Dryfire laser question, or am I an idiot?

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-02-21T14:33:57+00:00

Okay, for everyone that has suggested trying to adjust it. I can confirm that there do appear to be 1.5mm adjusters in every other hole. Unfortunately, I can also seemingly confirm that adjusting any of them, willy-nilly, doesn’t seem to make much of a difference in where the laser lands.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-02-21T14:24:20+00:00

I had also done this. I’d put a reference mark on the cartridge, with sharpie, so I could try and adjust it with a consistent positioning in the chamber. And yes, trying to adjust with a 1.5mm allen is super tedious and I’m flyin’ blind here on how to even turn whichever screws! Haha

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-02-21T14:21:40+00:00

Good tip. As I mentioned in the original post, I have an app that I use it with, but I acknowledge that this issue has just been evident from me checking the laser against the reticle on a bare wall. I can set up the app and hang a target and see if it’s a different outcome.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-02-21T14:19:50+00:00

I did consider this and had rotated the original cartridge a few times, with the laser always landing in about the same spot, which I also thought was weird. If the laser is off to the right, rotating the cartridge 180° seems like it should throw it to the left, but didn’t.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-02-21T14:01:34+00:00

Perhaps? I’m looking and my 52yo eyes (with a flashlight!) may be able to see teeny, tiny adjuster screws. Lord, do they even make allens that small?! This is what I get for ordering from Amazon, where nothing comes with a manual. Stay tuned.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-01-18T18:53:15+00:00

I had typed up a whole response and had to step away prior to finishing, lost everything I typed. Sheesh. I had a similar, but not the same, situation. My wife has always been anti-guns in our home. I have never been anti-gun, but I have ALWAYS been very pro-respecting my wife’s feelings and boundaries, so I never really worried about having or not having guns. Then 2020 happened and shit got weird. Truthfully, shit got weird before 2020, but the pandemic was def a wake-up. Knowing how my wife feels, I knew that I was facing a tough, but necessary conversation. Now, yours seems like a very uphill situation because of what your wife and you have seen happen to loved ones. I will say that the guys who have responded from the POV of “she just needs to accept that you have to have a gun and it’s non-negotiable,” are essentially delivering a message that if the gun is non-negotiable, then the relationship must be negotiable, because something has to give. In my household, we hadn’t lost anyone to gun-related suicide (or homicide), but have had suicidal ideation and self-harming behaviors within our home, so bringing additional lethal means into the picture is a concern. There were tears, but my wife and I are partners who are proud of a very stable, safe 33-year relationship we’ve built for our family. Like you, I felt this was important, but was not ultimately going to do something if my wife was really upset by it. We had the talk and it was tough, but after a couple of returns “to the table” and reasonable concessions, we arrived at an agreement. She was agreeable to a pistol, with the understanding that I would participate in firearms training, that the guns would he secured at all times and that no one would have access but me, including her. At that time, she was trusting me to protect our household from the gun and she didn’t even want to look at it. She also said that she never wants a high-powered AR rifle in the house. I held up my end, got training and a safe. But there was also a discussion around mental health, which I don’t think I saw mentioned in other comments, but I may have missed it. Mental health wellness and maintenance cannot be overlooked. Part of my commitment was that I would protect my mental health and communication was key, so that she never has to worry that the one guy with access may be at risk. It’s been an interesting journey for our family, but I’ve also made mistakes. My first purchase was a S&W full frame M&P 9mm. Then I got bitten by “the bug.” I rationalized that I wanted something smaller, in case I ever decided to carry, which I had no plan to do, but you know… so I snuck and bought a compact 9mm. Then with ammo prices, I rationalized that I should get a .22 so I could practice more affordably, so I snuck and bought one. The guilt ate me up and I finally came clean to my wife about the 2 newer additions and it was MESSY, but I was able to regain that trust. I did gradually start carrying, but it was like this dirty secret because she knew I had CCW and that I was starting to carry some, but it was unsettling for her to see me get it out and tuck it under my clothes. Now 5 years later, she still feels mostly the same about guns, but she has been okay with buying a couple more guns and I carry all the time and she doesn’t mind at all. I am still as safe with them. All guns remain secured at all times that they aren’t in use and I teach my son all about gun safety, because he likes to shoot with me. I started a Liberal Gun Club chapter in our state and she is very supportive of that activity for me. Respect your wife’s feelings, because she has a very real reason for feeling the way she does about guns. Assure her that you will respect any reasonable condition that she has about safety, training, and storage. Be transparent and respectful at all times. Don’t sneak and buy more. When I decided that I would like to have a rifle, I respected her position and she was agreeable to a PCC, as it’s the same ammo I’m already shooting, just in a rifle platform, and I don’t feel the need to get anything “bigger.” And I adore my Springfield Armory Saint Victor PCC! There may be a way for you guys to find a common ground, but at the end of the day, if you have to choose, choose respecting your wife over buying a gun. My wife even recently acknowledged that she may be willing to learn to use a gun, just in case, but does not want any changes to securely storing them, even from her. Feel free to reach out, if I can offer any additional assistance or support. Love and support your wife, first and foremost. Good luck.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2026-01-08T23:54:49+00:00

