Crimson Trace Corporation makes some of
the best laser sights on the market. They have for several years
been manufacturing Laser grips for most popular handguns that
have replaceable grip panels, along with laser
sights for AR-15 rifles. Their Laser grips are
very useful pieces of equipment for low-light shooting, as well
as being a very good training tool for dry-firing practice. For
more details on this, I refer you to my article, "Shots
in the Dark".
Now, Crimson Trace has a new Laser grip for
Glock pistols. The Glock is one of the most popular auto
pistols in the world, but has posed a problem for Laser grip
application, as the pistol has no removable grip panels. A few
months ago, I learned that Crimson Trace was working on a Laser grip
for the Glock, and I finally received a production sample about
a week ago. The first ones off the production line are made to
fit the full-sized Glock service pistols, such as the models 17,
22, 24, 31, 34, 35, and 37. I am not sure if it will fit the
full-auto Glock 18 due to the location of the selector switch.
Later, Crimson Trace will introduce Laser grips for other Glock
frame sizes.
Installation of the Laser grip for the Glock is
quick and simple. One simply pushes out a pin with the tool
provided, slips on the Laser grip, and replaces the original pin
with a longer pin, which is also provided with the Laser grip.
Adjusting the laser is very simple, using the Allen wrench
provided with the Laser grip. Having no full-sized Glock
pistol available, I borrowed a Model 17 from a friend.
Installation of the Laser grip took less than one minute. It is
entirely self-contained, housing the batteries on each side,
with the activation button at the rear of the Laser grip, where
it is naturally activated as the pistol is gripped by the
shooting hand.
I was initially concerned that the Laser grip
would change the feel of the Glock grip, which it slightly does,
but for the better, in my opinion. The two sections on either
side of the grip that houses the batteries provides a
natural-feeling palm swell for the shooting hand, falling right
in the hollow middle part of the shooter’s palm. The rear
section of the Laser grip adds about one-eighth of an inch to
the trigger reach, which for me greatly improved the
pointability of the weapon. The full-sized Glocks always point a
bit high for me, and the Laser grip corrects this problem.
Quickly point-shooting the Model 17 with the Laser grip
attached, it was immediately obvious that the pistol was now
pointing dead-on for me, much better than without the Laser grip
attached. I tried this many times, switching back and forth
between the pistol with and without the Laser grip in place. It
definitely improved the natural point-shooting qualities of the
Glock for me. The extra bit of trigger reach also placed the
trigger right under the pad of my trigger finger, just as it
should be.
In low-light shooting conditions, the Laser grip
is a very valuable addition to the Glock pistol. If you can make
out the silhouette of your target, you can accurately place your
shots. Since most social shooting encounters take place in
low light, I certainly recommend the Laser grip for owners of
Glock pistols. Crimson Trace really did their homework on this
Glock Laser grip, and got it right. Every cop that carries a
Glock on duty should get one of these, and I highly recommend
them to anyone who relies on the Glock pistol for self defense.
I will hopefully be trying out the Laser grips for other Glock
pistols as they become available. I definitely plan to add one
to my personal Model 19 when they become available for the
medium-sized Glock pistols.
Check out the entire line of Laser grips online
at: www.crimsontrace.com.
Jeff Quinn
Ed. Note: Crimson Trace is now shipping
laser grips sized for the Glock 19-sized pistols.
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