I remember it like it was yesterday. Silvester Stalone used a light SMG in his movie Cobra with a strange device attached to the top of the gun. Today, I would hardly even believe that it was one of the first laser sights that was mass-produced for use on weapons. Do you remember it? It looked a bit like a telescope or optics, and I think it had a similar weight as well. Of course, you won't find such a device in this category. Here are much more sophisticated and modern laser sights. Before we talk about what they actually are, let's take a quick look at the laser itself.
What is a laser?
In order to properly understand how laser sights actually work, we should know how the laser itself actually works. This seemingly simple device uses the laws of quantum mechanics and thermodynamics. Behind the original description of the physical principle is no one more famous than Albert Einstein, he did so in 1917. Despite the bygone description, the laser waited another 43 years for its first construction. It was first introduced in 1960 by Theodore H. Maiman in the USA. The predecessor of the laser was the maser.
Laser is an abbreviation of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
So, how does a laser actually work? If I were to describe the exact function in detail, I would use words like "excitation inversion" and the like. I don't like that, and most of all, I myself often don't even know what the terms mean. So, to put it mildly, in order for the beam of photons, which we perceive as a point of light somewhere on the wall, an active environment is needed, two resonators (let's say such mirrors) and an energy source (discharge lamp) that pumps energy into the environment. Thanks to this, photons are created in the active environment, which are constantly reflected, accelerated and amplified between the two mirrors. At the moment when the photon density reaches the required level, a dedicated mirror lets it out. The stream of photons is then practically what we see. Now that we know how that point on the wall is created, we can go one step further.
So what's the point of laser aiming?
After the introduction of the laser, the military also became understandably interested in its use. There have been several directions in which lasers have been used, one of them being laser aiming. Attaching these devices to weapons primarily makes targeting easier. This way, the shooter can very easily estimate where his gun is aiming and can start shooting without the need of precisely finding the target. This way is of course much faster. However, the laser is used more for better estimation of the direction of the weapon than for accurate shooting.
Laser sights are placed on various parts of weapons. Accordingly, there are also different types of grips. Some are adapted to be attached to, for example, revolvers. Their location is parallel to the main guns. Active lasers can be used at shorter distances. They cannot work with the effects that affect the missile during flight. When shooting at longer ranges, the downward trajectory of the projectile must be accounted for with most ammunition, as well as wind and other factors. Of course, a laser attached to the handguard will not provide the necessary correction, so it ends up pointing quite elsewhere.
Colors of laser
The original laser color was red. This color was the easiest to source, making all laser sights red until 2007. Unfortunately, this color was lost on sunny days, it was difficult to distinguish. In that year, LaserMax® came out with the first ever green laser sight. This started the crowd frenzy. Because – of course I need a green laser. Currently also available in blue or purple. For military purposes, an infrared laser is used, which, although invisible to the human eye, is visible in night vision. It serves precisely these purposes.
According to what to choose?
Laser sights are sophisticated devices that are frequently used in modern times. If you want one of these, first choose according to the type of grip. To be able attach it to your weapon at all. Next, you will decide on the color and most likely the price. More expensive lasers are more accurate even at a greater distance and can cope with vibrations when firing. Think about that too.