ARKANSAS SPORTSMAN

Lasers key for handgun accuracy

If you use handguns for hunting, target shooting or defense, laser sights are as indispensable as telescopic sights are for hunting rifles.

Hardly anybody aims centerfire rifles with open sights anymore because scopes are so much more accurate. Laser sights make it easier to shoot a handgun accurately, too, but they also allow you to acquire a target faster and more quickly recover from recoil and muzzle jump.

A more accurate, more dependable sighting system eliminates the variables that can cause errant shots. That improves safety, which is the primary goal for using any kind of firearm.

There are many styles and brands of laser sights for handguns. Crimson Trace, produced in Wilsonville, Ore., is my favorite because its various models are easy to use, install and adjust.

A laser sight is a battery-powered laser that you can activate manually by pushing a button, such as the Sig Sauer laser on the rail of my Smith & Wesson M&P-22 rifle, or by squeezing a handgun grip.

Lasers are calibrated for accuracy at the factory, but you'll probably need to fine-tune yours after you install it on a firearm. The laser marks the bullet path and point of impact.

The most popular Crimson Trace model is the Lasergrip. It's a set of grips that replace the factory grips of most conventional size revolvers and semi-automatics. The laser and its electronic components are inside the grip, and the device is so small you don't notice it. Squeezing the grip activates the laser.

Handguns such as the Smith & Wesson M&P series don't have removable grips, so you have to use a laser that mounts to the trigger guard or to an accessory rail. On my M&P40, I use a Railmaster Pro that I built myself during a tour of the Crimson Trace factory.

The Railmaster Pro attaches to the accessory rail under the frame. It contains a red laser and a high-intensity light that can be activated together or separately by pressing a tab at the front of the trigger guard. It is bulky, but it improves accuracy and dependability.

For my M&P40 Shield, a compact version of the full-size M&P, I use a Laserguard. It attaches to the front of the trigger guard and grip. The slightest squeeze of the grip activates a green laser that is highly visible even in the brightest sunshine.

Because of its light weight and small size, the M&P 40 Shield has substantial recoil and muzzle jump. The laser greatly minimizes their effects. With practice, it can help a shooter become proficient with rapid fire.

I recently took my pair of M&P40s to a local handgun range. My ammo was Blaser 180-gr. full metal jacket. I ran the target to 20 feet and fired away.

Despite its light weight and size, the Shield handles the prodigious power of the 40 S&W round extraordinarily well. In fact, I would describe the experience as borderline euphoric. Firing the larger version was even better.

The laser exposed my tendency to pull both pistols slightly to the left. That made me concentrate on my form and allowed me to correct the error.

Of course, the M&P Shield is intended for very close range, but the laser allowed me to place all of my shots in the critical zones.

The larger M&P, with its heavier weight and 4.25-inch barrel, laid rounds atop each other and shredded the target wherever I pointed the laser.

I might have done better if not for another shooter in the next stall. He had an AR-15, a carbine that fires .223 Rem. or 5.56 NATO cartridges. In that tiny room, the muzzle blast and concussion from his rifle was brutal despite my wearing earmuffs over foam ear plugs. Every shot that guy fired seemed to coincide with all of mine, and I'm sure it affected me.

Overall, lasers make my pistols a lot more fun to shoot, but I had to beware of relying on them too much. Even with a laser, a handgun is more accurate if you hold it and aim it correctly. If you hold it like a rube and expect the laser to do all the work, you won't shoot accurately.

Another great great Crimson Trace service is its Batteries For Life program. When you register a new Crimson Trace product, the company will send you free batteries for your laser every year.

Regardless of the brand you choose, a laser sight is a valuable addition to any handgun.

If you demand utmost accuracy, it's essential.

Sports on 04/28/2016

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