Laser Grip

[RetNavy]

For the past few months I have been contemplating on getting laser grips for my SR1911. Yesterday changed my mind.. My wife had a business meeting In Tyler so I went with and found a local range to shoot at while she was working.. I was the only one there for about 15 minutes when I saw the target a few lanes down run out to about 21 feet and then a laser dot showing on it. I observed the dot "dancing" all over the target with very few rounds actually hitting the rings.... I remembered the old fire control rule... a little movement at the weapon cause large movement down range...

I know my sight picture has alot of movement and realized if I had a laser sight, with it "dancing all over, then I will have a high probability of jerking the trigger instead of squeezing,

so for now, I'll just keep my three dot sights... and thanks to to the other shooter... hopefully this isn't putting down the other guy.... it just showed me how hard to shoot with a laser sight....

Ret Navy

[anygunanywhere]

It is an interesting observation. Similar to when you first put a scope on the rifle. The gun is moving around, but you just were unaware of it before you looked through the scope.

Whether it hurts you or helps you just depends on the mind-set. I like to see the movements, because I train to minimize them.

I agree it is not like on television, where the red laser dot is rock steady on the guys chest at 100 yards!

It is rock steady when Chuck Norris is aiming at the bad guy.

Anygunanywhere

[n5wd]

It is an interesting observation. Similar to when you first put a scope on the rifle. The gun is moving around, but you just were unaware of it before you looked through the scope.

Whether it hurts you or helps you just depends on the mind-set. I like to see the movements, because I train to minimize them.

I agree it is not like on television, where the red laser dot is rock steady on the guys chest at 100 yards!

It is rock steady when Chuck Norris is aiming at the bad guy.

Anygunanywhere

Chuck Norris doesn't need a laser on his gun - he just looks at the bad guys with laser focus!

[Pawpaw]

I have CT laser grips on two of my pistols. I like them, but they are not a panacea that will make you shoot better.

Where they come into their own is in shooting from a position where you can't get the gun up to use the sights. If you have to shoot from the waist or around an object, you still have something to help you aim your shots. Not a cure-all, but better than "throwing lead" in the general direction of a BG and hoping you hit him.
The first thing that's necessary is to drop the Hollywood myth that a laser automatically makes your shots more accurate and deadly.

If you can use the sights, then you just ignore the laser on the target. For some, it takes practice to learn to ignore the dot.

[n5wd]

. I was the only one there for about 15 minutes when I saw the target a few lanes down run out to about 21 feet and then a laser dot showing on it. I observed the dot "dancing" all over the target with very few rounds actually hitting the rings.... I remembered the old fire control rule... a little movement at the weapon cause large movement down range...

About the only time I use the laser on my every day carry at the range is when I'm (a) making sure that the zero hasn't been bumped around and (b) showing it (or showing it off) to someone.

Otherwise, I assume the laser is going to work best for me:
(a) when it's dark outside and it's too dark to see my non-illuminated sights, or
(b) when I'm firing from such as position as to be unable to use my gun's sights to aim (i.e. around a corner, or from behind cover and I just stick the gun hand out a little bit or
(c) when I'm unable to shoot from my primary hand and I need the aiming assistance.

I wouldn't discount a laser on your 1911 just because your hand shakes a bit - that, to me, would be an even better reason to get a laser on your gun. I know that I, at 62, aren't as steady as I was 40 years ago but I can still fire from the hip and get a hit with my laser on my Walther PPS.

[VMI77]

I think you're looking at it the wrong way. One big benefit of the laser is that you can see your aim point dancing on the target. What that means is that you need more practice and the laser is a great aid for doing it. Dry fire until you can pull the trigger without the dot moving and your accuracy will improve tremendously.

[RetNavy]

Dry fire until you can pull the trigger without the dot moving and your accuracy will improve tremendously.

I agree with the dry fire practice, good advice.... I don't think I will be able to completely get rid of my strong hand movement, will have some shake regardless. I was diagnosed with ALS ( Lou Gherig Disease)last May and it is affecting my right side currently.. I lost probably about 15% of my strength in my right arm which is causing the movement... changing weak side hand grip around the gun has helped with sight alignment quite a bit which was why I was thinking about laser grips.... if I do get them... and need to use it... hopefully the BG would see the red/green dot dancing around and think more than twice

[VMI77]

Dry fire until you can pull the trigger without the dot moving and your accuracy will improve tremendously.

