Laser/Light Combo

[UNI]

Anyone use the BEAMSHOT GB9000G Green Laser/Light Combo?

What are you using on a pistol?

 

[1911]

What are you using on a pistol?

Alas, I am both old and old-fashioned; the highest-tech thing on (some of) my pistols are night sights. Rail flashlights are cumbersome for daily carry, and I would be worried that laser batteries might fail at the worst possible moment - so I just keep practicing with my open sights.

 

[Corey]

Have not seen that one before.
I bought the Surefire X400 originally for my AR15, but have swapped out over to my Glock 21SF.

It puts out 170 lumens of retina sheering light.
The laser is very bright too.
I have been reading up some more, and many like the green beam on some of the lasers out there.

 

[ssc45]

What 1911 said. X100

Cheers, Steve

 

[Pedro]

Laser if you must. But stand alone flashlight for a pistol. Using your muzzle as an illuminator is generally unsafe. I carry a surefire in my bag for work with a spare battery set. Past that I have not played with lasers, so no comment.

 

[FireGirl_Photo]

Another vote for the Surefire X400. Love it.

 

[Klierslc]

Lasers can be useful tools, but tend to foster bad habits. If you must have one, become very proficient first and then start practicing with the laser. Once you are comfortable, take it off and make sure that you can still do everything you need to without the laser.

I'll disagree that a weapon mounted light is a bad idea. I can see the hesitation to have to point your weapon at something just to light it up, but with proper trigger discipline, it is a non issue. Also, (I do this a lot) you can quickly detach the light and use it like a normal flashlight.

I like having the light on there because I want to see what I am shooting at before I kill it. I can get through and around my house in pitch black with no issues, but I want to have positive ID before I pull the trigger. As long as I don't use the light to get around the house, there is no tactical disadvantage, and the intensity of the light will cause enough pain for me to get a shot off if needed.

Food for thought I suppose.

 

[phxtoad]

Novice shooter here, with a wee pop gun (LCP) with its Crimson Trace. I've put a couple hundred rounds through it using the laser. I practice evenly with and without the sights. By without I mean low and/or close to body 'defensive' type shooting. Here the laser really is worth it. I also practice with a separate light in my off hand.

After one of my last times at the range though, I realized I had grown too accustomed to just looking at the laser for when I aim in a normal shooting position. That seemed bad for the obvious reasons. So this last time I reverted to the sights, as bad as they are on the LCP. One thing I realized immediately is that my laser had 'drifted' right a bit at some point. So if you have a mounted laser, keep checking that it's properly aligned.

I intend to use the sights first from now on if possible.

 

[Pedro]

I have a surefire G2 in the safe next to my pistol.

and in my state, an intruder doesn't need to be armed, so there is no explanation needed.

I train with an off hand flashlight with my pistol. as I stated before, with a rifle/shotgun I have no issue with a mounted light as you have no off hand to utilize a light without a drawn weapon.

X2 On using a surefire. I have one on the XD and a big sure?fire mounted on the shotgun. You shouldn't shy away from a laser or a light especially for a home defense weapon. As Klierslc stated you want to ID your target first. Try finding a flashlight in addition to your firearm in the middle of the night just waking up. Then trying aiming down your sights in the same mental state. Next explain to a jury that you could not tell if your intruder you shot was armed or not. My 0.02

 

[Corey]

I think we can agree that some like laser/light combos on a handgun, some do not.
I prefer it on my Glock 21SF, as it is one less thing to have to grab in the middle of the night.

 

[LMarshall73]

Novice shooter here, with a wee pop gun (LCP) with its Crimson Trace. I've put a couple hundred rounds through it using the laser. I practice evenly with and without the sights. By without I mean low and/or close to body 'defensive' type shooting. Here the laser really is worth it. I also practice with a separate light in my off hand.

After one of my last times at the range though, I realized I had grown too accustomed to just looking at the laser for when I aim in a normal shooting position. That seemed bad for the obvious reasons. So this last time I reverted to the sights, as bad as they are on the LCP. One thing I realized immediately is that my laser had 'drifted' right a bit at some point. So if you have a mounted laser, keep checking that it's properly aligned.

I intend to use the sights first from now on if possible.

At close contact distances, a laser will slow you down (just like sights). Out to 25 yards sights really aren't needed. I learned that it is scarily easy to make head shots (while moving) at that distance without using sights. Just takes practice (dry and live fire).