Really? Have they actually put these weapons to “in home use”? If not, how would ya know?
Wouldn’t it just be a way of telling an intruder where you were?
No, I have nothing better to do than take over this thread 
Ok, first - It is possibly to evaluate a sights usefulness without actually shooting a person - it involves practice. Decreasing time for target acquisition and being able to hold on target while dialing 911 are important. Defensive drawing techniques often don’t have the sights lined up in front of your eyes until step 4, and while I’ve demonstrated that you can hit from step 3 (2 at extreme close range), having the laser would improve accuracy (apologies to Bill Door, “point and shoot” is indeed fine at like 6 feet).
Two - This isn’t a war, you don’t hide behind the couch and pick off [DEL]aliens[/DEL] bad guys one by one. A respected technique is to have a high powered flashlight shining in the eyes of the person, while loudly and firmly telling the person the steps they need to take in order to avoid being shot. I have a suspicion the DA would frown on randomly shooting unsuspecting intruders, even in Colorado.
Keep looking!
I’ve had both Crimson Trace laser grips and Laser Max internal lasers on several of weapons. They are accurate, usefull in full daylight, and do nothing to hamper carrying them in a normal holster.
They have their uses in tactical situations, and there is equally a time NOT to use them.
The department I work for forbids them, however, unless the officer takes a specialized training course in laser sights.
I dropped him an email to ask just that same question a week ago. No reply as yet.
Really just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to link to BO’T again 
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CMC fnord!
#35 - A Load of Dimes, looked like an interesting “less than lethal” first round for that shotgun, more fun to hand-load 'em than buy 'em.
I remember seeing a “tactical” shotgun at a shop once that had a flashlight, folding stock, and a laser sight attached to it. It looked like something out of a bad '80s action movie.
Marc
A buddy of mine stuck a laser on his H&K .40. I tried it. I hated it.
Why?
I have always been trained to focus on the front sight. When shooting his gun, I found myself focusing on the target/laser spot. I didn’t it.
Those are not visible lasers. The PEQ2 has an IR Laser and an IR Floodlight. They’re used for engaging targets targets at night while wearing NVGs. The laser also has uses for identifying targets, fire control and communicating with other soldiers.
The PAQ4 has only an IR Laser and no flood light.
These things are very powerful lasers. It doesn’t just project a green dot on the target, it creates a visible [ETA: visible through NVGs. It’s IR, not “visible” light] BEAM from yourself to the target that is capable of semiaccurately engaging targets out to 200 plus meters.
I’ll let you figure out for yourself the advantages and disadvantages of that.
I figure it like this…
If I hear something in my home this means that they got past my dog, and at that point it’s me versus the intruder. I’m going into “Creep & Peep” mode which means you get no “flashlight to the eyes” and you get no “firm voice”.
I also won’t be just pulling the weapon out of a holster… it will already be at the ready when I see the intruder. If I see you first all you get is the old, “Pssst! Hey, buddy. Jesus is watching you.” And if you do something stupid after that you get a .45 center mass.
The DA will do what ever he/she has to do… and so will I.
I think that proper technique and practice render the laser an unnecessary “gadget”. I didn’t use it in the military and I won’t use it now. So, I guess you could say that it’s my personal choice. But, I do know those in the military who feel the same as I do about laser sights, which is, “Don’t use it as a crutch. Technique and training will take you further.”
Rely on a healthy knowledge of your weapon and proper technique to get you out of a pinch. YMMV
So, if an intruder is in your house you shoot them. Period, end of story? Yikes…
The holster remark was aimed more at carrying than home defense.
You might want to try “Don’t fucking move, dirtball” rather than preaching a sermon. Just my opinion… Dead is dead and they won’t be testifying against you, but frankly I don’t want to get blood and gore all over my hardwood floors or, god forbid, the carpet. You know - “Hey dirtbag, could you step onto the tarp please?”
That’s not the same as “Don’t use it”. If you do know your weapon and are trained and comfortable in its use, a laser isn’t going to counter all that training and knowledge.
But don’t cripple yourself because you think that something is too Hollywood or whatever. Lasers weigh next-to-nothing, don’t interfere with any operation of your weapon and allow normal sight use. What’s the problem? If you don’t want to use them, don’t. But you shouldn’t assume that anyone who does use them is an untrained bumbler who just bought their first gun at WalMart that very morning.
Christ, that was pretentious. Sorry. I try not to be an asshole, but you see what happens. I don’t even like the things…
OK… sorry Bobotheoptimist… I admit, I was a little over the top with the “Hey Buddy…” thing!
But, I think that if a criminal is willing to enter someone else’s home it shows that they are a little more aggressive than, say, a car thief. That also tells me that they’re willing to go that extra mile to commit a crime. But that’s for a different thread. Sorry again for being dramatic.
Personal opinions aside…
From what I’ve seen, the use of lasers is a more of an exotic luxury, and not the standard. I think that’s what the OP wanted to know.
Just for the record… If someone did break into my place while I’m there, the stakes are too high to give them anything more than a simple warning!
I agree 100%. There are probably a few people with too much money and too few brains that buy them because they’re cool, and a few people like the guys I know that practice house-clearing techniques and blindfolded field stripping and hang 5 pounds of accessories off their M4’s, but they certainly aren’t common IMHO
Don’t panic, I was just on holiday (in the US, as it happens) and due to a bizarre series of events involving a lack of internet access at the hotel and needing the credit card to stock up on Souvenirs at Disneyland and American Consumer Goods at Wal-Mart and Big 5, my subscription lapsed in the interim. As you can see, though, I’m back now! 
Now then, Laser Sights… IMHO, more trouble than they’re worth for conventional hunting at night. They get knocked out of alignment fairly easily and, without a telescopic sight, have limited usefulness at ranges over 50m. They look cool, and they do have their uses, but by and large Bobotheoptimist is right- you’re better off investing the money you’d spend on a Laser Sight on some practice time at the range, or a decent Telescopic Sight.
Damn Australians and their lack of common-sense gun laws. Night hunting? Barbarians
I’m a cop, and I know only two officers who have lasers on thier handguns (of course, I’m from a rural area so I don’t know hundreds of cops). The training I’ve had on them is this: “Use the laser for intimidation, never for aiming!”.
I’m told that trying to get the dot onto target takes longer (especially in well-lit conditions) that just using the regular sights.
He ain’t gonna shoot me?..Then he hadn’t ought to point a gun at me. It’s insincere." –Heist
Intimidating someone with a gun-mounted laser is a clear violation of Rule #2. This strikes me as a bad idea, espeically in a high stress situation.
Yeah, that mirrors my own experience (and Crafter_Man’s); you focus on the dot and lose your sight frame.
Stranger
I night hunt armadillos in my yard all the time. They get no warning. The crow and buzzards take care of the bodies. I have 3 laser sights. they are not on a weapon yet but they are only 5 years old, I have plenty of time. I will give the dillo’s a chance if they can get out of my big spot light fast enough. Usually they don’t. Remington nylon 66 works plenty good. Will see if I can adapt a laser to it sometime just for fun.
And…this was official, department sponsered training?:dubious:
Because there is a certified training course one can take for laser sights. I haven’t taken it but I know someone who did, and I bet they didn’t learn THAT!:eek:
I was always told that the only useful function of a laser sight was in a siege situation.
As soon as the bad guy sees the dot on his person he knows hes dead unless he surrenders right this instant.
The pont isn’t to help you aim, it is to scare the crap out of the guy it is aimed at.
You know how every time someone has a shotgun in a movie they cock it every chance they get because the cocking sound is scary? Same concept.