Revolver Laser Grips - Who's using them?

[Hizzie]

Trying hard to resist picking up a set of Crimson Trace LG303's for my WC SP101. Interested in input for other users.

Thanks

Hizzie

[BillSWPA]

Unfortunately Crimson Trace does not currently make laser grips for most of the revolvers I own. I have four different Crimson Trace lasers on semiautos. I find that the red laser is completely useless outside during the day, but quite helpful indoors at any time, or outdoors in low light, pr very close to sunrise and sunset. Expressed differently, the laser grips are generally the most useful in the conditions wherein you are most likely to need the gun.


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[APS-PF]

I have a 405 on my M&P340 and another on my 642. Great at taking the sting out while still having a small enough profile for pocket carry.

[El Cid]

CT 105's on my M&P 340. Don't carry it much now though since getting my G43 (which also has a laser in the form of a TLR-6).

[alohadoug]

I've got 405's on my 637. Due to some hand issues, I have issues with the recoil on the J frame but the combination of the 405's and WC's work well enough for me.

Aloha

[SAWBONES]

I've used CT laser grips for a long time, and have LG-205s, LG-105s, LG-350s & LG-405s on various S&W J-frames, all of them in red, not green lasers. (I still don't know how I accumulated so many J-frames.)

The best of the lot IME are the LG-405s, for sake of their combination of slimness (CCW), cushioning at the backstrap and reliability of laser activation.

The LG-411 for the SP101 is pretty much the Ruger equivalent, but the LG-303 is much the same except for the longer grip.

AFAIC, the CT laser grips' biggest single advantage is in not having to rely on the stock fixed revolver sights of J-frames, though with the SP101, you have the advantage of being able to easily change the front sight, so I have Marc Morganti's "Small Wonder" sights on mine in preference to using CT laser grips, with an excellent sight picture.

[Hizzie]

My WC (Wiley Clapp) SP101 already had a brass bead front and Novak rear. It appears the 411 fits the LCR, not the SP.

[Elkhitman]

I have a pair of CT on my 442. Not a fan of the laser itself, but I like it to take the recoil up. I'll keep them on until I find a set of wood or VZ grips I like then sell them or trade them.

[Isaac]

If they could replicate the boot grips that came w Js before the current ones, i'd use them for sure. No for now, tho.

[SeriousStudent]

I have them on my 642's, but use a small synthetic grip with a boot grip profile on the other J-frames.

[Glenn E. Meyer]

Got CTs on my 642. Commented in another thread, that in the daytime, they lose visibility at the longer distances found in a common IDPA style match.

[Eastex]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170215/2c7a963176ad9ae1bb3c6a366817bfb3.jpg

I have that set on mine. They work well but with all the caveats already mentioned about daylight use. I have a problem with the base of the grip wanting to print but I'm also pretty sure that's mostly a holster issue for me. The activation on them is well thought out and I've had great service out of them. They also seem to handle recoil well but that's probably more of a person to person kind of thing.
I also have their 405 model for my J frame and I couldn't imagine not having it on there now.

[Hizzie]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170215/2c7a963176ad9ae1bb3c6a366817bfb3.jpg

I have that set on mine. They work well but with all the caveats already mentioned about daylight use. I have a problem with the base of the grip wanting to print but I'm also pretty sure that's mostly a holster issue for me. The activation on them is well thought out and I've had great service out of them. They also seem to handle recoil well but that's probably more of a person to person kind of thing.
I also have their 405 model for my J frame and I couldn't imagine not having it on there now.


How are they with speedloaders?

[Leroy Suggs]

405 on my 442.
105 on my 638.

They enhance my ability to hit a great deal vs. the little J sights.
Very good for lower light situations. Not so much in bright sun.

I like both 405 and 105. Can't pick a favorite.

Also make shooting from compromised positions (unaimed) much better.

[Stephanie B]

I have a set (forget the model number) on my Model 10 that serves "emergency nighttime gun" duty. I have a set of 105's on my 442, but they are not exactly shooter-friendly.

[Hizzie]

Ordered the 303's. Thanks for everyone's input.

[Eastex]

I've only used speed strips with mine but I don't think they'll get in the way of speed loaders. I wish there was a way to install those Wiley Clapp sights on mine, they look pretty slick.