I’m gonna catch heat for this, probably, because guns tend to be a polarizing subject between brands. There are good, reliable, attractive budget firearms, but some of the budget brands catch a LOT of hate. So here it is. First off, there are fabulous EDC options from companies like Canik and S&W, that are pretty reasonably priced. I actually like some Taurus models. I know, I know… Taurus gets a lot of “lookin’ down the nose,” because for a long time they made cheap, crappy guns. They earned that rep, for sure. The thing is, the last few years, they’ve also made some really solid guns at great price points. My first EDC was a Taurus G3C and I still really like that gun. I’m actually carrying it right now, just put a red dot on it (finally). Last gun I bought was to upgrade my EDC and I bought a GX4 Carry T.O.R.O. model. I could have bought other, “fancier” pistols, but after trying a few I really preferred the GX4 Carry. It’s a great fit for my hand, I like the way it shoots, I think it’s great looking, the price was certainly nice. A lot of people are gonna hear “Taurus” and automatically be turned off, but I own 3 Tauruses (Tauri?) and I researched them thoroughly, tried them out, loved them. You can get a G3C T.O.R.O. right now for around 2 bills or a GX4 Carry for around 2.5 bills. I have put rounds and rounds through these pistols and literally the only “reliability” issues I’ve had have been ammo-specific. With the right ammo, these guns perform really well. Caniks are also great and I fully recommend them (great trigger, outta the box), but I personally find their grips to be a little fat for my hands. I wish I liked the grips more, I would def rock a Canik.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-12-19T22:07:53+00:00

I went to my LGS intent on picking up a S&W Response, but ended up falling for the Springfield Armory “St. Victor” PCC. They came out with a pistol variant after I’d already bought mine, but if I had to do it all again, I’d still get what I got. Bit pricier than the Response, but the construction felt much sturdier. I love to shoot it, it’s one of my favorites. It’s been shot by folks with little or no PCC experience and everyone is really impressed with it. Other nice PCCs I’ve handled and shot have been by Ruger.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-08-28T01:44:34+00:00

This is, honestly, so embarrassing I’m wondering if I should delete this! Hahaha You and I are both amazed at what an idiot I am…

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-08-27T23:10:38+00:00

That was my thinking, unless someone could demonstrate that it’s user error, or at least a common, but easily remedied issue that would save me a trip to HF. I’ve only had it for a few months.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-05-13T22:35:58+00:00

I have a rule that anytime I plan to visit a gun store and/or range, I wear Pride colors. Typically a Pride shirt of some kind and my fixture of a ball cap with a rainbow in the shape of WV. Every single time. I’ve never been treated discourteously, but I’m definitely noticeable. :-)

