I would love to see a crossover event between Hop and StyroPyro. Edit - for those who don’t know the joy of styropyro’s videos, he builds some of the most absurd hobbyist lasers I have ever seen.
The hardest part of NV is explaining to mom where my money keeps going and having to explain what everything does. "So this box shoots invisible lasers nobody else can see?? Why would you want that?" "Only the other scary people with night vision can see, mom." "Ok then, a laser show for your friends and only your friends?" "Yeahhhhh"
The reason the Food and Drug Administration got jurisdiction over lasers is because lasers were developed for medical purposes before they were developed for aiming on a gun. And the FDA got medical devices because they're kind of in the same regulatory area as medication is. Not saying that's right. Just saying that's why the laser FDA ended up as the regulatory body instead of another branch of government.
I just built my own. Bought a VCSEL and a stand alone Laserspeed FP laser. It took some work to beef up the VCSEL and wire the 2 together, but I can illuminate trees up to 400 yards. The construction is all metal and it holds zero. It also made me aware of how badly we as consumers are getting gouged. The components are dirt cheap.
I've been wanting to do this and wondering why the influencers with the money to do it haven't started a business filling the void they complain about.
How did you do this and where did you source the parts from? I'm also wondering if a American civilian is able to purchase just the VCSEL emitter? Where would one get a VCSEL laser?
What civilians need is company that will sell 3D printed laser bodies and all the module guts and hi power laser parts that can all be self assembled and self repaired.
He talks about that in another video. The components are cheap, but making a robust 3d printed body that mounts well , is the hard part. It could be done, but I don't know if anyone is doing it
I bought a VIS/IR LAM from amazon a few years ago for about 250 that appears to be using the same parts, especially the tape switch, as the laserspeed. the unit was called the FL3000. I ended up splicing a knock off modlite button onto wiring. I only used about 250 rounds from a MK18 and it held zero, but that volume is negligible compared to a real test.
By all accounts the OGL is probably civilian vaporware for 2024 despite lofty promises in 2023. So go ahead, find one of the lasers hop mentions this video, buy it, cry, and then get use to it. That's it bros.
........... the stigma on 18650 batteries is wild. The fact that we have only heard of a few people having them blow up on them with the crowd of people that was caring for them is just a testament to how good they are
"Too concerned about Chinese manufacturing to bring a Bao Feng radio into their home" gave me a smile. I mean, there's a point in there - Several perhaps. But... Start by throwing away your smartphone maybe.
It’s the old story of quadruple encryption 128key anti hack passwords that require a supercomputer to crack Vs a 5$ wrench that I’ll smack your face with until you tell me your password. Lol
You can splice a elecbee M8 3pin female connector (90 degrees preferred) and splice it onto a unity button. It uses small set screws so no soldering needed.
I work at a gun range in CA, and a rep from EOTech came in and we started talking and I asked him about the OOGL and he said that there is a civilian version that he has handled and should go for about $1900
lol wut. Eotech just finished completely redesigning the internals of the OGL after monstrous failures with the early release versions we saw around the internet. Then they upped the price on that model and are releasing what is essentially an untested laser in early Q1 '24. There is no word on the civilian version, but its going to be priced similarly (or the same) as the civilian raid. It will be in the 3s.
source: he made it the fuck up. We're pretty damn sure that at the moment 100% of the focus is on filling military/LE sales, and there isn't even a functional assembly line for neutered variants. It also makes no sense that the civ OGL would be cheaper as it's harder to make.
I really wish I could jump 10 years into the future and see what the IR Laser market will look like. Right now where in the same spot with IR Lasers were we were with red dots in 2005. At some point were going to look back on things like the Somogear/Lazerspeed things like we currently look back on the TRS-25.
@@Crosshair84why? It's only use isn't being sneaky or some shit. It's the best close quarters way to blap somebody under nods. It's not like white lights went away cuz they shine bright when it's dark.
I have a somogear ngal(potted pcb)I just bought and have shot with twice so far and it’s held zero and I’ve had no issues.That’s just my experience with it though
The FL5 theoretically has everything I want on a LAM device and the build quality of the switches and buttons are really the thing holding me back. Hopefully they keep iterating on the design along with their other products... For the brief timespan we have them accessible for purchase.
Your thoughts pretty much mirror my own. I'm pleased with the Fl5 I have but the few tweaks you mentioned would make it pretty sweet. Oh and get rid of the strobe function. I like the vis override but strobes make me feel like I'm living in a cheaper than dirt catalog
I bought an SMS IR laser and IR illuminator unit for $150, and so far it's been solid. the layout and tape switch are a little jank, but it's a killer deal for the unit.
Got a bunch of those SMSlasers and gave them to friends I've bought nightfoxs for. It is a decent little unit. I can easily see it in my Z-bolt's beam. Wasn't hard to splice a knock-off mod button to it. If the white light was threaded for surefire heads and cost $300? It would be the most popular LAM.
