So you own a Crimson Trace LaserGrip. Cool!
Here’s how to make the most out of your new purchase.
SAFETY FIRST
1. ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
2. ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot.
3. ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.
TRAINING BASICS USING LASERGRIPS
Shooting, like many other disciplines, is best learned as a process.
By embedding proper physical skills through repetition and hands-on
practice, your students will become better at the process. Lasergrips
support this learning by providing immediate visual feedback on how
well the student is executing a given technique.
The conflict is this: learning the process is the ultimate goal, but
bullet placement on the target is how the student is evaluated.
It’s easy to focus on the result, holes in the target, instead of the
process that created them. Furthermore, these holes are often
created under the stressful environment of the firing range,
where students experience doubt, peer pressure and anxiety.
How does training with a laser help? Unlike simply observing the
student and looking at holes in a target to evaluate skill, the laser
vividly illustrates the complete picture of gun handling and
technique from start to finish. Think of the laser as showing the
coach and student a movie with all of the details filled in (process),
rather than just a snapshot (result… holes in the target). The most
important habits and behaviors of the shooter, from safety and
presenting the firearm, through shooting and following through after
firing a round, are visible, recordable and available as a teaching tool.
Use the laser with an empty gun to diagnose bad habits and impart
new, correct ones.
Probably the most significant training assistance Lasergrips provide
is diagnosing and correcting two critical skills: trigger control and
sight picture. If you come away with one thing, it’s that Lasergrips
will positively become your go-to tactic for diagnosing and correcting
trigger control and sight picture techniques. There’s simply no better
tool available.
TRIGGER CONTROL
Without question, one of the most critical techniques in achieving
consistent shooting results is proper trigger control. Although trainers
continue to repeat the words, “smooth, steady trigger press” over
and over, students often are confused about what is happening with
their trigger pull and why they may not be correcting poor technique.
Lasergrips are hands-down the fastest and most effective tool for
diagnosing and correcting trigger control issues.
The obvious advantage of using Lasergrips is that they put a visible
dot on the target that clearly shows students and trainers the impact
of every improper movement during the shooting process. It shows
students their errors in real time and allows them to self-correct.
Dry firing while holding the dot on the target is a very effective
technique. Once students have demonstrated that they can perform
dry fire drills with the laser staying steady, they are ready for live fire.
Firing with the laser, then firing with the laser off, will immediately
demonstrate whether a student has retained proper trigger control
technique. If the student regresses, unloading the gun and going
through further dry fire sessions and trigger control drills will reinforce
the right habits.
“I use a Lasergrip-equipped gun to demonstrate proper trigger control.
The laser dot provides instant feedback on gun movement before and during
trigger squeeze. In my last class a student improved her groups from 24”
to 4” after only a dozen dry practice cycles (less than 6 minutes).”
LEE ANDERSON, FIREARMS TRAINING TEAM, PORTLAND, OREGON
Progressive Smooth
Trigger Pull
Gun Remains Still
SIGHT ALIGNMENT
After trigger control, sight alignment is probably the next most
important skill needed for good shooting results. Yes, the laser itself
can be used as a sighting tool. Lasergrips are also extremely
effective for teaching traditional sight alignment because they
clearly show exactly where the student is aiming.
Often, you’ll see trainers stand behind a student and try to look
“through” a student’s head to see what their sight alignment (picture)
looks like. How many times have you done it? Unfortunately, it is
impossible for more than one person to look down the sights of
a pistol at the same time. Lasergrips help by demonstrating exactly
where the bullet will strike the target, without taking a shot.
Here’s how: First, the instructor needs to make sure the Lasergrips
dot and the traditional sights are aligned at shooting distance
(5 – 7 yards). Next, confirm your student understands proper sight
picture by reviewing all the charts, pictures, models and diagrams
that you have depicting proper sight picture.
Now it gets easy. With the laser activated, ask the student to aim
through their traditional sights at a target while you block the laser
beam with your finger. When your student confirms that they have
“perfect” sight picture and alignment on the target, ask them to hold
that position. Now move your finger. If their sight picture was perfect,
the dot will hit the center of the target. If the dot is anywhere else,
then they obviously need to realign their sight picture. Students also
can perform the exercise by blocking and unblocking the laser with
their own trigger finger. Usually, trying again several times until the dot
and target align consistently is all it takes to confirm proper sight
picture in their mind’s eye. If the dot is repeatedly off the target center,
go to the next step.
Cover Laser
and Confirm Sight Picture
Uncover Laser
to See Student’s Sight Picture
Now you’re going to reverse the process. Have the student aim their
gun at the target. This time they are going to “lock” the laser on the
target and look slightly over the traditional sights. The student holds
the dot on the target and keeps it there. Then the student slowly
lowers their eyes to the traditional sight picture, maintaining sight
picture and laser dot in the same place. If the student has a poor
understanding of sight picture, they will force the dot into a different
location as they revert to their “mind’s eye” view of sight picture.
Once the student maintains “proper” sight picture while keeping
the dot on target, they usually have it.
Developing accurate sight picture is often very frustrating to both
trainers and students. Lasergrips provide an effective, visible
training tool that can dramatically reduce teaching time
and improve results.
“Because you can’t see what the student sees, sight picture is one of those
skills that’s difficult to teach and even more difficult to diagnose and correct.
I can’t think of a better tool than Lasergrips to help students understand
and develop consistent sight picture techniques.”
WES DOSS, 21 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT/MILITARY, AUTHOR,
LEAD NRA LAW ENFORCEMENT FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR
Didn’t mean to imply that!
Plus the fact that just the sight of the laser has the same “Fear of God” aspect as the slide going forward on a shotgun. 
