Crimson Trace Laser Grip Sights on a Smith & Wesson Snubby
I am a big fan of Crimson Trace Laser Grips (CTLGs) especially on snubbies and little pistols. With adequate training and practice, they really work well and enhance your ability to accurately close that reactionary gap. In bright light however, the laser dot can be more difficult to pick up. You do not want to be searching for it! Thus, when you get your set of laser grip sights, you need to test them out in different lighting conditions, just as you should pattern your shotgun at different distances with the ammo you are going to use.
http://crimsontrace.com/Home/FreeDVDOffer/tabid/316/Default.aspx
CTLGs are especially useful on point and shoot guns with vestigial sights. They make it easier to acquire your target. But they require practice, are NOT a panacea, and you still need to understand the fundmentals of marksmanship and the two most important of the fundamentals which are: sight alignment and trigger control.
Next time your coming out of Wallyworld or some other place at night walking to you car in their parking lot under low/no light conditions think about what your sight pic. would be on your favorite CCW. For my eyes to react quickly in no light conditions the CTLG is the thing… that’s why I personally made the $ investment….could mean the difference….
A CTLG USER’S INPUT:
Here is my input based on my experience actually USING them, as opposed to just dismissing them (and condemning anyone considering them) for all the reasons “someone told me about.”
I have had at one time or another 9 different handguns with the CTC laser grips. Currently my carry weapons (SW M&P9c, Glock 23, and M&P340) and my wife’s (Ruger SP101) both wear them, while my house gun (Glock 21SF) carries a rail mounted light/laser combo (Streamlight TLR-2).
The CTC grips hold their zero extremely well. Once set, I have never had to make any adjustments, even though I remove them to clean my guns and replace them afterwards. My experience is they are very durable and CTC has an outstanding reputation for customer service. Of the 9 sets I’ve owned, I had one problem that I can blame on them, and one problem that was my fault.
Here are the ones I’ve owned, the time, and the round counts with the laser grips installed. The P229, P226, P239 and Glock 33 have all been sold. Some with the laser, some I sold the lasers separate. For the lasers I sold, I generally got about 80%+ of what I paid for them. They hold their value well.
P229- My first set of CTC grips. I owned them for approximately 1 1/2 years, approx 2000 rounds fired with them- no problems, except the one I caused. I bought this gun used at a pawn shop and it had the laser grips on it. In fact the lasers are what interested me and made the gun such a bargain. After firing it the first time, I was cleaning it and stuffed a Q-tip in the aperture. I managed to pop the lens out which resulted in a crescent shaped beam that had about a 2-3″ length when hitting an object 15′ away. I was pretty pissed at myself and called CTC to see what repair would cost. I clearly explained to them what happened and that I bought these used and I had no idea of their history. CTC told me to send them down and they would be repaired at no charge. I sent them off and one week to the day later, I had a package from CTC. They did not repair them, they sent me a replacement set, additionally they included a user manual (which I did not have), adjustment tools, and cleaning swabs. All it cost me was the postage to send them in to CTC. CTC paid the postage to send me the replacement. My experience with this set made me a believer in both lasers and CTC.
Add that all up and I have over 7 years and over 9000 rounds experience with them and just a single failure, which I note again, did not render them unusable. That is a pretty good track record as far as I am concerned. I replace the batteries once or twice a year (oh, and with the “free batteries for life” program I have never had to buy batteries for them).
Do they replace iron sights? No, you need to be skilled in the basics first. Are they “right” for every situation? No, but if they aren’t right, they also don’t hinder regular sights or point shooting if you so desire. Can they be a benefit in some situations? SURE. Why not have one more tool in the box? I’ll take every advantage I can get.
“Point shooting” can be very useful under the right circumstances and if you have had the ability to train and become proficient. That said, most people aren’t able to practice to the point where they will become proficient. Few ranges allow drawing from a holster, let alone shooting from the hip. Even if you do become proficient, it will be useless to you in certain circumstances.
For the “average” person, your best chance of survival is to present a poor target to the threat while getting off some effective shots. In a street combat situation, you should be moving and going for cover/concealment. Standing in one place is the surest way to become a statistic. This ain’t the old west where you face off and draw in the street.
“Effective” doesn’t necessarily mean good sight alignment/sight picture, it means you have a high level of confidence they are going to go where they need to. You might find yourself shooting from the hip, shooting from around an object, shooting while running, turning around and shooting over your shoulder. Regardless, chances are however you do it, you will be looking at the threat. As you look at the threat, seeing that red dot on his chest lets you know that you are on target.
In a combat situation you are going to focus on the threat. It is a physiological response. Contrary to what some believe, you don’t look for the dot and then move it to the target. While you are focused on the target, with the tunnel vision that occurs, you naturally point your weapon to where you are looking. It is an almost automatic eye-hand coordination (which happens to also be the basis for point-shooting). As your weapon comes to bear, you will clearly see that dot when it is on target. It is a very positive feedback and provides the mental “green light” for trigger squeeze.
