Green laser sight, yes or no ???

[wpshooter]

I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a GREEN laser max sight for use on my various Springfield Armory pistols (mostly 9mm & 40 S&W).

I have NEVER shot a pistol with a laser sight on it before.

What I am wondering is if getting a laser sight would assist me in getting better groupings (that is with a good bit of practice) or would the use of the laser sight just serve to reveal that I am not always holding the pistol steady enough. I am wondering if it revealed that to me, if it would tend to make be concentrate more on a better hold and thus be a better shooter or if it would make me more uncertain of my hold and be detrimental to better grouping.

So I am asking what was your experiences when changing from strictly shooting with open/iron sight to using a laser device. Do you think it helped your accuracy or hurt it ?

Thanks.

[Helix_FR]

My experience with the laser max rear sights is they are useless junk. Most of them either break or wont hold zero after 50 rounds are so. lasermax is happy to replace them but XD sights are hard to replace and so are the lasermax sights. You can't drift them in otherwise your beating on the battery case or laser side. I find lasers to be more a neusance than a help.

[Redbeard]

I've never seen one help someone shoot better. They are more distracting than anything else.

Best use I have seen for those is showing how the muzzle moves with poor trigger control.

If you want to improve grouping spend time at the range and pay attention to grip/sight picture/trigger pull. There are tons of good articles out there for basics. Otherwise ask a friend/instructor/other guy at the range that is a better shot for advice.

Good luck and happy shooting.

[wpshooter]

Originally Posted by Helix_FR

My experience with the laser max rear sights is they are useless junk. Most of them either break or wont hold zero after 50 rounds are so. lasermax is happy to replace them but XD sights are hard to replace and so are the lasermax sights. You can't drift them in otherwise your beating on the battery case or laser side. I find lasers to be more a neusance than a help.

Thanks for the reply but I was thinking more of the Lasermax that mounts on the bottom front rail of the pistol. Do you have any experience / thoughts on that type of laser device(s) ?

Thanks.

[Helix_FR]

They do work better but for the cost there are better brands. The one you speak of is average at best. crimson trace, veridian, laser devices are way better

[Rockyja]

I find laser (Red or Green) to be useful only when someone is shooting at you, while you're hiding behind a sofa as you sneak a shot wildly over the sofa hoping your "Dot" is on its mark. LOL

A good front and rear adjustable military sight, and your ability and experience to hit what you aim at, is your best defense. One Shot, One Kill

[wpshooter]

Originally Posted by Rockyja

I find laser (Red or Green) to be useful only when someone is shooting at you, while you're hiding behind a sofa as you sneak a shot wildly over the sofa hoping your "Dot" is on its mark. LOL

A good front and rear adjustable military sight, and your ability and experience to hit what you aim at, is your best defense. One Shot, One Kill

Couldn't you find something more substantial than that sofa to get behind, Ha, Ha.

Thanks for the advice.

[Rockyja]

Wpshooter,

Sometimes, you just don't have a choice. LOL

[permafrost]

But..but.. They just look so Damn cool!

[Rockyja]

Redbeard,

Good advise. I remember when I was younger, and carried my pistol in my hand all day, just to get used to the waight. I'd hold my arm out and aim at a fixed object, just to see how long I could hold it out with shaking.

I'd also aim my pistol empty of course, with a penny balanced on the front of the barrel, I then would squeeze the trigger and try to keep from dropping the coin. I'd do this excercise often to get my arm used to the weight. It helped steady my hand when I aimed my weapon.

[Helix_FR]

You also have to remember, a laser is not a flash light. Just bc you painted something with the dot of a laser dont mean you know what your painting.

[Rockyja]

Maybe it’s just me, but I find a 12" target is just to damn difficult to concentrate on grouping 3 shots into the black center spot at 75’. There just to much target!

I use my 8 year old son’s pellet gun targets. They’re 6 inch targets with a 2" Black bull. It forces me to focus all my attention on the bull. If I can’t cover my 3 shot grouping with a quarter, I’m not a very happy camper.

Unfortunately, I’m still not happy. I still can’t get my groupings close enough to cover them with a quarter. I get then between 2" and 3.5" … on a bad day, sometimes 4" is the best I can do.

I guess I should be happy that I can stay on the 6" paper at 75’, but that elusive 1.5" grouping is constantly on the back of my mind.

But I still wont use a laser or scope. A good rear adjustable sight and a large protected front sight has proven itself to me to many time. I just love it

[bluesea112]

I agree that lasers are more of a nuisance and distraction than anything. There are way more negatives than positives.
Negatives:
1. Laser's shine in a straight line and do not compensate for drop. Depending on the distance, you may have the laser on the bad guys nose and hit him in the toe or not at all.

2. Laser's give the bad guy a nice line to follow to your location.

3. Firearms produce enormous vibration that quickly effect the point of aim on even the best laser.

If lasers helped you shoot better, or hit with better consistancy, don't you think police departments would make their officers use them? There is a reason they don't use them.

If you want to buy a laser because you thinik it will make you look cool, then be honest with yourself and buy it. If you are trying to justify the purchase as practical, then it just ain't gonna happen. Lasers are not practical. Aiming lasers would not be around anymore if it were not for Hollywood making people think they can put a laser on a gun to make it do magic tricks.

[Helix_FR]

The only reason I see lasers as useful to the shooter is if the shooter has vision that impairs him from seeing the sights properly.

[raven818]

I had a man who makes laser grips for weapons that aren't commercially made create mine. The only purpose of getting them made, was to be able to aim at a target inside my house, w/o turning on a light. I trained my wife with it also, using me as the target in the front room and the hallway that leads to the bedroom.

For us, I can't see any other reason for having one ( different strokes ).
Using the sights that came with our guns, proficiently, is foremost.