Crimson Trace grips and similar accessories - discussion.
Posted by JustSomeGuyMedia@reddit | Firearms | View on Reddit | 11 comments
Howdy everyone.
TL:DR - Visible lasers on pistols can sorta work like red dots on handguns - ie ‘see red, shoot’. Red dots still universally better.
Some people discussing (read : bashing) visible lasers made me remember a few experiences I had with a handgun using those crimson trace grips way back when that I found interesting, and I wanted to see if anyone else had similar. Understand - I am not arguing for their use, especially not nowadays, but I THINK their intended use may not be as bad as they’re perceived.
So, starting back when I was in middle school once a month or so on a weekend I’d get to go with my dad to a small range a coworker of his had and we’d hang out. Multiple people were invited, the coworker would bring some of his cool historical guns (which I got a kick out of), and then we’d run defensive pistol drills with a timer for a few hours.
During that, for a little while my dad’s carry piece was a pistol that came with crimson trace grips and the way we’d end up using it was as a confirmation we were aiming correctly. We didn’t aim with the laser, but seeing it was there (roughly aligned to your irons) you’d send your shot and move on with the drill. I never thought to ask if the grips came with a manual and asking the internet never came to mind back then, so - has anyone had a similar experience? Was that just how they were supposed to be used?
Super-Lychee8852@reddit
As someone who had to live through that fad, no they were not intended to be used like that. They were absolutely marketed so you didn't have to look at your irons at all, just look for the dot on the person and shoot
JustSomeGuyMedia@reddit (OP)
And everyone agreed (correctly, imo) that was wack.
donx3@reddit
No, everyone didn't agree to that, and lasers are used by militaries around the word, SWAT, law enforcement, and civilians still utilize lasers. People use are the most critical of them are typically so because they're ignorant about them.
JustSomeGuyMedia@reddit (OP)
As far as I understand, military lasers are for designating targets OR for night vision active aiming. I do not understand them to use the visible laser on it’s own as a primary aiming device. That is also something that, by and large, I have seen people in the civilian space recommend against. Law enforcement has lasers on long guns still, sometimes, but it seems to also be for night vision use.
bikumz@reddit
Stop trying to throw shit on guns to make up for not training with them. Hate to use the tacticool terms but imagine the training scar of looking for your laser every time you go to shoot.
Visible lasers have like 3 real world uses. Sighting in a laser unit in the day time, using a shield in a police setting (even that’s debatable because still pretty fucked), and playing with cats.
donx3@reddit
Lasers are useful and aren't a crutch or replacement for training. They're just another tool no different than irons and optics. Each have distinct advantages, pros, and cons, especially when shooting from unorthodox positions instead of the traditional Isosceles, Weaver, and the like stances that you might not be able to get into while in a defensive situation. They also are invaluable as a training aid while at the range because they give instant visual feedback to reveal any flinching and other bad habits that maybe going on.
TacTurtle@reddit
I find them occasionally useful as a training aid for novice shooters after teaching proper iron sight sight picture if they start jerking the trigger or flinching as it makes it easier for them to see how good or bad their follow through and anticipation is.
JustSomeGuyMedia@reddit (OP)
I think you’re misunderstanding how I’m saying we ended up using it, but I do agree training is important.
bikumz@reddit
So you do not check for your laser before firing everytime? That’s the way it read to me.
JustSomeGuyMedia@reddit (OP)
No, but I might not have explained it well. I should also say - I don’t have a laser anymore AND this was a long while ago. But it’s not an active thing where we were bringing up the pistol and looking for the laser on the target- everything was as if the laser wasn’t there. It was a passive action that happened during the process of aiming, but seeing it could be treated as a confirmation you were on target.
Are you familiar with the way competitive shooters (mainly USPSA) will shoot targets at close range when using pistol dots? Ben Stoeger talks about it some in some of his videos. You bring up your pistol, you see red somewhere on your target, and you fire. You’re not so much “aiming” it’s almost like you’re only a step or two past point shooting.
Negative_Mushroom545@reddit
Small Allen wrench tp adjust laser, if you don't have them then in contact with crimson trace. I lost mine twice