Gun-safe 150-300mW lasers

[IceKnight366]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this forum and new to lasers! I recently got interested in them while trying to research a laser in the last week for my Springfield 1911 TRP. I'm currently on vacation in Greece and found a 100mW 532nm XY-850 from China. I just bought it two days ago and realized that I think I way overpayed for it but oh well hah (hopefully I make it through customs! I'll separate the battery from the laser like it should be and put it in a different bag that I'll check instead of carry on). Anyway, I've been doing lots of research this past week and have a couple questions (and yes, I have just finished reading Livinloud's safety sticky! Now I need a new charger because mine came with that cheap ass thing). I posted this in the welcome page too!

Basically, I'm looking at getting a 150-300mW 445nm (532nm if I have to) laser sight for an AR-15. I read some of the problems with having a 445 as a gun accessory (uses more power, divergence is greater than the 532, it's easier for the eye to track a 532 than a 445) but I just can't get over how cool it would be to have a blue one! Other then the aformentioned issues, the problem seems to be two fold, 1) it needs to be durable (full metal, water proof, strong enough not to get damaged if I bang the front of it on something/drop it, etc...) and 2) it needs to be able to withstand the recoil of the gun. I've read from another thread on LPF that I should be worried that the recoil of a 5.56 could damage the internal components of the laser if they are not secured somehow. Does anyone know of an available and reputable place to get something like this? And if not, is it possible to build, or pay to have someone build, something like this?

Advice is always appreciated and thank you for taking the time to help a newb! :yh:

 

[Pi R Squared]

It is the 532nm that are the least durable, they are too sensitive to vibration and temperature, that's why they always use red, however we do now have 520nm green without that problem. A 445nm or 450nm will work fine too, there is another member here that attached one to his rifle, I remember seeing a photo. Yes its possible to build or pay to have someone build something like this.

Alan

 

[Robpar]

Its illegal to put any laser over 5mw on a gun. You will have to look more into it but if you do end up attaching a powerful laser on it make sure you get proper laser glasses along with proper shooting glasses lol.

 

[BowtieGuy]

Here's a link to a thread discussing the use of different wavelengths (520nm, & 445nm) for aiming.

 

[IceKnight366]

It is the 532nm that are the least durable, they are too sensitive to vibration and temperature, that's why they always use red, however we do now have 520nm green without that problem. A 445nm or 450nm will work fine too, there is another member here that attached one to his rifle, I remember seeing a photo. Yes its possible to build or pay to have someone build something like this.

Alan

Thank you again Alan, very helpful! That's great news for the 445! Indeed, the 450 might be even a better choice due to it being slightly brighter to the eye. Do you happen to have a reference to someone who could/would be able to do this. My knowledge on the mechanics and physics is far to low at this point to but something that expensive on a firearm.

 

[IceKnight366]

Its illegal to put any laser over 5mw on a gun. You will have to look more into it but if you do end up attaching a powerful laser on it make sure you get proper laser glasses along with proper shooting glasses lol.

Yes no doubt! I am looking into buying a Surefire X400 Ultimate Green for my 1911 that has that 5mW limit. But I'd like something with some significant more distance and more visibility during the day!

Here's a link to a thread discussing the use of different wavelengths (520nm, & 445nm) for aiming.

Thanks a lot Bowtie! That's exactly the type of information I need :yh:

I had a couple of questions with regard to some of the things discussed in that forum. Mhemling33 mentioned that he used an m140 diode for his laser. Although I'm still researching what this means, he then says, "Also the m140 is driven at 1.8A and the PL520 250mA." Do you know what this is referring to and how it might effect mounting a laser on the AR-15? Also it looks as if he's using a far more powerful laser than I was thinking (his looks like a 1W! Although looks can be deceiving.)

 

[Pi R Squared]

Thank you again Alan, very helpful! That's great news for the 445! Indeed, the 450 might be even a better choice due to it being slightly brighter to the eye. Do you happen to have a reference to someone who could/would be able to do this. My knowledge on the mechanics and physics is far to low at this point to but something that expensive on a firearm.

No I don't at the moment but after you have been here for awhile you will be able to post in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum and someone can make something for you. I don't think it need be expensive though. I have just been examining my own lasers that I assembled myself (see the white links in my signature) and they are all durable enough for this purpose and cost between $150 and $275 for the parts. So I think anyone who builds lasers can make you something.