Honestly, this was a pretty spot on analysis of these laser aiming modules. Especially the last part, there is a chance that they gain traction and end up like Holosun, but if they do then I am sure the government will do exactly what you said. This brings up the question of whether it's best to wait for further product refinement, or buy now.
Any thoughts on Invisible Sight? Seems to be a "upgraded" version of the Somogears but advertised and warrantied to hold zero and also co-align the IR/vis lasers.
75th ranger 2 bat here, you’ll be shocked to learn that you don’t really need a laser that goes out beyond 100 yards and you’ll absolutely shit your pants to find out that you actually don’t even need one beyond 100 FEET! Quick target acquisition with a laser aiming module is really only useful in an urban environment. As for brightness levels just get better NVGs. Buying nerfed products sucks but knowing what and how they’re used is the most important part of gear ownership.
So, I suppose we are ignoring custom built lasers :) For those unaware, lasers are surprisingly easy to make with modern technology. We actually had to completely rebuild a laser in my undergraduate research lab which was UV class 4 laser for experiments. I think it was 1~1.5 watts. I was told it could burn you, but I didn't bother testing it. We had all sorts of janky safety measures as well as janky way of ignoring the built-in safety measures. Physics is fun. Be scientists kids
Hop, I think it'd be dope of you went over all of the red dot footprints available for pistols and what they look like. It'd really help the beginners.... and me
Chonky Boi. Mine was firing IR on vis and off mode and Ivan Tactical wouldn't help, so I issued a chargeback. A few months later, I took out the battery that it came with and replaced with Panasonic and it started working perfectly. Promptly sold it for $2,700.
@@no-sway3709 Oh yeah, its a chunk of bulky russian Lasik for sure. I've had no real issue with mine so far...other than weight. Thought about selling it but can't find anything to really replace it lol
@@no-sway3709 I like the full power of the Perst and just don't trust to the somo stuff to not explode when I bounce it off the side of a truck during drills. Wish I could just buy a freaking NGAL and be happy in life damn it! Thermal is a fantastic option but with 3 other dudes running nods, its way easier to just laser things.
I now have over 1000 rds on a Somo PEQ 15 with no issues. I had a couple bad ones that the laser would kick off under recoil but one went to my sons 22 416 clone and his airsoft gat. I have a newer NGAL Somo but only a few hundred rounds on it.
It is pretty funny how you can get a Chinese knockoff of a Russian laser like the perst 4 that's far more powerful than anything that should be legal in America for like $40 for less than a tenth of the price of most lasers. Durability and accuracy at times may be questionable, That means the electronics should be cheap, so you're really just paying for the mounting. it does just say that the market is extremely over-inflated. We all know the really cheap stuff is shitty, but it does exist. And because of that, I just don't think quality lasers should be 10 to 25x the cost. The mark up is insane. And I feel like these companies could make a lot more money with more intermediate products with similar quality to a larger civilian group. The limit truly is just the expense of night vision in general. If night vision was more accessible then these would be cheaper.
I have a feeling that the wide variety of ratings on the somogears are in part because they seem to make iterative changes without a "gen 2" or really even announcing it. The only time they ever seem to have announced something was the "improved polymer body" after Sassfacts' mount broke.
Isn’t that the benefit of somogear as you pointed out with your salt peq15 comment. You run it hard you will still break it and lose that 1600+ you put into it with no support. Somogear is airsoft grade because China says it has to be otherwise they will be in legal hot water in China. That doesn’t stop them from doing real steel testing with Americans to improve and find breaking points. The laser speed may have addressed some concerns like the illuminator (all my somogears have been fine on centering when focus with minor shift) but I just lost co-alignment of my lasers after a couple thousand rounds at this point. As always. Great info.
Seems they have been quickly fixing them to hold up better on real firearms whether potting or upgrading the plastic i got one last month so far so good they could add a recoil lug but it works for what i need it for
Im doing a night shoot on the 8th to test it, but I am pretty pleased and impressed with my new somogear ngal. Another channel showed it shutting off under fire, I havent had that issue. Only real mod so far is I didnt like the stock thumbscrew so I swapped it out with 10-32 hex nuts. I cant see any loss of zero or anything so far, but I havent put enough rounds through it yet
I have been pleasantly suprised with the HS1 IR + either a SF Vampire or Inforce WML IR. That's my go to inexpensive combo on shorty guns that don't see rifle distances. My MPX is very happy with the WML/HS1 combo. IR laser offset to passive dot is a bit of an issue, but for the use case distances in 9mm, it works well. I would like to try the Laserspeed or Phantom Hill (especially a Phantom Hill Kiji setup) though.
really got my hopes up thinking you were gonna review somogears new alluminum body NGAL. the peq 15 holds up great to 556 recoil as long as its potted. havent been banging it around too much so cant say anything about the durability of the body yet. if the NGAL is a winner its gonna go on my primary and the peq will go on a backup rifle or airsoft gun
I also spoke to a Holosun rep at an expo I attended last month. I asked when they’re finally going to release a VSCEL laser and he said Shot Show this year.
