excellent with lasergrips. Typically, they are zeroed from the factory and they are very easy to adjust if necessary. Mine were perfect....My girlfriend put 5 shots into one hole at 20-25 feet with my Beretta M9/with lasergrips. She has been shooting for about 4 months now. If zeroed properly, the bullet will strike the dot every time. The challenge becomes trigger pull/grip and the laser really helps improve both. If you are considering a laser, the CTC Lasergrips are the best option availible. |
Good points, pro & con, so far IMO...
I have never seen such a test - not calling BS, I would just like to see the write-up. I've put hundreds of rounds through my G19 at one time, with the laser on, without cleaning, and not noticed a dimming of the beam... but it could be that I could still see it and just didn't notice the change in intensity. I would say that the chances of needing the laser in a firefight prolonged enough for this to come into play are slim to none, but we all know its the stakes, not the odds. 
Completely wrong! The LaserMax unit is not ever zeroed by the user, much less rezeroed (already mentioned above). It is designed to reside parallel and just beneath the barrel, it comes "zeroed" from the factory, and is not meant to be user-adjustable. Like fixed sights, you adjust your POA silghtly as you learn from experience/practice where it hits (if it's much off, it needs to go back to the factory). I find that mine in my Glocks are within and inch or so at SD distances & that POA doesn't shift from disassembly/cleaning.
Agreed completely - one of the big advantages IMHO of the CTCs I pointed out avbove.
I couldn't disagree more. Remove the slide, pop out the guide-rod/unit, twist a cap, replace batteries, reassemble. To replace batteries in the CTCs, the grips have to be removed from the firearm. Because the CTCs are made to be zeroed by the user, by your own argument above teh CTCs would need to be rezeroed after every battery change...
Yep - like I said, thousands of rounds through my G19 in 10+ years with zero problems - but the CTCs are plenty durable as well.
While most prefer mounting a laser directly above or below the bore, I find the CTCs plenty accurate at SD distances (which is what they are designed for). Like I said above: I own both, I like both, I use both on different handguns. "BEST" is very subjective IMHO - what's best for you may not be best for me, what's best for one firearm may not be best for another, etc. I still prefer the Lasermax system to either the old permanent-mod system or the new "saddle" system from CTC for Glocks and similar handguns without traditional grip panels - YMMV (if I had bigger hands, I might like the new CTC unit). For pistols with grips (like the SIG in question), as I already indicated I would recommend the CTC LaserGrips without reservation. In that, we completely agree. 
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