Introduction
For the past ten to twenty years, IR lasers were prohibited for commercial purchase and could only be used by members of law enforcement or the military. However, with technological advances over the last sixteen years, you can find civilian-legal IR lasers to mount on your AR15 that perform well in most scenarios.
There are plenty of reasons to consider investing in night vision, compatible red dot optics, and using them with an IR Laser. One of the best reasons is because the United States’ armed forces have demonstrated that having the ability to engage threats at night gives you a huge advantage.
The enemy can’t see you, but you can see them. A common phrase that you’ll hear from America’s combat veterans when talking about night vision devices is: “We own the night.”
For most of us, the situation doesn’t dictate the need to “own the night.” If you’re lucky enough you may live near a shooting range that has night shooting events and will maybe even let you rent the equipment.
Or you’re fortunate enough to live in an area that let’s you hunt at night. For instance, if you’re in Texas, night vision and IR Laser equipped AR-15s are common for their ability to work to control the wild hog population.
Whatever your reason for checking out the world of night vision and IR lasers, there are many things to learn before making any purchases.
Running an IR Laser
Since you’re a survival minded person, you may think that running an IR Laser with some night vision will give you a huge advantage in a defense situation. But before you rush to your local retailer searching for an IR Laser to mount on the upper receiver of your AR15, there are a few things you’ll need to understand about IR Lasers in general.
Unlike green or red illuminated lasers, infrared lasers cannot be detected by the human eye without infrared illuminator augmentation or night vision goggles. You may consider lasers that have multiple beams that are visible without night vision and have an infrared laser that you can use with night vision.
Picking night vision is a different subject but remember without night vision you’re IR laser isn’t useful to you. In addition to night vision, you will want to make sure that your primary optic system has night vision compatibility and that it is co-witnessed with your IR Laser.
Remember that most quality IR lasers for the civilian population aren’t cheap, and to get one that functions as you expect will likely be a sizeable investment. Of course, even after you have all the equipment, you’ll need to practice and get some professional training, which will add even more cost to your budget.
When you’re ready to make the leap and start using an IR Laser on your rifle, then there are some options that stand out above the rest because of their proven track record of success in the field.
L3HARRIS ATPIAL-C CLASS1/3R IR LASER
You can mount this commercial marketed IR laser from L3Harris Technologies for a little over thirteen hundred dollars. This IR laser features an ILP or Infrared Laser Pointer and an IR Illuminator with calibrated power that’s eye-safe and available for the commercial market.
L3 Harris Technologies constructs the Atpial-C Class1 Infrared Laser with .7 mW diode that’s not restricted by the FDA but will paint a target at over four hundred and fifty yards when matched up with a quality pair of NV goggles approved for civilian use.
Considering that most night vision goggles available for commercial use offer max target acquisition at around one hundred and fifteen yards, the Atpial-C provides more than ample sighting capabilities.
Although the Atpial-C is a completely Mil-Spec Infrared Laser system, one feature separates it from its FDA-restricted twin, and that’s the diode used to project the laser beam. It’s a subtle change that will be barely noticed by most users.
Instead of including a full-power Class IIIb diode which puts the laser in the FDA restricted category, L3 Harris Technologies builds the Atpial-C with a Class1 diode and Class 3R infrared illuminator. Every other item used to make the Atpial-C Infrared Laser mirrors what L3 Harris Technologies uses for the Infrared Laser system used by law enforcement and the military.
Aside from using the latest advances in technology to make the Atpial-C street-legal, so to speak, L3 Harris Technologies also manufactures this Infrared Laser with a shallow profile that mounts on any standard M1913 Picatinny rail.
This mounting feature allows it to sit much lower than most Infrared Lasers on the civilian market and won’t impede your sight picture when mounted in the high-noon position on your AR15.
Wrapping all the best available technology inside a glass-reinforced polymer body, L3 Harris has created a well-functioning Infrared Laser that’s exceptionally durable and dependable.
Activation of the Atpial-C is intuitive using a remote pressure pad or an onboard fire button, and the battery compartment is rear-facing, unlike many of its counterparts, making a battery change quick and easy.
Although windage and elevation adjustments require a small flathead screwdriver, they’re still easy to make.
With all these features combined in a housing that can take a beating and still perform as expected, the Atpial-C is about as close to the law enforcement or military full-powered Atpial you’ll find on the civilian market today.
Steiner Defense DBAL-D2
Priced at between sixteen and nineteen hundred dollars, the Steiner Defense DBAL-D2 features a hunting and tactical IR Laser with Infrared LED illumination for the civilian market with a few added features that will surprise you.
Starting with the latest in lens technology, Steiner Defense uses high-definition aspherical telescopic lenses and the ability to adjust the laser beam from two to thirty degrees when necessary.
This IR laser ultimately enhances your night vision sighting while still offering you eye-safe illumination at an unbelievable distance of almost three thousand feet.
