Handgun owners are always looking for ways to improve accuracy and reliability. When personal safety is at risk, a handgun needs to be as effective as possible with very little room for error. A handgun equipped with a laser sight is an option that many are choosing for cost effectiveness and many benefits. This type of sight can be effective in many situations.
When is a Laser Sight Most Effective?
Many of the incidents that would require a handgun owner to use a gun for personal protection occur at night or in a building or home. These conditions are not ideal for handgun use.
- Low light and confined spaces constrict movement and slow down mental decision making. A laser sight is designed specifically for these types of situations. A laser dot is best seen in low light environments.
- In tight spaces such as hallways or bedrooms, a free range of arm movement may not be an option. The laser sight removes the need for proper body stance and grip in small spaces and allows the user to quickly find the target.
Laser Sights and Self-Defense
Military and police professionals are well trained in managing stressful situations and combat scenarios. A person who keeps a handgun for personal protection may not have received such training and will feel the effects of stress and emotion much more when the decision to use a weapon is necessary.
- In times of stress and panic, the gun’s sights are often ignored. The target gets all of the attention. For this reason, many initial shots fired in self-defense are poorly aimed. This decreases the protective potential of the firearm.
- Stressful and emotional situations may involve either multiple threats or bystanders who are involuntarily involved in the situation. A red dot trained on a threat not only lets the target know for sure that a gun is trained on them, but it alerts bystanders that a firearm could be potentially used.
Limitations of Laser Sights
There are some downfalls to the use of laser sights to be considered before adding them to your arsenal.
- Situations with high light levels bring down the effective range of the laser sight down to as little as a few feet, and that can have a powerful effect on accuracy.
- Another issue to consider is that with increased use of a laser sight, the user may come to rely on it instead of the traditional iron sights. It is important to note that a laser sight is an accommodation to the handgun and not a suitable substitute for the iron sights in some situations.
The benefits are numerous and have the potential to save lives. Anyone choosing to employ the laser sight should take into account the environments in which it will be used as well as the training and practice necessary for correct use. Relying on laser sights when iron sights will do or using a laser sight in an outdoor sunlit area can have negative consequences.
