Night Vision Best value laser/light?
- Thread starter jeffl838
- Start date
If you want to be able to activate the light and laser at the same time (which you will) you can do it cheaper by using devices with their own pads and pressing together but it can be a pain. That’d be something like an OTAL and Protac IR. Most of the new options to use a dual pad can price you towards $1k and for a little more you can get a DBAL D2. Get the SF dual pad or TNVC taps. The SF peq connector doesn’t fit the Steiner’s that great but you can trim the connector or splice in a Steiner one. At least mine didn’t. Not sure if taps uses the same one? You can find the cheaper DBAL IR laser/illuminator for good prices but the illuminator sucks. The atpial’s is about the same. I love my D2, the illuminator is awesome. People bitch about the red glow but so far I’ve never spooked an animal.
The best "value" might be the laser max ... last time I looked ... they were about $150 including the pressure switch. I bought two of them 4 and 4.5 years ago and they both work. They require a hex wrench to zero and are not water proof, so I clean the innards with isopropyl when I change the batts. But they work fine out to 150yds ... you can see the laser out 800+ yds ... but for shooting ... 150yds is all I need.
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Next up the ladder are some of the used military lasers ... like I got a PAQ-4c for $350 on ebay and its fine ...
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After that is the Steiner CQBL ... the first "easy to use" laser in the bunch ... but those run around $700 ... so "best value" is slipping away as the price rises. But with the vis laser, that helps make it easier to zero ... as you can get it close in the house before you go out.
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Point is .. for lasers ... for shooting ... for shooting standing unsupported out to 150yds against targets like yotes or hogs ... any laser will do. Hence "best value" is the laser max.
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For illuminators ... the ELIR-3 ... run about $350 ... and with a minor adjustment work out to at least 600yds ... I haven't tried it further.
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I don't like the integrated units ... because the lower power illuminators aren't worth the weight of putting them on the rifle.
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If you want an integrated high power unit ... I see PEQ-15s on ebay for between $1,500 and $2,500 all the time ... but "best value" ?? I'd say no. The laser max and the ELIR-3 combined are $500 and they get the job done.
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Next up the ladder are some of the used military lasers ... like I got a PAQ-4c for $350 on ebay and its fine ...
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After that is the Steiner CQBL ... the first "easy to use" laser in the bunch ... but those run around $700 ... so "best value" is slipping away as the price rises. But with the vis laser, that helps make it easier to zero ... as you can get it close in the house before you go out.
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Point is .. for lasers ... for shooting ... for shooting standing unsupported out to 150yds against targets like yotes or hogs ... any laser will do. Hence "best value" is the laser max.
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For illuminators ... the ELIR-3 ... run about $350 ... and with a minor adjustment work out to at least 600yds ... I haven't tried it further.
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I don't like the integrated units ... because the lower power illuminators aren't worth the weight of putting them on the rifle.
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If you want an integrated high power unit ... I see PEQ-15s on ebay for between $1,500 and $2,500 all the time ... but "best value" ?? I'd say no. The laser max and the ELIR-3 combined are $500 and they get the job done.
I don’t mind a two pad system and have extensively used a la5/surefire ir combo. The led beam is just so much better than the la5 flood.
I like the lasermax. Cheap. Lol. I didn’t even consider most units not having slaved vis lasers. What’s the best value unit with one?
I like the lasermax. Cheap. Lol. I didn’t even consider most units not having slaved vis lasers. What’s the best value unit with one?
The cheapest quality unit with slaved lasers I can think of is the cqbl. You can find some used d2's for sale for 8-900 or less sometimes. I actually have a tan/red laser version I'm thinking about selling
PEQ2's are a good, lower price alternative to the 15. A bit more powerful and a bit longer, but still a great unit. They're rarer now but still go for less and if you keep your eyes peeled they come up. Look for one that's in great shape, no broken knob covers and one that looks used little.
MAWL-C is best civilian one but it's expensive. More than a PEQ2 or 15. Granted you can't get the 2 or 15 repaired but if they're in good shape and little use, know they're potted inside, meaning filled with epoxy so it's kinda hard to damage one if you get a good looking one.
I personally can't compare civilian models to full power ones but some on here can. Good luck!
MAWL-C is best civilian one but it's expensive. More than a PEQ2 or 15. Granted you can't get the 2 or 15 repaired but if they're in good shape and little use, know they're potted inside, meaning filled with epoxy so it's kinda hard to damage one if you get a good looking one.
I personally can't compare civilian models to full power ones but some on here can. Good luck!
Another reason I don't prefer integrated units ... is I don't put the lasers and the illuminators on the same guns ...
I put the lasers on carbines that I mostly use for "patrol style" (walking and stalking) type hunting ... typical shooting distances under 100yds.
I put the illuminators on heavier longer rifles that I mostly shoot off tripods with NV clipons ... typical shooting distances 100-300yds for critters ... 100-500yds for targets.
When I'm using a carbine with a laser, I can turn on the low power illuminator I have on my helmet to light up the critters eyes, if needed.
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So illum on helmet for use with laser on gun.
Illum (no laser) on rifle for use with NV clipon ... on rifle.
There is probably a case when I've put a laser and illuminator on the same rifle, but I cannot recall doing it in the past 4 years.
I put the lasers on carbines that I mostly use for "patrol style" (walking and stalking) type hunting ... typical shooting distances under 100yds.
I put the illuminators on heavier longer rifles that I mostly shoot off tripods with NV clipons ... typical shooting distances 100-300yds for critters ... 100-500yds for targets.
When I'm using a carbine with a laser, I can turn on the low power illuminator I have on my helmet to light up the critters eyes, if needed.
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So illum on helmet for use with laser on gun.
Illum (no laser) on rifle for use with NV clipon ... on rifle.
There is probably a case when I've put a laser and illuminator on the same rifle, but I cannot recall doing it in the past 4 years.
The MAWL-C is a better unit than the PEQ15 in about 95% of situations, the only thing the PEQ15 wins out in is the full power IR laser.
Comparing the two side by side in no light, low light, hazy, clear conditions... I'd take the MAWL every time unless I was needing to coordinate other assests and a full power laser was required for it.
IMO the MAWL is the best value for IR... but its not cheap. The I2/D2/used A3 would be my choice if I was trying to save money.
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