Fatty99
04-29-2008, 10:12
Okay,
I've been badgering Lasermax for months about the possibilities of a green internal lasermax. Their tech folks responded by saying that they tried to field a green laser in the internal setup, but because of the mechanics and the additional size required for the green version, the prototype they made wouldn't stand up to the recoil.
So, at the end of all things, I'm stuck with an external rail mount:upeyes:
For most of you that don't know, the advantages of the green are that you can see it MUCH better during bright conditions (you virtually cannot pickup a red laser outside on a sunny day). The Green laser is VERY bright and you can indeed pick up the laser under all but the brightest conditions.
So to that end, the new "greenie" is an advantage.
Aside from the fact that I don't like external lasers (that can be bumped and create an overall larger profile for the gun).....the uni isn't all that bad.
I don't like the set screw, which protrudes out the other side too far, creating a snag point. But the set screw features a head that you can turn with any coin or flathead screwdriver (which is nice.)
The Uni also features elevation and windage adjustment, something not available on the internal versions (not that you really needed it all that much with the internals...most of mine were within an inch of the sightline at 15 yards).
The Uni also features an ambidextrious activation switch (like the internal) but unfortunately, it's MUCH too easy to activate. That's a good thing when you're fumbling in the dark with a rifle, but not really an advantage with a pistol (it's not like the switch on the internals is difficult to find). The real problem is that it's VERY easy to unintentionally activate the uni (and thus drain the batteries down). If you happen to put the pistol in a drawer or a glove box or whatever, you'd better take care NOT to turn on the laser. Furthermore, you'd better not store it somewhere it can be bumped or bounced around AT ALL, (like the center console of your vehicle) because again, it would suck to draw and attempt to turn on the laser, only to find it's out of juice.
It's also noteworthy that the additional power of the greenie becomes somewhat of a liability. The additional power means you can pick it up during daylight conditions, but it also means that you can see the beam in the dark (unlike the red). You can SOMETIMES pick up the red lasers (in dusty or smokey conditions) but with the greenie, even the most minute air particles scatter the laser a bit and you can literally see the laser all the way back to the shooter (can you say....reverse tracer). It's not as bad as a flashlight, but if I'm hiding beside my bed in the dark waiting to finish off a bad guy, I wouldn't want him to figure out where I am based on my laser trace. A small issue I realize, but I'm trying to be thorough.
Additionally, the external version features one benefit over the interal and that's the "powder out" resistance. Most of you with internals have experienced this (especially when shooting shorter barrels). You fire three or four times and you can't see the laser anymore. The optic lens at the end of the laser gets coated over with ammo residue. The external is much more resistant to that because it's not so close to the muzzle.
In the end, I would recommend getting this laser for a carbine or a rifle (or even a shotgun) but not a pistol. I'll stick with the older (and somewhat inferior) red internals for now on my pistols.
I've been badgering Lasermax for months about the possibilities of a green internal lasermax. Their tech folks responded by saying that they tried to field a green laser in the internal setup, but because of the mechanics and the additional size required for the green version, the prototype they made wouldn't stand up to the recoil.
So, at the end of all things, I'm stuck with an external rail mount:upeyes:
For most of you that don't know, the advantages of the green are that you can see it MUCH better during bright conditions (you virtually cannot pickup a red laser outside on a sunny day). The Green laser is VERY bright and you can indeed pick up the laser under all but the brightest conditions.
So to that end, the new "greenie" is an advantage.
Aside from the fact that I don't like external lasers (that can be bumped and create an overall larger profile for the gun).....the uni isn't all that bad.
I don't like the set screw, which protrudes out the other side too far, creating a snag point. But the set screw features a head that you can turn with any coin or flathead screwdriver (which is nice.)
The Uni also features elevation and windage adjustment, something not available on the internal versions (not that you really needed it all that much with the internals...most of mine were within an inch of the sightline at 15 yards).
The Uni also features an ambidextrious activation switch (like the internal) but unfortunately, it's MUCH too easy to activate. That's a good thing when you're fumbling in the dark with a rifle, but not really an advantage with a pistol (it's not like the switch on the internals is difficult to find). The real problem is that it's VERY easy to unintentionally activate the uni (and thus drain the batteries down). If you happen to put the pistol in a drawer or a glove box or whatever, you'd better take care NOT to turn on the laser. Furthermore, you'd better not store it somewhere it can be bumped or bounced around AT ALL, (like the center console of your vehicle) because again, it would suck to draw and attempt to turn on the laser, only to find it's out of juice.
It's also noteworthy that the additional power of the greenie becomes somewhat of a liability. The additional power means you can pick it up during daylight conditions, but it also means that you can see the beam in the dark (unlike the red). You can SOMETIMES pick up the red lasers (in dusty or smokey conditions) but with the greenie, even the most minute air particles scatter the laser a bit and you can literally see the laser all the way back to the shooter (can you say....reverse tracer). It's not as bad as a flashlight, but if I'm hiding beside my bed in the dark waiting to finish off a bad guy, I wouldn't want him to figure out where I am based on my laser trace. A small issue I realize, but I'm trying to be thorough.
Additionally, the external version features one benefit over the interal and that's the "powder out" resistance. Most of you with internals have experienced this (especially when shooting shorter barrels). You fire three or four times and you can't see the laser anymore. The optic lens at the end of the laser gets coated over with ammo residue. The external is much more resistant to that because it's not so close to the muzzle.
In the end, I would recommend getting this laser for a carbine or a rifle (or even a shotgun) but not a pistol. I'll stick with the older (and somewhat inferior) red internals for now on my pistols.
