Yep, Laser Pointer Shotgun Slugs Are a Thing

August 22, 2017

What will TAOFLEDERMAUS think of next? Laser pointer shotgun slugs, that’s what.

Our favorite shooting expert and experimental ammo tester TAOFLEDERMAUS took it upon himself to test out some laser pointer shotgun slugs.

Lasers aren’t uncommon accessories with guns, but this style is. See what happens in the footage.

16 COMMENTS

CLarson August 22, 2017 At 19:16

Haven’t heard the No One Lives Forever soundtrack in over a decade… ah nostalgia. Excellent background music for shells with fricken lasers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2whgu1i_G3c&list=PL8B280F55A76A5F5A&index=1
- Howie August 23, 2017 At 11:33
  
  SO WHERE IS THE VIDEO?
Curtis in IL August 22, 2017 At 20:30

Ellen F., pleasure to make your acquaintance.

I’m not seeing a video link.
Am I doing it wrong?
- Geoff PR August 22, 2017 At 21:21
  
  Are you using some type of ‘no script’ protection, Curtis?
  
  (And, Ellen F, if possible, *please* avoid auto-start videos…)
  - Curtis in IL August 22, 2017 At 21:55
    
    Yes I’m using No Script. It was installed specifically because of TTAG’s browser highjacking ads that made the side unbearable.
    
    I turned it off, not blocking anything on this site, but still no video. Other than the Youtube link CLarson posted.
Tom in Oregon August 22, 2017 At 20:39

Video?
- Geoff PR August 22, 2017 At 21:37
  
  They aren’t using YouTube, it’s something else.
  
  The vid was kinda boring. There’s no way a cheap pointer can survive the sudden G-load when fired.
  
  The cheap lasers use plastic collimating lenses in a plastic housing. The better ones (higher power capable) use glass lenses in a metal housing.
  
  I’d be surprised there’s any solid-state lasers that could handle that level of shock, unless they are designed for it, and that would make them expensive…
Geoff PR August 22, 2017 At 21:28

Speaking of laser boresights, are there *any* that are worth a lick?

Every last one I’ve tried, even the supposedly adjustable ones, refuse to hold a ‘center’, so to speak. If I break open the action and rotate the laser in the chamber, the dot moves.

The only way I got anything close to repeatable is when I marked the base if the laser so the orientation in the chamber was the same each time, and even *then*, it still wanders somewhat…
- Curtis in IL August 22, 2017 At 21:51
  
  I have one in .223 that I bought cheap from Amazon. It’s not dead-on accurate, but I don’t think it needs to be.
  
  I use it to get my sights or scope “in the ballpark” in the basement before I head to the range and sight them in for real. The laser saves a lot of time and ammo.
- Curtis in IL August 22, 2017 At 21:57
  
  And keep in mind the cartridge-shaped bore sight is not going to fit perfectly snug in the chamber. There will always be some play in there, lest it get stuck.
Tom August 22, 2017 At 23:23

Did he really just wave his hand in front of a loaded gun to see the laser at 1:18?
- Snatchums August 23, 2017 At 06:02
  
  It’s not a Remington 700, he should be fine.
- Gordon August 23, 2017 At 09:58
  
  Yep. I saw that too. The action was open at the time, but still.
RocketScientist August 23, 2017 At 09:45

Holy mother of GAWD. Did you just make a post with a f***ing AUTOPLAY video in it? What the hell is wrong with you people??!?!?! Whats next, vertical video? Seriously, this is a level of bullshit for which I will not, for long, stand.
PeterK August 23, 2017 At 10:55

Autoplay video? That’s a pretty egregious sin. ;p
Mikial August 23, 2017 At 21:53

So, I was under the sadly mistaken impression that this was an actual round that was aimed through the use of an integral laser aiming device. But this is essentially just a bore sight laser shot downrange. Lame.