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LaserMax Internal Handgun Laser Sights
LaserMax, Inc.
3495 Winton Place
Bldg. B
Rochester, NY 14623
585-272-5420 (Voice)
585.272.5427 (FAX)
All of my usual readers will know that I am a strong advocate of the need to avoid physical confrontation unless there is no other alternative. The proper use of Command Presence - combined with the employment of common sense - plus the ability to look at the reality of the situation, will diffuse most situations without the need to ever employ a baton, mace, or a firearm.
I also know - from close personal experience - that the need for such force may someday come when you encounter an individual who is beyond reason due to drugs, alcohol, or simply that they have given themselves willingly over to the forces of darkness. There are such people out there. One of them killed my cousin, a fantastic Chief of Police.
I have always been a firm believer that as either a Law Enforcement/Security Professional or a Concealed Firearm Permit Holder, if you get to the point where you are in a gunfight you MUST give yourself every advantage.
I know that if I end up in a gunfight, I will have done the right things, in the right order, in the time leading up to the gunfight, to
Avoid It If Possible - If It Is Now A Gunfight, It's Because I Could Not Find A Way To Avoid It - Use Common Sense!
Make Sure That I Am On The Right Side Of That Fight
Make Sure That I Will Win
Giving yourself every advantage includes equipping yourself - through practice, training, and mental discipline - with the appropriate mindset. You need to be confident that "I Will Win This Fight".
Giving yourself every advantage also includes getting the appropriate training, practice, and tools - and the application of those items. If you fail to apply your training or carry your tools, they didn't do you much good! You are setting yourself up for failure, which in a gunfight consists of a coffin and a funeral.
I also believe in having better tools than my likely opponents. The average gang-banger isn't a very good shot. They take the "spray-and-pray" approach to their shooting - usually BUT NOT ALWAYS while running in the opposite direction. They tend to carry 9mm with ball ammunition. They usually hold them improperly, a thing for which those of us in the industry thank Hollywood on a daily basis!
I carry a GLOCK 21, a highly-reliable and easy-to-employ firearm with a proven record. It's chambered in .45ACP - a cartridge with a proven stopping record. It is equipped with Trijicon Night Sights - again giving me EVERY advantage. I carry CorBon +P hollowpoint ammunition. I wear level 3A body armor every day when on duty. I practice with this firearm no less than every two weeks, with the same type of ammunition I carry on duty.
I have often been asked about the benefits of lasers. I refer to them as targeting assist lasers or as Projected Sighting Assist Devices. In training, I have found that there are a lot of misconceptions about targeting assist lasers among the public and even among LEO's. I want to dispel a few of these right now.
Let me start by saying that NO laser is 100% accurate. I know that the Terminator had a laser on one of the guns he stole at the beginning of the first Terminator movie, and that the bullet hit right were the laser was. This is NOT what normally happens in real life. That was a movie.
In real life, the bullet comes out of the barrel and starts to drop due to gravity. You also have the effects of wind, and the differences in ammunition to take into account. No laser I have seen can compensate for this.
It would be really neat if there were, but it would be horribly expensive requiring some sort of pivots and motors for the laser as well as a target distance calculator and detailed programming relating to the performance of the SPECIFIC ammunition carried AND detailed analysis of the present atmospheric conditions. I don't think current technology is up to this level.
Let's take it a step further and imagine that the trajectory is totally 100% flat for an infinite distance. In order for the laser to be "right on" along the entire trajectory - given a theoretical 100% flat trajectory - it would have to be emitted from the bullet itself. It would literally have to come out of the same hole as the bullet, essentially some sort of hollowpoint with a built-in laser. I'm sure that even if this were practical and affordable, some ACLU lawyer would find a way to file a lawsuit over that as it would give anyone carrying it an "unfair advantage".
Given that this is neither possible nor practical, let's look at real-world targeting assist lasers. The BEST that you can hope for is to have the laser mounted as close to the bore as possible, right above or below it is ideal as it minimizes the windage differential, and is as close to the path of the bullet as practical. This is the only way to assure that the laser beam is as close as possible to the path of the bullet over as long a distance as possible.
Most lasers are designed to attach to built-in rails such as those on the GLOCK like the M6 tactical illuminator from Streamlight, or are mounted using some sort of bracket off of the front of the trigger guard. When properly sighted, the convergence point between the laser and the bullet impact will be very close at only one specific distance. The greater the difference - either closer or further - from that ideal setpoint, the further the impact of the bullet will be from the laser dot.
