Laser Sights are used to enhance the shooting experience. The benefits of using a laser sight are that one can accurately hit a target without taking time to aim. They allow the shooter to "Shoot-from-the-Hip" so to speak. They are most commonly used on handguns but can also be used on rifles, shotguns and tactical firearms.

A laser sight can mount to the firearm in one of many different ways. These include:

• Trigger guard
• Rail Mount
• Laser Grip
• Barrel Clamp
• Internal (recoil-spring guide)
  

Trigger guard laser sights mount to the front end of the trigger guard of a hand gun. The advantage of the trigger guard mount is that they tend to be universal and less expensive than other laser sights. That is, trigger guard mounts can adapt your laser sight to most handguns. The disadvantage of a trigger guard laser sight is that they can more easily be knocked out of alignment. This is critical in a self-defense situation.

Rail Mount laser sights mount to a rail on your firearm. The rail can either be a built-in rail or an added Picatinny or Weaver rail. Many handgun manufacturers build a rail into the firearm. This can be seen as a horizontal groove on either side of the firearm in front of the trigger guard. It is important to note that these rails are not standardized so the specifications must be matched prior to purchasing the laser sight. Several adapters are available to match various manufacturer specifications. Adapters can also be used to mount additional accessories; for example, an L rail or a tri-rail.

Laser Grips, often noted as LaserGrips, mount the laser in the grip of the firearm. They are most commonly used for handguns but can also be used in the fore pistol grip of a tactical weapon. The advantage of a lasergrip is that they add minimal bulk and generally do not interfere with the use of a holster. Activation of laser grips is also usually instinctive in that often, simply squeezing the lasergrip will activate the laser.

Barrel mount laser sights clamp on the barrel of your firearm. They are typically used for revolvers, rifles, and shot guns. A barrel mount will not work on an auto handgun. The barrel mount uses a clamp on the barrel of the firearm to mount the laser sight. The site is then activated by a remote switch that is connected to the sight with a cord. When choosing a barrel mount laser sight, it is important to know the outside diameter of the barrel.

Internal laser sights replace the internal spring guide on auto handguns. The advantage is that they are totally internal and cannot be knocked out of alignment. They also don't add any additional bulk to the firearm and don't interfere with the holster. Unfortunately, not all internal laser sights can be adjusted for elevation and windage so they're often used as center-of-mass shooting.

For basics on using your handgun, please visit our latest article; Ready-Aim-Fire!

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