ArmaLaser TR4 Designed to fit Smith & Wesson S&W Shield Super Bright Red Laser Sight with GripTouch Activation [Will NOT FIT Shield 45, EZ or M&P w/Rails]

Detailed review and comparison, with pictures (from owner of both lasers) of Armalaser TR series and Crimson Trace LaserGuards (for any handgun). Recently I decided I had had enough with CTC and decided to look and see if there was any new tech out there allowing me to switch lasers to a more reliable brand yet still with some sort of new instinctive activation which also offered a full grip on the firearm. Finally, I found more than I thought was possible for a laser of this type in the Armalaser TR series (here a TR4 for my S&W M&P Shield). The 7 Armalaser only features listed below, paired with the amazing customer service are totally unique for a small laser of this type. Simply put, the Armalaser TR series completely blows all of its competitors out of the water and stands alone at the top. Reason to buy a Armalaser TR series over CTC (What the armalaser has which CTC can't match or simply doesn't offer.) 1.) Incredible caring customer service - they go out of their way just for you (from my experience, that was because they seemed to genuinely care). They'll 2 days stuff for ya! -- you also get a class topping 5 year warranty (CTC only offers 3 year) AND -- Armalaser offers and exchange program which is totally unique! 2.) Proximity technology instinctive/reactive touch activation of laser WITHOUT that silly unreliable button GRIP!!! Little gold strip on the rear part of the trigger guard. For me it works every time flawlessly and allows me what I had been looking for, A FULL GRIP ON THE FIREARM - spent 400 rounds last night and not one single hiccup! Goodbye CTC broken activation button FOREVER! I was far more accurate with this laser and a full grip on the firearm every shot! 3.) Mater on/off switch (seems quality made and durable) - this is great for range visits. Sometimes you want to work with just your sights and develop that skill without having to have to remove the laser because should you ever need to use your firearm in personal defense the laser will still be on there but it may be in daylight and using your sights might be a skill that saves you life. CTC have nothing like this... that pesky laser is always on when you are shooting (unless you remove it on and off which can lead to a disaster considering the silly screws that CTC offers that strip ALL the TIME) and ranges are dark places so you never really get to develop the sole skill of firing with just your sights... this is a skill everyone who carries should master. The Armalaser is the only reactive touch laser that offers you the option to develop this skill without removing the laser... HUGE!!! 4.) Two laser options which you can choose from easily! Pulsating (increases battery life to 12 hours MASSIVE) and steady (6 hours battery life). BUT YOU CAN CHOOSE!!!!!!! 5.) Brightness, while very very similar to the level of the CTC, I'd say to my eye the Armalaser is slightly brighter and especially brighter if the laser is aimed at human skin... It appears to almost glow on skin. 6.) Battery Door!!!!!!! FINALLY!!!!! Armalaser saw the problem with CTC battery changes and offered a genius solution. (maybe this one should go higher on the list....) no need to pull the whole thing off and mess with tiny allen screws that are prone to stripping and could mess with your sight alignment and overall accuracy - needing to be sighted in again. The batter door allows or extremely quick battery changes with only the SUPPLIED small philips head screwdriver... no more messing around with re-sighting after battery changes. 7.) Reliability and durability - made from some serious materials (Dupont Zytel) and the mount to the firearm is ROCK SOLID but MAINLY the best feature of the Armalasers is the use of proper philips head connecting screws and battery door screw. They are far far less likely to strip, increasing durability and never rendering your laser unsafe while firing it because you've been forced to use/carry it with just one connecting screw affixing the laser to the firearm. In the past with CTC, I have been forced to do this and it made me very uncomfortable. Eventually I just took it off completely while awaiting the replacement screws to arrive in the mail. Armalaser offers FREE REPLACEMENT SCREWS STRAIGHT OUT OF THE BOX, no waiting for replacements!!!!! You have already been given them in the original packaging. GENIUS and caring! -- On this front, what comes in the box, you also get two allen wrenches, two screws, and a small philips head screwdriver!!!! Everything you need and them some, right out of the box! A note on why I wanted to get away from CTC and find something better out there!!- I've had several CTC lasers in the past but only because they offered instinctive activation of the laser just by gripping the firearm (but with the loss of a full grip.... sort of, its still a full grip essentially but the button is activated by your middle finger and protrudes from the firearm grip by a good little amount. But, the CTC button breaks so often that you have to grip carefully and with relatively light pressure with you middle finger that is doing the activation or else it will fail and kill the laser completely. This leaves you to mainly hang on with your last two fingers which, I really dislike and hurts my accuracy). I've owned two CTC's for this model of firearm (the lg-489). But all of them, no matter which firearm, continuously get sent back to CTC for repair or replacement mainly of the activation button always going wrong,... ALWAYS (last lg-489 lasted just a single month before complete failure!!!), there is a 4 week minimum turn around time to get a CTC laser sent in, repaired or replaced, and mailed back to you, at best. This is completely UNACCEPTABLE, for people like me who terrible eyesight a laser on a carry firearm is 100% mandatory. Knock my glasses off, I can't even see the front sight, forget about hitting anything as I couldn't hit anything to save my life without them, literally!!!!! But, with a laser, even then I'm a crack shot!!! 4 weeks without a laser on my carry firearm, especially one that cost 200 dollars is unprofessional, uncaring, and inappropriate. Get a better policy CTC (i.e., it breaks get confirmed by a LGS or gunsmith and they send you the replacement overnight in the mail and include a return mail envelope for you to send the defective one in. For a 200 dollar laser, this as a consumer is what should be expected PS - I have no connection to Armalaser nor are they paying me two write such a glowing review. I did this because people should know the best thats out there in order to protect themselves and their families in the best way that they can, with the best equipment available. The good guys out there need a reliable laser like this in their hands at all times.