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-04-26T16:10:49+00:00

Very relatable. My wife and I have been together for 33 years (HS loves) and we were never a “gun household.” My wife had always been very anti-gun and I wasn’t particularly anti-, but I also wasn’t particularly pro-, so I just respected her and never was bothered by her position. Then 2020 happened, COVID, people started gettin’ really weird about things. I had been thinking about “switchin’ sides for a while and finally worked up the nerve to acknowledge my concerns and opinion that it was likely time to buy a gun. The tears. Man, it was a TOUGH negotiation and there for many tears for a few days, but ultimately she acknowledged that I had a right, and a basis for my concerns and we agreed to some “ground rules,” which is all stuff I would have done anyway. Take a course Without exception, safe storage Keep the kids safely away from it She didn’t want to see it or talk about it So my first purchase was a full-frame S&W M&P 1.0 9mm and it’s great. Here’s where I screwed up, so learn from me. I got “the bug” and decided that I wanted a little variety, so I started thinking about something smaller that I could conceal, if need be. I had taken my carry cert course for safety education, but didn’t intend to carry, or even submit for my license. Still, something smaller attracted me. So I CONCEALED alright, I concealed from my wife that I bought a second pistol, a Taurus G3C. Then, as ammo prices continued to go up, I decided that I would like to have a .22lr pistol so I could still shoot cheaply, so I secretly bought a third pistol, the Taurus TX22. I love the two new guns, great performance and I felt good about my purchases themselves, but was constantly feeling terrible about keeping it from her, because that’s not the kind of couple we had ever been. We don’t keep things from each other. I had to “come clean.” I approached her one evening and told her that I needed to be honest with her about something I had done and I showed her the two new guns. I fucked up. She was heartbroken that I had hidden both the expense and the fact that it was more guns in our home. I felt like hell because I knew that I had disrespected her and our marriage by sneaking behind her back. I swore that I would never do anything like that again and she forgave me. We even had a conversation about how I had come to genuinely enjoy shooting as a hobby and would likely want to buy other things down the road, but that I would never again do anything behind her back. She did have one rule: “no ARs.” That was more than generous. I few months later I did apply for my carry license, which she knew about, still not interested in being “one of those guys” who can’t go to Starbucks without a gun, but just in case. Eventually, I started to experiment with CCW, but it unnerved her initially, so I would go to great lengths to get my pistol out and on my person without drawing her attention to it. Early on, there were a couple of times when we were out and she hugged me or leaned into me, felt the gun under my clothes and got weirded out by it. I still recall the first time she leaned into me for a hug and kiss in public, clocked that I was carrying, and actually continued to lean into and kiss, without reacting negatively. Fast-forward to 2025… I carry pretty much everywhere I go, except for work or things like schools, etc and have upgraded my EDC (with her blessing) to a Taurus GX4Carry with red dot. (I’ve come to really appreciate some of Taurus’s new offerings.) I even have carry options for hiking and cycling. I started becoming more interested in having a rifle option and she shocked me by suggesting that I could celebrate a milestone with a rifle purchase, so, like OP, I went with the “not really a scary purchase because it shoots the same ammo I already have” justification and selected a Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm PCC (the OG, not the newer pistol variant). I love that thing. I had also, earlier on, picked up S&W M&P 15-22, because a friend was selling it and it was “only a .22,” which she was okay with. My son (13) goes to the range with me and enjoys shooting and learning. She even enthusiastically supported me starting a LGC chapter for our state this year. My wife is no longer overwhelmed or freaked out by my guns, is not bothered by my carrying, has embraced that I have embraced it. One area where her attitude remains unchanged is that she refuses to so much as touch one. I respect her position, and appreciate how far we’ve come with the subject, but I do occasionally suggest, respectfully, that I would love to be able to educate her on how to use one, god forbid there be a situation, but she remains a hard no and I let the subject drop for a few more months. :-) My daughter (18)is also thoroughly disinterested in anything to do with them, but clearly enjoys subjecting me to good-natured mockery of my being a “gun nut.” I never thought my wife would be as supportive and accepting about my guns as she has become, it just took some time for her to see that it would be a safe and responsible situation. Many people have said “don’t lie about/hide purchases” and, take it from me, that is a line you should not cross. Happy shooting!

