One thing new gun owners will quickly learn is that most shooting ranges are quite well-lit. That’s only natural, as they are business establishments catering to shooters. However, not all shooting always takes place when the lighting is perfect. In fact, many self-defense situations occur in very low light, and some when there’s hardly any visibility at all. In situations like these, handgun lasers offer a more visible aiming solution.
Increasing Low-Light Accuracy with Handgun Lasers
If you have a pistol for self- or home-defense, a handgun-mounted laser or light-laser combination unit might be just what you need to protect yourself in low- or no-light situations.
Laser sights project a light beam in front of the pistol, allowing the user to place the laser “dot” directly on the target, even if they cannot see the sights. When the trigger is pressed, the bullet will impact wherever the laser was resting when the shot left the pistol.
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Consider these factors when choosing a laser sight to fit your needs.
The Right Laser
Laser color important to some, with most lasers being either red or green. Some companies produce laser sights that feature both red and green options. This allows you to use whichever works best for the current sighting conditions. I’ve always liked green lasers best, but I have shooting buddies who always opt for red when given the chance.
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Additionally, battery life is a crucial consideration when shopping for lasers. For most shooters, installing a battery and knowing it will last for several years offers peace of mind that’s worth a few extra dollars. Laser units with replaceable batteries that can be swapped without removing them from the pistol. This helps to prevent the need to re-sight the laser after a battery change.
Mounting style is also an important consideration. Some lasers mount on the frame rail under the barrel, while others attach to the pistol’s grip, the top rail, or even the trigger guard. Try a few, if possible, to see which one you prefer. I have a small Glock with a grip-mounted laser sight that I shoot very accurately for such a tiny handgun.
Last but not least, laser shoppers also need to consider the laser’s activation method. Grip activation automatically turns on the laser when a firing grip is used. Button activation requires pressing a dedicated button to turn the laser on and off. Pressure pad activation involves pressing specific pads on the laser unit to activate the beam. As with laser colors, this is a personal preference with no right or wrong answer.
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Handgun Lasers Worth Consideration
Rheinmetall’s new Pistol Tactical Aiming Laser (PTAL) is a compact, lightweight attachment module specially designed for handguns. For target illumination, an infrared close-range illuminator and white light are available to the operator for use in all situations. In addition, the PTAL is equipped with an IR aiming laser and a visible aiming laser (selectable red or green). They are integrated side-by-side in a laser block.
Despite its compact dimensions (L/W/H: 76 x 45 x 30 mm) and low weight of just 115 grams, the newly developed module produces a powerful laser output up to Class 3B.
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The Baldr S from Olight is optimized for mounting on modern compact handguns. It delivers up to 800 lumens, 33% more light than the previous Baldr Mini, and a new 100-lumen low mode for indoor use. The built-in lithium-polymer battery has been upgraded to 3.7V, 380mAh. It takes about 80 minutes to fully charge, providing a maximum runtime of 140 minutes.
The flashlight/laser can fit most GL or Picatinny rails. The GL is already installed, and a Picatinny adapter is included in the package.
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Streamlight’s TLR-8A securely attaches to a wide range of handguns. Its 500-lumen light illuminates anything within pistol range and lasts 1.5 hours. The user can choose their preferred mode—LED light only, LED/laser combo, or laser only, plus a user-enabled strobe mode.
Ambidextrous rear paddle switches with high and low options make it easy for right- or left-handers. Likewise, a rail-grip clamp securely attaches and detaches without requiring users to put their hands in front of the muzzle.
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