One Hundred Concepts small light caps fit the laser speed FL5. Ranger bands as far down the light and laser heads as you can get them and shock cords hooked in the back on the battery cap and illuminator dial.
I got 2 somo gears Peq15's the full power ones when they first came out I think a year or so ago. I have had problems with both of them. I am not sure if they have improved their QC but my red unit windage adjustment for the IR Illuminator would not move. I then bought a green one, and had even more problems. The windage adjustment for the illuminator would not move as much but a lot better than the red unit, but there are strange power issues with the green unit. It will only work with a 100% brand new battery only, if the battery is even slightly drained the unit wont work. Sometimes it still wont work with a new battery. Lastly sometimes it shuts off but if you look under night vision the iluminator is still on and flashing. The only way to stop it is to take the battery out. I gave up and i will not waste any money on a 3rd or their NGAL.
To be fair the QC from Holosun has been pretty bad lately. I've had 2 507c pistol optics fail and a 509t never hold zero. Funny about all of it is that I have a gen1 507c that has yet to fail. I remain skeptical about that brand. The 509t was replaced with a type 2 SRO 2.5moa. I don't regret that change.
Hey Hop, do you think you would ever be down to check out the Invisiblesight lasers? They are lifetime warrantied, and "Guaranteed hold zero for up to 7.62 NATO". I would love if you got the chance to get and review one since I am curious about the performance, and I have not seen a whole lot about it, especially in terms of a review. Unfortunately it does have the drawbacks similar to the DIRV with it being one dude in a shop constructing most of them (he has recently contracted out to a factory for a lower end model which is only rated for 5.56).
I bought it on your recommendation. I have the DBAL & a Holosun already never bought a full power peq on ebay or dbal .. I wanted to but the price was to high instead of buying a $2000 dollar laser I bought a $2000 dollar gun or $2000 dollars of ammunition. Because the black market price was just to high. My PVS 14 & civilian lasers are all I need unless you want me to use an IZLID to vector airstrikes. I just bought a Laserspeed FL5 on your recommendation. Update: I place my order on the 21st of Nov and it arrived on the 30th Way ahead of their scheduled delivery date. Put some 123's in it waiting for the sun to set. I think it's going on an MP5 at 3 o'clock position it just makes sense.
The real solution is to modularize the laser diode components, so you can sell the laser housings with civ legals diodes then just swap out the diode to whatever you want. I don't think the FDA regulation apply to the components, it seems high power IR diodes are readily available.
Serious question: Passive aiming with night vision seems to be much less expensive, more effective, and produces far less signature than active aiming (an EXPS3 costs about the same as the cheapo lasers, while not adding any weight to the rifle since you're gonna have an optic anyways.) Speaking as a dude who has never even touched NODs, why choose active over passive? Is there something here I'm just not seeing?
Passive aiming in a truly dark environment is really only viable at extremely close range, and that's with the best possible passive aiming optics. All of which have fairly substantial downsides.
Passive is slower than active. In the event of using a NV rifle combo, you're doing it to get the drop on someone else, so active/fast is better than passive/slow. There's a pretty good argument for using NV to move around and then flipping up the NV device and using white light to fight.
Some 18650s are longer than others die to having an inbuilt overcharge protection circuit. The laser probably has issues with either that circuit or the additional length
Wadsn raidx laser for about 200 bucks is awesome. It holds zero for 556, metal construction, and you can give lasic to people a county over. Don’t know how their illuminators work but the mawl knockoff looks convincing.
You have such good insight why dont you design your own? Especially for attachments you can draft things up in CAD within an hour and 3d print them in less.
Because he then would have to ship the design to Chy-nah anyway so they'd produce them. 3d printed lasers wouldn't hold zero and would shatter after a couple of drops.
@@ChucksSEADnDEAD I'm saying you draft the product in 3d print. There is also a considerable amount of manufacturing still in the USA. Even if the product would have to meet US regulation the ergonomics and theory behind his recommendations could make a product that justifies the price to be made outside of china
I don't understand all the fear, uncertainty, and doubt about gray market "surplus" laser units. These things are built like tanks. I don't think I could damage them if I tried.
The somogear PEQ2As look neat. But they suck. I can move the illuminator around in the housing with my hand and the laser is not even close to being able to properly zero.
Oh there most certainly IS a black market for lasers. I've only recently become aware of it myself, but it basically boils down to having someone with LE/MIL credentials buy a full power unit from the manufacturer/retailer for you & then you pay them for it & get the laser. Needless to say it's expensive, fairly risky & (I'd imagine) rather difficult to find someone with the right credentials that'd be willing to basically put their career on the line for something like this. I've also heard of LE/MIL guys that will use thier credentials (for a fee) to help get full power gray market lasers like peq15's back to the manufacturer to get serviced if they're broken. Same deal, as they're basically selling thier credentials to help us poor civs out. At least that's what I've heard/read about on facebook. For the record, I've not attempted either method myself.
