sharks with frickin' laser beams attached to their heads

[OldSchoolPC]

Now that I lured you guys to this thread with my awesome subject line, thought I'd get some thought on pros/cons of using laser sighting for SHTF and home defense. Here's the way I see it:

PRO: Deadly accurate (assuming you sight it in and don't f*ck with it)
PRO: Deadly accuracy even when adrenaline is high.
PRO: Deadly accurate at night-time

Con: Bad-guys can see the dot and be warned ahead of time
Con: Bad-guys may be able to determine your location
Con: uses batteries (batteries are finite)
Con: Most are useless during day-time

So for me, when SHTF, i'd be inclined to use them in many scenarios. Laser sights can be an effective AID to good target shooting habits. Practicing in your home to keep the dot out of line of sight, or engaging the laser only when shouldering (or aiming) the weapon is a good idea. Any thoughts on this?

P.S. Yes, I mentioned the same PRO, 3 times. Sue me.

[ar15jules]

Laser beams belong on sharks heads in Dr. Evil's lair. A laser does not make a pistol more accurate during the day, night, in fog, etc.... Lots of people who have trigger control issues STILL have difficulty hitting were the pretty little red dot is on the target. If you are already and established shooter and believe the dot will aid you in faster target acquisition, then by all means spend the money and throw it on there. Just my opinion that batteries fail, devices break etc...I just also prefer less on my firearms.
Jules

[tonyfac]

that's why they make Trijicon!

[bigandy1966]

Nothing says "Chill the f*** out, lay face down and shut the f*** up" to a criminal like the red dot from a laser, steady on target, center of mass, mounted to a 12ga shotgun loaded up with 00 buck.

[Hawk]

Weapon mounted flashlight is more useful.

[OldSchoolPC]

Weapon mounted flashlight is more useful.

Having it is a good idea, but actually using it in a home invasion... that would give away your position more readily than a laser would. You can keep your beam pointed near your feet, or otherwise use a button to engage the laser when ready. With a flashlight, they know where your coming from.

[Hawk]

Having it is a good idea, but actually using it in a home invasion... that would give away your position more readily than a laser would. You can keep your beam pointed near your feet, or otherwise use a button to engage the laser when ready. With a flashlight, they know where your coming from.

So, you're planning on defending and clearing your house in the dark?

[OldSchoolPC]

So, you're planning on defending and clearing your house in the dark?

Yeah, basically. I am not to worried about somebody breaking in and just "sitting in a corner". They are their for a reason. Either they want my stuff, or to kill me, or kill me and take my stuff. I don't need to go "clear my house". Rather, wait for them to advance. I don't see flashlights as a tactical advantage in many cases. I feel that relying on sound, silhouettes, and a laser beam is a good combo.

[PAOhio]

Yeah, basically. I am not to worried about somebody breaking in and just "sitting in a corner". They are their for a reason. Either they want my stuff, or to kill me, or kill me and take my stuff. I don't need to go "clear my house". Rather, wait for them to advance. I don't see flashlights as a tactical advantage in many cases. I feel that relying on sound, silhouettes, and a laser beam is a good combo.

Until you shoot your mom, girlfriend, kid, drunk teenage neighbor, because you didn't ID them first...

[Hawk]

Until you shoot your mom, girlfriend, kid, drunk teenage neighbor, because you didn't ID them first...

+1 He ^ get's it!

It's always a damn good idea to identify your target before you pull the trigger.
In addition, a bright light in a dark room aimed at the face of a perpetrator will severely hamper his vision and subsequently induce (temporary) disorientation. If the light is mounted on a weapon and your beam is on him, it is most probable you are at least pointing you weapon at him. Many times you can use the center of the beam as a rough aiming point at "in the house" ranges. If you choose a handgun as you preferred home defense weapon, and you don't want to mount a flashlight, you can always use the flashlight in your weak hand.

If you're a parent, it's pretty much a given that you will have to at least clear part of your home to get to the kids.