The ArmaLaser Smith & Wesson Shield TR4 Red Laser is custom fitted to the Shield 9mm. I saw this demo'd at a gun show and was promised that it was easy to install myself and would require only minor adjustments once mounted. Both of these statements are true. I've only used this at an indoor range (i.e. low light conditions) but the red dot is highly visible and the grip activation is far superior to a switch-operated laser. It's very natural and there is a switch to turn the laser off so you can shoot with the iron sights too. This is great for Shield owners who want a laser specific to their chassis, and the price is excellent.

Love the ArmaLaser TR4 on my 9mm Shield. This purchase started out with a problem when the original laser unit didn't hold sight adjustment on my initial trip to the range the day after receiving it. That would normally result in a downgrade in my rating, but a single call to ArmaLaser customer support, with no wait on hold, followed by immediate shipment of a replacement unit was impressive. I had the replacement unit in my hands 4 days after my phone call, despite the fact I live in Hawaii and everything takes longer to get here. When the replacement unit arrived it contained a postage paid address label for me to ship the defective unit back in its original box. The replacement unit has been perfect. After a few rounds to zero it, I have fired over 250 rounds, including 50 +P rounds and it has held zero for approximately two months without a single problem. The laser activation "pad" works incredibly well and has no moving parts or mechanical switches. The laser (red) is bright enough to see it clearly in normal daylight at distances in excess of 30 feet (Tested at an outdoor range to 10+ yards and was able to utilize the laser at that distance with no difficulty.) At an indoor range, the laser is bright and easily visible out to the full 25 yards available on that indoor range. However, I will note that, since I zeroed my laser at approximately 7 yards, there is a significant difference between the Point of Aim and Point of Impact at 25 yards (on the vertical axis). Finally, the original battery has not yet required replacement despite the range time and being left "on" for nearly 2 months now. (Keeping in mind that the laser has not been activated except for my range time and a few dry fire drills each week.) I couldn't be happier with this laser.

Being a long time shooter and being used to scopes and red dots, this was my first laser purchase. I was a bit skeptical but the price was right and the online reviews were solid. The instructions were clear and concise, and installation straightforward. I was able to quickly align it to my barrel using one of my bore sights. I haven’t had a chance to take it to the range yet, but if it holds a zero, and I expect it will, I’ll be ordering a few more for other pistols I have.