I agree with the dry fire practice, good advice.... I don't think I will be able to completely get rid of my strong hand movement, will have some shake regardless. I was diagnosed with ALS ( Lou Gherig Disease)last May and it is affecting my right side currently.. I lost probably about 15% of my strength in my right arm which is causing the movement... changing weak side hand grip around the gun has helped with sight alignment quite a bit which was why I was thinking about laser grips.... if I do get them... and need to use it... hopefully the BG would see the red/green dot dancing around and think more than twice

I can't do it without the dot moving either, but it helped greatly with minimizing that movement and really improved my accuracy with snubbies.

[RKlenka]

I have a CT on pretty much all my hand guns. Im a big fan of them for a number of reasons.

Training: What i have learned just from dry firing at home has well paid for its price. Mine is pressure activated so it helps me have a visual cue along with a physical cue of making sure i have a good grip, smooth trigger pull, follow through and reset. It allows me to work on point shooting, shooting while moving, and countless other topics. All at home with good visual feedback.

Instruction: Its a easy way to see if a student is having grip, trigger, ect issues with that firearm because it shows the issue to everyone. It makes it easier to demonstrate certain discussion points. Much cheaper than one of those SIRT pistols.

Defense: I have used the laser (on a blue gun or airsoft) for quite a few Force on Force and accessing training events and my natural use of it has been very eye opening. Most people I seem to hang out with wear dark colored clothing, the laser does not really show up on that very well in the day time. But it sure does show up on everything else. So when Im getting off the X and accessing i know exactly where my muzzle is pointing because i can track it in my peripheral, this has increased my accuracy more than anything. It also convinced some colleges into picking one up as well.

I have a RMR on on my handgun and they work together amazingly. As i raise up from the draw to get my sight picture i know where everything is, it then gets overpowered be the RMR (they are both sighted at the same or similar distance) so my time to target is much faster than with just my RMR or iron sights alone.

Offensive (house clearing and the like): I pretty much turn the laser off if I'm not in a defensive setting. Testing with blue guns and air soft where i am the aggressor it gave my general position away almost all of the time without really giving me any advantages. If i was the one barricaded up and someone was moving in on me, unless i was waving the dot around all crazy, they nearly never noticed it. During one low light exercise my opponent lined himself up and walked against the laser oblivious to it when i knew exactly where he was. In another exercise i tried the same method but placed my laser on the wrong object and it wasnt until i shined my light to verify my target that i realized i ended up flanking and engaging a supply closet.

Target/Competitions: I generally turn it off unless we are doing something defensive and/or low light. Having everyone watching you notice your big screw up because you projected it for all to see in not good :P

The main downside i have with it is that when i switch to my offhand my thumb will block the emitter in a two hand grip. But other than that its been well worth it.

[two Two]

Hi Guys,
There is one thing you are overlooking in this. How many of you ware glasses? How many sleep with your glasses on? How much time are you going to waste looking for your glasses when you knock them off the night stand when you hear that bump in the night? Or if you go to see what it was trip and they fall off or the BG knocks them off. How often to you shoot at the range without your glasses for practice?

That my friends is where the laser really comes into play ( mostly for us seasoned shooters, 60+) and is worth every cent. The posts about training are also very, very good. The laser will make your hand much steadier.

[RetNavy]

after reading all the replies to my OP, rethunk my position and just ordered some Crimson Trace LG-401 grips. Also I have a flashlight with a laser on it and it weighs close to the same weight and been practicing with that too... thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.

if possible will post some before and after pictures of targets

RetNavy

[Right2Carry]

after reading all the replies to my OP, rethunk my position and just ordered some Crimson Trace LG-401 grips. Also I have a flashlight with a laser on it and it weighs close to the same weight and been practicing with that too... thanks for all the feedback and suggestions.

if possible will post some before and after pictures of targets

RetNavy

I have the SR1911CMD as well. Let me know how the grips work out for you.

[RetNavy]

I have the SR1911CMD as well. Let me know how the grips work out for you.

will let you know.... they should be here Friday... hopefully should be okay.... same model that Ruger offers through their store

[RetNavy]

received the grips today... easy to replace. only thing is now have to wait until i can get to a range to practice with them.... hopefully in a couple of weeks... in the mean time ordered some snap caps to dry fire with... and practice...