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So which would you choose for you concealed weapon? I have a CZ P-01 that needs one of the two. Obviously there is a huge price disparity there, but a laser just takes night sights a step further IMO. So what do you guys think? I think with my J-Frame Crimson Trace is the only way to go, but I have options on the CZ.

P.S. A laser that fits on the light rail is not an option because my MTAC won't accommodate attachments.

I have toyed with the idea of a laser sight, but I'm not sure it makes you "better" when the door drops.

I'm concentrating (when I can practice) on shooting "good enough" at several distances. Good enough, to me, means quickly but with sufficient accuracy to hit on a center mass shot.

IMHO, a laser might be more distracting (where's that beam, anyway?), not work in critical situations, and isn't very visible in bright light. In most personal protection situations the distances are likely to be short, so if you have "some of the front sight" (from Mr. Cotton's CHL Class) you'll hit anyway.

IMHO, Crimson Trace wins hands down. You don't have to put your body in a position where you can see either the rear or front sight. If you can see the target, thats all you need. Think about how hard it would be if you had taken cover behind something relatively large such as a sofa or desk. You would have to expose a lot of yourself to get a decent shot using night sights. Your arm, probably extended, enough of your head to get a sight line through the sights. I think it would be a lot easier if you could simply put a red dot on it, take a shot. Your head does not have to be in line with the gun.

I voted Crimson Trace.. however I cannot stress enough that I would prefer to have BOTH!

A laser grip like a Crimson Trace makes point shooting easier, and will make just about anyone 'combat accurate' straight out of the holster with little effort. That right there is a good enough reason for me.

BOTH...CT has batteries and Night sights don't. I use both on all my weapons.

Head in line with the gun...
That is something I had not considered. I'll have to give this some more thought. A lasermax guidrod laser may be sooner in coming than I thought.

I have nothing against the LaserMax Guide Rod Lasers, except for two things.
1) The location of the switch on 1911's is unattractive at best, downright gangly and prevents use in a holster at worst.
For Glocks though, they are pretty snazzy.

2) A Guiderod one needs an additional action to turn it on, a switch. This is something you'll have to remember at 3am when you are awakened after hearing a window smash, disorientated from just waking, and 30 gallons of adrenaline drop into your bloodstream.
A CT is activated by a normal grip on the gun. Thats it, nothing special needed.

I have Lasermax on my Glock 30. I have night sights. They are not mutually exclusive. If I had to have just one I would have the night sights.

The group where I shoot most of my IDPA matches at one time held several night matches. It was during these matches that I developed my opinions. If you have the opportunity, try them.

With night sights you are using the same, instictive simple and FASTER means of sighting you have learned from day one. It is by far the fastest means of target acquistion you can use. It helps to have a flashlight to be certain of the target. If I were to make any single modification to a new stock pistol, it would be the addition of night sights.

This is not to say that lasers do not have a place. Like I said I have one. HOWEVER except for certain circumstances, the night sights will be more useful in CQB (close quarters combat).

The laser does not provide illumination. You still should use a flashlight for target identification.

The laser requires a lot of practice to master as a reliable sighting system. You wouldn't think so at first, after all you just put the dot on the target and pull the trigger. NOT so easy. When shooting in a defensive situation, there is a LOT of movement and that red dot goes sailing all across your field of view. It can be very disorienting and very hard to stabilize. It can be done but it takes lots of practice.

The laser requires an entirely different method of using your eyes. Instead of focus on the target, initially you will be focusing on the red dot. This exposes you to missing something potentially important about the target.

You have an extra function to perform in aiming. The Lasermax requires the use of a switch. TC requires hitting the right spot with your grip.

All of this takes time and is initially much slower. Practice practice practice...in the dark.

There are certain benefits of the laser.

Intimidation factor in enhanced with a red dot on opponents chest..if there is time.

Sighting is possible from odd angles/positions that might not lend themselves to use of conventional sights.

The sighting is pretty accurate but probably not as precise as conventiona night sights due to a certain amount of offset and inherent mechanical variation.

My suggestion would be to:
Get the night sights first, practice with a flashlight. This is an acquired skill on its own. This allows you to learn the use of the light which is a significant increase in skill difficulty.

After you have mastered the use of the flashlight with conventional (night) sights, then try the laser systems. This will require another significant jump in difficulty to add to the existing combination of skills. Do a lot of shooting in the dark, with movement, with moving targets, with cover.

My opinion is that leaping from plain stock sights to the use of a flashlight WITH an entirely new sighting system can be a dangerous leap in an emergency situation...and an emergency situation is what you are gearing up for. If you cannot practice night shooting a lot, forgo the lasers and use the $300 to buy ammo to practice with the flashlight.

Remember YOU NEED TO HAVE THE FLASHLIGHT...lasers do not illuminate. You do not need to shoot the dog when you think you are aiming at a possum...nor the neighbor when you think you are aiming at a burglar.

Hope this is helpful.

In reference to my post above, I would like to offer another reason to go with the grip type laser over the guide rod type.

If you are trying to walk quietly down a dark hall to see what the noise you heard was, it is much easier to slide your trigger finger up just a bit to cover the red beam. This cannot be done with the guide rod type. It is either on or off. I don't think it would be a good idea to announce you presense as you approach.

Yeah, I know.... The guide rod type does look a lot cooler. But for me, function before form.

I added the crimson laserguard to my Ruger and really like it...since you don't really sight aim this weapon, it nice to see where you are at from any hand or body position. I am thinking about adding one to my G19

I agree with the thought of having both depending on the handgun. The Crimson Trace allow for accurate point shooting during limited light situations, they are basically useless in sunlight. The lasers are great training aides as you can see the movement when practicing and dry firing, I was amazed at the wobble I had with my J Frame, the lasers allowed me to practice and stabilize it.

I have both on my "Night Fighter" gun and do not find them mutually exclusive, nor do I find the laser at all distracting.

I vote for night sights if you can only have ONE. I think it will be a more natural action to use the standard sights in an emergency situation. I have seen a bunch of the laser type sights at the indoor range I go to. I really don't see the guys w/ lasers shooting any more accurate or faster target acquisition.

dicion wrote: I cannot stress enough that I would prefer to have BOTH!

werd.

depends on the gun. on my snubbie, CTC LG's for that situation.
for my Kimber, it has NS, but I woudn't turn down some CTC LG's.

in competition, typically, you can use NS, but not LG's, so I'd load up on the NS, and when I could get some LG's.
when you're used to seeing that red dot, it's not hard to find.
when you're used to those green sights (or whatever color), they're not hard to find, either.

either way, get used to them.

I voted Crimson Trace but ONLY because you didn't have a both as an option. I have CT grips on every gun except my G29 and my P3AT (only because I haven't gotten around to buying them yet), but I also have night sights as well. Night sights can be picked up for well under $100 and I consider them a necessity rather than a luxury on a carry weapon.