What you will discover in reality is that most lasers are "good enough for government work". The bullet will hit within 2 to 4 to 6 inches of the laser at reasonable distances - say out to 25 yards. They are mostly recommended for close-in work. The idea of a laser is NOT to win target shooting competitions. The laser is there to help you get the quick shot if necessary when the time needed to get a proper sight picture is denied to you - or it will help you get your firearm on-target until you can get a proper sight picture. If you are close to the target and have to fire before you can get a good sight picture - as long as you have the laser previously sighted in and adjusted if applicable - you should be safe if you place the dot center-mass before firing.
Here are some key points to remember on lasers...
No Laser Is 100% Accurate. They do not hit 100% exactly where the dot is.
A Well Sighted Laser Should Allow The Bullet To Hit Within At Least 4 Inches Of The Laser Dot At Reasonable Distances.
In order to get the highest accuracy, you want a laser that is positioned as close as possible to the barrel.
This is the best you can hope for until "laser hollowpoints" are available.
You want a laser with minimal external flotsam.
I am sure you have all seen the lasers with the wire glued to the frame running back to a pressure-pad on or near the grip. While this is not a big issue on a long gun - I consider it a big issue on the limited real estate available on a pistol. External flotsam also has an impact on the type of holster you can use.
Use The Laser Until You Can Get A Proper Sight Picture.
Never consider a laser to be the end-all/be-all of your sight picture during the event. The laser is an assistive device to help you until you get that proper sight picture - or as a backup in situations where you are unable to get or hold a proper sight picture.
Some people talk of the intimidation factor of a laser causing a perp to give up. While I have heard anecdotal evidence to support this, don't count on it. Always be prepared. It isn't a blaster or a lightsaber. It doesn't make a humming sound or a swooshing noise like you hear in the Predator movies.
There are a number of reasons to add a laser besides combat. Used under dry-fire conditions with no ammunition present, a laser gives you a good way to see how well you can hold your firearm on target. It can let you see movement when you are pulling the trigger and help you to analyze your shot process. It can show you little errors and movements that you are not aware of. Once you become aware of them, you can work to resolve them. It is a great training/teaching tool.
Lasers - again used with no ammunition present - can also help you to see what you may be doing wrong when working with a building entry team, or even when practicing your drawstroke. If the laser hit it, you covered it. Did you want to? No? It can be a great diagnostic tool to help improve your technique. Pay attention to it.
When I started my serious evaluation of targeting lasers for pistols, I looked at a number of options. The LaserGrips from Crimson Trace of Oregon are a good product for the pistols they are available for, but in some cases they limit the type of grip you can use. They are also not available for GLOCKs because they don't have removable grip panels. Their GLOCK product must be factory installed and has external wiring. Not ideal in my book.
The M-6 Tactical Illuminator from InsightLights is a good choice, but you need to keep in mind that the laser is quite some distance from the barrel, making that critical focus point more sensitive. It adds the benefit of a visible light - something critical in low-light situations. Remember that you need to IDENTIFY the target. I will be looking at weapon-mounted lights in the near future - another tool to give you every advantage.
After two years of testing and evaluation, the lasers I have elected to recommend to our readers for use on semi-automatic handguns are the LaserMax Internal Pistol Lasers. They offer a complete series of internally-mounted targeting lasers which require NO permanent modification on most semiautomatic handguns - including every model of GLOCK. They are easy to install, highly reliable, and more than sufficiently accurate.
The LaserMax lasers replace the guide rod and recoil spring just below the barrel. This is about as close as you can get it to the flight path of the bullet. It isn't practical or possible to get any closer. This is as good as it gets.
The LaserMax lasers we tested included units for the GLOCK 17/22/31, GLOCK 21, and GLOCK 30. They have now changed ALL of their GLOCK-model lasers to use the same installation method as the unit for the GLOCK 30. This is a good thing.
When you get the package, you will have the laser/guide rod with captive recoil spring, a battery cap, a set of batteries, and a new slide lock lever and slide lock lever spring. This is a really neat mechanism, and is very easy to install without making any permanent modifications to your firearm. A complete instruction manual is also included. It is important to note that until recently, their units for GLOCK pistols other than the Model 30 had a non-captive recoil spring. The new units are far easier to work with.
