So, You Want to Talk Lasers...

I got an e-mail from my contact at LaserMax, Will, the other day. He had a few comments on my quick range report for the Bushmaster, specifically on the limitations and expectations one should be aware of when dealing with laser sights. I thought it was an excellent primer on laser sights, and have gotten his permission to reprint here. I'll let Will say the rest:

Hi Jay,

Just a couple of comments on the practical use of lasers.

Red lasers are useful dusk to dawn and indoors anytime under any temperature, hot or cold. The dark hours are statistically when most crimes occur, anyway. Red lasers are not practical in most daylight conditions.

Green lasers offer an increase in daylight shooting distances except in direct sun and glare. Green lasers are dazzlingly bright indoors. Green lasers, however, dim out in the cold at temperatures below 15F to 35F or above 110F.

There is a weapon mounted green laser made by B. E. Meyers only for the US Military that will operate at virtually any temperature found on the battlefield, but the cost of the unit is over $5,000.

Why use a laser? Lasers provide low light speed and accuracy and they also instantly inform the assailant in a universal language to drop their weapon or face the consequences.

An additional advantage of the laser is the ability to visualize training issues at the range such as flinching by dry firing with the laser on.

Best regards,

Will Houde-Walter

CTO

LaserMax, Inc.

Will, thanks for taking the time to impart some wisdom on what to expect when using a laser sight. I will readily admit to being a newcomer to lasers, having only passing familiarity with laser aiming systems. I will be taking my laser-equipped handguns to an indoor range this weekend, so I should have some better idea of how they function in their intended milieu...

Helping you learn more about more the tools you use: just one more service MArooned offers...

That is all.