Laser Sights: Top Reasons To Consider Them For Your Defensive Firearms
Have you considered putting laser sights on any of your defensive firearms? Usually, I like to keep things basic with my defensive firearms. Instead of adding lots of gadgets and gizmos to your guns, your time might be better spent on training and your money better spent on practice ammo.
That being said, there are times when the addition of a red dot reflex optic, tactical light or laser sight can be a major benefit. So, when it comes to lasers, what are those specific times?
Lasers Improve Aiming With Some Handguns
First, laser sights are a plus on any firearm in low-light situations when it can be difficult to see your iron sights. They are an even bigger benefit on firearms that are difficult to aim because they come with very rudimentary sights. For instance, I have a Ruger LCP pocket pistol that has miniscule sights. Ruger improved the sights on the later LCP II, but they’re still quite small. My LCP came equipped with a Crimson Trace laser that attaches to the front of the trigger guard.
Similarly, I have a set of Crimson Trace laser grips on a Ruger LCRx revolver. And I have LaserLyte laser grips on a North American Arms Sidewinder mini revolver in .22 WMR.
Those LaserLyte grips have been discontinued, but Viridian now makes them for NAA mini magnums.
The lasers on all of those guns are activated by pressing a button on the front strap when I take a normal grip on these handguns.
My accuracy with these pistols is much better when using the lasers.
A Laser Can Be A Plus On A Shotgun
Some short-barreled shotguns that serve double duty for hunting and home defense come with a simple bead front sight. A laser on one of these can be beneficial. Buckshot doesn’t spread out substantially at common home defense distances. Yes, you can miss with a shotgun if you don’t aim.
I don’t currently own a pistol-grip shotgun, but if I did, I’d certainly equip it with a laser. This is not a shoulder weapon, so aiming one while still controlling the recoil can be difficult. I know of one “genius” who attempted to aim his pistol-grip shotgun by holding it the way you’d normally aim a rifle.
When he fired the shotgun it resulted in predictably disastrous damage to his face.
He looked as if someone had taken the shotgun away from him (somebody probably should have) and beaten him with it.
A solution is the Crimson Trace Lasersaddle that mounts on the side of the receiver of Remington and Mossberg shotguns.
Lasermax Guide Rod Laser Fits Inside Handgun
Lasermax makes guide rod lasers for a select number of handguns. These take the place of your handgun’s guide rod/recoil spring assembly.
The advantage here is that the laser is naturally in line with the barrel, so no sighting-in is required.
And, because the laser doesn’t change the external dimensions of the gun, you don’t need to search for a special holster.
A Laser Helps When You're On The Defensive
In many real-world instances, you won’t be able to take the normal, stand-up shooting position you’re comfortable with at the range. If you’re behind cover, you might not want or be able to get your head behind your pistol to align the sights on your target. You want as little of your body exposed to the gunfire as possible. A laser sight can be especially helpful for shooting from behind cover.
Another time a laser is helpful is at extremely close, near contact distances. When you must either fire fast without bringing your gun to eye level, a laser can help. Also, a laser can be handy when you don’t want to extend your arms to fire for fear the gun will be grabbed or deflected.
It takes lots of training to focus on your front sight when an attacker is closing in on you. The tendency under stress is to focus on the threat. With a laser sight, you place the dot on the threat. That’s where you’re looking.
Even if you are able to maintain a focus on your front sight, the laser can be used in conjunction with your pistol’s sights to give you a flash secondary confirmation that your aim is true.
Add A Light And A Laser Sight Together
There are benefits to mounting a tactical light on your handgun. If you’re thinking of doing that, why not add a model that incorporates both a tactical light and a laser sight? Streamlight makes the TLR-6 trigger guard light/laser combo and the TLR-8 rail light/laser combo. I’ve used both and they’re both excellent.
Laser Sights As Training Aids
One big benefit of laser sights is that they can be used as training aids to work on your trigger control.
You can do this at the range with live ammo or at home with an empty gun.
Pick a small aiming point, hold your laser dot on it and pull the trigger.
If your trigger pull is causing you to pull your gun off target, you’ll notice it immediately as the laser dot will move off your aiming point.
The direction it moves can help you to diagnose problems with your trigger control.
No, Laser Sights Aren’t Perfect
Laser sights do have their drawbacks. You can’t become completely dependent on them for one. Try looking for your laser dot on a bright, sunny day you won’t see it anywhere on your target. Lasers are at their best in low-light situations. That’s not a total minus if you consider the majority of critical incidents occur at night.
Green lasers show up a bit better in a wider range of lighting conditions than red lasers. But green lasers drain their batteries more quickly. That is a concern with all lasers if you compare them with red dot reflex optics, which have run times typically of thousands of hours. You must change the batteries on your lasers frequently.
Steven Paul Barlow is a retired sergeant/station commander and former firearms instructor with the New York State Police. He is an avid hunter, fisherman, and enthusiast with all things related to firearms, knives, and survival. He has been writing on outdoor topics for more than 35 years. His collections of outdoor humor stories are available at BriarHill Books.