Newbie here seeking advice.

im looking to buy my first laser. been reading a lot about them, such as the power outputs, the beam pattern and how they get bigger as distace is increased and ow blue burns better then other colors.

well im wanting to buy one to play around with. instinct told me to look at wicked lasers cause they are a big name. i was looking at a 40mw for around 160. are there better deals out there? i heard their sales department is lacking bad. i definitely wanting a sturdy light. my Surefire gets thrown around in the truck all the time.

how far will a 40mw reach? should i spend a little more and get a more powerful one?

Welcome to the forums!
First off what color laser are you considering?
$160 for a 40mW of red green or violet seems quite pricey to me... I would suggest looking in the review forum (http://laserpointerforums.com/f52/) and the companies forum (http://laserpointerforums.com/f41/) before you decide on a place to buy from and a laser to buy.

As far as how far a 40mW would go...again it depends on the color; this is because human eyes have varying sensitivities to different wavelengths (peaking in the green range and 550nm). You can search on the forums and find many threads about achieved laser distances.

Hope that helps!

Welcome to LPF. Enjoy your time with us here.



I have compiled a list of "must read" information, it will make your time with us more productive and pleasant.

Laser Resources (for n00bs and veterans alike!)

http://laserpointerforums.com/f36/looking-build-laser-read-me-47684.html

Sam's Laser FAQ (The Laser Bible)

Sam's Laser FAQ - Preface, Introduction, What is a Laser?, Safety

RP Photonics Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology

Encyclopedia of Laser Physics and Technology - an Open Access Resource of In-Depth Information, Free Articles, Nonlinear and Fiber Optics

I have included a handy guide to assist you in finding what you need.

Do not buy from wicked lasers. Their lasers are grossly overpriced. For a good quality but cheap laser look at o-like.com or rayfoss.com

$160 will buy you a nice laser from WL. But if you want a simple color (Red, Green, Violet), with something like 40mw from it, you can spend a lot less for one at o-like.com, or even by building one! There are plenty of resources here for building them!

Welcome to the forum.
For $160 you can get 4X the power, with a reputable company.
Don't rush into the decision lightly. The more you know before you buy, the happier you will be with your purchase.
If you intend to burn things, 405nm (violet IE:Blu-Ray) is the way to go. However the beam is the least visible of the 3 (R/V/G)
For the brightest beam for night sky pointing go with 532nm (green)
650nm (red) is the cheapest wavelength. You can get a dependable 200mW 650nm from O-like for around $45. It burns good and the beam is slightly visible in the dark. With fog or smoke in the air, it will be brighter. No where near as bright as 532nm however.
I would spend as much as you can possibility afford,
because once you get hooked, you can never have enough power.
Good luck!!

after searching olike...

Ultrafire host 100mW portable green laser /outdoor hunting [OLUGL100] - $79.00 : O-Like, Quality Products, Great Prices
and
200mW transformable green laser [OLV6200] - $165.00 : O-Like, Quality Products, Great Prices

i like the study design of the top one abut the bottom one is adjustable to 200mw but dont really know if i like the adjustable one.

It all comes down to preference. Just pick the one you like best.

Yes when talking about lasers, preference and wallet size are the two main factors.