Thanks all for the input, looks like I'll be getting the combo.
What’s a decent priced unit? I don’t need military grade stuff, just something that will hold zero.
Thanks all for the input, looks like I'll be getting the combo.
What’s a decent priced unit? I don’t need military grade stuff, just something that will hold zero.
How so?
I will elaborate:
Pistol shooting works according to the same principals as any other tactical shooting. And through training and repitition you present with muscle memory to your sight line.
Whether you are using a MRDS or iron sight (my preference) you instinctively obtain a sight picture.
When shooting low light and no light, your weapon light illuminating the target actually helps your sight alignment due to the contrast.
The light options for pistol are best limited to 200lm and under and ideally find a medium spot with wide and soft edge lighting. You do not want to have a spot light, and you want your reflector to give a flood effect with soft edges to aid your eye in identifying other targets.
Anything over 200lm will reflect off lighter surfaces such as walls resulting in a detriment to your ability to see when your light is off, as well as minimizing your eyes ability to register detail outside of the lit area.
Most pistol lights are designed to meet these criteria.
As for a laser, when using a light, you can use the center cone of the light to instinct shoot on close targets should you need to, and a bright light can overwhelm your laser.
Additionally, the current MRDS provide a more familiar muscle movement to aquire and are less perceptibly impacted by shooter input on the pistol. Minor movement by the shooter moves the MRDS a milimeter within the shooters eyeline, while a laser may move inches, or feet downrange.
The other issue with a laser as an aiming device, is that the laser may be obstructed from the shooters veiw by the pistol itself causing the shooter to have to adjust their position to aquire it, or switch sighting methods anyway.
When compared to a laser the MRDS greatly improves long range pistol engagements. And for close range most shooters can instinct shoot or if they are equipped with a light, use the light as a pointing aid.
I’m not going to enter I’m a big long debate, but every single professional school or training on the matter of low light shooting has debunked the notion of using low powered lights to ones “benefit”.
If a low light-no light course isn’t available to you, there are numerous online options to learn about why all professionals I’ve come across would all strongly disagree with the idea of “200 lumens or less is best”.
Also, I have no comment on lasers because I don’t use them, nor have any experience with them.
I think the Baldr Pro is over $200 on the Cdn Olight web page but they have pretty impressive one day flash sales from time to time.
I ordered mine from a US company during the launch flash sale and I couldn't resist getting two at the price it ended up being after exchange and shipping.
5 year warranty 30 day no question free shipping in Canada. Surfire has been around for ever but they were slow to get into LED and Green lasers.... they have always been pricey pro level stuff but I had no idea they were now up around a grand!
As far as light and laser and lumens, I figure in rural Canada we are most likely to engage predators outside at night and most likely with a shotgun or rifle of some sort..... bright is nice outside.
The biggest advantage of a laser is having to make an accurate shot from an unorthodox position such as from the hip or behind a barricade or around a corner..... definitely not an everyday scenario for most civilians
I ran a light/laser on my carbine at my first night match, thinking I would win it all and what an advantage it would be. Turns out it’s a HUGE learning curve.
1. The laser beam bounces around a lot and it spreads at distance.
2. With smoke around, the beam can get refracted.
3. Hard to figure out the intersect point when you shoot beyond the calibrated zero for the laser.
4. The light show was distracting. I found myself looking at the beam and not the target or trying to line up the beam with the target. Either way, it was slow!
By the end of the evening, I gave up looking at the laser even though I left it on. Now this is the observations of a newbie laser user doing live fire for the first time at night. We only get one night shoot a year so it’s not like we can practice this regularly. Playing with one with the lights on or in daylight is not the same thing. Since my experience, I’ve watched a few other guys try the laser. No one has won with one yet.
I agree with DaverII that, for me, visible light with a RDS is the fastest combination.
I don’t use a laser with my handgun so I have no experience with that. I would assume, as a point shooting tool, it would be fine. In our low light pistol matches, the front sight silhouettes really well with visible light to make good hits.
Sorry OP for the hijack.
Still alive's observations are great.
I prefer to train with lights and lasers using a minimal use emphasis.
Light on, shoot, light off move.
Even with IR lights/lasers I prefer minimal use ie. Laser on, shoot, laser off, move.
Lights are like vehicles, to the bad guys they are bullet magnets.
If I have to use my fire arm mounted light for wildlife then yes I leave my light on.
But I prefer to train with light and laser discipline.
I don't want to be like those actors in the movies who run around in the dark with their visible white lights on...............
Thanks for the recommendations! I have Crimson Trace on my Glock, but my Canuck Regulator could use the mini rifle laser for fun, non-Wickensian stuff.My guns have a Chinese ebay laser that costs about $15.00. They work perfectly on a 22, a 45ACP and a 12ga.
One of my shotguns has a laser/light combo. Costs about $20. It has shot quite a few matches and works well.
Thanks for the recommendations! I have Crimson Trace on my Glock, but my Canuck Regulator could use the mini rifle laser for fun, non-Wickensian stuff.
Yup, that's the thing about shotguns, they aren't kind to cheap fittings.Ganderite got lucky on his $20 light/laser combo. I bought a Sun Optic L/L for around $100. Worked fine on an AR but the entire thing blew apart when mounted on a shotgun, after about 3 shots with buckshot. Good thing Sun Optic has a lifetime warranty. My replacement unit sits in my drawer now.
A laser is also excellent for dry fire practice. If the trigger control is other than perfect, it is readily apparent.
Getting a weapon light for my G17 and honestly have no experience with lights on pistols. Done some research and pretty set on a Surefire X300A if I go for light only and X400 if I go for light/laser combo. Looking for input on how useful a laser is for night shooting (as I don't imagine it does much for day shooting)?