The People of the Gun are split on the issue of pistol-mounted lasers. Some gun owners—especially those whose eyesight has gone south—consider them a godsend. Point and shoot? What’s not to love? As laser manufacturers point out, lasers are also excellent for non-traditional shooting stances (i.e. when you’re flat on your ass). I love them for trigger control training. Other POG folk consider pistol-mounted lasers a dangerous distraction. They reckon a laser sighting system could fail when you need it most and reduce marksmanship under pressure (follow the bouncing ball). Yes, there is that. Pressure. Stress. Can a shooter hopped-up on adrenalin using a LaserLyte CM-MK4 identify an array of eight dots to find the center dot while moving? I’ll contact LaserLyte to see if we can arrange a Simunition simulation. Hey, what could possibly go wrong? [Press release after the jump] . . .
Cottonwood, AZ –LaserLyte®, innovators in firearms laser technologies, is rolling out the first Center Mass™ Laser for handguns and any firearm with a 1-inch minimum Picatinny rail space. The innovative laser system displays a ring of red laser dots surrounding the center aiming laser for quicker target acquisition and more shots on target.
The CM-MK4 projects a ring of 8 red laser dots with one red laser dot in the center as the aiming laser. The circle grows at one-inch per yard, approximately the same configuration as a shotgun aimed at a moving target. The red laser circular pattern gives the user the advantage of a wide field-of-view while using both eyes for aiming.
The Laserlyte® CM-MK4 allows new shooters the advantage of building muscle reflex skills through learning the sight pattern for their specific firearm. For personal defense firearms, the laser circumvents the user from taking precious time aiming with sights when all the user has to do is position the center aiming laser to on the target. For target shooters with vision discrepancies, the CM-MK4 will bring back the fun in target shooting with more successful hits.
The LaserLyte® Center Mass™ Laser is the perfect training aid, personal defense accessory or just plain fun laser for faster, more accurate hits. For more information, visit www.laserlyte.com.
LaserLyte® CM-MK4 Specifications:
Compatible Firearms: Handguns and firearms with a minimum of a 1-inch rail
Laser Module: 635nm
Laser Modes: Constant On, Pulse, Auto-off
Batteries: 3 x 357 silver oxide batteries
Battery Life: 2.5 hours constant on (actual usage), 5 hours pulse (actual usage)
Weight: 0.50 ounces/15 gr
Material: 6061 T6 aluminum/glass filled nylon
Length: 1.10 inches/28.03 mm
Width: 1.10 inches/27.99 mm
Height: 0.93 inches/23.60 mm
MSRP: $164.95
Too many dots.
Maybe if the center dot was a different color…maybe
Pshaw. I’ll tell you what’s wrong with that picture… some poor fellow attached a turd to that laser!
Nah, the “Predator” one from Beamshot is cooler hahaha http://www.everydaynodaysoff.com/2011/07/03/beamshot-three-beam-predator-style-laser-sight/
I think that would work better. fewer dots to identify, same general effect.
I’m 65. I see no issue with it. Go ahead, punk. SHOOT ME DOWN.
So, when the shotgun pattern of red dots centers the target you fire? In a high stress situation that might be quicker and easier than a single dot.
That’s sorta what I was thinking. I figure the multiple laser dots would increase your chances of spotting a dot and at normal self-defense ranges (3 to 5 yards IIRC), if the center dot is zeroed to POI, putting any of the dots center mass should provide a good hit. I do agree that making the center laser a different color would help aiming (maybe do the outer ring in green and the center dot in blue).
If you’re that close do you really need a laser, though? Point shooting would seem more appropriate. Hell, a snub with an XS big dot front sight would do the job.
So it will be just like playing a first person shooter? Ya know with the magical crosshair that floats in front of your face
I saw this presented on one of the gun shows on tv (maybe guns & ammo?) where they used it on a shotgun (which made a lot of sense) and a pistol (which was just ridiculous).
