Well, I do see both sides of this argument. I am an old man (soon be 73) and keep enough night lighting in my home I could identify someone at any time. I have shot with lasers - didn't and still don't care for them in a home defense situation. Nor do I keep a flashlight on or near my gun (see first statement). However as I have stated many times, in my home I could not fire more than 30' at an intruder, that is the longest straight line of sight ~ standing in one corner of my living room and shooting through a doorway into the kitchen! I have been in many homes in my life and it is very rare to see one with longer "line of sight" then my 120 year old house. At that distance anyone that is proficient with a firearm should be able to hit a BG with every shot.
I can understand how Police officers may utilize a laser at far longer ranges outdoors. But as a citizen I sure wouldn't want to justify shooting someone at 60 or 100 feet as "self defense". Last week at the range, I was shooting my 45 ACP Colt at 25 yards, with mixed ammo (I just wanted to shoot it up), I put 5 of 6 rounds in the head of one of the plastic profile targets sold by my club. I feel certain I could put 100% in a BG's chest at that range. I have in the past tried "hip shooting" without sighting at a profile target at short range, about 50', as I recall I hit the target with every round, although had a fairly wide spread.
In the past I have shot moving targets, barricade range, metal at 25 yard, and at 50 and 100 yard ranges with handguns. In no case did I ever feel a need for a laser. I have no disagreement with those that feel it gives them an advantage, everyone is free to do their own thing!
My nightstand gun has a mounted light. I also keep a flashlight on the nightstand. With a wife and two sons in the house, I'm not pulling the trigger on shadows. That shadow may be family, the handicapped boy next door or the teenager across the street coming home to the wrong house drunk. Or, it could be a genuine threat that needs aerated. A light helps me figure out which of those it is.
Agree. This is the one best reason that I have a 300 lumen light mounted on my home defense pistol. If I'm shooting at someone I want to be 100% certain who that is. I've got teens, and they have friends. Sometimes I barely remember who's in my house some weekends. I need a good look.
Blinding someone suddenly with a 300 lumen light to the eyes would just be a bonus. Mine has a strobe as well, which coupled with a loud blast of Devo music would probably be very disconcerting.
I decided on a laser mounted on my HD gun. After practicing with it at home and the range, I really like how quickly I could get the red light on the target. I'm not a real experienced shooter, others with more experience may see the laser as unnecessary; I'm very glad I got it! I have also decided on a small tactical flashlight on my nightstand and several others throughout the house. I intend to practice with this set-up, and will most likely get additional training. For now, the laser and small loose light seemed most practical to me.
This might be a ludicrous question since I have never been in any scenarios stated below and I have only seen it on TV and at the gun range so here goes:
Other than the positives of having a laser or flashlight on you for SD or CCW or whatever, it's great pointing a laser at a target and hope you hit it or have a flashlight shine on it without missing but, wouldn't that also give your position away to the bad guy?
Most of the time, the bad guy would be running away and not confront you (ideal scenario) and have the law enforcement take care of it. But there is always that one who thinks they can get away with it and force the confrontation but if that person was smart, wouldn't he/she just stay put somewhere and hide and wait while you, with your lasers and flashlight, walk towards them with all that light emitting from you? If I was that bad guy, I would aim at the moving source of the light. I would think you have a 50/50 chance of hitting your target (provided the person had some knowledge of human anatomy and whatnot). This refers to evenings, nighttime, dark places, etc, since I think daytime confrontations would be a push.
With that said, why have a laser other than for gun range shooting? I would rather be proficient without one and practice to increase my senses (hear better if eyes are bad, detect odors, etc) and target shooting.
I don't have one of those, but they look like they come directly from China. Judging from my experience with Chinese laser toys (of which I have 5 or 6) their quality is a real crapshoot. Having to shake the thing to make it come on is no big deal when you're just playing with the dog, but would be unacceptable to me if the SHTF.What lasers? Do you mean pure additional equipment? like this: high quality laser sight or inbuilt laser sight?
My handgun is not available in laser sight, i intend to buy one. anyone experienced for this?