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MAY '11
Laser for your handgun? /
Pros and
cons
As many of you know, I have a laser on two of my guns but not my carry gun.
Here are the pros and cons.
PROS:
- Good for tracking moving targets or staying on target when you're
moving.
- You don't have to look through the sights to see where the round is
going (a plus when you're shooting from behind a barricade).
- They extend the range of your iron sights especially on small guns with
rudimentary sights (like Ruger's LCP).
- Excellent for training, especially for improving your trigger press:
move about 50' from a safe target, make sure your gun is UNLOADED, activate
the laser, press the trigger and notice how much laser movement you get when
the hammer clicks.
Note: Dry firing will not harm most centerfire
handguns made in the last 50 years, however, if the thought makes you break out
in a sweat, you can use snap caps.
CONS:
- In a low light situation the laser points back to you
- It's not cheap. Example: let's say you spend $300 on a Ruger
LCP, add a Crimson Trace laser and you're over $500.
- It can reducen the need to develop skills of sight alignment and target
acquisition.
"I don't have a laser on my carry gun
(although, from a left brain, tactical point of view, a laser makes sense) this
is partially balanced by a right brain, I like my carry gun the way it is, point
of view and a right brain aesthetic not of not wanting to cover the rosewood
grips.
I may consider a laser for my next carry gun."
J.P.
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Tactical Tidbits:
The demise of the double tap
For years tactical firearms instructors have been teaching the "double
tap". Aim center body mass (a lot of vital organs there and it's easy to
hit) and press the trigger twice to double the impact. Newer thinking says
that the double tap teaches you to pause after two rounds; a better approach is
to keep pressing the trigger until the threat is gone.
Observation: I tend to like the "keep
pressing the trigger" technique, especially if you have a high capacity
semi-auto, however, if you carry a revolver or a semi-auto with limited capacity
(5-8 rounds) and are confronted with two or more assailants, seems the double
tap would be the way to go.
J.P.
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New Shooter Tips:
Adjusting your gun sights
 If
you have fully adjustable sights (windage and elevation):
To adjust sights on your handgun, first set a paper target about 21' away,
support the barrel of your gun on a sandbag or ammo box, get a perfect sight
alignment, gently press the trigger and observe where your shots are landing.
Example: If your shots are going high and to the right, then you need to
move your rear sight in the direction you want the bullets to go, in this case,
low and to the Left.
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