Hey everyone. New member here.

 

Waiting on my pistol permits to come in and then first on the list is a new Sig 226 in 9mm.

 

Will be my first purchase, however I am not new to shooting. Ive been around handguns most of my life and am fairly proficient, especially with a 226. (Was my uncle's duty / carry pistol)

 

Im looking to the use the 226 for paper practice and for HD and have come accross the lasermax internal guiderod lasers. I know.... nothing substitutes for range time and training (I plan to do plenty of shooting at the range), but does anyone have one of these or use them routinely? I figure it would be a good training tool to diagnose any accuracy problems I may run accross and would also be good for a low-light shooting situation in addition to a good flashlight.

 

Thoughts? Opinions?

 

http://www.lasermax.com/product.php?id=10

Welcome!!!!

 

...and I like Crimson Trace products

 

http://www.crimsontrace.com/Home/Produc ... fault.aspx

 

No need to fumble with on/ff switch - grip activated laser

Have a lasermax guide rod in my G26.

 

Pros - it's in-line with the barrel on a horizontal basis, so you don't have to adjust left/right (although the difference is slight enough at short ranges that it likely doesn't matter).

 

- It doesn't add width to the gun (although the switch/slide release tab on my G26 is a tiny bit wider than stock)

 

- I wouldn't say you have to "fumble" for the switch, but yeah, you have to switch it on. I find the switch lies right underneath my index finger when I have my finger out of the trigger guard, so I don't find myself reaching for it. The advantage of this setup is that you can turn the laser off if you want to while still having the gun in hand.

 

Cons - the emitting lens will get coated with gunpowder residue when the gun is fired, and the more you fire the more occluded the lens becomes and the dimmer the laser spot gets

 

- The internal plastic cap on the end of the guide rod eventually wears out from the internal action of the barrel moving and you have to get a new one. Lasermax doesn't tell you this in the documentation, but you have to consider that part as a consumable. If you shoot your gun a lot, better have some extras on hand.

Thanks for the replies.

 

I am still considering the Crimson Trace stuff. Hell I obviously need to get the firearm first and then worry about this shit later but I was just curious if anyone uses these.

 

I was drawn to the Lasermax because its inline with the barrel and as far as I can tell, doesnt necessarily need to be adjusted for windage and elevation quite as much as the Crimson Trace grips because its so close to the bore axis. This is really what I am looking for because I dont want to have to guess whether or not my point of impact is going to be to the right or left depending on my range to target. Give or take a half inch up or down I can live with. Its just one less thing to have to think about before making a decision on whether or not to take the shot. I'll probably be putting a set of Hogue grips on my 226 anyway, so I dont know if the Crimson Trace is compatible. I would guess no as it seems to me basically a set of grips with a laser and internal pressure switch.

 

Also another reason I was drawn to it is because its totally internal, which means I can still use my Serpa or other Kydex type holsters and keep it low profile. I plan on getting a light to mount on the rail for when its at home anyway ( or if anyone is ever allowed to carry in NJ.... ), but for trips to the range, I dont feel its necessary.

Crimson Trace will come out of the box nearly dead on.... adjustments are easy regardless.

 

Laser grip wont effect holster choice either.....

My $.02 - I don't own either Crimson Trace or LaserMax, but if I wanted one it would be CT. I don't like the idea of changing an OE functional component of the gun, with an aftermarket one. I have seen pictures of a LM equipped Sig, where the LM supplied takedown lever (contains the switch) came apart. CT is an add-on, not a replacement.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

Thats my biggest concern with the lasermax thing.

 

Just doesnt seem right that you take out a perfectly good factory part and replace it with something that may be inferior and not machined to the exact factory specifications. (seems like it could cause some jamming or possibly accuracy issues) Thats why I was asking around to see if anyone has had an actual problem with theirs. Supposedly they work great and hold up, even in really tough conditions such as Afghanistan and other heavy-duty applications, however this is coming from their "Customer Testimonials" on their website, so I dont know how true this really is.

 

It seems that most LEO's really like them (or any laser I guess) because it apparently has a huge intimidation factor and causes a lot of would be DEAD criminals to comply and put down the weapon, or stop resisting...etc.

 

Oh well. I guess I'll just wait to have the pistol in hand and see if maybe a range around this area has a demo of each that I could try out. I know CT makes great stuff and its proven for the most part, but the guide rod thing just really caught my attention as an innovative idea.