Re: anyone own the LDI ITAL/OTAL Class I ir?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: IR-V</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SkaerE</div><div class="ubbcode-body">first to be sure it has a good usable dot out to about 200yrds.
second, which one should i get if I have no front sight to worry about - does it matter offset or not?
and third, i was really hopin for an unbiased opinion from someone who doesn't sell them.
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While Vic is a mfg. authorized dealer on these devices, he's not one to give a biased review just to sell one. His advice is solid.
The output will be fine on either the Class 1 OTAL or ITAL for work out to 200 yards. Just make certain you've got LDI's most current (higher output) 0.7 mW laser package and you'll be good to go.
From purely an alignment standpoint, if you don't have a front sight base to reckon with, it makes more sense to go with the in-line (ITAL) model, as a key objective for all sighting systems (in my opinion) is to eliminate as much offset from the boreline as possible.
I am adamant about using my iron sights wherever possible. For this, I find that nearly all laser aiming devices designed for top rail (12 o'clock) mounting, such as the ATPIAL, DBAL, and ATILLA occlude more of the overall sight picture than I like, even though they do not obscure the front sight post. So, I will typically mount these devices on side rails or angled side rails, which naturally offsets the devices away from top center. Many others in field operations, who emphasize iron sight utilization, do the same.
With the DBAL, ATPIAL, and ATILLA, there are two lasers (one for aiming / designation and one for illumination) that need to be aligned. So naturally, each has to be offset to both sides from the center in order to be on the same device. With the Class 1 OTAL and ITAL, you only have one laser output (for aiming / designation). Technically, even the one laser emitter on either the the Class 1 OTAL and ITAL is "offset" in the chassis by the battery compartment; the way this is managed is by the placement of the rail mount in relation to the chassis + laser emitter. The rail mount placement on the ITAL puts the axis of the laser emitter in-line with the center line of the rail. The rail mount placement on the OTAL puts the axis of the laser emitter off-set to one side of but in parallel with the center axis of the rail.
All this to say that if you don't need to offset to get around an obstructed view (caused, for example, by a front sight base) on your primary weapon or one that you would swap your IR laser sight to, then there really is no reason to not go with the in-line laser emitter version.
Generally speaking, from a resale perspective, you will do better to select the aiming system that can be adapted to the broadest variety of applications possible - and that would be the OTAL. However, only you know if you have intention to resell the device.
So there you have it from two perspectives: (1) tactical operations, and (2) strategic economics!
IR-V
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Thanks IR-V, there's something to be said with irons...Good detailed post as always.
Vic