Background
While lasers have been on weapons for decades, they have only started to gain real traction in the last 10 years or so. The first weapon mounted lasers (WMLZ) were large, dim and lacked battery life.
Before going any further, I have a confession to make. Throughout my career I have not been a fan of lasers in any other format that Infra-red lasers used in conjunction with night vision devices. In all honesty, it boils down to three reasons
- 1. They only worked well at night (red lasers)
- 2. They were bulky
- 3. Most people I saw use them shot terribly
After doing this review I can say, without a doubt, the first two reasons on the list have been wiped out... The third is not an equipment problem, it is an operator problem. Lasers do not and never will make up for a lack of fundamental skill with a firearm.
Viridian R5 Review
The specific unit I used for this review is a Viridian R5-Shield mounted to my S&W Shield in 9mm.
The package came with everything you would expect and more. Included were
- - Trigger Guard mounted laser
- - Spare batteries
- - Small Torx wrench for installation
- - ECR Holster
- - Viridian Hat (may have been a special offer at the time)
- - Directions
- Installation
- First Impressions
The laser itself has two modes: constant on and pulsing. I have a strong preference for the constant on mode, but that will vary by user. When drawing from the Enhanced Combat Readiness (ECR) holster the laser turns on to the mode it was in when holstered.
You can see a great review of the ECR holster below from Rob Pincus of Personal Defense Network.
I really enjoyed the instant on feature because it overcomes one of the major drawbacks of many WMLZs, having to remember to turn it on in the heat of a violent confrontation.
The next thing I noticed was how bright the laser was! This thing can light up a dark room, There is no guessing where your weapon is pointed, as you can see a green light saber projecting from the front of the pistol.
At The Range
Final Thoughts
The R5 is available at the time of this writing for the M&P Shield, Ruger LC9 and LCP, Kahr P-series, Glock 42 and XDs. You can check them out here
- http://www.viridiangreenlaser.com/