What consequences are there for those guys doing this? Is there laws preventing them from giving gear to civvies even when it's not illegal for civilians to own that gear? We're not talking about class 3 firearms here, just lasers the FDA doesn't like.
@@morgatron4639Lasers, Optics, TacLights, and the associated BII are serialized Property Book Items and must be accounted for monthly. If one is lost or stolen it immediately triggers a commander’s inquiry 15-6 investigation to determine negligence or misconduct which can be punished under UCMJ. Larceny of government property typically carries time in Leavenworth.
I think the Red Market is a better term for the chinesium unrestricted lasers
Beige sounds like Beijing thougheverbeit
Red market as in unrestricted Russian imports ?
its worth it to buy all the lasers you can now. Im sure they'll emergency restrict FPLs in the future over "harms'
How about the commie market?
Always awesome to see unnecessary government intervention makes us go to the chinese market. Its ridiculous
It's because you can't have what cool boys in the military have
If the FDA would just relax it from 0.7mW to just 3-4mW it would be such a huge difference
@wellingtonbruh3756 I think the fdas restrictions on lasers came before we slapped them on rifles but I get your point
Who do you think bought the government? Everyone plus the Chinese.
@ericlee7385 it's just thinly veiled corporatism at this point
I can't thank you enough for not adopting a long and obnoxious intro I have to skip.
And I never will, probably.
psr?
I would love to see a crossover event between Hop and StyroPyro.
Edit - for those who don’t know the joy of styropyro’s videos, he builds some of the most absurd hobbyist lasers I have ever seen.
"Huh. I seem to have set the woods across the field on fire. Neat." ~ styropyro
Yeah that would be fantastic
No no… he built actual death rays
@@pablo4yu and what exactly is the problem?
100W under barrel laser cannon*
The hardest part of NV is explaining to mom where my money keeps going and having to explain what everything does. "So this box shoots invisible lasers nobody else can see?? Why would you want that?" "Only the other scary people with night vision can see, mom." "Ok then, a laser show for your friends and only your friends?" "Yeahhhhh"
redpill your mom on the blue helmets
hey man at least your mom sounds cool. Mine doesnt even think this shit is acceptable.
Everyone can see you now
Glad to see that the Food and Drug Administration has authority over invisible laser beams…
The reason the Food and Drug Administration got jurisdiction over lasers is because lasers were developed for medical purposes before they were developed for aiming on a gun. And the FDA got medical devices because they're kind of in the same regulatory area as medication is.
Not saying that's right. Just saying that's why the laser FDA ended up as the regulatory body instead of another branch of government.
Yeah we should definitely have 10yo airsofters running around with full power IR
@@dieselgoinham10 year Olds can already buy full power Lasers NOW from China off amazon
Hi Hop, FDA agent here. Thank you for bringing the Laserspeed FL-5 to my attention.
I might get promoted if all goes well. Thanks again!
lol
Start working on microplastics first, then work your way back to lasers.
@@Hoplopfheil Taking a paycut to do something that may help out your fellow man? What is this 1979?
FDA agent? Couldn't get a fast food job?
Cut govt handouts start with that
I just built my own. Bought a VCSEL and a stand alone Laserspeed FP laser. It took some work to beef up the VCSEL and wire the 2 together, but I can illuminate trees up to 400 yards. The construction is all metal and it holds zero. It also made me aware of how badly we as consumers are getting gouged. The components are dirt cheap.
I've been wanting to do this and wondering why the influencers with the money to do it haven't started a business filling the void they complain about.
@@kerbalairforce8802 because they are too busy playing with these toys rather than building them.
How did you do this and where did you source the parts from? I'm also wondering if a American civilian is able to purchase just the VCSEL emitter? Where would one get a VCSEL laser?
@@nathanmoore8995Google it fed
@@fatcat9390 Or it's because business is a treacherous sea. You can be great at doing stuff, but be terrible at getting people to pay you for it.
What civilians need is company that will sell 3D printed laser bodies and all the module guts and hi power laser parts that can all be self assembled and self repaired.
He talks about that in another video. The components are cheap, but making a robust 3d printed body that mounts well , is the hard part. It could be done, but I don't know if anyone is doing it
@@cheapskateaquatics7103 Not that it'd be cheap or easy, but glass filed nylon would probably work pretty well.
Or just ABS, because legos.
pretty sure the guy making the foss dot is working on a 3d printed laser
I'm always excited for Hoplopfheil's night vision videos, even as I sit here with my PVS-7's and DBAL I2 with no intention to ever upgrade.
The first rule of ir light club, you don’t talk about ir light club.
I bought a VIS/IR LAM from amazon a few years ago for about 250 that appears to be using the same parts, especially the tape switch, as the laserspeed. the unit was called the FL3000. I ended up splicing a knock off modlite button onto wiring. I only used about 250 rounds from a MK18 and it held zero, but that volume is negligible compared to a real test.
By all accounts the OGL is probably civilian vaporware for 2024 despite lofty promises in 2023.
