20 mW Green lasers for ~$70 CAD

[ThunderCactus]

Some of you are underestimating the usefulness of a laser, granted it can be a liability indoors and out if not used properly, but it can also be used as a purposeful distraction. I myself am looking into getting a 3mw IR laser for night games so I can coordinate with others who have night vision and designate targets. As it's under 5mw it's not damaging to people eyes, and I certainly won't have in on constantly or be shining it in people's eyes on purpose.
A regular red laser can have the same effectiveness at night not only for people with night vision but people without as well. I myself was using it to aim with my night vision during a night game against well seasoned airsoft veterans, even after I had been hit they still had no idea who was using the laser. It's all a matter of how you use it.
As long as people know the effects of a high powered laser on someones eyes, we have to trust they wont use anything above 5mw in a game, and what difference does it make in airsoft having a 3mw laser?

[Drake]

Yeah the problem is people ARE using higher power lasers (well over 5mW) and here alone (Montreal) there have been, I believe, two incidents (that I know of) already where people have suffered what appears to be permanent effects from having been hit by a laser (purportedly, one incident the guy was intentionally shining peoples' faces).

Point in case, they've been banned at pretty much all games.

No doubt it could be useful. An AEG shooting 500 could get some extra range, too, and that'd be useful as long as people respect minimum engagement ranges. But it's just a matter of time before an idiot comes along and does something boneheaded. For lasers, it didn't take long at all.

[dodger_me]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

Some of you are underestimating the usefulness of a laser, granted it can be a liability indoors and out if not used properly, but it can also be used as a purposeful distraction. I myself am looking into getting a 3mw IR laser for night games so I can coordinate with others who have night vision and designate targets. As it's under 5mw it's not damaging to people eyes, and I certainly won't have in on constantly or be shining it in people's eyes on purpose.
A regular red laser can have the same effectiveness at night not only for people with night vision but people without as well. I myself was using it to aim with my night vision during a night game against well seasoned airsoft veterans, even after I had been hit they still had no idea who was using the laser. It's all a matter of how you use it.
As long as people know the effects of a high powered laser on someones eyes, we have to trust they wont use anything above 5mw in a game, and what difference does it make in airsoft having a 3mw laser?

Yeah i was thinking of picking up something along the same lines, Did you get a peq2 or like a regular flashlight style one? Would any generation Night vision work with it?

[Ronan]

Wanna distract people? Shine a normal light.

This is a game, no point in lasers, knives and other dangerous items. Sure it's all fun, until someone gets seriously injured...

This comment isn't directed at anyone in particular but they are words of advise.

[BC_K]

Originally Posted by Ronan

Wanna distract people? Shine a normal light.

This is a game, no point in lasers, knives and other dangerous items. Sure it's all fun, until someone gets seriously injured...

This comment isn't directed at anyone in particular but they are words of advise.

The training knives, the black ones, are great for getting up close with.

Now as for lasers, guess Im pretty screwed for using it in a game LOL.



Hell of I know what the mW rating on this thing is. Gotta contact Laser Devices Inc. an get that info.

[Donster]

Originally Posted by Styrak

Hmm. This doesn't add up. Wikipedia says Class IIIa lasers are 1-5 mW, not 20. But the site (right on the laser) claims 20 mW.

i can't remember exactly how it goes, but manufactures also include the residual energy or something like that in their laser power output to make it seem as if they were stronger, when in fact they are not. im sorry i don't have exact info, but its what i remember reading.

[Wilson]

Originally Posted by Ronan

Wanna distract people? Shine a normal light.

This is a game, no point in lasers, knives and other dangerous items. Sure it's all fun, until someone gets seriously injured...

This comment isn't directed at anyone in particular but they are words of advise.

+1

Just put a flashlight on your weapon. You can get point-aimed Surefire flashlights that are bright as hell - ones you can almost use to aim your weapon!

www.surefire.com

[ThunderCactus]

Originally Posted by dodger_me

Yeah i was thinking of picking up something along the same lines, Did you get a peq2 or like a regular flashlight style one? Would any generation Night vision work with it?

The red laser I have came with my night vision kit, 5mw unfortunately, but it's just a small laser with a pressure switch, 2 inches long at the most.
Any night vision and naked eye is going to see a regular 650nm red laser. IR lasers I believe are 700nm wavelength and above, typically coming in 850nm (above what the human eye can see), and are detectable by night vision of any kind, from 1960's starlight to gen4 night vision.
The downside is that if anyone shines a laser into your night vision it burns holes in your tube instantly.

[Cushak]

Originally Posted by ThunderCactus

The red laser I have came with my night vision kit, 5mw unfortunately, but it's just a small laser with a pressure switch, 2 inches long at the most.
Any night vision and naked eye is going to see a regular 650nm red laser. IR lasers I believe are 700nm wavelength and above, typically coming in 850nm (above what the human eye can see), and are detectable by night vision of any kind, from 1960's starlight to gen4 night vision.
The downside is that if anyone shines a laser into your night vision it burns holes in your tube instantly.

I thought I heard somewhere that newer generation NV's have protection against that sort of thing?

[ThunderCactus]

Newer generation yes, they close the shutter infront of the tube before the light gets to the tube, but I haven't seen this technology on any Gen1 systems which are the most common in airsoft.
Gen1+ and 2+ will turn off when exposed to bright light, like the sun, or a powerful flashlight, but not something as concentrated as a laser, I believe the same goes for advanced shutters. The main purpose of that shutter is to protect your NVD from major light sources that risk burning out the whole tube very quickly, and although highly concentrated, a laser doesn't appear much brighter than an LED flashlight.