Lookey: Green Laser for HK45

[dojohnso]

Greetings fellow H&Kers.

While at my local Gun Shop, I wanted to see if I could get a green laser to fit on my new HK45. Sure enough, the Viridian SXD Green Laser fits, looks and functions like a champ.

Heres a pix:

http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h296/dojohnso1/HK45withViridianGreenLaser.jpg

[12131]

Nice, but personally, I would have gotten the Lasermax Uni-max for it.
Btw, welcome to the club.

[dojohnso]

Thanks for the welcome. This is my 4th H&K. My first was a VP70Z a few years ago, then bought a USP Compact about 2-3 years ago, then a P2KS, and now this HK45. Love H&Ks. They are extremely accurate and reliable.

Happy shooting.

[12131]

Agree. Love them HK's.

[imp25rs]

What is the advantage to green lasers over red?

[dojohnso]

What is the advantage to green lasers over red?

You can see green better than red.

I don't work or sell for these guys, I was just real impressed with the green laser on a past visit. On a whim, today, when I picked up my HK45, I asked to see if we could fit one to my gun, and sure enough, the one for the Springfield XD fit perfectly, as they dont make one specifically for the H&K. Check out www.viridiangreenlaser.com They have some demo pix to show the difference.

Was on the range today with my HK45 and this laser. Pretty cool.....

Happy Shooting

[Kenji]

What is the advantage to green lasers over red?

A green laser at the same power level is much more visible to a human, than a red laser. Sometimes the red laser is not really visible outside in day light.

[imp25rs]

You can see green better than red.

I don't work or sell for these guys, I was just real impressed with the green laser on a past visit. On a whim, today, when I picked up my HK45, I asked to see if we could fit one to my gun, and sure enough, the one for the Springfield XD fit perfectly, as they dont make one specifically for the H&K. Check out www.viridiangreenlaser.com They have some demo pix to show the difference.

Was on the range today with my HK45 and this laser. Pretty cool.....

Happy Shooting

Thanks for the info. I have been looking for a laser that will fit all my guns for practicing with. I will definately have to look into a green one.

[dojohnso]

The laser will help you see how steady or unsteady your hand is.....

[imp25rs]

The laser will help you see how steady or unsteady your hand is.....

That is exactly why I like practicing with them. The other thing they are helpful with is muscle memory when it comes to pulling the gun up and firing without really looking at the sights.

[gunut45]

That is exactly why I like practicing with them. The other thing they are helpful with is muscle memory when it comes to pulling the gun up and firing without really looking at the sights.

I never though about that. That is a good point!

[dojohnso]

That is exactly why I like practicing with them. The other thing they are helpful with is muscle memory when it comes to pulling the gun up and firing without really looking at the sights.


Agreed.

Happy shooting..

[mkivbb]

nice find!

[usmcHK]

Does anyone know if you can outfit the Viridian laser sight with a pressure switch? I like the green hi-vis, but am really looking for a configuration that works better with my grip and hand position. Otherwise I may be forced to go with Insight or Streamlight light/laser combo.

[dojohnso]

Does anyone know if you can outfit the Viridian laser sight with a pressure switch? I like the green hi-vis, but am really looking for a configuration that works better with my grip and hand position. Otherwise I may be forced to go with Insight or Streamlight light/laser combo.

I dont think you can. However, the switch is ambidexterous (one on each side) right at the edge of the trigger guard. Just a reach and tap with the trigger finger and the laser is on.

[MrShipwreck]

I don't know what Mw that green laser is - but I picked up one in 2006 for my PS90 - the damn thing was so bright I had to get rid of it. If you looked at the dot on the wall and you were closer than about 7 yards, it hurt your eyes just to see the dot. It also lit up a dark room like a flashlight.

It was kewl for outdoors - in the sun, I could see it over 100 yards away, and at night, it was good to over 1000 yards (I tested it to 800 yards and it was easily visible).

But, I got rid of it because, at the time, I didn't want a laser I could only use outside.

[TJPopkin]

What is the advantage to green lasers over red?
The color green is in the spectral range that the eye's rods and cones are most sensitive to. In fact, in B&W photography, it is imperative that you use a reflected light reading from "green" (or an incident reading) to correctly expose normal monochrome film. This is also why the night vision implements use green and we lose all color information in low light. The things we can see in a dark room at night are usually those that have green pigment in them and reflect light at an intensity lower than that where we can see color, but at which we can detect shape. When outdoor light is bright, red sensitivity is diminished and it is difficult to see a projected red image, but in low light, our eyes are more likely to detect a red dot.
Terry

[sniper1]

I don't know what Mw that green laser is - but I picked up one in 2006 for my PS90 - the damn thing was so bright I had to get rid of it. If you looked at the dot on the wall and you were closer than about 7 yards, it hurt your eyes just to see the dot. It also lit up a dark room like a flashlight.