So go ahead, find one of the lasers hop mentions this video, buy it, cry, and then get use to it. That's it bros.
........... the stigma on 18650 batteries is wild. The fact that we have only heard of a few people having them blow up on them with the crowd of people that was caring for them is just a testament to how good they are
Those were vape idiots putting them in their pockets with their keys for the most part, too.
"Too concerned about Chinese manufacturing to bring a Bao Feng radio into their home" gave me a smile.
I mean, there's a point in there - Several perhaps. But...
Start by throwing away your smartphone maybe.
My smart phone is made in India.
@@FinalLugiaGuardian you ever smell some essence of cow excrement in there?
It’s the old story of quadruple encryption 128key anti hack passwords that require a supercomputer to crack
Vs a 5$ wrench that I’ll smack your face with until you tell me your password. Lol
You can splice a elecbee M8 3pin female connector (90 degrees preferred) and splice it onto a unity button. It uses small set screws so no soldering needed.
I work at a gun range in CA, and a rep from EOTech came in and we started talking and I asked him about the OOGL and he said that there is a civilian version that he has handled and should go for about $1900
Source: trust 😇
lol wut. Eotech just finished completely redesigning the internals of the OGL after monstrous failures with the early release versions we saw around the internet. Then they upped the price on that model and are releasing what is essentially an untested laser in early Q1 '24. There is no word on the civilian version, but its going to be priced similarly (or the same) as the civilian raid. It will be in the 3s.
Plan status: Trusted
source: he made it the fuck up.
We're pretty damn sure that at the moment 100% of the focus is on filling military/LE sales, and there isn't even a functional assembly line for neutered variants.
It also makes no sense that the civ OGL would be cheaper as it's harder to make.
I hope it isn't just an Eotech'd ATPIAL-C :/
I really wish I could jump 10 years into the future and see what the IR Laser market will look like. Right now where in the same spot with IR Lasers were we were with red dots in 2005. At some point were going to look back on things like the Somogear/Lazerspeed things like we currently look back on the TRS-25.
Personally. With more and more people getting NVGs, I honestly see IR lasers becoming as obsolete as active IR NVGs.
@@Crosshair84why? It's only use isn't being sneaky or some shit. It's the best close quarters way to blap somebody under nods. It's not like white lights went away cuz they shine bright when it's dark.
HEY! I LOVE MY TRS-25!!! 😂
My hopes lie in the upcoming Somogear NGAL with metal housing over plastic
Part of the Holosun gang here. For a non VSCEL, civ powered laser, an LS321 hits my cost/performance threshold.
D2 illuminator has been very nice for me. Can't see needing anything more for most use cases.
although I put it on the front of my suppressed AK and it is DUMB heavy with atrocious balance
+200 social credits
I have a somogear ngal(potted pcb)I just bought and have shot with twice so far and it’s held zero and I’ve had no issues.That’s just my experience with it though
I enjoyed the subtle cat cameos.
I’m holding out for the CTF3, hopefully any week now. 🤞
I’ve tried messaging Phantom Hill to inquire about any kind of update… nothing but crickets. I wouldn’t hold your breath :/
@@carpenoctem5421 I just recently spoke with Mike a few weeks ago and he is still anticipating a 2024 Q4 release.
Its over
@@kilroy5166 I saw. RIP. I’ll be picking up the Zbolt or Holosun option, then. Whichever releases first,
Pre-order crew where you at? 😂
Thanks for putting these on the FDA radar!
The FL5 theoretically has everything I want on a LAM device and the build quality of the switches and buttons are really the thing holding me back. Hopefully they keep iterating on the design along with their other products... For the brief timespan we have them accessible for purchase.
Just splice in whatever switch you want, it's easy.
Your thoughts pretty much mirror my own. I'm pleased with the Fl5 I have but the few tweaks you mentioned would make it pretty sweet. Oh and get rid of the strobe function. I like the vis override but strobes make me feel like I'm living in a cheaper than dirt catalog
I thought my m3 was on low battery so I was freaking out 😂
I bought an SMS IR laser and IR illuminator unit for $150, and so far it's been solid. the layout and tape switch are a little jank, but it's a killer deal for the unit.
Got a bunch of those SMSlasers and gave them to friends I've bought nightfoxs for. It is a decent little unit.
I can easily see it in my Z-bolt's beam. Wasn't hard to splice a knock-off mod button to it.
If the white light was threaded for surefire heads and cost $300? It would be the most popular LAM.
Honestly, this was a pretty spot on analysis of these laser aiming modules. Especially the last part, there is a chance that they gain traction and end up like Holosun, but if they do then I am sure the government will do exactly what you said. This brings up the question of whether it's best to wait for further product refinement, or buy now.
They're pretty much the rival to holosun within the Chinese military. They even make red dots. I have one on my AK.
Two Hop Facts videos in one day? If only Brasslophile released one to make it a trifecta.
I will never need an IR laser but you did a really good job getting the information across in this video.
The peq2A def hit the old memory box
Thank you, Mr. Hops-a-lot !