One thing though, I had never considered making a laser waterproof, my lasers are reasonably water resistant, in fact I once had them all on the table together at once and knocked over a full glass of beer on them. It was scary for a few minutes but after I cleaned it up and dried them off there was no problem, so I would feel safe with them in the rain. After thinking about this and examining the hosts I see that it would be easy to fully waterproof them to the point that they could even be submerged in water. It would just take some O-rings and waterproofing the tail cap switch and where the lens barrel screws into the module, also you would want to use a rubber lens cap when not in use but I don't see any problems with these things. I am tempted to try it as a future project and show photos of a laser working underwater.

Yes no doubt! I am looking into buying a Surefire X400 Ultimate Green for my 1911 that has that 5mW limit. But I'd like something with some significant more distance and more visibility during the day!



Thanks a lot Bowtie! That's exactly the type of information I need :yh:

I had a couple of questions with regard to some of the things discussed in that forum. Mhemling33 mentioned that he used an m140 diode for his laser. Although I'm still researching what this means, he then says, "Also the m140 is driven at 1.8A and the PL520 250mA." Do you know what this is referring to and how it might effect mounting a laser on the AR-15? Also it looks as if he's using a far more powerful laser than I was thinking (his looks like a 1W! Although looks can be deceiving.)

These would have no effect mounting a laser on the AR-15. An m140 driven at 1.8A should be about 2W.

Alan

 

[RYDorDIE278]

Another question is how will you turn the laser on, wouldnt be hand for quik shots with a clickie so maybe get a 501b or a 502b then you can buy a remote switch(dont know if they are recomended for 1.8a) if you got heaps of money you could try a m462 diode with a three element lens for nicer beam, check blords 501b lasers, sci-fi lasers or 501b hosts from mrcrouse to get an idea, anyway all is just a sugestion, good luck

 

[Pi R Squared]

Another question is how will you turn the laser on, wouldnt be hand for quik shots with a clickie so maybe get a 501b or a 502b then you can buy a remote switch(dont know if they are recomended for 1.8a) if you got heaps of money you could try a m462 diode with a three element lens for nicer beam, check blords 501b lasers, sci-fi lasers or 501b hosts from mrcrouse to get an idea, anyway all is just a sugestion, good luck

That is a very good point you bring up. I would suggest one of the Survival Laser hosts combined with their "Pressure Pad Switch" Pressure Pad Switch not only are the hosts small but the switch has multiple switches on the pressure pad allowing for both continuous and momentary on modes.

Alan

 

[RYDorDIE278]

I swear some of you fellows are programed that higher powers are always better. The application dictates the power recommendation.

He needs a bright dot and wants it to be relatively safe. Recommend accordingly. He doesnt need a 1-2W laser. :tsk: In my opinion he doesnt need anything over 50mW.

Yup im one thats programmed that high powers are better, haha, i think maybe 500mW-1W m140 445(3element lens) or a PLP520-B1 520nm driven to output 130mW, he does want something visible during the day also

anyway.. next question is mounting and aligning, another reason i sugested 501b/502b is because they are close to 1 inch and there are many 1inch weaver/dovetail mounts which will be perfect, but then the hard part is aligning and zeroING in on your prefered point as the various clamps would put it on one particular spot, im a bit out of ideas when it comes to that,

this thread reminds me of how i got here on LPF, all i wanted was a bright Laser for my Paintball gun, Now look at my signature.....
BTW I Never Ended up with a laser sight for my Paintball Gun, Im Happy Here Though

 

[IceKnight366]

No I don't at the moment but after you have been here for awhile you will be able to post in the Buy/Sell/Trade forum and someone can make something for you. I don't think it need be expensive though. I have just been examining my own lasers that I assembled myself (see the white links in my signature) and they are all durable enough for this purpose and cost between $150 and $275 for the parts. So I think anyone who builds lasers can make you something.

