I've kind of gone with the in-between for this concept. Surefire vampire light lets me illuminate if need be without sacrificing weight or rail space since the white light is a non-negotiable. Then I always have a passive aiming solution. This way, if I need to shoot under NODS it's entirely feasible and the additional illumination is accessible for PID. However, I don't have to lug around additional weight on the end of the rifle (where a suppressor is already likely taking up that weight penalty) and I am not training differently than I shoot. Removing a device and only applying it when needed seems like an opportunity to be less than efficient in its use if it's not present during practice or drills. Which is why I mostly keep my LAM on my dedicated NV setup where that application is the priority. Versus having it on a GP rifle where NV isn't the main function. That's where I am now anyway. Give me a year and I'm sure I'll have changed my mind.

Great video. I would say that they have potential use as either a backup aiming device or when you needed to shoot quickly and don't have the time for passive aiming. I would treat the use of and IR LASER/Illuminator outdoors the same as I would using a white light for aiming. Turn it on, aim/shoot, turn it off, and change your position quickly.

Well, I see you still have one on your rifle. That kind of gives away your opinion. Just because you have an IR laser doesn’t mean you walk around with it on 24-7. Kind of like “I’m up, he sees me, I’m down.” Just like a white light, we don’t go around running it 24/7. Most guys don’t rip those off during the day, even though for the majority of outdoor use, it can be a detriment. I agree, indoors, places with lots of ambient light, etc. Anytime speed is of the essence, the IR laser rules.

General purpose says yes. Better to have and not need than to need and not have. Agree desecration should be used outside. Same with any light.

Those that have them say you don’t need them but I also don’t see those same people crawling over each other to eBay to sell them

Nods and an IR laser/illum. is a great tool to have on the rifle This game we are playing here is serious and the stakes are high Thick tree cover, no moon with overcast skies will leave about any nvg grasping for any photon it can find and the IR illuminator and laser flicking on momentarily will be an advantage Thermal is the game changer now Most have NV so now its thermal that will be the next level

Sounds like a good argument for the stand alone ir/vampire wml combo

I have not been there or done that. However, not looking at it from a standpoint of being seen by other NV users, I’m looking at it from a cost, weight and training standpoint. I use my Eotech and swap my modlite head out for the IR head. I can use my rifle exactly like I would without NODs. Just like I would with white light. Better for muscle memory and I don’t get to train at night much anyways so I’d have significantly less time on a laser. Also saves me the cost of an illuminator on every gun and the weight at the end of the gun. Guns are heavy enough as it is and the cost for IR units is prohibitive. By spending a little extra for the NV capable EOTechs and having a single modlite IR head I can swap onto whatever gun I’m using including my pistol, I’m saving a lot of money. Also with pistols, I’ve found the best way to run them under NODs is the same method; using an optic, not a laser, since a laser probably wont hold zero. So if im running my pistol passive, I’ll run my rifles passive too instead of going back and forth between active and passive from rifles to pistols. Basically I can have the pros of cost and weight savings that inherently also gives me signature reduction. Only cons are it’s not as fast and the light on my gun would be set up for IR unless I swapped out the head back to white so I can’t rapidly switch, but I carry a handheld white light at all times to help mitigate that. A vampire light solves that issue but decreases your white light output. All preference. I could be 1000% wrong about everything above, but just the conclusions I’ve come to.

good info keep it up

At the very least, still relevant for fun. Active aiming on the flat range is so damn fun.

Theyre tools, situation and application will gyide whether theyre force multipliers, liabilities, or somewhere in between. Same principles and reasons apply for laser range finders.

Agreed. I think high mounts would be a better spend in conjunction with nods. A D2 has an amazing light and laser, but you might as well switch on the light switch if the target has nods too.

I think IR is very useful in not giving away your position if it's civ power. Nearly impossible to see a line back to you unless it's insanely dark out. It's also just nice to have extra options, especially for a GPR/night specific gun. Is it necessary? No. But it is nice

Excellent pros and cons.Thanks for a well done job! I for one have not nor will not invest money in an IR device. Way too many cons in my opinion. Spend it on ammo or other critical needs. To me a night vision monocular and/or thermal scope is a better use of money for night time awareness. Don’t discount a bright tactical light for night time needs.. Just make sure you have a flip cap on that flashlight in case of accidental activation. I don't know how many of you have been hit in the eyes with a bright weapon light but once that happens you are at a great disadvantage with temporary blindness. And the operator only has to use that for a second to make it advantageous for him or her.

IR lasers are necessary but should be used with discipline.

The disadvantage isn’t so much for it giving you away, the disadvantage is the laser ruining your rifle, especially considering the lack of good options.

Passive aiming in an extremely smoky or dusty environment is no bueno.

I'd submit civilian strength lasers pose more of a risk to the user than not. We cannot ignore the proliferation of night vision. I'd suggest having a co-witness setup for nods first, then maybe consider a laser. I'd rather carry more weight in other places like a magnified optic, over a laser. The CQB application I'd agree is still very valid.

I like the stump talks!

Since IR lasers can be faster then optics under nods, what about without nods? RDS with white light or just a white light with a vis laser? Technique is technique and speed and speed. You just don't have toilet paper tubes infront of your eyes.

IR lasers are definitely needed. Even outdoors. Passive aiming is great, but requires pretty ideal positioning to use well, and is fairly limited on range. If you are shooting, you are already giving up your position. It’s more important you hit your target once you engage, and sometimes a laser is the best way to do that. That being said don’t be a doofus and shine it all over the place. Light discipline carries over to IR.

