Ruger LCP .380 with laser sight.

[Adam Helmer]

One of my handgun students bought a Ruger LCP .380 with laser sight, two boxes of ammo and came with it to class. The instructions said the laser sight was zeroed for 50 feet. At 7 yards, the sight on the X ring of a silhouette target placed hits on the top of the left shoulder. The instructions for allen wrench adjustment were just BACKWARDS! Once I figured that out and went the other way, I got the red laser to point of aim/point of impact at 7 yards.

The LCP is definitely concealable, but the long trigger pull of the double action only (DAO) makes it difficult to get tight groups at seven yards for my student. We still have a lot of good shooting weather left, so my student will get it grooved.

Adam

[popplecop]

I've carried an LCP in warm weather ever since they came on the market. Within 10 yds. I have not had any problem keeping them in the kill zone, but then again I shoot mine once a month. Not a fan of laser sights on close combat handguns and at night muzzle blast will take of your night vision. Do have one I've shot on my 1911 in 38 Super and on my Springfield XD 45. Have used them at 25 yds.+, yet find myself going back to basics most of the time.

[Jack]

The easier a handgun is to hide, the harder it is to shoot accurately. At least, that's been my experience.
Short sight radii, minimal sights, small grips, combined with a long DA trigger pull = not a formula for great accuracy, IMO.

[Adam Helmer]

popplecop & Jack,

I agree with what you both said. At the gunshop, they had two, new, LCPs without the laser for $300 while the laser sight model was $425. I lobbied for the LCP without the laser, but the student was gung ho for the laser and bought it.

On the range, the student lingered while attempting to shoot at the target because he became too interested in the red dot on the target and how it bobbed about during the long trigger pull. A small defensive handgun should be a point and shot proposition in gravest extreme at close range rather than trying to hold the red dot still. At the next range session, I will coach him to shoot through the wobble. By that I mean, when the red dot is on the target-shoot.

Adam

[Rapier]

My son decided to buy his wife a laser sighted defense gun for the house. Son is gone alot. He started complaining to me about the Walther he bought so I went looking for him or her a better gun. Frankly what I found was a wide variety of POS and I looked from FL to OK. All of those itty-bitty laser wonders are miserable. It looks good, sounds good and works real bad. They put the sights on guns with 12 pound triggers and no way to fix the trigger system.

You would be way better off having a standard sighted gun with a decent trigger in the dark, than than those little DAO laser guns.

Now, due to years of experiance, I am not the norm, but I can hit a can top at 10 yards with my Kel-Tec, in the day light, and have no doubt a person can be trained up to shoot that little 380 well, night or day. Compared to the Hungarian 9x18 (aluminum frame) I have carried before, the Kel-Tec is a pussy cat to shoot.

Plus one for standard sights on a little belly gun.
Ed

[popplecop]

Have him try it without the laser for time and accuracy, then with it on. Wonder what the difference would be.

[FromBearCreek]

My wife carries an LCP with a laser and likes it, but it's too small for my gorilloid paws. I have a Walther PPK in .380 that I bought for hot weather shorts-and-t-shirt carry, as I can drop it in the cargo pocket of my big baggy shorts and it's not noticeable.

However, I'm doing that less and less. I can put my Glock 36 in a paddle holster and a big baggy shirt covers it nicely. It packs a lot more wallop than the Walther.

I like huge Hawaiian shirts in warm weather anyway. :D

[kt]

i really wish beginners would take some one with them when they go for a first gun. that being said, i have taken ppl who look around get a feel for a few guns and then dont take my advice. all they think about is how easy it hides and the price. i always say this is a gun you are counting on not a new bottle opener for your keychain. one range trip with me and they are off to buy something more dependable for man stopping. too many good options in 9, 40 and .38 to be packing that peanut with the 100lb trigger.