Laser for Home Defense

Tactical Gear Tactical Lights, Lasers & Knives
1

Opinions on using a laser for home defense.

Green or red, what’s better? I’d assume a pressure switch on the VFG would be the way to go, yes?

I ask because I read the optics thread on which optic would be best for home defense, the thought being an Aimpoint (always on) and no parallax, no need for cheek weld for a quick shot.

Wouldn’t a laser be even more useful than a red dot scope in a dark house?

TIA

2

for home defense I’d go with the X400 if you can even find one.

3

I am getting older and my night vision isn’t the best. I can clearly see the laser on my G23 and my Kimber Ultra Carry. I have Crimson Trace laser grips. Like them very much for low light situations:D

4

Your eyes will generally pick up green laser faster than a red.

5

TRUE, especially during daylight hrs or long distances. This is why the military likes them. They (Green) are usually much more expensive.

I have green on my AR, (my “outdoor” weapon), and a red LaserMax on my XD .45ACP for around the house. The LaserMax can also pulse to help the eye pick it up more easily.

6

No, the green lasers the military uses are significantly more expensive because they are either visible laser designators designed to push a highly collimated beam to 6.5 kilometers and beyond or ocular interruption devices that temporarily overloads one’s optical nerves. Those have a max power output of up to 250 mW, versus the 4-6mW of a weapon-mounted aiming laser.

ETA: Please excuse me, I wasn’t thinking in terms of retail. Let me amend to say that the diode lasers used as aiming lights are no different in cost to manufacture. How the vendors price them is, of course, a completely different matter.

7

Lasers on long guns aren’t as useful as lasers on handguns…primarily because red dots are a really good option for long guns. You don’t really need a cheek weld to use an Aimpoint…you just need to see the dot somewhere in the glass which is usually very easy to do from any reasonable orientation of the weapon.

When you see lasers on long guns it’s usually for one of the following reasons:

  • An IR laser for use with NV equipment
  • A visible laser for use by those who are wearing HAZMAT type suits
  • A visible laser for use by those who have a weapon with a nasty offset with an optic

One other thing to remember about visible lasers…they are a target indicator. If you turn on the laser the other guy can see the red dot. With an RDS you can have the dot on his pupil and he won’t have a clue.

On handguns we don’t have the option of optics that function as well as the Aimpoints function on carbines so lasers are much more attractive as a low-light shooting aid.

8

Thanks for the replies and information.

Riverine, do all Green lasers lose power in the cold or is it just the cheap ones?

I didn’t know lasers were temperature sensitive .

9

Thanks for the input, missed your post while I was posting.

I’m fearing you’re right, I may want a laser but I should invest in the Red Dot optic 1st.

Now I’ll be back to the whole Eotech vs Aimpoint debate in my head :smiley: