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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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2
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34218
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8/5/06
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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£115.00
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8.5
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Redhawk
Registered: September 2004
Posts: 319
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Review Date: 7/5/06
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: £115.00
| Rating: 9
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Positive aspects of the product (pros):
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Cool and tactical looking, metal construction, nice LED light (albeit useless), quick install throw lever, extra top rail, both dial and pressure switch activation.
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Cons:
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Way too expensive for nothing more than a laser sight, plastic sight adjustment knobs.
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•••Click on images to enlarge•••
Quick Background on the DBAL (Dual Beam Aiming Laser)
The Dual Beam Aiming Laser (DBAL) is a combination daylight laser sight and nighttime infrared (IR) pointer manufactured by Laser Devices, Inc. The unit has two apertures: one for visible red laser with 635nM wavelength and 5mW output, while the other produces an infrared beam with 835nM, 1mW that only can be seen with night vision goggles. The device can be mounted on Picatinny rails and also features an additional rail on top of the unit, which you can mount other accessories such as flashlights, red dot scopes, etc. There are two dials on the unit: one is the on/off/pressure switch and the other toggles between the visible and IR lasers. You can operate the lasers by using the included pressure switch or simply use the dial to turn the unit on or off. The IR laser is available only to law enforcement agencies and the military. The DBAL is smaller than Insight Technology's AN/PEQ IR devices; it's very compact and can easily fit in the palm of your hand.
For more info, visit Laser Devices' website at http://www.laserdevices.com/productintro.php?cid=2
Star D-LAP (Dual Laser Aiming Pointer)
Star's Dual Laser Aiming Pointer, or D-LAP, is a near perfect replica of the DBAL unit, though there's no IR feature. The device measures 3.75"L x 2.43"W x 1.68"H and features a standard red laser and a white LED light (in place of the IR laser). The unit is packaged in a cardboard box secured in foam and comes with two batteries and a detachable pressure switch with velcro. There is no manual, but the device is so simple to use that you don't need one. Weighing about one pound, the D-LAP has quite a heft due to the fact that nearly all the components are made of metal. It's very sturdy and feels rock solid. It uses two 1.5V 910A LR1 (a.k.a. "N") batteries (the real DBAL uses one 1.5V AA battery). The batteries are housed in the center of the unit and you simply unscrew the cap in the front to install it. The D-LAP retails for $212 USD at Hong Kong online retailers.
   
Like the real DBAL, the D-LAP has a rail on top of the unit, allowing you to mount red dot scopes, flashlights and heaven forbids... another laser! The rail is recessed down the center so that you can still use the iron sights if mounted on top of the M16/M4 handguard. The rail is held in place by a couple of hex screws and I believe it's removable, though I haven't tried to remove it. When mounted on top of my SR-16 handguard the D-LAP rises pretty high, but I still was able to use my G&P 4x32 ACOG scope without any problems.
  
There are two modes of operating the laser and LED: either by using the dial or the pressure pad. The left dial has three selections: OFF, MOM. REM. (Momentary Remote) and ON. Turning the dial to ON keeps the laser on at all times, switching it to MOM. REM. allows you to use the pressure pad, while OFF cuts it off completely. The right dial has VIS. (visible) and IR selections. Switch it to VIS. to use the laser and IR to use the LED light. The switch toggles between the two, so only one or the other comes on. I prefer to use the constant ON mode rather than the pressure pad because in my experience pressure switches are more prone to malfunction. One of the reasons why I chose the D-LAP is because it offers these two options.
 
Looking at the unit from the front the right aperture projects the laser and the left one the LED. The laser is pretty bright, with the box label indicating 650nM. The beam is adjustable for windage and elevation via the corresponding knobs behind the aperture. The top knob has D and U with arrows to indicate which direction each should go (D to move the point of aim down, U for up). Same for the side knob, with R for right and L for left. The knobs and the surrounding housings, disappointingly, are made of plastic (these are the only plastic parts on the unit). They are a little stiff and are not easy to turn with fingers, but fortunately they have screw heads on top so that a flathead screwdriver can be used.
The laser is easy to adjust; I use my laser bore sight just to get the two red dots lined up together. From then on it was just a matter of minor refinements and trial and error. Once honed in I was able to achieve pin-point accuracy, though I must say that the accuracy is due more in part to the gun. The laser maintained stability with each shot without ever drifting.
The LED light is for show and is more of a novelty and not really intended for practical use. It has an interesting blueish tint; however, in a pitch dark room it only lights up a very small area and is very dim. It's a little weaker than your average pocket pen light. So don't expect to use it as a tactical flashlight for CQB; it's only bright enough if you're trying to find a keyhole while opening a door. The adjustment knobs behind the LED is non-functional and it's there for details only. They can be turned, but the light doesn't move.
 
The D-LAP uses the ARMS-type throw lever mount to attach itself to 20mm rails. The mount is extremely quick and easy to attach and detach; simply sit the unit properly onto the rails and swing the lever in the opposite direction. The mount locks it in place very securely without any sort of movement. Once you have zeroed in the laser the red dot isn't going anywhere; I was able to dismount and remount the unit without losing zero.
Laser sights are difficult to see beyond 25 feet outdoors on a bright sunny day. So the D-LAP is more suitable for nighttime or indoors. At night the beam is visible up to several hundred feet, and I'm sure someone with better vision than me can see beyond that. With the aid of my 4x32 ACOG scope I can spot the red dot even farther, not that my stock SR-16 can ever shoot that far.
So why pay over $200 for something that you can get for $30 or less? The D-LAP is an example of form over function. You don't buy the D-LAP for what it can do, but rather what it symbolizes. If you want a simple laser for your gun then the D-LAP is certainly not worth it. However, if you're a hardcore collector and want the most exotic and authentic accessories for your most authentic airsoft guns then this may be something to look into. It has a truly striking appearance that you don't see everyday and will certainly turn heads. With the D-LAP mounted on my SR-16 I must say it makes the whole setup much more tactical and intimidating.
  
Star S-LAP Laser Aiming Pointer
As a side note Star also manufactures the S-LAP (Single Laser Aiming Pointer) laser sight. This is also a replica of Laser Devices' OTAL (Off-set Tactical Aiming Laser) laser unit. (See spec sheet). The S-LAP is very similar to the D-LAP, but it doesn't feature the top rail nor the LED. It's slightly smaller than the D-LAP and retails for $124 USD. The laser aperture is offset to one side and can be mounted on top of the M16/M4 railed handguard, so that the laser projects around the front sight. The controls are the same as the D-LAP and it uses the same type of batteries.
 
 
Jack Bauer has an OTAL mounted on his AIG ASW338LM sniper rifle in Season 7 of "24" (1:00pm–2:00pm).
  
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gerakkhas
Registered: March 2005
Posts: 20
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Review Date: 8/5/06
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 8
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Positive aspects of the product (pros):
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Its all metal
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Cons:
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Expensive
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Just to add my 2 cents worth. I've got one of these babies on my M4 and is co-witnessed with my Eotech 552. The unit is just low enough as to not obstruct your red dot and front sight. There's a chap on Ebay (IRLASERSTORE), based in Hong Kong, who can actually strip out the IR and Laser internals and put in an actual IR Laser. I've got that setup and it works a treat!
Interestingly the 1w of IR laser, though at an almost visible 810nm, is hardly detectable. My Gen 1 monocular can pick up the laser to about 15 meters, with the IR illuminator switched off.
If you're a really hardcore collector, then I would recommend you this option as it would give you a superior advantage for night games.
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Registered: September 2004