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Is a laser sight a good investment?
There have been many discussions in addition to this one on whether a Laser Sight such as a Crimson Trace LaserGrip/LaserGuard is a good value since it may add 50% to the cost of the combination over just the gun alone. Here is my case for it.
A laser sight has both tactical and training benefits. I only know about the tactical benefits through reports from others such as Todd Green on his pistol training website http://Pistol-Training.com/ and the videos on the Crimson Trace video http://crimsontrace.com/Home/Videos/tabid/396/Default.aspx. Rather than repeat the benefits here, I recommend that you take a look at the referenced material. I hope to take force on force training before the end of next year so I can have experiential knowledge about the benefits as well.
With respect to the training benefits, the above references have much to present, but I have personal anecdotal evidence as well. When I was learning to fly I learned that many of the skills that you hone by practice are perishable skills decreasing exponentially with time. The largest loss of skill occurs immediately after the training. As time progresses without renewing your skill, it continues to deteriorate a little less each day, but deteriate none the less. After 30 to 60 days without flying I would want to take a ride with a check pilot to bring my skill level up to a level where I would again be safe.
I submit that of the several factors involved with accurate pistol shooting, trigger discipline is one of the most important and furthermore, it is the type of skill that deteriorates in a similar way described above. I have neither the time nor the money to get to the range as much as would be optimal for me to maintain my trigger discipline. Dry firing with the laser and a snap cap give me a great trigger discipline training aid. The red dot on the wall 12' or so from my home office desk shows muzzle movement during trigger pull that is impossible to ignore. I dry fire both of my EDC pistols a lot. I am also working on shooting with both eyes open and point shooting. Both are still a work in progress.
With the cost of ammunition and range fees, it doesn't take very long before I have earned back the cost of the laser.
Bottom line... Even if the economics were not so compelling, the training benefits are a sufficient reason for me to own a laser sight. At this point, I do not consider a pistol EDC qualified unless it has a laser sight. To prove my conviction, I have both an M&P 45fs and an M&P 45c. I like shooting the 45fs. I love shooting the 45c. However, I EDC the 45fs because Crimson Trace does not have a LaserGrip for the 45c.
There have been many discussions in addition to this one on whether a Laser Sight such as a Crimson Trace LaserGrip/LaserGuard is a good value since it may add 50% to the cost of the combination over just the gun alone. Here is my case for it.
A laser sight has both tactical and training benefits. I only know about the tactical benefits through reports from others such as Todd Green on his pistol training website http://Pistol-Training.com/ and the videos on the Crimson Trace video http://crimsontrace.com/Home/Videos/tabid/396/Default.aspx. Rather than repeat the benefits here, I recommend that you take a look at the referenced material. I hope to take force on force training before the end of next year so I can have experiential knowledge about the benefits as well.
With respect to the training benefits, the above references have much to present, but I have personal anecdotal evidence as well. When I was learning to fly I learned that many of the skills that you hone by practice are perishable skills decreasing exponentially with time. The largest loss of skill occurs immediately after the training. As time progresses without renewing your skill, it continues to deteriorate a little less each day, but deteriate none the less. After 30 to 60 days without flying I would want to take a ride with a check pilot to bring my skill level up to a level where I would again be safe.
I submit that of the several factors involved with accurate pistol shooting, trigger discipline is one of the most important and furthermore, it is the type of skill that deteriorates in a similar way described above. I have neither the time nor the money to get to the range as much as would be optimal for me to maintain my trigger discipline. Dry firing with the laser and a snap cap give me a great trigger discipline training aid. The red dot on the wall 12' or so from my home office desk shows muzzle movement during trigger pull that is impossible to ignore. I dry fire both of my EDC pistols a lot. I am also working on shooting with both eyes open and point shooting. Both are still a work in progress.
With the cost of ammunition and range fees, it doesn't take very long before I have earned back the cost of the laser.
Bottom line... Even if the economics were not so compelling, the training benefits are a sufficient reason for me to own a laser sight. At this point, I do not consider a pistol EDC qualified unless it has a laser sight. To prove my conviction, I have both an M&P 45fs and an M&P 45c. I like shooting the 45fs. I love shooting the 45c. However, I EDC the 45fs because Crimson Trace does not have a LaserGrip for the 45c.
