For those of you that don't speak Radio Brevity, "Sparkle" is a brevity code for when a target has the appropriate laser target designator applied to it for the sake of providing terminal guidance to "smart" ordnance.
OBVIOUSLY we're not going to have helo's or fast movers on the radio dropping TGO at our beck and call here in the States when someone tries to break into our house or starts shooting in some crowded place... and if we did it probably wouldn't be the best solution to our problem anyway...
But a laser, particularly a visible laser, can be of particular use to our cause.
The thing with a laser is it was never meant to be a primary sighting system... Thank Hollyweird for that theory... but as a secondary or tertiary (think having optics) it does very well.
First off, throw that "He'll see the dot and surrender" crap out the window. Can it happen? Sure it can. And if there's a chance it can happen, then it's a plus but when you look at actual case studies the one's who surrender are the one's who are not very hardened criminals anyway... NEVER EVER EVER EVER train for the "average fight" or anything less than a former Tier One operator gone rogue and turned to crime. Because if you can deal with the worst type of human threat imaginable, then I'm pretty sure you can more than amply deal with the "average." However, there is a chance that dot could mean you don't have to shoot anyone today... And that makes it a good day.
The true biggest advantage of a laser is it can be used when you can't see your sights... Now... If you're some NRA Safety Rule jockey who's going to bitch about "if you can't see your sights you shouldn't shoot" you really have no fucking clue how an actual fight works and I very strongly suggest you learn the difference between a square-range and a two-way range... This shit isn't a game, there is no Safety Officer on deck, and the bad guys don't play by the rules...
Now hear me out here... I'm not just aimlessly ranting (like usual) on this one...
Anyone who researches violent crime resulting in civilian or LEO shootings can see pretty quickly that most gunfights occur within how many feet?
21?
Sure... But most happen even closer than that...
15?
Keep coming in...
10?
Closer...
Try 6.
At what range do a lot of civilians lose to the criminal?
Contact-Distance... I.E. "Fisticuffs" range.
Why?
Because so fucking many civilians buy a gun and think "Well, I have a gun I don't need hand to hand or a knife..." and they get so wrapped up in this "Don't shoot until you see your sights" and were NEVER introduced to shooting from a retention position because it's supposedly unsafe... I do it all the time at the range and unless you're shooting steel targets you're probably gonna be OK unless you're a total idiot.
This is one instance where the laser shines... Pun very much intended...
When shooting in retention, the irons or RDS on the slide are not visible at all... That bright red or green dot on Mr. Felon's torso is pretty visible. Dot on chest/belly, give the trigger hell enough times and they'll probably cease their negative behaviors.
Rewind a little bit to talking about the effect of the dot on a target's psyche....
New context...
Aurora, CO theater shooting.
Old boy busts in and starts shooting.
You gave the big "FUCK YOU" to the "No Guns Allowed" sign. (This is illegal. Big Boy/Girl Rules apply and I'm in no way telling you to break the law... Get arrested and it's on you, not me, and consider this your warning and reading further that you release me and my crew from any and all liability when you get arrested.)
You draw to shoot him.
Mob mentality or worse another guy/gal with a piece draws a bead on you...
The plus, and a negative, of the viz laser is it points both ways...
In this instance, that's a positive as you have positively identified to all others around you that your muzzle is oriented on the guy up front with the weapon and not Joe Schmo running for cover.
The downside... you just put a target indicator out for you as, again, lasers point both ways, and he can see your position and will more likely than not fire on you directly now.
However, while the strategic advantage in this instance goes to the fellow with the laser, it can go the other way... Let's look at home defense against multiple home invaders.
Make no mistake, gangs pull home invasions all the time. Usually they hit rival gang members but sometimes they target people's houses they know have stuff they want (Still think open carry's a good idea after reading that???) in the house... Or how about a simple mistaking your house for old boy slangin' dope across the street...
They bust in while you're in another room... You point in and hit the laser... Now you have multiple armed thugs knowing EXACTLY where you are.
So, let's look at a couple laser myths...
"You have a laser so you don't need to worry about your irons."
Understand that lasers have a mechanical offset (like many rifles at close range) and as such can only be counted on for a surgical shot (think your child is being held in a hostage position by one of those home invaders earlier...) at the range it's zeroed to. It's a bit easier, for me and most people I know at least, to deal with offset issues with irons or better yet an RMR or the like AND cowitnessed irons.
"You don't need to know how to point shoot anymore.... That's what the laser's for."
The technique is still valid, as if you have to "hunt" for that laser dot, you'll be slow as molasses in the wintertime trying to find that dot and get your shots off. Plus, in a close-range encounter it may just be faster and more efficient to point in as best you can and hammer them. The laser just gives a better visual reference to the "metal on meat" concept.
Now some truths.
Yes.
Laser equipped firearms are better for dry-fire work. They give you a better reference of exactly how the weapon behaves in your grip and through the course of the trigger stroke.
Yes.
Laser sights allow you to shoot in awkward positions where referencing irons is difficult or impossible (i.e. retention, shield, over/under/around cover, etc.)
Yes.
Laser sights can be a good EOF (Escalation Of Force) tool.
Yes.
The viz laser can be used to mark a hiding area of a bad guy for a team mate.
No.
The laser dot doesn't make all bad guys cower and surrender.
No.
The laser doesn't replace your irons and certainly not a red dot optic on your pistol.
Yes.
The laser usually works when you throw a can on the gun.
Yes.
The laser works at night whether you have night sights or not.
No.
The laser doesn't always work with a weapon mounted light... Many are bright enough to wash the laser dot out.
So... "K, you're talking pretty positive of them. I think I'll try one. Which do you recommend?"
On a pistol, there's Crimson Trace LaserGrips and then there's everything else... I'm REALLY liking the idea of Laser Devices new DBAL-PL which consists of visible and IR illuminators and lasers. If you just have to have a light/laser on the rail and have no need for the IR stuff... Surefire X400 Ultra, Streamlight TLR-2 and TLR-2HL, Insight M6X.
On a rifle, the X400U and TLR-2HL kill two birds with one stone... So does the Laser Devices EOLAD (which slaves a viz or IR laser to an EOTech). Personally, I would want a DBAL on a rifle to give me IR capability as well, but if you don't, the diminutive LaserMax UniMax (green preferred) works well as does the RailMaster (I THINK) and the integrated light/laser/VFG, both from Crimson Trace.
For your pistol, I can't recommend LaserGrips enough. I had them on a Glock 22 and on the 1911 I used to have. They worked for their intended purpose very well, added no weight, didn't screw with my holster fit, I could mount whatever on the Glock's Universal Rail, and activated as soon as a I took a firing grip. Never tried them in the water, but the only negative I found was both units I had didn't have an on/off switch except for the pressure switch that activated when a good grip was achieved. Other than that... I had and have no complaints.
Train Hard.
Train Safe (but not so safe as to be combat ineffective).
Fight Dirty.
Stay Frosty
1* and WY6
-Kenny Smith
CMI and TFTG President