Any thoughts on Invisible Sight? Seems to be a "upgraded" version of the Somogears but advertised and warrantied to hold zero and also co-align the IR/vis lasers.
75th ranger 2 bat here, you’ll be shocked to learn that you don’t really need a laser that goes out beyond 100 yards and you’ll absolutely shit your pants to find out that you actually don’t even need one beyond 100 FEET! Quick target acquisition with a laser aiming module is really only useful in an urban environment. As for brightness levels just get better NVGs. Buying nerfed products sucks but knowing what and how they’re used is the most important part of gear ownership.
Shhh, no one’s ready to hear that yet. Let them rely on the lam for everything and broadcast their position to everyone via laser show.
@@dutch4973 big brain shit 😅
So, I suppose we are ignoring custom built lasers :)
For those unaware, lasers are surprisingly easy to make with modern technology. We actually had to completely rebuild a laser in my undergraduate research lab which was UV class 4 laser for experiments. I think it was 1~1.5 watts. I was told it could burn you, but I didn't bother testing it. We had all sorts of janky safety measures as well as janky way of ignoring the built-in safety measures.
Physics is fun. Be scientists kids
Blessed are we having 2 videos from hop in a single day
I purchased my DBAL-D2 a few days ago. I’m waiting on it to come in the mail. I think it’s the best bang for your buck in the current LAM market
Hop, I think it'd be dope of you went over all of the red dot footprints available for pistols and what they look like. It'd really help the beginners.... and me
Google optics trade red dot footprint
I am soooooo glad I got a full power Perst 3 when they were like $850
Chonky Boi. Mine was firing IR on vis and off mode and Ivan Tactical wouldn't help, so I issued a chargeback.
A few months later, I took out the battery that it came with and replaced with Panasonic and it started working perfectly. Promptly sold it for $2,700.
@@no-sway3709 Oh yeah, its a chunk of bulky russian Lasik for sure. I've had no real issue with mine so far...other than weight. Thought about selling it but can't find anything to really replace it lol
@@Zel_eo I bought thermal since I have a dbal a3. I like my somo peq15 more than I liked the perst 3 tbh.
@@no-sway3709 I like the full power of the Perst and just don't trust to the somo stuff to not explode when I bounce it off the side of a truck during drills. Wish I could just buy a freaking NGAL and be happy in life damn it! Thermal is a fantastic option but with 3 other dudes running nods, its way easier to just laser things.
That free-float function haha I lost it
I now have over 1000 rds on a Somo PEQ 15 with no issues. I had a couple bad ones that the laser would kick off under recoil but one went to my sons 22 416 clone and his airsoft gat. I have a newer NGAL Somo but only a few hundred rounds on it.
It is pretty funny how you can get a Chinese knockoff of a Russian laser like the perst 4 that's far more powerful than anything that should be legal in America for like $40 for less than a tenth of the price of most lasers. Durability and accuracy at times may be questionable, That means the electronics should be cheap, so you're really just paying for the mounting. it does just say that the market is extremely over-inflated. We all know the really cheap stuff is shitty, but it does exist. And because of that, I just don't think quality lasers should be 10 to 25x the cost. The mark up is insane. And I feel like these companies could make a lot more money with more intermediate products with similar quality to a larger civilian group. The limit truly is just the expense of night vision in general. If night vision was more accessible then these would be cheaper.
I have a feeling that the wide variety of ratings on the somogears are in part because they seem to make iterative changes without a "gen 2" or really even announcing it.
The only time they ever seem to have announced something was the "improved polymer body" after Sassfacts' mount broke.
Isn’t that the benefit of somogear as you pointed out with your salt peq15 comment. You run it hard you will still break it and lose that 1600+ you put into it with no support. Somogear is airsoft grade because China says it has to be otherwise they will be in legal hot water in China. That doesn’t stop them from doing real steel testing with Americans to improve and find breaking points. The laser speed may have addressed some concerns like the illuminator (all my somogears have been fine on centering when focus with minor shift) but I just lost co-alignment of my lasers after a couple thousand rounds at this point.
As always. Great info.
Seems they have been quickly fixing them to hold up better on real firearms whether potting or upgrading the plastic i got one last month so far so good they could add a recoil lug but it works for what i need it for
Hey Hop you gonna pick up the new Somogear NGAL? Supposed to be really solid at least for 5.56 based on the specs listed.
The word "supposedly" gets used way too much when it comes to Airsoft grade laser boxes.
Is homeboy @ 0:55 wearing quad nods???
10:05 My brain goes from full gray-ish laser autism to full "KITTY!!!!" in the blink of an eye.
Wish you tested the Somogear NGAL
That new somogear all aluminum NGAL clone is lookin super interesting rn
invisible sight also deserves looking at if they are in fact real and able to deliver.