One thing though, I had never considered making a laser waterproof, my lasers are reasonably water resistant, in fact I once had them all on the table together at once and knocked over a full glass of beer on them. It was scary for a few minutes but after I cleaned it up and dried them off there was no problem, so I would feel safe with them in the rain. After thinking about this and examining the hosts I see that it would be easy to fully waterproof them to the point that they could even be submerged in water. It would just take some O-rings and waterproofing the tail cap switch and where the lens barrel screws into the module, also you would want to use a rubber lens cap when not in use but I don't see any problems with these things. I am tempted to try it as a future project and show photos of a laser working underwater.



These would have no effect mounting a laser on the AR-15. An m140 driven at 1.8A should be about 2W.

Alan

Awesome! Yea, if you're up for giving it a go I'd be very interested in buying. The fact that this seems reasonably feasible is very encouraging! You could call it "rugged lasers" or something. Once I've been here long enough maybe we can start talking about specifics. I read the sticky in BST that said I need at least 20 laser related posts and a green rep. So I'll get there first!

2W's, dang lol. Far surpasses my requirements! Good for him though, that's intense.

 

[IceKnight366]

Yes, Cronic has the right idea. Anything over 300mW I feel would be too much. The problem I'm having now as I continue to think about it throughout the day is the actual visibility of the beam itself. I feel it has a high "cool" factor as well as useful pointing features, but a low tactical value in some self defense situations (Heaven forbid in the first place!). That is, the ability to see a beam immediately gives away your position. But I suppose such a scenario is so unlikely it plausibly irrelevant. Is there a way to put a mW adjuster on it to vary your output?

Thanks for your useful feedback DorDie. I figured for activation a simple push and click-to-activate the beam like I have on my 100mW green XY-850 would be good. Do you think there are problems with that type of mechanism? I'm not sure if a pad for momentary activation is really necessary. For a tactical light I could see this usefulness like they have on the Surefire X400 ultra. But you are right on with the zeroing in feature. Something like that would seem to be challenging and yet necessary for a practical laser sight! By "PLP520-B1 520nm driven to output 130mW" do you mean a laser that has the capacity to out put 500mW yet caps at 130? Would the beam as well as the dot both be clearly visible during the day with something like that?

That would be wicked cool to have this on a paintball gun hah. You'd have to be careful not to blind your friends!

EDIT: Sorry my responses are taking a little long. I'm still in Greece with a sketchy Internet and I'm a slow typer on an iPhone.

 

[RYDorDIE278]

well my 520nm in my sig has that exact diode and its recomended to be driven at a max of i think around 450mA to get around 200mW, so i just said output of 130mW just so it would be a bit under driven(maybe 350mA) for your own safety, nice beam and spot for a multimode too!
as for visible beam during the day, you MAY only just see the beam by looking down the beam from you rifle, e.g someone on the side of the beam probably wouldnt see it, but theres heaps of factors to take into account, lighting , wearing eye protection, cloudy? etc

hope some of this helped anyway,
IMO i would tackle the mounting and zeroing in ideas first before building,
Hope all goes well!

 

[Pi R Squared]

I have an idea, just get a set of lasers, a violet, blue, green, and red, each in the same type of host so you can choose which one you want to use at the time.

Alan

 

[IceKnight366]

Thank you Cronic. Which would you suggest between the linear driver and the Buck driver?

I'm definitely taking your advice. That's one of the reasons why I think having an mW adjuster on there would be extremely useful and more safe. I feel like I would probably keep it at the 5mW range if it could be adjusted that low and only raise it up for specific scenarios. The ones I could think of off the top of my head are 1) identifying and spotting things. 2) showing it off to friends once in a safe environment. 3) As a deterrent for intruders. That is, I feel lighting someone up with a beam who is intending to hurt me is a preferred deterrent than having to kill a man. If he can see that there is a beam on him hopefully that would inspire him to get away with his life and saving me the heavy moral burden of taking a life. Better he has eye damage from the encounter than losing his life.
That's kinda my thought process on the matter.

I have an idea, just get a set of lasers, a violet, blue, green, and red, each in the same type of host so you can choose which one you want to use at the time.

Alan

Sorry, Do you mean at the time of making the laser or at the time of using it? If you mean at the time of making it I'm already fairly attached to the idea of a blue since I already have a green .

 

[Pi R Squared]

I meant at the time of using it, 4 separate lasers you can swap out and use the one you want at the time.

Alan