Best Laser Sights for Glock 43, 43X, 48 and Sig Sauer P365

There are more blogs and articles about laser sights that we could read in a month, but not many discuss the different laser sights for Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) or full-size 1911’s. Many universal laser sights are great for a variety of pistols, but in my experience, it’s been easier to use the tools that are specifically meant for the dimensions of your gun. 

Do you need a laser sight for your pistol? What kind of difference does it make? How do I use a laser sight? These questions and more will be answered to give you the most comprehensive understanding of laser sights.

Finding the best laser sights for your gun is more than just buying the most expensive and marketed laser sight on the market. There are many things that I look for in a laser sight that I’d like to share before we get into why I chose the laser sights that I chose.

Crimson Trace Green Laser Sight

Durability

In everything we buy, especially high-dollar products that we don’t use as often like a laser sight attachment, durability has to matter. There are too many products that we see break after a few months of moderate to heavy use. It’s not right to have to continually pay for the same product every year because the company didn’t make a durable product. 

Durability in laser sight attachments has to do with the material used to make the housing, the shock-absorbancy of the laser sight, and the finishing of the metal and hard plastic surfaces. 

Power of the Laser Sight

The power of a laser is one of the most important factors to consider for a laser sight. The safety and health ramifications of misusing or not knowing the wattage of a laser can be irreparable damage. Before you buy any laser sight from a company, make sure that you know the wattage that the laser is rated for. Most companies will be listed at class 3R, which is the highest level wattage allowed by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 

Vision sensitivity to wavelengths graph

All laser sights that I listed below are classified as level 3R lasers, made for civilian use in guns, laser pointers, and construction equipment. The number you’re looking for is 5 milliWatts (mW). The human eye can see wavelengths (color) from 400-700 nm without special lenses or tools (naked-eye). 

Related Article – 7 Laser Sights to Buy on Amazon in 2021

Waterproof

I know some places don’t get enough precipitation to even worry about having a waterproof laser sight, but I know I do in Virginia it’s a must-have feature. I’m sure I’m exaggerating, but it feels like it rains more than half the year here. If I put a laser sight on my CCW pistol and tried to carry it anywhere on the East coast, it would break within a year if it wasn’t waterproof. 

You think it’d be more common for companies to have waterproof products, but it costs more money on research and development (R&D) than many companies are willing to spend. All laser sights I listed in this blog are waterproof. 

Practicality 

Practicality is just a bigger word used to describe how easy something is to use and its ability to be used in the way it’s intended. For example, if you’re a lefty and your pistol is made for a right-handed shooter, your pistol isn’t as practical as an ambidextrous pistol. 

Anytime I look for a laser sight, flashlight, or electronic optic, I look for compatibility with all of my pistols to save money on multiple attachments. How easy is the tool to use? Is the laser sight easy to turn on/off without losing my pistol grip? Is your attachment ambidextrous?

All of these questions fall under the practicality of the attachment, which is why I always try and answer these questions before I buy a handgun laser.

Related Article – Best Laser & Light Combo for Pistols

What is the Difference Between a Red Laser Vs. Green Laser?

Understanding the difference between a green and red laser is very important to decide which color will fit you the best. There is enough of the scientific information out there on red vs. green lasers, so I’ll keep this short and to the point. The color that we see in anything in life is dependent on the electromagnetic radiation from the varying wavelengths. 

Red vs. green laser Crimson Trace

As you can see from the graph above, all colors on the spectrum we can see have wavelengths between 400-700 nanometers (nm). The green lasers are always going to be easier to see in the daylight, which is when you’d mostly be using a laser on your CCW. 

A red laser is said to be better for night vision due to the photopic cones in our eye being able to distinguish red easier in total darkness. Red lasers are almost always going to be more affordable as well because the technology has been around for so many years and dozens of companies have been able to produce a solid product.