It was kewl for outdoors - in the sun, I could see it over 100 yards away, and at night, it was good to over 1000 yards (I tested it to 800 yards and it was easily visible).

But, I got rid of it because, at the time, I didn't want a laser I could only use outside.


What laser was this?

[MrShipwreck]

What laser was this?

It was one I got off of Ebay. It was billed as 5 mW - but I really think it was at least a 10mW....

But any green laser can be seen in a dark room (the beam). So, it will give away your position.

[dojohnso]

The Viridian Laser is 5MW.

I dont see where the green laser differs from the red, with respect to giving away your position. Both tend to show the entire beam.

Again, I use this laser more as a training aid.

Happy shooting.

[Kenji]

In regards to giving your position away with a laser:

If you are NOT in a room or area outside at night where it is smokey, very humid, or dusty, you will not be able to see the source of the laser unless you look down the axis.

If you are sweeping the laser around, then someone could guess your postion, by where the arc started from.

[MaD HuNGaRIaN]

Visible light is for wussies....make mine IR.

[MrShipwreck]

In regards to giving your position away with a laser:

If you are NOT in a room or area outside at night where it is smokey, very humid, or dusty, you will not be able to see the source of the laser unless you look down the axis.

If you are sweeping the laser around, then someone could guess your postion, by where the arc started from.

Thats not true of the green laser I had. U COULD see it

[sniper1]

Visible light is for wussies....make mine IR.

If I could get my hands on a AN/PEQ2 that didn't cost an arm and a leg then yeah, I am right there with you.

[Kenji]

Thats not true of the green laser I had. U COULD see it

The only way you can see a visible laser beam is if it is hitting something, moisture in the air, dust in the air, or smoke in the air, that will reflect the light.

And yes Mad Hungarian, you can use an IR laser with the correct image converter(daytime) or night vision goggles. The American made equipment is more sensitive.

[Lackey]

Would a green laser in low light situations have an effect on how well you see at that time?

If one is trying to preserve night vision (not the green stuff, but when your pupils open up and let in more light) they use red light because it does not make your eyes have to adjust as much, therefore maintaining a high level of decent vision in the dark. If you are looking at this neon green laser I would think your eyes might even have to adjust and use more cones (color vision/intense light) rather than rods (mainly black and white vision/low intensity light) to pick it up. But I guess if I want to see in the night that is what a flash light is for :P

Either way, that is a nifty little gadget and fits on there pretty nice.

[MrShipwreck]

The only way you can see a visible laser beam is if it is hitting something, moisture in the air, dust in the air, or smoke in the air, that will reflect the light.

And yes Mad Hungarian, you can use an IR laser with the correct image converter(daytime) or night vision goggles. The American made equipment is more sensitive.

I'm telling U - this green laser that I had was VERY bright. I can't see the red beam on a red laser like you could see this one. I don't think U appreciate what I am saying.. Never mind :P

As I said before, I think it was much more powerful than advertised - as I later found out that this is common for the cheap chinese green lasers...

[hkobsession]

dojohnso,
could you post your picture a little larger so we can get a better look at it? It looks great and I for one would like to see it a little better.
Thanks!

[Kenji]

I'm telling U - this green laser that I had was VERY bright. I can't see the red beam on a red laser like you could see this one. I don't think U appreciate what I am saying.. Never mind :P

As I said before, I think it was much more powerful than advertised - as I later found out that this is common for the cheap chinese green lasers...

I am not trying to dispute what you saw, but maybe when you saw the beam, it was slightly moist, humid, dusty, or smoky. To see light, SOMETHING has to reflect it. Think about your headlights, this beam is not collimated, but you can not see the actual beam until it hits the road, BUT if it is foggy you can see the beam. It is the same thing with the laser. If you take a laser into a smoky room or outside on a really moist night, it will look like a light saber. BTW – this is why people get injured by visible lasers, they can not see the beam until it hits something (like their hand or eye).

[dojohnso]

dojohnso,
could you post your picture a little larger so we can get a better look at it? It looks great and I for one would like to see it a little better.
Thanks!

Happy to oblige. How much larger do you want it?

[.45ACP]

I'm telling U - this green laser that I had was VERY bright. I can't see the red beam on a red laser like you could see this one. I don't think U appreciate what I am saying.. Never mind :P

As I said before, I think it was much more powerful than advertised - as I later found out that this is common for the cheap chinese green lasers...