I've had this about a month and a half. I waited for Armalaser to release the TR4 before buying a laser because I really like the way it activates by skin contact without any buttons to push. Now that I have used it, I really like it. I am glad I waited. It fits well on my S&W Shield. I am new at shooting, but fairly handy with tools. It took me about 20 to 30 minutes of carefully following the directions to complete the installation. Now that it is done I realize I could have gone much more quickly, but I was afraid of breaking something. The FFL who delivered my pistol asked to look at the installation. His comment: "Looks factory installed." I took it to a range to test how well it was sighted in. I test fired groups at 5, 7, 10, and 25 yards, using bean bags to steady and brace each shot. At the close in, personal defense ranges [5, 7, and 10 yards] my groups were about 2 to 3 inches high, but right on the center line. I am not surprised because the factory says it is adjusted before shipping for a longer distance. I plan to re-adjust the aim, probably for 10 yards, on my next trip to the range. At 25 yards, my groups were awful, but that is not the laser's fault, it is just I am not a good shot at that distance. I can barely see the target. The only downside at this point is that the TR4 is still so new that I cannot find any fitted holster for my pistol with the laser installed. Armalaser has told me they are working with a manufacturer and will email me when they have it set up. I talked with the president of Comfort-Tuk yesterday and learned he is trying to get a model to send to his mold maker so he can make a holster to fit. But for now all I can use are generic, non-formed holsters. The "UTG Ambidextrous Pocket Holster (Small, 3.9-Inch, Black)," available here on Amazon, the BlackHawk size 7 IWB from a local store, the "AMBIDEXTROUS INSIDE THE PANTS HOLSTER" from holsterman6376 on EBAY, and the "Leather Concealment Gun Holster - M&P SHIELD with or without Laser (#035)" from Holstermonster, also on EBAY, all work, well enough for now. But I can't wait for a good quality formed holster for concealed carry to be manufactured. This laser is a great addition to the S&W Shield. Just keep in mind that finding a proper holster is going to be difficult until enough of them are out there for the manufacturers to respond to market demand.

Received my laser sight quickly & installed it on my pistol. Very easy installation & was pleased at the range. At 15 feet laser was right on with sights & needed no adjustments. Would have all 5 stars, but I have very dry skin & sometimes laser will not turn on. Laser can be seen 20 or so feet in bright sun light, low light conditions will beam as far as you would shoot. Very good product for the price!! Bob

The Armalaser has got to be the best purchase I've made in a very long time. I've researched and studied lasers for handguns over the past 4 months in order to make an informed decision on one for my S&W m&p shield .40. This item is beyond my high expectations in every regard. I installed it on my shield in about 5 minutes. Centered it in about another 5 minutes. It is a solid, sturdy and sleek addition. It has a dedicated battery door, unlike all other lasers that require complete or partial disassembly to swap out a battery. The actual beam itself is as bright as a flame and definitely has the intimidation factor in its favor. It's virtually weightless and when installed it feels as if it's part of the gun the way the gun should be initially. And one of the greatest features is definitely the revolutionary on/off function of the laser. There is no button here to get in the way, irritate your finger or waste time trying to switch it on during what could be a stressful moment. What we do have is an ingenious gold-plated strip located directly under the trigger guard where your middle finger rests naturally. When contacted by your finger the laser automatically beams out to your target. When your finger no longer touches the strip, the laser stops emitting. There is also a master on/off switch located on the underside in the forward part of the housing. This is yet another fantastic feature. I honestly can't say enough about this product. I very rarely write any reviews but when I come across such a superior item, which doesn't happen often, I feel compelled to share my experiences with others. Along with the above mentioned features there is also the fact that the battery life will last about 6-7 times longer than a green laser. This is the absolute brightest red or red-orange available anywhere for this purpose. It is truly bright. I feel assured with my purchase as well because it has a 5 year warranty. I've never heard of a 5 year warranty on just about anything, especially these days. I'm glad I found the Armalaser, I didn't want to buy any inferior laser before I finally settled on something. This is by far, hands down, no questions asked the finest laser available for your handgun. If you have any hesitation about purchasing one, I say go for it. I guarantee that you will be extremely satisfied and more than likely your only regret will be that you didn't purchase one earlier.

I have these on my pistols. I love them. The fit and finish is great on my S&Ws. The battery WILL NOT last as long as advertised. They will need replaced at least once every 18-24 months. I like the green laser better than the red one.