Qualities To Look For When Buying Laser Sights

Laser sighting systems are becoming popular among gun owners due to their improved technology and greater functionality. Laser sights are no longer the stuff of science fiction as they are now available to help increase your accuracy and target acquisition speed. With many laser sight options currently available on the market, it can be a struggle to find the laser sight model that best suits your needs. Thus, it helps to prepare a checklist of the specifications and features you need from a laser sight.

To help you make a smart buying decision, we will share here some essential qualities to look for when buying laser sights.

Versatility

A practical and cost-efficient move is to buy a laser sight that can be mounted on more than one type of firearm. Most laser sights are mounted on a rail, and a smart choice is to choose a laser sight with adjustable rail mounting. This is ideal for gun owners who different types of pistols. The trigger guard mounted laser sight is another mounting system that is ideal for various pistols due to its convenient mounting style, powerful beam, and excellent short-range accuracy.

How about for different kinds of firearms? Gun owners who have different types of firearms can benefit from reading firearm product reviews from Gun Laser Guide where comprehensive reviews and suggestions are provided for various types of firearms, manufacturers, models, and calibers. Different gun sizes and barrel lengths often mean you will have to buy laser sights for each type of gun you own. However, there are some types of laser sight mounting systems that can be used on different firearms. One notable example is the rear sight laser, which can be used for handguns and compact submachine guns. The Crimson Trace CMR-201 Rail Master is another exceptional laser sight with a nearly universal mounting versatility. It is designed to fit rail-equipped pistols, shotguns, and rifles with its custom fit inserts and secure lock technology.

Easy Windage and Elevation Adjustment

A laser sight can be an effective hunting accessory that can serve as a replacement or enhancement for an optical scope. Windage is the sight adjustment used to compensate for horizontal (left or right) deviations in the projectile trajectory, while elevation is the adjustment for vertical (up or down) deviations. Knowledge of windage and elevation is essential for precision shooters in the military and law enforcement units. Hunters and competitive shooters are more of the civilian equivalents of precision shooters but only a few of them are well-versed in the concept of windage and elevation. Many younger generations of hunters and competitive shooters prefer a convenient way of adjusting windage and elevation. The laser sight offers a more visible guide for hunters and shooters to help them make accurate shots. Manual calibration of windage and elevation takes considerable knowledge, patience, and skill and can be prone to incorrect adjustments. The automated adjustment feature of laser sights enables faster and more accurate adjustments for long-range targets.

Red vs. Green Laser

You may think that your choice of laser light color can be a matter of preference, but some practical applications and pros and cons should be also considered. You will also need to factor in the firearm you are using and when and where you will be shooting. We will discuss more on these two laser colors below.

Red Laser

Read laser is the traditional choice by most gun owners because of its durability and affordability. When it comes to strength or how the laser stands up to the firearm’s recoil, the red laser performs remarkably well. It has a wider operational temperature range compared to a green laser. A red laser is typically operational between 15 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, while a green laser is generally operational between 40 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If you live in colder locations, a red laser is a practical choice because its overall output will not be affected by the low temperatures. Another convenient quality of a red laser is its minimal power consumption and longer battery life. It is due to the general design of red lasers requiring only one diode.

There are also some drawbacks to using a red laser. It has a visibility limitation when used during the daytime, where it can only be visible at 25-30 yards. Further limiting the effective distance of the red laser light is its low magnification. Most red laser sights cannot be magnified, which makes them less precise in long-range shooting.

Green Laser

The main advantage of the green laser is its high visibility even during the daytime. Green is in the middle of the light spectrum, with a wavelength of 495 to 570 nanometers. The human eye can see visible light in the range of 400 to 700 nanometers. The red laser on the other hand lies at 635 to 670 nanometers. Thus, the green laser will less like be obscured by daytime light than the red one. An excellent range is another advantage of the green laser, where it can still be visible at 100 yards or more. It is a good pick for precision shooters such as snipers and marksmen.

The green laser also has some drawbacks. For one, it is delicate and less resistant to shock from the recoil. It also has a narrower operational temperature window than a red laser. When it comes to price, the green laser sight is more expensive than the red laser.

Laser Sight Mode

A good option is to go for a laser sight with more than one mode. A steady laser beam is ideal for close-quarter combat and self-defense, where fast target acquisition is crucial. Another laser sight mode is the pulsating or strobe mode. This mode is ideal in low-visibility environments, long distances, or in areas with various obstacles and structures. Hunters and snipers prefer this sight mode because their eyes can quickly catch the unusual image projected by a pulsating laser.

Great improvements in laser sight technology can help improve the accuracy of firearms. Laser sights improve the reaction time and target acquisition speed of gun users. We have only touched on the essential qualities to look for in laser sights. Different users have varying intended uses and preferences in attaching laser sights, and you can develop your custom checklist of ideal qualities. Making the right laser sight can keep you safe and help you make a shot when it matters.

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