- Lasers are good for low light situations.
- Lasers have an intimidating effect, as the bad guy sees where he is going to take a bullet.
- Lasers aren't a cheap add-on.
- In a situation where shit is going sideways, with a laser, you can keep your eyes on the bad guys and watch the situation. You don't have to refocus on your front sight.
- Crimson Trace's lasers are better because, with the activation button in the front of the grip, if you're holding the gun in a shooting grip, the laser is on. You don't have to fuck with any switches or buttons.
It doesn't take much thought to come up with a scenario where an instant-on laser is not a good idea, which negates the "our shit is better" claim. You're giving away your position when the laser is on. The pros from Dover, the ones who use night-vision goggles, use infrared lasers so the run-of-the-mill bad guy won't see them. (Of course, if a bad guy uses the monitor screen of a cellphone camera, he'll see them. Which is why you can use your cellphone camera to see if your TV remote is working.)
For a carry gun, I can see why you'd really want a laser sight. Not the least of it is if the bad guy sees the dot on his chest and then decides he has an urgent appointment elsewhere, even better for you.
6 comments:
I wondered about dual visibility. So in lets say; dust or mist, a Laser would light the shooter position up also. Balanced against eyes on target not sights. Interesting.
w3ski
I'm thinking that in most self-defense situations, the Goblin already knows where you are. Reinforcing the point that you're armed and ready to shoot him might defuse things.
Maybe I'm a bit out but, If I had a laser on a target, I'm one action away from
carrying out the intent of pointing a firearm. I understand aim does not mean
shoot but in most cases if the visibility case spoken of is real then the
situation has reached a critical defensive point.
As to giving away the shooter, it's a bright single point at some distance
ahead or away from the holder of the laser. It's a moderately poor target
to aim at especially at any range.
Since small red laser for pointers and cat toys are common enough it's easy
to experiment safely (not in the eyes) with what it means under various conditions.
On the other sid eof the coin, a reflected or direct beam in the eyes will
minimally have you seeing spots and kill night vision. Higher power lasers
could be a weapon as they are (class 3A or higher).
Eck!
I don't think I understand your comment. The laser is parallel to the barrel, so if the laser is on target, so is the gun.
From the laser users perspective yes its on the gun and aims at the point of impact.
What if.. the perp has a laser. What do you see and aim at...
The gun is not tight against the body (handgun is outstretched hands) and may be at the end of a rifle or shotgun barrel so many inches ahead and to one side. This assumes your aiming at the opponent with a laser in low light. So seen in the dark or low light where is the target
that has the laser? The center of mass is likely not directly behind it.
So yes it can give the shooter away, the laser in itself is a poor target. Further if
you are using optics and start your point of aim at the other guys laser you run the risk
of getting a laser in the eye. That bright light will affect your eyes even if temporarily.
In bright light, the laser itself may be a weapon. above a fairly low threshold temporary or
permanent eye damage is very possible. Lasers in the IR/UV range do not provoke the blink reflex so they may not be noticed before its too late. Visible lasers are do provoke the
blink response but if sufficient power it can be too late. Those green high power lasers
are available at powers (10s of milliwats to fractions of a watt) that can easily pop a balloon, that would be very bad for the eyes. granted the lasers used for aim are in the
low (1-3mW) range and would not cause eye damage it still would not be fun to get an eyeful.
All this depends on which side of the laser your on and the ambient light.
Eck!
Misfit, I think Eck is referring to the Goblin using your laser as a target.
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