Handguns with lasers

[RoninPA]

I was going to say revolvers but I gues it would actually encompass all handgun that have laser grips or under barrel lasers attached.

If you have one, how do you like it and where did you sight it in (distance).

I'm asking because I just got a rarely shot SP101, 3" bbl, w/ a Crimson Trace grip. Setting it in a rest at the house, it looks like it is set to coincide with the sights at 15 yds. But anything closer, of course the laser dot is not aligned with the sights and it is disconcerting (to me) to see a dot at a different place on the target when I have the sights aligned at the point where I want the bullet to go. There is a definitely a difference at 7 yards if I shoot using the dot or if I use the sights. Typically the eyes will be attracted to the laser dot, especially in low light, rather than the sights and at a shorter distance this could be detrimental.

I am thinking of setting the laser to coincide at seven yards and shoot targets using the dot at various shorter/longer distances to see the results so that I know where to aim with the laser dot to have a CBM POI. At closer than 7 yds I know that I can basically point shoot and hit the target (I've shot in competitions where the first target was at 3 yds and you basically point shot and adjusted when you saw where your rounds were impacting.

Any thoughts are more than welcome.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Correct me if I'm wrong but if the laser and the sights agree at say 25 yards the error would never be more than about a inch at any distance less than that.

 

[tdubb]

I carry a 2.25 inch SP101 with the Crimson Trace grips. I think 15 yards is good, maybe even 20. At shorter ranges the difference in shot placement is going to be less than the distance from the bore to the laser, which isn't much. Now if you sight it in for 5 yards and need to shoot at 15 the distance could be more because the projected laser and bore have already intersected and now moving away from each other.

I always default to the iron sights, if I pick up the laser along the way I will transition to it.

 

[phonejack]

One of my 1911's has CT. It is zeroed for 25 yrds. In indirect sunlight, the dot can be seen out to 35 yrds. It doesn't replace iron sights, it augments them. I'm pleased.

 

[contender]

I have a set of CT grips on one of my training guns. You can adjust your CT for whatever distance you'd use the most & then shoot some test groups at other distances. You may not see as big a difference as you might think.

 

[s4s4u]

If you zero a lazer at a short range you will have a much greater deviation on a target at longer distance. Being lazers are usually located under the bore and often to either the left or right, as with lazergrips, and you zero at say 7 yards the bullet at 21 yards will be several inches low and to one side. If you zero that same lazer at 21 yards the bullet will never be more than an inch from line of sight anywhere between muzzle and 21 yards, and the deviation beyond your zero distance will not be nearly as significant either.

 

[RoninPA]

Well, what I'm going to do is to accurately measure what distance it is sighted to first and then use the laser at different distances to see what happens. That way I'll be comfortable in knowing where it shoots when strictly using the laser, versus using the iron sights.

 

[brushunter]

Ron , I had a 2 1/2" 686 Smith with CT grips. The laser was dead on at 15 yds ...as were my sights. I never had to worry about not hitting a paper plate from 0 to 25 yds. A 2 1/2 inch gun is designed for defensive purposes , at least imho ...there fore 25yds is as far as most will shoot defensively.

regards , brushunter

 

[jpdesign]

Is it common to sight in a gun for a short distance like 7 yards. In that short of a distance I can "shoot from the hip" and hit a paper plate. It never occurred to me to sight in a gun for something that close.

 

[jpdesign]

I will admit it was usually a large plate. The oval ones placed vertically.

 

[BearBio]

The laser beam will be straight. The bullet will arch (trajectory). In theory, the ballistic table for your load should tell you the difference. Do you compensate when using sights at a different range than they are sighted in at? Same principle. That being said, I don't like them but then, most of my handguns are SA revolvers. So I guess I am a dinosaur.

 

[Rodfac]

Sighted for 25 yds, the difference in impact point between laser and the iron sights is negligible with my wife's S&W M637, less than a half inch, with 125 +P JHP's.

Using the laser in practice sessions taught us both, something about double action trigger control and grip. I've shot short guns for over 50 years now, and that Crimson Trace helped me be a better double action shooter at defense distances. And it's benefits in low light situations can't be denied.

Rod

 

[wildturk]

I have a CT laser grip on my SP, I like it and it's accurate for my needs. I have other CT grips on pistols that work just fine. I like their products.