Pros

Red LaserGreen Laser
650-700 nm wavelength500-550nm wavelength
Great for night vision Better for daylight, low-light conditions
More affordableEasier for the human eye to see (except at night)
Easier to find because more quantity onlineTechnology is newer, so the green lasers are normally more powerful and compact
Cons
Red LaserGreen Laser
Difficult to see in daylightAlways more expensive than a red laser
 Harder to find than a red laser
 Not as visible as a red laser at night conditions
  

Are There Safety Concerns With Class 3R Lasers?

As much as I’d like to say that laser sights are not dangerous, they can be very detrimental if used inappropriately. Class 3R lasers are right at that threshold where it’s safe to see for less than 1/4 second at close distances

There is actually a standard for measuring how close you can be with a laser sight to determine what is a safe distance what isn’t. Its called the Nominal Ocular Hazard Distance (NOHD).

The NOHD provides a rough estimate for Class 3R laser beams that are tight and focused and beams that are wider with a less-tight beam. You can actually calculate the NOHD of your specific laser with the Laserworld.com calculator

The picture below is the recommended distance you can safely stand from the laser beam and not have serious retinal damage. For reference, the distance for a tight beam, such as those used in most of the laser sights, is about 104 ft from the laser. It’s safe to say that since you most likely won’t be shooting past 25 meters with a handgun, don’t ever point this laser at someone’s face unless you intend to pull the trigger.

NOHD for Class 3R laser beams
Picture courtesy of lasersafetyfacts.com

For laser beams with a wider projection, the distance from the laser is not as far as a tighter Class 3R laser beam. You can see in the picture below that the NOHD is much closer (52 feet) than the tighter beam safe distance. This is because the laser isn’t as concentrated and therefore doesn’t have the same impact on your eyes.

NOHD for Class 3R laser beams
Picture Courtesy of lasersafetyfacts.com

 

LL-803G Laserguard Pro

LL-803G Laserguard Pro from Crimson Trace is made for compact Glock models, such as the Glock 42, Glock 43, Glock 43X, and the Glock 48. There are more reasons to like the Crimson Trace Laserguard than I can list, but I’ll provide my favorite features and reasons why you should buy this Glock accessory. 

We can all have honest discussions about the best CCWs, but I don’t know anyone who doesn’t trust and swear by a Glock 9mm CCW. One of my only knocks on the compact Glock models is almost all of the attachments are just too big for the smaller frame Glocks. The Laserguard Pro from Crimson Trace is incredibly easy to install and keeps the low profile of the CCW.

Specs

Laser ColorRed ($210.00) or Green ($350.00)
Laser Class3R, 515-532nm
Length6"
Width4"
Height2"
Weight1.3 oz. (0.08 lbs)
PurposeSelf-Defense, Competition
Fits
  • Glock 42
  • Glock 43
  • Glock 43X
  • Glock 48
Battery Life2 hours constant light and laser combo t highest setting
Light Brightness150 Lumens
Battery TypeCR2 battery (included)
Laser Distance50 feet effective point target range
Night VisionNo
WindageAdjustable with an included tool
ElevationAdjustable with an included tool
ActivationThe front button activates automatically when the pistol is held in an active shooting position
Modes of Operation
  • Laser + Light
  • Laser Only
  • Light Only
  • Laser + Light Strobe
MSRP$350.00

LL-803G Laserguard Pro

$210.00
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing

Why Should I Buy the Crimson Trace LL-803G Laserguard Pro?

The most popular pistols in the world are Glocks because they’re the most reliable pistol ever created, IMO. Not only does the Laserguard Profit the most popular Glock CCW models, but it’s the most reliable laser & light combo I’ve used. 

Many veterans and gun nuts prefer to use a light on every pistol they have because of the tactical advantage gained by blinding your target. Even if you get your target to squint and turn for a split second, that’s normally all the time you need to defend yourself without risking retaliation.

