Shooting from the Hip

We all know what it means when someone says “get a grip,” but what about if they say “get a laser grip”? Well, it might mean that you’re having some issues with your aim. Or they’re just sharing a shooting secret  with you.

For those not familiar with laser grips, it’s a simple device that goes on your gun handle and replaces your factory grip. When you turn on the activation button, the grip emits a red laser beam that will help your aim and fire time. The light is typically positioned on the right panel of the gun handle. Generally, grips are made out of compact rubber or a plastic polymer material.

Laser grips give you numerous benefits, especially if you’re just in training. It will also help you pinpoint a fast-moving target even in a low-light situation. And if you’re shooting from a strange angle, you’ll have a better chance of hitting your target with a laser grip.

There also lasers called laser sights that are placed on the top or near the barrel of the gun. Some people prefer grips over sights because they can still easily holster their gun when using the grip. When you install a laser sight on your handgun, you might have to buy a new holster specifically for laser sights.

Selling lasers systems since 1994, Crimson Trace is the most recognized name in laser grips. The grips are said to be able to approximate the point of impact at 50 feet away.

Jason Masterson, an Army veteran with more than 20 years of experience, tells us all about Crimson Trace laser grips in the video below. Most noteworthy is that the grips can be installed in seconds and have a three-year warranty. The two 2032 lithium batteries that come with the grip boast four hours of use time and have a shelf life of five years.

While four hours doesn’t seem like that long, Masterson reassures that you’ll only have the laser on for a second or two at a time. He also points out that Crimson Trace lasers tout a momentary pressure switch incorporated into the handle that can be switched on without taking your eyes off the target.

And wasn’t Masterson’s rendition of the song “Crimson and Clover” simply breathtaking?

Here’s some laser grip action at nighttime. Be sure to turn down your volume on this one since there’s a really irritating high-pitch noise throughout the video.

It’s OK to be the gun nut in the family. What’s not OK is letting your loved ones sit around and guess what type of gun accessory they should pick up as your just-right holiday prize. To avoid further seasonal shopping stress, forward along this post to your gift-buying committee.

Dirty Bird™ Multi-Color Splattering Targets Animal Pack
Targets can be a great (and cheap!) gift. And since it’s not really humane to provide a moving/living one, these “real beast” targets ($12.99) made of NRA animal shapes like chickens, boars and turkeys will certainly make a splash at the shooting range — literally. When a target is hit, the color associated with each animal shape will explode creating a ring around each bullet hole. Animal shapes not exciting enough? Try these zombie targets ($5) then.

Flashlight Filter
Cheery colored filters in red and green are the choice tools when deceiving animals who are unable to see colored lights. That way, when you’re out in the forest at night, you won’t scare away any easy targets by spilling white light all about. For Blackhawk’s Legacy X6 flashlight ($69.99), you can pick up a filter for about $10 in red, green or blue.

Bullet Pen
With a catchphrase “make words not war,” it’s easy to love this seemingly dangerous writing utensil. The brass pen ($5-$25), said to allow you the ability to even write upside down if need be, fits inside of a .375 H&H Magnum shell for easy storage.

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