"Hell bent on being intentionally anachronistic"

[Hizzie]

I've only used speed strips with mine but I don't think they'll get in the way of speed loaders. I wish there was a way to install those Wiley Clapp sights on mine, they look pretty slick.


"Hell bent on being intentionally anachronistic"

Gemini Customs has a gold head front sight.

[Eastex]

You're right but that would only get me halfway there, that Novak sight at the rear is what I really like the looks of. My SP is my wife's favorite and when I recently got my GP100 I thought she might take more of a shine to it but even though it has a way better trigger, (has had some work done on it), she still sticks by the SP. I think that laser has something to do with it. I've gotten her to practice without it on and she just shoots it well and enjoys it so its on her side of the bed and I have the GP on mine.


"Hell bent on being intentionally anachronistic"

[Hizzie]

Buy the WC SP101. They are amazing.

[oakdalecurtis]

I owned, until I just sold it recently, a portable indoor live shoot firing range that used HD projected bad guy scenarios. The trainees used live rounds in their guns. The lighting was intentionally poor near the shooter. I often saw many unintentional high shots because the shooter had the front sight and bad guy in view, but dropped their wrist slightly because their rear sight was not picked up in the low light, resulting in high shots. The shooters that had lasers seemed as if they were "cheating", because in the low light, they simply put the dot on the perp, fired, and down went the bad guy. I know many people have reasons they give to not want or like lasers, but after seeing laser's utility and superior first shot effectiveness in these high adrenaline shoot scenarios with all the shooters that used them, I'm sold. The usefulness of lasers in low light situations has been proven to me beyond a doubt. All my self defense handguns have one on them now.

[Sherman A. House DDS]

I've had no luck with the CT 105's and 405's on hard use guns. They either won't hold zero, or the loosen and don't stay in place.


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[Hizzie]

I've had no luck with the CT 105's and 405's on hard use guns. They either won't hold zero, or the loosen and don't stay in place.


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Very disappointing to hear. What was CT's response?

[Sherman A. House DDS]

Very disappointing to hear. What was CT's response?

They told me not to overtighten the grips nor use loctite. They also told me how to adjust the zero on the laser.


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[Hizzie]

They told me not to overtighten the grips nor use loctite. They also told me how to adjust the zero on the laser.


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So they assumed you were an idiot and blew you off.

[Sherman A. House DDS]

So they assumed you were an idiot and blew you off.

Correct. I sold them off on eBay with the caveats that they wouldn't hold the screws nor the zero with hard use.

I think that folks like us probably treat these a bit harder than most gun people do. Although I've heard that the M&P pistol unit is rugged.


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[Eastex]

I'll have to keep a eye on my 405s. Mine gets fired a good bit but I've gone almost completely to wadcutters in my 642. Were you using a lot of +P in yours?


Hell bent on being intentionally anachronistic

[Sherman A. House DDS]

I'll have to keep a eye on my 405s. Mine gets fired a good bit but I've gone almost completely to wadcutters in my 642. Were you using a lot of +P in yours?


Hell bent on being intentionally anachronistic

Negative. Mostly 148's or the occasional cylinder (or 3) of GDHP's, when it was time to rotate carry Ammo (daylight savings time). Carried extensively in a variety of scenarios, and shot extensively, but nothing super hot.


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[Hizzie]

Disheartening to hear since I my SP101 only sees magnums.

[SAWBONES]

Disheartening to hear since I my SP101 only sees magnums.

Me too. I have three Ruger SP101s.

Only one of them (2.25" barrel, bobbed hammer, action work by Marc Morganti) do I ever, very rarely, use as a CCW gun, and that one shoots right to POA only with 158gr .357 Magnum loads. (In this gun, 125 gr .357 Magnum, 110gr .357 Magnum and all .38 Special loads hit low.)

I believe Ruger sets these guns up to hit to POA with 158gr .357 Magnum loads.

[ssb]

I've had LG405s on one of my J-Frames since September 2016. No issues from my end, to include 100 rounds of Gold Dot 135gr+P and somewhere around 1K mixed factory loads and reloads.

I will say that I'm not enamored with the shape and size of the grips. I'd really prefer them to be a bit wider/have more of a palm swell, and they seem to be more of a straight grip than, say, the Uncle Mike's Speigel clones. Don't get me wrong: I can make them work, and do because I really like the capability they provide, but they could be a bit better shaped. I don't perceive any reduction in recoil/increase in shootability due to the rubber air gap thing on the backstrap.

