Crimson Trace daylight visibility?

[tomwalshco]

Think I'll snag one of these for my PM9. $50 rebate now which makes it a pretty good buy.

Anyone with feedback about how it shows in daylight conditions? I've seen where some recommend a green laser for high ambient light, but think Crimsons are all crimson....

[gagnejs8]

Tough to see during the bright sunlight even at short distances. I picked mine up just a couple weeks before the rebate offer (pretty pissed about that). But most likely the need for such a thing would be in low light/night situations.

[tomwalshco]

They make a green, but only put it in rail mounted fore-handles for assault rifles.

My price after rebate and free shipping is going to be $129. Not much more than a tank of gas and a couple packs of smokes really. LG-437.

Excellent practice tool anyway.

[gagnejs8]

You should be able to get them a little cheaper. I got mine for about $150 w/o a rebate.

[Willieboy]

I saw a young lad at the range a couple weeks ago with a laser on his gun. At seven yards, even in the bright sunlight, it was easy to see the laser dancing all over the target.

[JodyH]

My green Viridian C5L is clearly visible at 15 yards on a bright sunny day against pretty much all backgrounds.

[OldLincoln]

Then green must make a difference because my "visible at 1500'" laser pen disappears at 10' on a white background even if I start next to it and slowly back away watching it.

I do think it would be a help in dim or darker light for SD over sights, but if that's what you train for and need it for SD in daylight you may waste time looking for the red dot - not good.

[JodyH]

The green lasers are significantly brighter than the red.
My CT is pretty much worthless in sunlight, the Viridian is good to 15-20 yards depending on target color.

[gagnejs8]

Technically red and green are the same "brightness" Green is easier for the human eye to see because of the wavelength. They are both the same power output.

OK thats the nerd in me....

[JodyH]

Who cares?
One you can see at 15 yards, the other you can't.
Ok that's the realist in me...

[gagnejs8]

Both colors have advantages and disadvantages.....

[garyb]

Regardless of the color, the laser is simply another tool available to you. If it is too bright outside to see the laser, simply use your sights. If it is not bright enough to see your sights and you can see the laser, use your laser. The ability to use them both together (sights and laser) is their greatest advantage. Some folks like the laser, some don't. If you don't like it, return it. I happen to like my CTL alot, even with night sights. The night sights with the laser work well together. I find the CTL especially useful for dry fire practice and really assists with muscle memory point and shoot. You can use the CTL both WITH the sights and without. It is great indoors or in low light, rapid acquisition, point the dot and shoot situations. It is just another tool. Nothing is perfect.

[JodyH]

The tac light/laser combination advantage:
H&K P2000 with Trijicon NS and a Viridian C5L tac-light/laser, 9 out of 9 head shots at 25 yards with <1 sec. between each shot, in the dark.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/JodyHuggins/IMAG0008.jpg

I consider a tac-light/laser combination mandatory for a nightstand home-defense pistol.

[Bawanna]

I totally agree on the light for a nightstand gun. I'm researching the Viridian laser set up. Never heard of it which of course means nothing in the overall scheme of things.

They do seem big and bulky but on a nightstand gun that wouldn't hurt a thing.

[aray]

Technically red and green are the same "brightness" Green is easier for the human eye to see because of the wavelength. They are both the same power output.

OK thats the nerd in me....

Gosh I love geek speak! :nerd:

In addition folks should be aware that green lasers are inherently more dangerous even at the same power output than red lasers.

Although the official regulations (US 21 CFR 1040.10) treat all lasers the same regardless of wavelength, that's not what happens in the eye.

In the visible spectrum the retina has the lowest absorption and the lowest heating in the red wavelengths. (That's why red might appear dimmer at the same power level than green.) The retina has the highest absorption, highest heating, and the most damage in the green and blue wavelengths.

I'd never point any laser in my eye, but in certain colors your eye can be damaged faster than you can even blink - milliseconds. Please be careful out there...

[Bawanna]

So when my chief always tells me hes afraid I would shoot myself in the eye whenever I request to carry my gun on my hip like a man at work he must be thinking green/blue laser.
I've made this request twice annually for 13 years now with no success but I still try.
The PM45 on the ankle that he don't know about can be our little secret.

[JodyH]

I totally agree on the light for a nightstand gun. I'm researching the Viridian laser set up. Never heard of it which of course means nothing in the overall scheme of things.

They do seem big and bulky but on a nightstand gun that wouldn't hurt a thing.
Look at the Viridian C5L.
It's 3/4 the size of a Streamlight TLR-1 and has a green laser plus 100 lumen white LED light.
I was at the range this afternoon (bright sunny day) and could see the laser at 20 yards on a IDPA target.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p82/JodyHuggins/IMAG0002.jpg

[txmikenlisa1]

Cals Sporting Armory has the CT LG-437 laser guard for the PM series for $148 plus shipping. My total came to about $163. I got mine in 2 days after ordering online. With the $50 rebate it ends up costing me about $113 total.

[aray]

Never heard of the Viridian until your postings. Looks like a great combo! An integrated tac-light with laser does seem ideal for a bedside gun. Looks like you need a rail which leaves the Kahrs out, but it's great for other guns.

[Lobo_79]

I've seen where some recommend a green laser for high ambient light, but think Crimsons are all crimson....

Beyond being a big power consumer green lasers are more visible in day light. (Some of the newer green lasers are made with rechargeable batteries to help reduce this problem.) But green being more visible is also the bad news because it makes you - the source - really stand out. Green is highly visible throughout the path. Red has a lower probability of intercept because unless there is smoke or fog in your path the two ends of the dot are generally not connected. As you have discovered you do have a more limited distance with the red laser during bright, ambient lighting conditions...no free lunch there.

[JodyH]

But green being more visible is also the bad news because it makes you - the source - really stand out.
I would think the loud bang would be more of a source indicator than the green beam.
I don't use my pistol to intimidate.
Once the green beam is activated there's going to be about .5 seconds until the loud noise.