Crimson Trace or Night Sights?

[Excaliber]

I agree with the folks who consider night sights mandatory, and laser grips a great thing to have in addition.

Here are my thoughts:

Night Sights

- High quality tritium night sights (e.g. Trijicon et al) allow you to acquire a good sight picture even when lighting conditions are too low to accurately use standard sights.

- They are always on, readily visible and easy to pick up as you bring the gun into firing position.

- They have no buttons or switches to manipulate or batteries to go dead. (Yes, I know the laser grip batteries last a very long time, but I have already had a set go dead, apparently because something in my carry rig kept the activation switch depressed. I'm still trying to figure that one out).

- There is nothing visible from the front to give away your position. A laser sight will reflect off fog, dust, smoke, etc. in the environment and draw a line directly back to you when these conditions are present. I like to keep my opponents guessing where I might be whenever it's not immediately obvious.

Crimson Trace Laser Grips

- The primary reason I like Crimson Trace Laser Grips is that they provide another step in the escalation of force (when there's time) by activating the laser and giving your aggressor the opportunity to deescalate. While I haven't seen any reliable statistics, I have seen enough anecdotal reports where criminals have backed down when "dotted" by a handgun, even after they had continued to advance when confronted with handguns and even long guns. This may be the "cinema effect" where the meaning of the laser sights in the movies they've watched has more influence than their understanding of being at the wrong end of an AR15, but anything that may keep a bad situation from reaching the point of shooting is a good thing in my book.

- They are readily and naturally activated by a natural firing grip on the handgun. You don't have to remember to do anything extra.

- They can be used to accurately point the handgun even when the sights may not be usable due to awkward positions, damage, or during a struggle.

- They're well built, durable, and reliable if you test them frequently to make sure the batteries are fresh.

- They're also expensive, as high quality gear often is, and fit only one gun model. I'd like to have more sets, but cost has limited my acquisitions to a single set for the compact 1911 pistol I carry most.

[roberts]

I don't think I would know if someone "dotted" me because I don't walk around looking at my chest.

[Excaliber]

I don't think I would know if someone "dotted" me because I don't walk around looking at my chest.

In actual cases, it seems that folks who have guns pointed at them in confrontational situations become a little more sensitive to being lit up with the dot than they might otherwise be when they're just moseying around.

If it were to happen to you, I'd bet money you'd notice the dot.

[boomerang]

The weekend of Hurricane Ike, I used a laser to encourage a carload of suspicious individuals to move along.

[slowrey]

Night Sites. I used to have Crimson Trace but found them a little gimicky. I'd rather have night sites any day :)

[cbjetboy]

I have both on my Kimber Ultra Carry II .45 and I find that I shoot much better using the sights only. I'm sure that in total or near darkness the laser grips would come in very handy. It is nice to have both though...

[Commander Cody]

I have both on my Kimber Ultra Carry II .45, but I have never used the laser except for playing with my cat. The night sights are great and the battery will never run down.

[Popshot]

I voted night sights over laser grips.

Crimson Trace laser grips are interesting devices, but seem superfulous for right-handed shooters, as they will find the only time the laser paints the target is when they have already decided to shoot. Notice how when the trigger finger is in register, the inside of the finger blocks the laser. Lefty's may have different results, depending upon whether shooting an autoloader or revolver, as well as shooting grip.

My training group conducted an experiment with some shooters using Crimson Trace grips. The shooters performed a 5-shot drill with laser, monitored by a shot timer. The next drill was the same, except we put a piece of tape across the laser. In each case, the shooter fired faster without the laser.

The laser could be used to compensate for situations where using the iron sights is not possible, such as the shooter is in a awkward position. This would take a good deal of practice to perfect.