| httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dt5QCPa_de4 |
LaserMax’s new CenterFire lasers line kicks off with units for Ruger’s LCP and LC9 pistols.
By Scott Mayer
Even though there were little .380 pistols on the market before it, the introduction of Ruger’s LCP set off a .380 buying craze to such a degree that there were localized ammunition shortages. These guns are now so prevalent among the concealed carry crowd that shooting schools are, for the first time I can recall, teaching specialized little gun tactics and courses. There are a lot of benefits to such a compact defensive package, but as with many things in life, to get something you have to give up something.
With little guns, you get concealability, but you give up power and accuracy. Little guns are hardly inaccurate, but many handgunners don’t shoot well to begin with, and when you shorten a sight radius to just a couple of inches, the ability to shoot accurately gets worse. That being the case, one thing you’ll see emphasized in many of these little gun-specific classes is using a laser sight. With a quality laser, you simply put the dot where you want the bullet to strike and squeeze the trigger.
The CenterFire works on guns that don’t have an accessory rail. You activate the laser by pressing a little “on demand” toggle switch.
For 2012, LaserMax has a new line of CenterFire laser sights. The first models fit Ruger’s LCP and its “big” brother the LC9 and more models are planned for the future to fit other compact guns that don’t have accessory rails. The CenterFire slips onto the triggerguard where you lock it into place. There’s no need for any disassembly of the gun, and you don’t have to change any parts at all. Physically, the laser unit is centered under the front of the frame and doesn’t change the profile of the gun much so many holsters will continue to fit. Functionally,the CenterFire has a little “on demand” ambidextrous toggle switch and it’s user adjustable for windage and elevation. A single 1/3 N lithium battery provides four hours of run time.
LaserMax for Ruger LCP/LC9
How much is this gun? Can I buy it now?
How much for the ammo? How long will it take the gun to arrive?
If you research it, regardless of the hype, the LCP and LC9 have the worst triggers ever, which makes shooting them accurately very difficult. You can buy kits to improve them but why spend the time and money when you can buy other lower end pistols that function better. I know, everyone has their opinion, however there is so much out there now that confirms this. I wish I had researched it before buying both of these! Both have the LaserMax’s also and by the time you get the sucky trigger all the way back to where the gun fires, the laser is all over the place. Many people will “rage” about how great a gun is because “they” purchased it, however this is just a human tendency that is not objective. I have several Ruger pistols and rifles and like them all except these two.
Which 380 pistol with a laser would you suggest?
can I purchase this gun.
This gun is the first gun that has never gave me problems iv tried and tried to make it jam.limp wrist.rapid fire.pulling trigger very slowly..just cant do it very reliable.and the laser is great not sure what yall are taking about the battery going dead iv just bought my lcp 2 months ago and still going strong
The conundrum regarding Lasermax v. Crimson Trace is interesting and both have application for specific guns. Personally, for a carry gun, I prefer Glocks and part of the reason is SIMPLICITY. I don’t want to be thinking about a safety being on or off and I want my gun to go bang every time. The resolute constition of the Glocks construction and it’s simplicity give me confidence this will happen. Regarding the question of which laser to use with the Glock hinges on…yes! SIMPLICITY! I don’t want to have to “toggle” a switch or think about when to toggle the switch. I want, in the unfortunate circumstance I have the necessity, to pull my Glock out and point it with laser activated, no thought required. If I have to think at all about the laser it will only be to raise my trigger finger and cover it if necessary to conceal my position. When my finger goes to the trigger, the laser is exposed and it’s game on and hopefully game over…Well that’s it, IMHO for the Glock CT is my choice. That’s my story and I am sticking to it…
Addendum: I have the Crimson Trace on my LCP, but I will consider this LaserMax. Their guide rod laser sits inside my Glock 27 today. I had only one issue with it. It was my fault. I reinstalled the laser incorrectly after changing batteries and broke a spring. Customer service sent out a new one at no charge.