[B0308]

Have CT405s on two 442 NL J Frames. Used as BUGS and walking the dog guns, but wouldn't want to carry them w/o the CT grips.

[rd62]

I also have 405's on my 442. I use them as night sights in low light.

[APS-PF]

One set of 405s on my shoot-often (for me at least) J frames started to separate at the connection of the rubber pocket to the plastic side panel. This was after about 6 months or so of ~50rnds/week. I sent them back and they replaced the grips.
So my plan with my current set it to make sure I shoot the gun enough so if it fails it does so within the 3 year warranty period so they can be replaced. An upside to that is more practice on a hard to shoot gun.

[Chuck Whitlock]

My WC (Wiley Clapp) SP101 already had a brass bead front and Novak rear. It appears the 411 fits the LCR, not the SP.

LG-111:
http://www.crimsontrace.com/products/type/lasergrips/01-1880


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170215/2c7a963176ad9ae1bb3c6a366817bfb3.jpg

I have that set on mine. They work well but with all the caveats already mentioned about daylight use. I have a problem with the base of the grip wanting to print but I'm also pretty sure that's mostly a holster issue for me. The activation on them is well thought out and I've had great service out of them. They also seem to handle recoil well but that's probably more of a person to person kind of thing.
I also have their 405 model for my J frame and I couldn't imagine not having it on there now.

That unit mates nicely with the 3" version.

[Hizzie]

My 303's showed up. After the little one goes to bed I'll install.

p/BQyYg-ED2s3

[Stephanie B]

Kind of gripes my gizzard that CT had grips for both the Kimber K-6 and the first iteration of the Remington R51 before they hit the streets (many months, in the case of the K-6), but as for the Colt Cobra-- crickets. Especially considering that there are a bunch of short-grip Detective Specials, Cobras and Agents out there that could use them.

[Nephrology]

My 442 wears 105s. Don't really carry it outside the house that much, but it's great to throw in my pajama pants pockets when I am studying from home or otherwise desperately trying to avoid compromising my comfort.

[Hizzie]

So got them installed. Pics tomorrow. Initial impressions:

Lighter than the Pachmayr Compacs they replaced
Better speedloader clearance than the Pachmayrs
Good angle on the grip
Comfy in hand
Fast, consistent activation of laser
I already appreciate the teaching tool these can provide
*dry firing in the house I found the laser dot distracted me from sights - I have zero prior laser exp

[Eastex]

I know when I first got mine I did a lot of dry fire at a switch plate on the wall. The dot really helped me see what my trigger pull was doing to the gun. When my wife first started dry firing she was having a hard time keeping the dot on the plate through the entire pull and it helped me to explain what was happening to her.


"Hell bent on being intentionally anachronistic"

[BillSWPA]

Kind of gripes my gizzard that CT had grips for both the Kimber K-6 and the first iteration of the Remington R51 before they hit the streets (many months, in the case of the K-6), but as for the Colt Cobra-- crickets. Especially considering that there are a bunch of short-grip Detective Specials, Cobras and Agents out there that could use them.

Agreed. Even if the new Cobra tanks, there are still a lot of D frames in circulation, as well as a lot of people who like everything about them except the sights, which are difficult to see and expensive to improve.


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[Hizzie]

It's tomorrow!

p/BQzc0bUDFPJ

[rainman]

...which are difficult to see and expensive to improve.


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All too true, unfortunately.


-Rainman

[Hizzie]

First couple of dry fires.

p/BQz1Vl3D3Cl

Little slower/smoother
p/BQz1b_RDJIy

Glamour shot
p/BQz2D5EDNhK

[Tamara]

My LG-205's are on their second J-frame...

[Eastex]

That looks like it was a close call on the laser fitting your holster, glad it locked up before it hit the kydex.

[coconutdave]

Been thinking about these for mine......I think you just put me over the top.

[Hizzie]

That looks like it was a close call on the laser fitting your holster, glad it locked up before it hit the kydex.

Had already talked to Tom about the best way to modify if needed. Dremel was ready.

[Stephanie B]

Can anyone tell me what the difference is between Crimson Trace models LG-305 and LG-350?

[scott]

My understanding is that the 350 is made of softer, more "sticky" rubber and is a bit thicker. The 305 is a pretty hard material with checkering for extra grip.

[Stephanie B]

Thanks, Scott.