Laser sights

[Mark J]

What is better, an internal site that replaces the guide rod, like this:

or a low profile laser that mounts externally, like this:

I like the concept of the internal laser, but it seems a bit gimmicky and I'm not sure how it would hold up over time. So what are your opinions, particularly if you have either of these laser sights?

The other option is just to stick with the OEM sights. After all, most confrontations happen at relatively close distances. OTOH, the adrenaline dump will be pretty significant in a life-or-death situation, so any advantage would be good. Being able to put a bright dot on on the target seems like a big benefit, and much easier than using the stock sights. Another option would be to upgrade the stock sights to Trijicon tritium sights. I really like them, and they don't change the profile of the gun.

I'm not too concerned about price, so don't let that be a determinant for recommending something. Thanks in advance for your help.

- Mark

 

[michaelm466]

I'd take a look at viridian sights, they use green lasers which are more visible to the human eye than green both at night and during a bright day where red is harder to see.

 

[PDE]

I had the same problem when choosing a laser for my Beretta M9A1.
It has a rail on the front, so I could have the option of an external.

I tested that green one you are looking at, it was super bright.
I aimed it across the street from the gun shop and I could see
it clearly in broad daylight four hundred feet away.

I also saw the guide rod replacement one, but I did not
go with it because a lot of them are returned do to
failure.

I went with a laser that is incorporated into the handle.

It works well, is bright, and dead on.
I can hit a bullseye just by looking at the laser
on the target.

I forget who makes it, though.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

i find lasers terribly distracting. the sight wobble is far more pronounced with a laser.

 

[Mark J]

i find lasers terribly distracting. the sight wobble is far more pronounced with a laser.

Mark,

That's a good point; I hadn't thought of that. So for you, the sight wobble is enough of a deal killer? Do you go with the OEM sights? Appreciate your input, since you have a lot more experience than most of us.

- Mark

 

[Ken C.]

I had a laser on my S&W 6906 and quickly realized that it was, like MORIMOTOM stated, very distracting. I found that a good set of night sights and a bright flashlight, as well as skill, are far superior to a laser.

My Glock 26 is getting night sites installed on it this week.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

Mark,

That's a good point; I hadn't thought of that. So for you, the sight wobble is enough of a deal killer? Do you go with the OEM sights? Appreciate your input, since you have a lot more experience than most of us.

- Mark

that, among other things, are deal breakers for me.

i like a 3 dot sight, whether tritium or not.

with a standard front site, you will see inherent wobble, but it is only 3 feet from your eye regardless of target distance, so it appears minimal, and site wobble becomes easy to accept with only a little practice.

with the laser, the dot will be on the target (of course) and it is difficult not to focus on the wobble and try and frame the shot, and the wobble becomes more pronounced the further the target. since you are not target focus shooting, waiting for the site to cross the "x" is inevitable. the end result is either waiting to take the shot or dumping it low.

and really, i wouldn't recommend target focus shooting outside of 10 feet.

also, if you become accustomed to using the laser only, when you revert to a front site focus, your eye may now naturally move back and forth from target to front site, or not on the front site at all.

even on a rifle from a rest, a laser moves a lot.

 

[Toxie]

To be fair, most shootings are at less then 7 yards and point shooting is very effecive at 7 yards. Front site press is great and all for target shooting, but totally impractical for actual self defense use as everyone reverts to target focus. It's hard wired into your brain to look at the threat. FBI does studies of Police shootings and and you watch many shootings on TV or YouTube and clearly see that you're not going to use your sites in a real world encounter.

Maybe for a prepared defense (active shooter call) or swat/srt use it's different.

So it depends a lot on how you're going to use the gun, but you dont need a laser to be a good point shooter.

 

[kamagong]

I hope you already know how to shoot. If you don't, there will be a strong tendency to use the laser as a crutch and it will inhibit the development of your shooting skills. A practiced shooter will be just as fast, if not faster, using iron sights.

 

[MORIMOTOM]

To be fair, most shootings are at less then 7 yards and point shooting is very effecive at 7 yards. Front site press is great and all for target shooting, but totally impractical for actual self defense use as everyone reverts to target focus. It's hard wired into your brain to look at the threat. FBI does studies of Police shootings and and you watch many shootings on TV or YouTube and clearly see that you're not going to use your sites in a real world encounter.

Maybe for a prepared defense (active shooter call) or swat/srt use it's different.

So it depends a lot on how you're going to use the gun, but you dont need a laser to be a good point shooter.

point shooting at 7 yards? you sure your aren't confusing this with the tueller drill?

i would never recommend point shooting at that distance.

 

[MVF]

I got a little Smith that came with the Crimson Trace grips and I am VERY happy with them. To me, they are best thing I've seen for a defensive pistol- you keep all your focus on the threat and can still be sure about shot placement. I doubt I would have ever taken a shot more than a few feet without seeing a sight picture for fear of a shot going astray, now that's not a problem. It also enables shots from cover or odd positions that aren't practical without this type of sight. And finally, it has really improved my trigger control (and therefore, my practical accuracy) because I could watch the laser move.

That's my $.02