150 lumens light is bright enough to light up a target at 50 feet with enough power to force an assailant to turn their head or cover their eyes. 

I love this combo because of the versatility having a light and laser provides me in a tactical situation. However, I would never use a laser or light without mastering my iron sights first.

Crimson Trace Green Laser sight

As many combat vets will tell you, technology is sometimes unpredictable and you must be great at fundamentals before relying solely on advanced technology. For the record, I’ve used the Laserguard a dozen or so times and it hasn’t failed once, but there is always a possibility.

Having a laser sight along with your light provides you with the opportunity to disorient your assailant and hip fire with deadly accuracy is an advantage I’ll take every day of the week. 

I know I may sound like a broken record, but I don’t know of any other company that offers free batteries for the life of your Laserguard Pro laser & light combo. It may not sound like a lot, but all you have to do is send in your dead battery and they will send you a brand new battery to fit your attachment.

Glock 43X

$480.99
at Guns.com
Prices accurate at time of writing

Not only does it save you money, but the convenience of emailing their customer service and providing your make, model, and serial number, is an awesome feature for Crimson Trace. 

Crimson LG-422G Laserguard for Sig P365

The Crimson Trace LG-422G Laserguard is specifically designed for the Sig P365 handguns. A Sig P365 is one of the most sought-after CCWs in the world due to its high (10+1) capacity and only 5.8" overall length (w/3" barrel).

Crimson Trace Green Laser Sight & Light Combo for Glock 43, 43X, 48, and 42

Sig Sauer needs no talking up, so I’ll stick with how nice the Laserguard fits and works with the Sig P365, P365XL, Sig P365SAS. I love the low-profile feel of the Crimson Trace Laserguard with only a 1" width and height from the rail system. 

As you can see from the pictures, the Crimson Trace Laserguard fits perfectly flush with the barrel and trigger guard for an incredibly low-profile laser attachment. I was most impressed with how perfect the fit was and even though it was so small, it didn’t lose any power in the laser beam. 

At 1.6 ounces it’s a little heavier than some of the light and laser combos, but it must be difficult to create such a strong green laser in the 3R class and still only be 4" in length with 1" in width and height. Once you see this laser in action, you’ll be excited to see how well it performs.

With batteries for life subscription with your Laserguard, the Crimson Trace is a helluva buy for all the Sig P65 owners out there. 

Specs

Laser ColorGreen 
Laser Class3R, 515-532nm
Length4"
Width1"
Height1"
Weight1.6 oz. (0.1 lbs)
PurposeSelf-Defense, Tactical & Military
Fits
  • Sig Sauer P365
  • Sig Sauer P365XL
  • Sig Sauer P365SAS
Battery Life2 hours constant light and laser combo t highest setting
Battery Type1/3N Lithium battery (included)
Laser Distance50 feet effective point target range
Night VisionNo
WindageAdjustable with an included tool
ElevationAdjustable with an included tool
ActivationThe front button activates automatically when the pistol is held in an active shooting position
Modes of Operation
  • Laser only
MSRP$255.00

Crimson Trace LG-422G Laserguard Green Laser Sight

$255.99
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing

Why Should I Buy Crimson Trace LG-422G Laserguard for Sig P365?

The Crimson Trace LG-422G is a green laser attachment made specifically to fit on the front of the trigger guard of any of Sig Sauer P365 models (P365, P365XL, and the P365SAS). The instant activation is one of the best features for me because it doesn’t take long to train with and get used to. With no button to flip or press, the only thing you have to work on is gripping your pistol in the correct shooting position. 

The clarity of the green laser in daylight is noticeable and provides a much easier target acquisition for the shooter. As I train with this laser sight, I get better at pulling from the hip and following the laser. It’s a lot of fun to train hip firing and it makes it much easier to hit my target with the Crimson Trace LG-422G Laserguard.  

Sig P365

$608.99
at Guns.com
Prices accurate at time of writing


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