FOG HORN

FOG HORN
2015
Twobirds Flying Publication
Crimson Trace LG-919 Master Series Lasergrip
Copyright 2015, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.
FOG HORN
2015
Twobirds Flying Publication
Crimson Trace LG-919 Master Series Lasergrip
By: Sal Palma
It’s no accident that anytime one debates
weapon lasers, the name Crimson Trace
Corporation (CTC) dominates the discussion. In
comparative reviews, CTC products, like the
Laserguard®, Rail Master® Pro™ and the
company’s Lasergrips® are consistently ranked
in the top five. The reason for that success
hinges on plain talent. CTC is not just an
innovator, for innovation sake, they add real
value with every product they make. You won’t
find fluff in any of their offerings. By that I
mean, they all enhance the shooter’s
experience in a measurable and meaningful
way.
CTC
Lasergrips®,
for
example,
have
revolutionized the handgun with such impact
that gun manufacturers now include them with
their many offerings. However, that market
position has not been without its challenges,
and those revolve around holsters. With
shooters making a rapid transition from Level 1
leather holsters to the more secure Level 2 and
Level 3 Kydex tactical varieties, finding a holster
that will accommodate the laser housing on the
pistol grip has been a challenge for both the
company and its customers. This is a story that’s
about to change with the introduction of the
Master Series Lasergrip from Crimson Trace.
In this review, I take an in-depth look at the LG919 Master Series Lasergrip for the 1911 pistol
in your life.
The Master Series Lasergrip is a combination
fashion
statement
and
performance
enhancement for what would otherwise be
your plain Jane 1911. Crimson Trace uses G10
and select natural woods to create a visually
stunning grip that incorporates a laser aiming
module. That said, what excites me most is its
precision micro laser lens, which makes Level 2
and Level 3 holstering less of a problem. But,
before getting into holstering I’ll touch on the
electronics package.
Copyright 2015, Towbirds Flying Publication. All Rights Reserved.
Crimson Trace LG-919 Master Series Lasergrip
CTC’s Lasergrips are surgically clean. A heavy
duty flexible copper trace connects the two
CR2025 power sources with a rubber molded
pressure switch located on the front of the grip.
The trace then supplies power to the laser’s
electronics package, which is embed in the grip
and in turn drives, via a single wire running in a
dedicated channel, the laser. It could not have
fewer components and still function. It’s an
important point to make because in performing
routine maintenance on your pistol, you’ll be
removing the grips regularly and the last thing
you’ll want to see is a wad of loose wires.
Crimson Trace also includes two Mylar panels
that sit between the pistol’s frame and the laser
grip acting as dust covers; keeping unwanted
dirt and debris from the power source and grip
2015
electronics. The combined effect of a surgically
clean design and the dust panels ensure
standard setting reliability and durability.
All of CTC’s Lasergrips provide what the
company has trademarked as “Instinctive
Activation.” It’s undoubtedly marketing lingo
but what it means operationally, and this is an
important differentiator, is that once you
establish your grip the laser is active. As long as
the master switch is in the “ON” position, you
come out of your holster with the laser ready to
be placed in use. This is a huge tactical
advantage.
So, why do you need a laser on your home
defense or conceal carry pistol? The only
acceptable reason is for fire control when the
situation or circumstances prevent you from
using your iron sights.
Aiming lasers do not replace your primary
sighting mechanism, they supplement it - a
point that I will harp on with a few more
sentences.
The only time you align your laser sight with
your iron sights is when you’re confirming zero;
with CTC Lasergrips, this is a procedure you
perform once; thereafter, your laser backs up
your iron sights.
Here’s how I use a laser.
1. In low light conditions where I can’t see
my front sight post.
2. When firing from a covered position
where I can’t bring up my sights
without exposing my torso.
3. Firing from a disabled position, where
injury prevents me from presenting my
pistol.
4. Firing in close proximity to the threat
where extending would create a
retention problem.
Copyright 2015, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
Crimson Trace LG-919 Master Series Lasergrip
Some folks may also see a laser functioning as a
deterrent and I won’t argue the point; however,
in my humble opinion, if you need to pick up a
firearm to discourage someone, they constitute
a threat that needs to be incapacitated.
Alright, so we’ve established some very good
reasons why you need an aiming laser. Next, I’d
like to look at the practical aspect that should
guide your decision to Lasergrips and not the
alternatives. The best way to reach that
conclusion is by looking at the alternative.
This is a common tactical arrangement, but how
practical is it for conceal carry or in home
defense. Moreover, how feasible is it when
your pistol lacks a Picatinny mounting rail? Do
you buy another pistol that’s equipped with a
rail system? No! You’ll gain the tactical benefit
of an aiming laser by installing laser grips and
CTC Lasergrips are the only game in town.
Besides being a handsome grip, the Master
Series LG-919 uses a precision micro laser lens
that is fully adjustable for wind and elevation.
It’s housed in a low profile and compact housing
that solved, at least for me, the holstering
problem.
Earlier laser grips used a laser housing that was
longer and larger, and while they didn’t present
a problem when using Level 1 holsters, the
minute the shooter transitioned to a Level 2 or
2015
Level 3 Kydex holster, the grip’s laser housing
would not fit the holster.
This was not an impassable constraint, but it did
require the shooter to manually flair the holster
at the right spot with a heat gun to create room
for the grip’s laser housing.
The new micro laser lens takes that issue off the
table, for most of the major Kydex tactical rigs.
The two photos above show a very nice fit with
the G-Code RTI tactical holster. This is a huge
plus for the LG-919 especially in military and
tactical LE circles.
Copyright 2015, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved
Crimson Trace LG-919 Master Series Lasergrip
2015
So, for me, when you combine grip shape and
size, texturing and its G10 material you end up
with a winner and that is precisely what
Crimson Trace has achieved with its Master
Series LG-919 Lasergrip G10 – A WINNER!
-SP
Manufacturer Specifications
By the way, the LG-919 Lasergrip is designed to
be fully compatible with the CTC Lightguard, so
that old 1911 you’ve had sitting around longer
than your wife can easily be brought into the
21st Century with functional and highly reliable
equipment. Both accessories have independent
ON/OFF switches and both feature instinctive
activation. That’s what I call a win-win scenario.
I’ll close my review of the LG-919 Master Series
by discussing ergonomics.
Recognizing that pistol grips are like shoes or
underwear, what is comfortable to one may not
be comfortable to others, I found the slight
palm swell designed into the LG-919 G10 to be
superbly comfortable. This grip is hand filling;
allowing the pistol to sit solidly in the hollows of
your palm providing an excellent grip. I think
we’ve all had experience with pistol grips that
fatigue the hand and the subsequent
deleterious effect on shooter performance. You
don’t get that with the LG-919, at least with
these hands.
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Material G10
Attachment
Grip Replacement
Activation Location
Front Activation
Sighting Factory Sighted at 50'
Master On/Off Switch
Yes
Battery Type
Two #2025 Batteries
Laser Battery LifeOver Four Hours
Laser Output
5mW Red Laser
Activation Mode Pressure Activated
Laser Visibility Approx .5 Inch Diameter
at 50 Feet
Wrench Size
0.028
User Adjustable Windage and Elevation
Finish Textured G10 Grip with Rubber
Overmold Activation Pad
Installation
User Installed
Warranty
Three Year Limited
Warranty
Color Black
Dot Size Approx. 0.50" at 50'
Copyright 2015, Twobirds Flying Publication, All Rights Reserved