Additionally, Steiner Defense offers this Infrared Laser with a pair of activation switches that provide both high and low power settings, which help guarantee maximum efficiency and excellent husbandry of the battery sources.
When searching for an Infrared Laser optic that performs better than expected in low or no light conditions, the DBAL-D2 will provide excellent accuracy and performance. The DBAL-D2 resolves the laser power limitations using LEDs for the hunter who needs to make a long-range shot.
Unfortunately, this makes the overall housing more significant, but the longer-range illumination is a far better trade-off. Although the DBAL-D2 gives off a visible signature, the target can only recognize it when inside the beam’s trajectory.
While the cost of the DBAL-D2 is a little on the higher end of the spectrum, experiencing one practical dark night maneuver or low-light hunting trip with this Infrared Laser mounted on your AR15 will more than justify the price.
B.E. Meyers MAWL-C1 With IR/Visible Laser
While there are a few more iterations of Infrared Lasers you may discover, you may want to consider this Infrared Laser from B.E. Meyers, the MAWL-C1+ IR / visible laser.
Although ala carte pricing may not be your type of purchasing mode, the MAWL-C1 from B.E. Meyers gives you the capability of managing your budget against the features you need. The MAWL-C1 base price starts at around four hundred and sixty-five dollars, then creeps up to approximately thirty-five hundred dollars when fully loaded with all the features available.
Representing a total shift in how Infrared Lasers are produced, B.E. Meyers offers the MAWL-C1 with vastly improved ergonomics, an interface compatible with most AR15 and carbines, and superior performance redesigned from the ground up.
Beginning with adjustment buttons that are intuitively operated and “triple-click” adjustments that allow you to utilize eight different combination settings, the MAWL-C1 is a powerful workhorse. B.E. Meyers offers this Infrared Laser that will suit even the quirkiest sensitivities you may experience on legacy or modern night vision devices.
As any AR15 enthusiasts will tell you, depending on the number of accessories you mount on the Picatinny rail of your upper receiver, free space may be unavailable unless something is removed.
Depending on the tactical mission you’re on or the type of hunting trip, removal of some of these essential items may not be something you’re willing to do or can’t possibly consider doing. The B.E. Meyers MAWL-C1 easily handles that problem with a breakthrough offset side mount that minimizes accidental hand contact leaving the Picatinny rail free to load up on accessories and options.
Technical Considerations
While these three Infrared Lasers will make a great addition to your AR15 arsenal, a few others are underperformers on the market. You’ll need to rigorously inspect each of their functional capabilities before purchase.
Typically, there are four things you’ll need to gauge any purchase of an Infrared Laser against before buying one. Although most of the four things may seem intangible, don’t always take the salesperson’s word for something, especially if they’re on commission.
Look at the specifications and, if possible, perform a pre-purchase test of each one and also be sure to have a few conversations with your hunting companions and fellow firearm enthusiasts.
Reliability is one of the first intangibles you’ll need to check. The statistics on some of the Infrared Lasers on the market prove that almost fifty percent of these poor performers fail to attain or hold zero, and others simply stop working at some point in their lifespan.
When it comes to placement of an accurate shot, maintaining a setting that’s only close to zero is not like a game of horseshoes when getting close to the pole counts.
If the Infrared Laser you’re thinking about purchasing doesn’t have an IR Illuminator, put it back on the counter, turn around, and walk away.
Without some Infrared illumination, acquiring or assessing the threat will be impossible unless you add another form of lighting to your AR15 or manage your rifle with one hand and an illuminator with the other hand. Simplicity of use is the key when choosing your Infrared Laser.
Powering your IR device is also something to consider. If it takes hard to find or expensive batteries, then your device may not be ready when you want to use it. As a general rule, the more expensive IR lasers will use common batteries like AAA or AA and this is a great advantage because there is nothing worse than stocking up on all different kinds of batteries.
Remember that the more features your laser has, if you can’t efficiently and adequately operate them with a minimum of awkwardness or fumbling, you’re buying something you don’t need and will probably never learn to use.
Conclusion
While most owners of Infrared Lasers will suggest a few essential must-haves, be sure you can effectively manage the operation of these features in a tactical or dynamic situation before you buy.
The cost versus value is so apparent it may not be worth mentioning, bult you’ll likely discover that you’re making a relatively significant investment to mount an Infrared Laser on your AR15.
Weigh the need against the cash outlay and determine how much you need to spend and what you may need to sacrifice to purchase one.
Picking the suitable AR15 Infrared Laser to meet your needs does require more investigation as you’re venturing into a technology that many aren’t familiar with and don’t see a need for it.
If you constantly find yourself on low or no-light hunting trips or maneuvers, having an Infrared Laser and a pair of quality night vision devices will likely give you the advantage you need. If you want to be prepared for anything, then a night vision rifle set up is also for you. Or if you’re a firearms enthusiast and you’re looking to try something new, then this is the next step.
Just remember this: pick a night vision device, red dot optic, and IR laser that will work together. Then find the right training to take full advantage of your investment.
[Note: This was a guest post.]
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