The only "modification" required to install the LaserMax lasers in a GLOCK is to replace the slide lock lever and slide lock lever spring with a new one. As a Certified GLOCK Armorer, I can tell you the process will take only a few seconds - and after two years and thousands of rounds of testing and use in qualification shoots and target practice - is in no way detrimental to the function of the GLOCK pistols. It will take a matter of a minute to restore everything back to factory original.
The differences between the factory Slide Stop Lever and the LaserMax Take Down Lever can be seen here. The LaserMax unit is on the right and bottom, respectively. Note that it is a bit longer.
The included Slide Lock Spring also features a couple of ridges which create a detent. The new Slide Lock Lever hits these detents when it is moved.
The Factory Spring Is On The left. The LaserMax Spring Is On The Right.
The basics of installing one of the LaserMax units into your GLOCK is as follows...
Unload And Clear The Firearm
Remove The Slide Following The Standard Basic Takedown Procedure
While Pressing Down On The Slide Lock Lever Spring Using The Included Installation Tool [a small pin punch], Slide Out The Existing Slide Lock Lever
Use The Installation Tool To Gently Pry Out The Existing Slide Lock Lever Spring Out. NOTE WHERE AND HOW IT WAS INSTALLED AND RETAIN IT IN CASE YOU OPT TO REMOVE THE LASERMAX LASER IN THE FUTURE.
Reversing The Last Procedure, Install The New Slide Lock Lever Spring. Apply Pressure At The Part To The Barrel End To Seat It.
While Gently Pushing Down On The Back End Of The New Slide Lock Lever Spring, Install The New Slide Lock Lever.
You have now installed the activation switch for your LaserMax laser.
The method of function for this switch is that the laser is off when this lever is centered as in the above photo. If you press in on either the right or left side of the lever, the laser will turn on. The detent in the new spring you put in will hold the switch in place when pressed in.
Simply re-center the switch by pressing in on the opposite side to re-center it. It is clear to see when it is centered or when it is in the ON position.
The rest of the installation procedure is even easier.
Battery Installation:
Install The Pre-Packaged Set Of Four Batteries Into The New Laser/Guide Rod Assembly Observing Correct Polarity.
Yes Virginia, you can use 4 separate batteries as well, available almost anywhere. The 17 and 21 models use 392 watch batteries. The GLOCK 30 model uses 319 batteries. If you get them from LaserMax, they come pre-wrapped to drop right in.
Install The Battery Cap By Sliding It Over The Unit. Make Sure That The Barrel Indicators Face The Same Direction.
Now for the easiest part.
Drop It Into The Slide In Place Of The Original Guide Rode/Recoil Spring Assembly.
Make sure that the BARREL indicator is toward the barrel. This will assure the proper alignment of the unit.
The Laser May Activate When You Have It Inserted Before Placing The Slide Back Onto The Frame. This Is Normal. It Will Turn Off When The Gun Is Put Back Together.
Re-Attach The Slide To The Frame And Cycle The Action A Few Times. If You Have To Force It - STOP AND CHECK - Something Is Not Inserted All The Way.
With the firearm cocked but not loaded, check the function of the activation switch and become familiar with it. You will find that it is even easier to activate with a round in the chamber as that relieves a little of the pressure on the slide lock lever.
Do not test this way until on the firing range.
Lever Centered
Lever Pressed In From Right Side
Lever Pressed In From Left Side. It Is Protruding On The Right.
We tested three units, the LMS-1141 for the GLOCK 17/22/31, the LMS 1131 for the GLOCK 21, and the LMS-1151 for the GLOCK 30.
The LMS-1141 and the LMS-1151 were both surprisingly accurate. In fact, I was very impressed with both of them to distances of 25 yards. The shot hit easily within 2 inches - just slightly higher and to the right - of the LaserMax dot.
The LMS-1131 was a bit off from the factory. I called and made arrangements to have it sighted in at the factory. This required sending both the firearm and laser to the factory. They made some adjustments, fired, adjusted again, fired, expoxied everything back in the laser, and returned it. It took a couple of weeks, but was worth it - and it was free.