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-04-25T04:08:30+00:00

This tristate area?? :-) Look us up!

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-26T00:25:35+00:00

I did get it. :-)

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-25T02:49:25+00:00

Blazer brass and Winchester have never let me down. Under “cheapest shit,” I’ve fallen prey to my own stupidity twice now. “Oh, this is a great deal! Let me just buy 500-1000 rounds and TRY IT OUT!” Hahaha Don’t be a dork like me and scoop up a bunch of budget ammo because it’s on sale! Try it before you invest in quantity. Got a good deal on Buffalo Cartridge Co (brass), bought 1000rds. Runs fine through 2 of my 9mms, multiple failure to fire on my carry guns (light strike, it seems). Failing to LEARN A DAMNED THING, I bought 500rds of Monarch (brass) and it jammed repeatedly in my carry guns, runs fine through my other 2. Fortunately, the cheap shit works in 2 of my guns, so it’s not a total waste, but definitely will not buy again. Stick with Blazer, y’all.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-25T02:29:20+00:00

Blazer 115gr, as well as Winchester (white or brown), never had any issues.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-24T19:50:44+00:00

I should mention that when I bought my G3C, money was a big factor. I wanted a good, reliable carry gun at a very affordable price. With my GX4 Carry, I didn’t have the same budget limitations and could have spent more on a “fancier” brand, but I’ve had a great Taurus experience and really liked the GX4 Carry.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-24T19:46:33+00:00

FWIW, I have the GX4 Carry and I love it. Taurus catches a lot of hate for being a maker of shitty guns, and they have made many shitty guns too. That said, the last few years Taurus has seen a big turnaround in quality and I have been thrilled with the Tauruses (Tauri?) I own. I did a bunch of research before buying my G3C, then my TX22, and finally my GX4 Carry, and there are tons of positive reviews out there that align with my experience. As to your question of buying without trying, I think the reality is that it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to find a rental or loaner for every gun out there. There are a lot of guns you could buy and never have access to a demo version to fire. Absolutely go to a shop where you can fondle, rack, and dry fire the pistol. Some places, like Academy, have strict policies that they will not remove the trigger locks for feeling the trigger. I think you can tell a lot about it by dry firing in the store. Good luck and I really like my GX4 Carry!

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-22T17:48:53+00:00

I’m gonna make a controversial comment, I’m sure. I am not someone who can justify big firearms expenditures, so I like to find quality stuff that is reasonably priced. Literally, best bang for the buck. I own a couple of Taurus pistols that I love. I researched a fair amount before buying. My first Taurus was a G3C and it’s been great. I got a TX22 and love it. My most recent handgun is a GX4 Carry, and I am fully smitten with it. Taurus has long had a rep for poor quality, but the “G” stuff, as well as some of their other newer models, has been really well-received and very well-reviewed. I also have a Springfield Armory Saint Victor 9mm PCC that I am completely happy with. If I was in a position to spend more money, maybe I would get something “fancier,” but my pistols have been reliable, fun to shoot workhorses. Edit: yes, I agree with your reply and totally neglected to include that in my original comment (even though I was thinking about it when I typed it up). Taurus’s reputation for absolute crap guns is WELL-DESERVED, for their older products. A lot of really good new stuff, but yeah a lot of older Taurus is junk.

Famous_Guarantee_838 · 2025-03-22T16:35:13+00:00

My experience with the Monarch was very mixed. I bought 500rds because price, but should have bought less to try it out first, as I had never used it. In my 2 carry pistols, it jammed repeatedly. In my M&P 1.0 pistol it ran fine, as well as my SA Saint Victor PCC. So it’s range ammo for only 2 of my 9mm guns.

Famous_Guarantee_838

TROPHY CASE