Lasers can also be extremely beneficial for dry fire and trigger control practice. The laser isn’t dancing around on it’s own, that is your twitchy hand and jerky trigger pull. You just get to see for a change how much your gun moves as you work the trigger. I love when someone complains about how much the dot jerks around, then when I hold the gun it moves less than my Aunt Ethel when Oprah is on.
Real world police gunfight data shows a huge improvement in the hit ratio of officers equipped with them. I haven’t seen ANY data where they were determined to be a detriment or get someone “killed”.
There is just something about technology that sets off some grumpy old farts. In my motorcycle group they bitch about how they don’t need a GPS and they are crap because maps still work, and how they’ll break and then you’re screwed. In the gun world they bitch about Lasers being crap and they aren’t needed for any number of reasons. “They will fail” etc. Heck, any piece of machinery can fail. With that logic the old coots shouldn’t be using maps OR guns, they should be using celestial navigation and throwing rocks.
My experience has been that folks who spout absolutes and wax nostalgic on the good ole days tend to be limited in their abilities to grow, evolve, learn, and understand new things. I find it funny how some of those most verbal against them have never even used them. My personal experience has been that 6 out of 8 anti-laser folks changed their mind once they actually used one, and the two that didn’t were just too stubborn to admit they were wrong.
Are they magic? No, do they have a use and purpose? Hell yes.
Admittedly I do not have actual combat experience, but lets see what the accredited experts have to say…
“If I were a police officer today, I wouldn’t consider going on patrol or walking a beat without a Crimson Trace equipped firearm.”
Jim Cirillo: LE Trainer, Author, Retired NYPD and US Customs, 17-0 Record Against Armed Felons
“I consider my Lasergrips a key advantage that I would not go into harm’s way without.”
Ernest Langdon: President, Langdon Tactical Technologies, IDPA Champion and USMC Sniper Instructor
“For low light and dark, Lasergrips are a tool that I don’t want to be without. By the time I had 300-400 rounds down range, I got to the point where I could trust that wherever the dot was, the bullet would go.”
Mike Dalton: IDPA Steel Challenge Champion, Police Officer and Director of International Shootists Institute
“In the past, I had a total disregard for lasers. But, after testing and evaluating them, I now have Crimson Trace Lasergrips on my personal guns. When searching or clearing a room, the sidearm often needs to be held in a ‘retention’ firing position. With Lasergrips, I can use the flashlight, protect my handgun and sight my pistol at the same time. There is no need to lead with the handgun as many popular flashlight firing techniques require.”
Ken Hackathorn: International Small Arms Instructor and Consultant
“I know what the front sight looks like, but in a CQB environment you never see your front sight. Why not superimpose a laser on your threat. I’m 50% faster coming out on target and can outrun my tritium sights by at least 20% in speed and accuracy with Lasergrips.”
Todd Jarrett: World Champion Shooter, International Military / LE Trainer
“In my opinion, the S & W J-Frame revolver equipped with this unit has to be considered as the ultimate in a police backup gun or civilian type weapon carried for defensive purposes.”
Colonel Rex Applegate
“I have Lasergrips installed on all of my duty/defensive sidearms and consider them to be an essential accessory. Lasergrips can save lives and reduce liability exposure.”
Eugene Nielsen: Tactical Consultant, Author, former Police Officer, Contributing Staff S.W.A.T. Magazine Editor
“I carry a Laser gripped Model 442 as a backup gun…..”
Massad Ayoob: World Renowned Firearms Instructor / Self Defense Expert
Anyone with limited exposure will recognize the names above and all are held in high regard by the shooting/combat/competition/training communities.
I have found the Crimson Trace lasers to be affordable, reliable, and durable. If I ever have to use a gun to defend myself, I want EVERY possible advantage. I’ve spent thousands of dollars on guns, ammo, and training. I don’t consider an extra $150-$200 to be unreasonable for the advantage and training they provide. All of my carry guns are equipped with CTC.
I am not an employee, and other than the free batteries, I haven’t gotten anything from Crimson Trace. I am just one extremely satisfied customer.
Bruce N. Eimer, Ph.D.
http://www.DefensiveHandguns.com
Many gun control advocates believe that only two types of folks have guns—cops and criminals. I grew up in New York City where this was and still is the prevailing view. People who believe that non-sworn citizens should not be allowed to own guns also tend to believe that anyone who owns a gun and is not a cop is a suspect. Thus, you often hear the sarcastic refrain from people whose lives have been threatened; “What should I do, buy a gun?” Most of these folks fear firearms due to ignorance and their socialization. However, there is a larger group of folks who have an irrational fear (aka, “phobia”) of firearms (aka, “hoplophobia”). 
I have created this blog to post informative and useful reviews (mine and others) of select firearms and firearm accessories. The intended audience includes legally armed citizens and legally armed professionals–both those new to firearms as well as those with varying degrees of firearm experience. 