Unlike most laser units, the LaserMax lasers emit a PULSING red beam. It flashes VERY rapidly. It is designed to attract your eye - and it really does. It features the maximum legal output. It can be seen in bright daylight to a limited point, but it really shines when the sun goes down. We wanted to include a video file of the beam, but can't find a camera that can deal with it enough to get a usable image.
Comparing the LaserMax Lasers to an Alpec ACCURIZER laser placed in the chamber of the firearm shows that the LaserMax units tend to be just slightly low and to the left of the bore. In firing at the range I found that to be roughly accurate. The shots generally hit within just an inch or two (or less) higher and to the right at 20 yards than where the LaserMax dot is visible. Interestingly, the placement of the laser dot center-mass will make something closer to a heart shot.
If you are aiming center-mass, this is certainly good enough. With enough practice you can get to where you can compensate and place the shot exactly. The factory-quoted accuracy is 2" or 3" at 20 yards depending on the particular model. This is certainly adequate on a human-sized target with center-mass targeting.
The only "malfunction" I ever noted with the LaserMax units is that it is possible for them to turn on by themselves while in the process of firing. This is due to the recoil being enough to move the take down lever a bit to the right or left during firing - just enough to turn the unit on. I don't really look at that as a drawback, but it is something that you might want to be aware of. It has happened to me at least once on each trip to the range, but it isn't a big deal.
The LaserMax lasers do require a bit of care when cleaning your firearm. The front lens will get a bit dirty when firing. It is directly below the muzzle, so this is normal. Alcohol and a cotton swab are recommended for cleaning this area. The units are sealed to prevent damage from normal cleaning products, but immersion is NOT a good idea.
The other cleaning issue is to make sure that there is no excess oil on the brass "dot" on the back of the battery cap. This needs to have no impediments to conductivity as this is what turns it on. Make sure that this area is free of excess lubricants.
I tested the LaserMax lasers in my duty firearm (GLOCK 21) and my CCW firearm (GLOCK 30) for two years of daily carry and frequent use on the range. I tested the laser every morning, and fired thousands of rounds through each gun with the units installed. I replaced the batteries once each year.
The LaserMax lasers proved to be durable, and I found them to have no adverse impact on the recoil, function, or accuracy of the firearms. I qualified with scores of 95.2 % two years ago and 96% on my last test with the laser installed but NOT used.
Now that they use a captive recoil spring on all models for GLOCK pistols, they are all just as easy to install and remove as the model for the GLOCK 30. They add NO external flotsam to the pistol, and therefore will work in ANY holster. That is a very good thing.
I did find one side effect of installing the LaserMax laser when the grip frame is to be used with a Mech-Tech Carbine Conversion Unit. The special slide lock lever makes it a bit more difficult to remove the grip frame from the CCU. It required a bit more pressure applied to the process when compared to the factory take down lever, but it is not bad. Just be aware of this if you ever have to try it.
When it comes to giving yourself EVERY advantage, a laser is just a piece of the puzzle. It will NOT replace training, sight alignment, or responsibility. It WILL give you additional capabilities when needing to take a quick shot and the ability to use your sights is denied to you - due to injury, body position, gas mask or armor, drawstroke necessity, or time constraints.
I really like them for weapon-retention drills. If you can get the dot on the guy you are fighting, you have a good shot.
Do I consider it to be accurate enough for HRT-type work where you may have to take a head-shot to a person next-to and behind behind a hostage? Not by itself without a LOT of practice with your specific carry-ammo.
It is a excellent tool for enhancing your ability to get on target in difficult drawstroke situations, from behind concealment/cover, or when you have to move fast. The LaserMax pulsing beam is especially useful when wearing a gas mask or other items that may hinder your ability to clearly see the sights. As long as you can see the target and the laser, and you put the laser center-mass, you are good to go at traditional CQB distances.
Again, do not expect the bullet to appear right where the dot appears. I have never seen a product THAT good for a handgun.
LaserMax lasers offer all of the advantages with no real drawbacks. They are the most accurate lasers I have found for use with handguns, and they are very easy to install. You owe it to yourself, your family, and anyone else you may have a responsibility to protect to add one to your toolkit.
-- James Bell, Jr. - JeepGunner.com
NOTE: LaserMax is prepared to help LEO's gain acceptance for these products in their departments. Please don't carry unauthorized tools-of-the-trade. If your department doesn't permit them, give LaserMax a call. There is NO reason to deny them. They are a valuable tool.