Im doing a night shoot on the 8th to test it, but I am pretty pleased and impressed with my new somogear ngal. Another channel showed it shutting off under fire, I havent had that issue. Only real mod so far is I didnt like the stock thumbscrew so I swapped it out with 10-32 hex nuts. I cant see any loss of zero or anything so far, but I havent put enough rounds through it yet
We need a civ legal laser module with a modular driver and diode that you can swap out with a module and diode sold separately that bump the power up
we just need an LS321 with a VSCEL illuminator. idk what's stopping Hsun, give with the lumens, nerds.
Don’t threaten me with a good time.
Halloween doesn't end in Y, mr Hoplopheil. Good to see you break tradition
I have been pleasantly suprised with the HS1 IR + either a SF Vampire or Inforce WML IR. That's my go to inexpensive combo on shorty guns that don't see rifle distances. My MPX is very happy with the WML/HS1 combo. IR laser offset to passive dot is a bit of an issue, but for the use case distances in 9mm, it works well. I would like to try the Laserspeed or Phantom Hill (especially a Phantom Hill Kiji setup) though.
really got my hopes up thinking you were gonna review somogears new alluminum body NGAL. the peq 15 holds up great to 556 recoil as long as its potted. havent been banging it around too much so cant say anything about the durability of the body yet. if the NGAL is a winner its gonna go on my primary and the peq will go on a backup rifle or airsoft gun
I also spoke to a Holosun rep at an expo I attended last month. I asked when they’re finally going to release a VSCEL laser and he said Shot Show this year.
One Hundred Concepts small light caps fit the laser speed FL5. Ranger bands as far down the light and laser heads as you can get them and shock cords hooked in the back on the battery cap and illuminator dial.
I got 2 somo gears Peq15's the full power ones when they first came out I think a year or so ago. I have had problems with both of them. I am not sure if they have improved their QC but my red unit windage adjustment for the IR Illuminator would not move.
I then bought a green one, and had even more problems. The windage adjustment for the illuminator would not move as much but a lot better than the red unit, but there are strange power issues with the green unit. It will only work with a 100% brand new battery only, if the battery is even slightly drained the unit wont work. Sometimes it still wont work with a new battery. Lastly sometimes it shuts off but if you look under night vision the iluminator is still on and flashing. The only way to stop it is to take the battery out. I gave up and i will not waste any money on a 3rd or their NGAL.
They’ve definitely updated them. Sorry you went through all of that.
sucks to hear
@Orangejuice864 I see we got some SC goons here. I missed the last shoot at philson.
@@no-sway3709 It was definitely one to remember
My SOTAC Perst-4 looks really good on my airsoft AK 105
I like how around 13:30 you pretty much exactly described the M6TR. Mines coming next week can't wait
I've got 3 of the laserspeeds, and they're cleaner than my persts that were double the price.
Oh, big laser! Are you from Texas?
Yes! With big battery!
I see. The barrell is big too)))
I bought an LS-M3 earlier this summer, it's a solid unit. Just chunky.
How many rounds through it so far? Holds zero?
@@mothersmilk8370 only a couple hundred so far, I haven't had much time to shoot under NODs. Zero has held.
To be fair the QC from Holosun has been pretty bad lately. I've had 2 507c pistol optics fail and a 509t never hold zero. Funny about all of it is that I have a gen1 507c that has yet to fail. I remain skeptical about that brand. The 509t was replaced with a type 2 SRO 2.5moa. I don't regret that change.
Hey Hop, do you think you would ever be down to check out the Invisiblesight lasers? They are lifetime warrantied, and "Guaranteed hold zero for up to 7.62 NATO". I would love if you got the chance to get and review one since I am curious about the performance, and I have not seen a whole lot about it, especially in terms of a review. Unfortunately it does have the drawbacks similar to the DIRV with it being one dude in a shop constructing most of them (he has recently contracted out to a factory for a lower end model which is only rated for 5.56).
production of the dbal i2 ending is such a tragedy. Gonna cling on mine for dear life forever now.
I bought it on your recommendation. I have the DBAL & a Holosun already never bought a full power peq on ebay or dbal .. I wanted to but the price was to high instead of buying a $2000 dollar laser I bought a $2000 dollar gun or $2000 dollars of ammunition. Because the black market price was just to high. My PVS 14 & civilian lasers are all I need unless you want me to use an IZLID to vector airstrikes. I just bought a Laserspeed FL5 on your recommendation. Update: I place my order on the 21st of Nov and it arrived on the 30th Way ahead of their scheduled delivery date. Put some 123's in it waiting for the sun to set. I think it's going on an MP5 at 3 o'clock position it just makes sense.
Starting at 16:45, what are those bright spots on the guy's shoulder and arm?
The inside part of a glowstick
The real solution is to modularize the laser diode components, so you can sell the laser housings with civ legals diodes then just swap out the diode to whatever you want. I don't think the FDA regulation apply to the components, it seems high power IR diodes are readily available.
As usual the day after I buy something hop comes out with a video tearing it apart lol
I know it’s not the same for lasers but for sights at least, but Holosun has really grown on me they are starting to find themselves as my go to.