You're right, green lasers are MUCH more powerful than red lasers. I think all red lasers are rated at a maximum of 5mW (I've never seen one rated higher, as least as far as weapons grade lasers go) and a 5mW green laser will be much brighter than it, with a visible beam at night time or indoors. I have a 20mW green laser on one of my ARs (it is made by Aimshot, the only company that sells green lasers over 12mW as most others are either 5mW or 12mW) and it is BRIGHT. At night indoors when it hits something white, white being a color that reflects light the whole room will light up in a green hue. It is incredibly bright. They make green laser pointers up to the 150mW range and they are daylight visible and can ignite matches and melt plastics. Even in bright sunlight most green lasers can still be used, unlike red lasers. I've yet to see any red laser that can be used at 25m in daylight.

[usmcHK]

Happy to oblige. How much larger do you want it?

I would like to see some pics showing the spacing with the trigger guard. Also the SXD is made to lock in with the latch bar on the Springfield XD, how is the lock accomplished with the HK45?

[Kenji]

You're right, green lasers are MUCH more powerful than red lasers. I think all red lasers are rated at a maximum of 5mW (I've never seen one rated higher, as least as far as weapons grade lasers go) and a 5mW green laser will be much brighter than it, with a visible beam at night time or indoors. I have a 20mW green laser on one of my ARs (it is made by Aimshot, the only company that sells green lasers over 12mW as most others are either 5mW or 12mW) and it is BRIGHT. At night indoors when it hits something white, white being a color that reflects light the whole room will light up in a green hue. It is incredibly bright. They make green laser pointers up to the 150mW range and they are daylight visible and can ignite matches and melt plastics. Even in bright sunlight most green lasers can still be used, unlike red lasers. I've yet to see any red laser that can be used at 25m in daylight.

The reason that 5mW lasers are common as pointers or laser sights are that they are class IIIa which is good up to 5mW. They do make red lasers more powerful.

For anything class IIIb which is up to 500mW, the FDA requires all class IIIb and class IV lasers offered in commerce in the US to have five standard safety features: a key switch, a safety interlock dongle, a power indicator, an aperture shutter, and an emission delay (normally two to three seconds).

A lot of these high power "laser pointers" advertised on the internet are illegal. The FDA is slow moving, but once they find them and get around to them, they will have them taken off the market. They are also dangerous, you do not want to burn your retina.

If you are really interested - here is the link to the FDA website and the Federal regulations for laser products:

http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfCFR/CFRSearch.cfm?FR=1040.10

[MrShipwreck]

A lot of these high power "laser pointers" advertised on the internet are illegal. The FDA is slow moving, but once they find them and get around to them, they will have them taken off the market. They are also dangerous, you do not want to burn your retina.

That is why I no longer have the one I had. I wanted it for indoor and outdoor use. But it was so bright that it just wasn't safe to use indoors.

[MONEY]

The Viridian Laser is 5MW.

I dont see where the green laser differs from the red, with respect to giving away your position. Both tend to show the entire beam.

Again, I use this laser more as a training aid.

Happy shooting.

Green lasers do show more of the beam compared to red lasers from my experience and there is nothing wrong with having one mounted on your gun if used at the correct times. Many millitary & LEO agencies have flash lights mounted on their guns like the MP5 forarm light but they don't use them when they do not want to be seen. The green laser is also great for blinding your enemy so they can not see where they are shooting.

[krylon]

The green laser is also great for blinding your enemy so they can not see where they are shooting.

Seconded. Some models are marketed specifically for this purpose.

http://www.xtremeads.com/photonic.htm

[.45ACP]

I guarantee that just the 20mW green laser I have would do some serious eye damage. You couldn't see anything if it was pointed at your face. I caught the reflection off of something shiny before and it wasn't pleasant.

[dojohnso]

I would like to see some pics showing the spacing with the trigger guard. Also the SXD is made to lock in with the latch bar on the Springfield XD, how is the lock accomplished with the HK45?

I will try to get those pix for you, but just so you know, as you can see, the laser butts right against the trigger guard, much as if it were specifically designed for the HK. As far as the latch bar lock, it locks in the same as the Springfield. The HK45 has a slot in the rail, and its in the same exact spot as the Springfield XD, so the lockup is exactly the same. Very tight, not looseness at all.

FYI, this is a 5mW laser. Works well in bright daylight as advertised.

[usmcHK]

I just got mine, and it works perfectly. Again, I am mainly using it as a training aid, so it comes in handy shooting at the outdoor range I go to.

I also tested the laser in my room before I took it to the range, and I was not able to see the beam as some of the other members have noticed. On that note I am sure that in an indoor range you would probably be able to see the beam due to the increased air-born particles.