At what distance should I zero my laser on a pistol

[spleify]

I just picked up a Streamlight TLR-4 for my house pistol, M&P45. What distance should I zero it at?

I know there is only one distance where the laser will actually be accurate and "zeroed" and that depends on the velocity of your firearm. Just looking for a beginning point.

[Tim K]

Longest range in your house. The closer you get, the farther apart the beam and the POI will be up to the vertical distance between the bore and the laser.

[MarkCO]

I sight them in at 25 yards just like my irons. I have found that the instinctive sight picture still comes into play so I don't want to do anything to give me pause in a critical situation.

[pickenup]

I did mine at 21 feet. I don't believe that anyone in the house that is a bit closer or farther than that, isn't going to change the POI enough to matter. Besides that is the distance I practice/play with it, at the range I go to.

[rondog]

I always used the 7 yards/21 feet recommendation to zero mine. It's kind of a moot point really, because no matter whether the dot and point of impact meet or not, they'll only be off by a little bit at self-defense distances. So if you zero it at 20-21 feet or so, you're gonna hit the BG no matter what. If the bullet hits an inch or so off the dot, so what? A COM hit is a COM hit.

Lasers aren't for target shooting, they're just a guide to let you know your chance for a hit are very good, especially if you can't use or even see your sights. JMHO, of course, but that's the way I look at using mine. If I can dot him, I got him. I personally think a red-dot optic is a helluva lot more accurate than a laser, as far as pin-point shooting goes.

[ray1970]

Laser? You don't need a laser. You didn't have a laser on that Walther the last time we were out and you didn't have any problems hitting the cardboard bad guys.

[spleify]

Thanks guys, yeah Ray that Walther isnt to bad. I am putting this on my M&P which is my house gun so I like the new TLR-4 because its a light and laser.

[ray1970]

I wouldn't mind a light on my Glock 17 but I'm a cheap-skate. Hopefully I don't kill a loved one in the dark.

[J]

Put it on a 9mm. Less drop... It's effective sight in is over a greater range.

[Stevensje]

20 feet