GREAT LITTLE GUN FOR POCKET CARRY/BACK UP. I’ve had mine for over a year and a half. I’m not a pro, I just love to shoot. Got everything between .17 and 454 Casull…. No malfunctions to date. I like Uncle Mike’s inside the pocket which will fit with this laser. I prefer the mag with finger rest. Favorite ammo: Speer Gold Dot 90 gr hollow point. This is a very comfortable pistol for pocket carry. I have shot some 1-2″ groups at 50 feet while double tapping targets indoors on the range. No B.S. It takes some time to learn the trigger- don’t quit practicing. If the laser failed, I feel confident I could turn the lights off a bad guy or two. I don’t aim at the chest. My Glock 27 with 13 round mag is first choice for primary carry. I’ve had Walther, 2 SIGs and Browning – all in 380- sold them all. I will keep the LCP at half the price. In fact, I will buy another for the wife. Did I say I love this gun?
I hit plates at 5-7 yards consistently with the iron sights on my LCP. It is effective for up close and personal use. While I agree the red dot might be a visual deterrent if you chose to use it as such, in a life threatening situation I don’t intend to play games with little guns. It hides in my pocket and I plan to bring it out of the pocket holster firing, not waving it around. The laser red dot has real value…on my 1911 it’s fine for night accuracy at distances my little bug was never designed to handle. On the LCP, the laser would just be a neat toy that might hinder more than help in a critical situation.
I prefer Crimson Trace also. I hope the red dot on the bad guys chest will give him something to think about… If he doesn’t think good things, well then it will be up close and personal. With that said my red dot is more of a scare tactic.
This doesn’t make sense to me. The distance you will be using a LCP for self defense is so short that a laser will have no benefit. If the bad guy is far enough away that a laser is needed to help you aim, they are far enough away that you should be running away and you are not justified in shooting the person. I use lasers on my handguns that I have in the house for self defense, and in night shooting at three gun competetions. But in a legally defensable distance for a carry gun it seems to have no value. Just my 2 cents.
What is “legally defensible”? If your gun is holstered and I have a a knife in my hand, you are a dead man if I am inside about 7 yards. Unless you are Doc Holiday, the average person closing 21 feet takes about the time it takes to draw and fire a decently-aimed shot. I’ve seen it in action at NRA defensive carry courses. Many courses of fire use the 7 yard line as a standard (Got to your local range and see if they have a 7 yard line marked out). And this is the root cause of most “excessive force” claims against cops: people see a cop shoot at an armed bad-guy at 15 feet and say it is excessive.
So, all that being said, will a laser help you get on target as the gun come up and is presented to the target at 15 to 20 feet away? Absolutely.
Nice product, but I’ll stick with the Crimson Trace laser sight and the pressure activated On/Off microswitch directly under the trigger guard where your lower fingers naturally curl around the grip.
The dot in nice but what people don’t realize is that the battery will run down on its own even when not used and then when you need it it is dead / the time you keep a battery in a unit plus the time it sat on the shelf before you bought it also will determine how long it will run when needed / and you must keep check on it in the unit so that it does not leak out to make a mess in the compartment / I never leave a battery in any unit untill I have need to use the unit no matter what / this could not be a good thing if you have to first load a battery before you shoot / not good / so you must remember to check a weapon often for battery use as well as cleaning even when not fired at all / do think you are always read without checking to do so / your life is in your hands to know that all is working properly / the best is to practice the use of sights and hand and arm memory line up with eyes / both / open to not only see the sights on target but all the area around where the bullet will end up after it goes through the person or you miss the target.
We must do enogh shooting in practice at both still targets and moving targets / where it becomes second nature to us / with out having to wonder what to do because when called to act / just like marshall arts class is about reaction not having time to think about all the things I might do / you just react out of needed responce. Think about it this way when you hear a gun shot what is your first reaction / let me say this here if you just heard that shot most likely you are not hit or at least not knowing you are as yet / what we do at that second will determine what the outcome may become in the time left to do something / may experience in Veit Nam was to hit the ground and looking around to see just what has taken place both my body and what is the best thing to do about where the shot came from. I have heard bullets sing past me like a freight train coming out in front and going past behind me the noise is an eye opener.
Can’t wait to try it out!