Serious question: Passive aiming with night vision seems to be much less expensive, more effective, and produces far less signature than active aiming (an EXPS3 costs about the same as the cheapo lasers, while not adding any weight to the rifle since you're gonna have an optic anyways.)
Speaking as a dude who has never even touched NODs, why choose active over passive? Is there something here I'm just not seeing?
Passive aiming in a truly dark environment is really only viable at extremely close range, and that's with the best possible passive aiming optics. All of which have fairly substantial downsides.
Passive is slower than active. In the event of using a NV rifle combo, you're doing it to get the drop on someone else, so active/fast is better than passive/slow. There's a pretty good argument for using NV to move around and then flipping up the NV device and using white light to fight.
@@kerbalairforce8802or like the old days fire off a slow burning flare of some sorts and fight with that lol
Some 18650s are longer than others die to having an inbuilt overcharge protection circuit. The laser probably has issues with either that circuit or the additional length
I have a whole case of tissues for you Hop. Where do I send them?
Fuck it. I will send them to Jamethy's PO Box. He will get them to you I would think.
Everyone asking for a crane plug why not ask them for a USB-C plug 🤣
Love your videos, keep up the good work!
Wadsn raidx laser for about 200 bucks is awesome. It holds zero for 556, metal construction, and you can give lasic to people a county over. Don’t know how their illuminators work but the mawl knockoff looks convincing.
us gov: don't buy chinese stuff!
us gov: you can't buy anything else now
Considering the market sucks noodles, I'm just gonna do the age old strategy of "Wait it out and let others waste their money first".
What do think about the Crimson Trace CMR-301? and yes I know it's not for IR / night-vision shooting.
have you messed with the sotac preset 4? I keep hearing they not to bad after you do a at home pot job
You have such good insight why dont you design your own? Especially for attachments you can draft things up in CAD within an hour and 3d print them in less.
Because he then would have to ship the design to Chy-nah anyway so they'd produce them. 3d printed lasers wouldn't hold zero and would shatter after a couple of drops.
@@ChucksSEADnDEAD I'm saying you draft the product in 3d print. There is also a considerable amount of manufacturing still in the USA. Even if the product would have to meet US regulation the ergonomics and theory behind his recommendations could make a product that justifies the price to be made outside of china
How about those Arisaka upgraded 3eir Designate Ir-v?
I have one and I love it
In short the IR market in the US is a wild and unfair place
I don't understand all the fear, uncertainty, and doubt about gray market "surplus" laser units. These things are built like tanks. I don't think I could damage them if I tried.
"I miss the year 3000 when life was simple and brains flew through space and everyone *ate lasers*." The FDA, probably.
The somogear PEQ2As look neat. But they suck. I can move the illuminator around in the housing with my hand and the laser is not even close to being able to properly zero.
Oh there most certainly IS a black market for lasers. I've only recently become aware of it myself, but it basically boils down to having someone with LE/MIL credentials buy a full power unit from the manufacturer/retailer for you & then you pay them for it & get the laser. Needless to say it's expensive, fairly risky & (I'd imagine) rather difficult to find someone with the right credentials that'd be willing to basically put their career on the line for something like this.
I've also heard of LE/MIL guys that will use thier credentials (for a fee) to help get full power gray market lasers like peq15's back to the manufacturer to get serviced if they're broken. Same deal, as they're basically selling thier credentials to help us poor civs out.
At least that's what I've heard/read about on facebook. For the record, I've not attempted either method myself.
What consequences are there for those guys doing this? Is there laws preventing them from giving gear to civvies even when it's not illegal for civilians to own that gear? We're not talking about class 3 firearms here, just lasers the FDA doesn't like.
@@morgatron4639Lasers, Optics, TacLights, and the associated BII are serialized Property Book Items and must be accounted for monthly. If one is lost or stolen it immediately triggers a commander’s inquiry 15-6 investigation to determine negligence or misconduct which can be punished under UCMJ. Larceny of government property typically carries time in Leavenworth.
I'm getting ready to buy my first LAM, i'm thinking bettwen holosun ls321 and le321, is the extra money worth the few mW more of illuminator?
I wonder how soon they might update the unit. ie buy now while you can vs wait. Still using brasses hs321 and a somo.
Leave it to Hop to find me the sketchy laser company’s that could my Terminator 1 visible laser sight 45long slide dreams come true.
USNV DesignatIR is the Goldilocks for me... Very happy with mine.
I got that stupid cheap SMS laser IR unit and I am surprisingly impressed by it. I would love to see you do a video on it.
BEST FIREARMS CHANNEL ON TH-cam!!
Can we get a headset comparison with the ottos?
What are your thoughts on it glow sticks? Would it be feasible to use it as a trip wire or distraction?
We just need holosun to make a laser with a vecsl illuminator.
They said they're coming out with something at next year's SHOT show.
@@evey0259 hopefully it’s good, costs under $1500, and they can keep up with demand.
Probably hitting the market in limited numbers in like 2026 then 😂
@@carpenoctem5421 "LE ONLY" too I bet.