On your egg hug, how well does the RMR work mounted towards the rear? I recently purchased a Steiner with a picatinny rail at the rear of the sight and found it considerably more difficult to use with nvg than a front mounted unit.

I think passive aiming is way over rated and you should NEVER engage your laser for more then a few seconds, only to engage targets then laser off.

Worth it to have 1 maybe 2 that you can move between weapons systems based on the specific mission but have 10 of these things for every long gun you have is a waste.

Press button to send distance and azimuth from your distance measuring device into ATAK device and you can have nice equivalent. For great outdoors. Can you detect presence / activity of aperture detection devices ?

merci

can you buy me a primary arms 3x micro prism please for my birthday

Question for ya, PreparedAirman: Do you recommend the ACOG over the Primary Arms 5x Microprism/any further thoughts on the PA SLx 5x Microprism? I just watched your review of the PA SLx 5x but see you don't have it on your current rifle. I am debating getting an ACOG (TA110 or TA02) or the PA SLx Microprism, also for a 11.5 AR. Any advice? Thanks!

@PreparedAirman

3 ай бұрын

I test and swap rifles and optics a lot, so that is often why you don't see me using it. If you can afford the ACOG and understand that the eye relief is limited on them, get an ACOG. If you can't/don't want to spend that amount of money on an optic, the PA 5x micro prism is your next best option for budget minded folks.

@austinmcwilliams3412

3 ай бұрын

@@PreparedAirmanThanks for the reply and advice!

Yes, but it's not a mindless activity

As brass facts has shown...yes, they still are. Even if you arent using a laser, taking a shot still exposes you to other people on the recieving end of that gun

@fathead8933

3 ай бұрын

You know what you never see a guy, who has nods and is the whole remove the laser because it can give you away, do? Take a prone shot under nods.

@nabby119

3 ай бұрын

@@fathead8933 wut

@jjcruz750

3 ай бұрын

Brass facts isn’t military. Has never been in a real fire fight. Regardless this guy is just laying down facts.

@fathead8933

3 ай бұрын

@@nabby119 you never see the “passive only” guys taking shots from the prone with nods. It’s already not the most intuitive to passively aim. Now you take that and try to align things from the prone. The laser is needed. Maybe everybody in a group doesn’t need to be shining IR illumination everywhere, but the laser is still required for proper operation of the rifle at night. If passive aiming was all that’s required, we wouldn’t have strapped 1lb Peq2s to our weapons.

@nabby119

3 ай бұрын

@@jjcruz750 1. He has never claimed to have been in the military, let alone a gunfight 2. I didnt realize that you need to have been in a gunfight to be able to think about things critically or examine a topic thoughtfully. By that same logic , why do I have an optic? I havent been in a fight before, how would I know I need magnification on my gun? Why should I get a suppressor? Thats some fudd shit bro. Thats some tim kennedy, "18 year olds shouldnt have ar15s and I can say that because I was in the military", kinda thinking.

👍

I guess I am old school. Most of my area is urban, but outside of it it's all swamp. For my normal use case scenario, having a white light is more important than having all the cool guy stuff, because normally, night vision wouldn't give me a decided advantage. Cartel funded commies probably have a way bigger budget, and all the chicom support they can muster. Look at it from the other side. All the cool guy stuff gave people an advantage in the desert, but not as much in the mountains. Works great in the open areas, not so much in densely wooded, where visibility is a factor. If that's your AO, consider thermals as a better fighting option. Even then, cold blooded creatures are not your friends. In that scenario, white light is your friend.

Great for CQB work

I agree. I am planning on getting into NV eventually. But I have decided the ir lazers are not a high priority purchase. As cool and fun as they can be, I see them as more of a liability than an asset against well funded NV users. I’ll just rock my eotech and an ir capable light source to begin with and if I have a need for a lam I will look into it later.

Your muzzle signature will do nearly the same thing in identifying your location. My opinion, ir lasers are great - unless you are engaging a .gov funded military, NV is still less common with the normal civilian.

its not just an aiming device its also an illumination tool. NV is still needs some photons going though it to work and sometimes you just cant see something even with NV and the gain craned up. You could use a white light, but a WL would be seen by everyone. A IR ILL is only seen by NV so it's a much less obvious tool. This also assumes the opposing force has the time to ID, coordinate and maneuver once an IR signature is identified. Night time is ambush time and near ambush at that.

People (mainly nato countries, but mostly the US) have gotten lazy since when GWOT started as we literally owned the night. we could get away with being negligent with our IR, because only we would see them. Fast forward to today and you really need to treat IR like any other projection device like white light and be disciplined with it. I personally removed my ir laser from my night rifle as it wasn't worth the weight penalty to me as a RH25 is the same weight as a D2, but gives me much more data and sits further back on the rail.

Me over here looking at my 11 oz Mawl, wishing it only weighed 6 ounces. 😆 I like how user friendly the MAWL is, so I won't change even though she is a little chonky. Interesting view on how you will be using the IR on your rifle. I do wonder at what point does the Government outlaw all NV/IR equipment for civilians. 🤔 I am against it obviously, but you know the Government

Have it and not need it over need it and not have it. Generally speaking victory goes to the one with more capability.

Lol. No. If you have nods and you're not running active you're handicapping yourself so bad. Who are you going up against that you're worried about active aiming, but not getting spotted by thermal? Ridiculous.

@jovenalasis4468

3 ай бұрын

May I suggest that you look into what Ukrainian soldiers have on their rifles in their current war with Russia?