On the shotgun the circle corresponded to pattern spread, making for fast, accurate shots at unknown distances. Less worry over “Will all the projectiles fit in the given target?” [Of course, it’s only useful if your chosen load(s) match up with the Laser’s spread pattern. Be nice if you could calibrate it.]
maybe a circle not an array of dots. I like lasers. They can be hard to see depending on the surface though, so they do not help my squinty eyes that much. Safety tip: do not point at an airplane. You can get $1000 fine, along with a whole battalion of DHS SWAT at your door. Don’t ask me how i know (or how they know where to find you).
In no way do I mean to disparage lasers generally, but eight dots seems cluttered.
I don’t even like dots on my rear sight, I blacked those two out so I only have to worry about the one dot on my front sight.
Kind of like the EOtech reticule.
Just start squeezing when the target is in the ring.
I kind of like it. The idea of it anyway.
What’s wrong with this picture:
That M&P has a manual safety.
Distaste aside, maybe it’d be useful with those pistol shotshells CCI puts out? (I couldn’t make it through that sentence without laughing either.)
“What’s wrong with this picture:
That M&P has a manual safety.”
That’s the Best thing about that picture. If I could actually find one of those I might consider buying one.
Are you kidding? I’m drooling over the grip color scheme.
What I would like to see is a CT flashlight/laser in one. If done right, the laser should always be in the light beam and could very handy.
I can’t see the point of the extra dots. They’ll be totally confusing to our laser-guided bullets. But then again, I despise lasers, even if they only have one dot.
Idiotic Firearm Device Of The Day
Interesting.
I’ve got a novel idea though. Why not just reduce the possibility of confusion and have one dot?
Weird concept, I know, but it might be worth a shot.
So a target 18 feet away, the entire circle is still only 6 inches across. That seems reasonable for a self-defense scenario. Still, I’d rather have one dot that’s 9 times as bright and/or 9 times as big.
I would have made it into a cross, as in crosshairs.
I’ve got weird feelings about lasers. Like a lot of things, there are always some set of circumstances where they make sense. In general, I prefer a night sight and colored sight paint.
Cons:
This laser system has too many dots. I’d be worried about finding “the right one” in a fast high stress situation, particularly if there are objects they could fall on at different distances between me and the target. It’s easy to tell a ring if it’s against a flat object or wall at a fixed distance, but when parts fall at different distances on different objects, good luck.
In general I feel lasers require you to rely on “finding a dot” somewhere downrange rather than “finding your front sight” which is a few inches in front of your hand.
I don’t buy the eyesight argument. If you are nearsighted then your front sight will be easier to see and the dot will be a blur. If you’re farsighted… maybe, but the distance to the end of your arm is usually one that you can see ok.
Lasers also can alert the target to your presence.
Pros:
Use of lasers for trigger training via, “pull the trigger and look at how much the dot twitches across the room” is a great use. The distance can magnify your “twitch” and the direction of the twitch can help you diagnose your trigger control without having to spend ammo.
If you need to shoot looking around the side of a cover object with your gun around another side, lasers could be useful.
Just Make It A Bullseye And Be Done With It.
trigger control? HA! That’s exactly what I’ve been using my laser for on this short ass barreled little sub-compact. Thanks for the reminder to practice without it as well. you know, crutch and all….
At age 65 I can not have the target and sights in focus. (I hate getting older.) Anyway, I would prefer to find one dot, not trying to figure out which one of nine I’m looking at. Yes, I have a laser on my carry gun, and I practice more with it off, than with it on. It’s also good for aiming practice when shooting from the hip, or off hand without having to use ammo.
Why not a ring with a dot in the center?
I think someone needs to do a test. The large circle allows you to easily get on target, and the middle dot gives you a precise point of aim. Very helpful with moving targets, Allows faster target acquisition than a single laser.
Reminds me of the time my youngest had the measles, and big sister decided to play connect the dots with a magic marker. I see what they’re trying to do, but it’s a good idea executed badly. (fwiw I’m 60).
Dumb question time: How is this activated? It doesn’t look like there is any grip mounted switch, and I wouldn’t want to add an extra step to getting my carry gun ready to fire.
On a side note, would it be possible to design a holster that activated the laser sight on the draw?
If you have pets, you’ll end up shooting them as they go for the dot on the BG’s chest.