Laser sight questions (on M4)

[Kingcreek]

I've got some questions for you folks that might have experience with laser sighting systems. I've seen some discussion about using the new (and more expensive) green lasers for better daylight visibility.
Q#1: How important is visibilty in bright daylight?
Q#2: What do you consider a reasonable practical distance for laser use and for sighting in POI?
I just bought a new Uni-Max red Lasermax rail mount for my RRA Entry Tacticle. I had planned to set it up as a 100 yard and under weapon and desire fast handling vs. long range shooting. I have a light-under-handguard barrel and will be mounting an EOTech HWS to co-witness with my iron sights and a 100m zero for my primary sights. I thought to use the red laser as a close and quick or low light option and zero it at 25m. I will also add a weapon light and pressure switch if it doesn't heavy-up the front end too much, or atleast mount it with a lever mount so I can have it off in daylight.
I guess I'm having a little trouble thinking of the laser as a primary sight in bright daylight. Am I missing something here?
BTW, this UniMax is a little bitty thing but very bright. wt is only 2.8oz and about the size of one of the hotwheels cars I played with in the 60s. 2.25" long and about .5" thick.
TIA

 

[R&J]

1) Q#1: How important is visibilty in bright daylight?

2) Q#2: What do you consider a reasonable practical distance for laser use and for sighting in POI?

3) I guess I'm having a little trouble thinking of the laser as a primary sight in bright daylight. Am I missing something here?

4) BTW, this UniMax is a little bitty thing but very bright. wt is only 2.8oz and about the size of one of the hotwheels cars I played with in the 60s. 2.25" long and about .5" thick.
TIA

*****

1) It would be critical if the laser was your primary sight. The green lasers are readily visible in broad daylight. Conversely, they are too visible at night, describing a line right back to the shooter!

2) My experience is limited to pistol use, and so I use the Parallel Beam approach, say, 100-feet. But the laser runs straight and true, far further than that, say 100 yards, before the beam/dot tends to spread.

Get a friend and test your laser outdoors (they're awesome in the fog and on stop signs!) to determine the distance at which the dot gets too large to use as a target designator. You'll then have to decide whether to set the rig up with a Sweet Spot (point where beam and bullet converge) or use the Parallel Beam approach (bullet lands above/below the beam).

3) No. You're not missing anything. While you may be able to see the red laser dot on the target in the scope, odds are your eyes will not otherwise pick it up in broad daylight.

Lasers have other advantages, like allowing you to hold zero on a perp, while dialing 911 with the other hand. Lasers are great at intimidating a target, too.

4) Yeah, they're great little gizmos! The green machine is really expensive, but could be stacked right below the red, on the built-in rail. I believe the infrared models are out now too.

--Ray

 

[Kingcreek]

Thanks. I've had a chance to play with it a little and I'm going to set it up to zero at 25 meters. It is visible at night to atleast 100m against weathered barnboard and 25m seems reasonable for daylight so far. I'm still thinking of it as a sighting option, secondary to the EOTech. I can always change things out later.
If I get used to it and like it enough, I may add one to a handgun but this one is small and light enough that it will probably stay on the AR.

 

[Franco2shoot]

visibility

Here's a trick I stumbled onto with my Laser .308 cartridge system. Take a normal target and then get some Scotch reflective tape. I put a strip up/down and a strip right/left. I can see the dot 100yards down range, but only when it crosses the tape. There's no reflection off the paper, but the tape seems to glow so you may have to play a bit.
KKKKFL