Category: Optics (Scopes, Sights, Lights, Lasers, Mounts)

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Manufacturer: ACM
Type: Helmet/Weapon Light

HL1-A-TN – Helmet/Weapon Light

This is a clone of the Surefire HL1-A-TN Helmet Light System. Ebaybanned put these on sale for $19.95 including international shipping, to apologize to their regular customers for some shipping delays.

HL1-A-TN – Helmet/Weapon Light

The build is OK., definetly NOT Surefire quality, but passable for the price. The unit runs off 1 CD123A Lithium battery. This unit by no means compares with a Surefire P60 tactlight in lumen output. The LED’s on this unit are for personal illumination and IFF identity.

Switch operation as follows:

Upper Switch

• Toggle Up – 3 White LED’s
• Toggle Middle – Off
• Toggle Down – 2 Blue LED’s

Lower Switch

• Toggle Up – Side IFF LED
• Toggle Down – IFF Off

Side Push button

• Controls 3 levels of brightness on front LED’s

HL1-A-TN – Helmet/Weapon Light RIS Mount

This unit shipped with:

• Helmet Mount
• R.I.S. Mount
• Cap Bill Mount

The RIS mount was a nice addition, but with the low level light output of the LED’s, I’m not sure how effective rail mounting this system is. But this unit is low profile enough to be mounted on an upper M16 rail and sights can still be used.

HL1-A-TN – Helmet/Weapon Light RIS Mount

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Manufacturer: REM (USA)
Type: Holographic Reflex Sight Illuminator

REM T3 – P90/PS90 White Ring Sight Fix

I was first clued into the Real FN P90 Ring Sights by Arnie’s member, Stealth Bomber.

A friend of mine and fellow Gunatics admin, Fatcat (And Real Steel FaaREAK!), was able to find 1 of the the Real FN P90 Ring Sights for me and I was able to purchase it relatively cheap. Apparently real P90 owners have been swapping these out due to how hard they are to use. Cat then pointed me to Reticle Enhancement Module T3 (REM T3) thread on FNForum.

REM T3 – P90/PS90 White Ring Sight Fix – LED On

This is a very straight forward and relatively inexpensive add-on, which make the passive FN Holographic White Ring Sight more easily viewable with the addition of an active LED. The REM T3’s come in the following colors: Amber, Red, Green. White and Blue. I went with Blue because it’s different then what most people have been ordering in Red and Green. The unit is powered by a single CR2032 coin cell and rheostat switch is easy to operate.

REM T3 – P90/PS90 White Ring Sight Fix – Blue Reticle

The main body is a plastic resin and was designed to fit in the front sing well just under the site. A bit of sanding was needed to fit my Tokyo Marui P90. But the design of the REM T3 is solid and it’s now a great fit. The LED is pressure fit into the light collector of the Ring Sight.

REM T3 – P90/PS90 White Ring Sight Fix

The rheostat is extremely easy to operate and very easy to see what power levels you are running.

REM T3 – P90/PS90 White Ring Sight Fix

The reticle is now very easy to acquire and use for targetting. Highly visible, even in full direct daylight.

REM T3 – P90/PS90 White Ring Sight Fix

More updates to follow shortly.

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Manufacturer: Fabrique Nationale Herstal (USA)
Type: Holographic Reflex Sight

FN P90 Reflex Ring Site – Picture from Wikipedia

The early Real Steel, FN P90’s shipped with a White Ring Reflex Sight. It’s a holographic reflex sight with white rings and Black "T" reticle. This sight in non powered and uses and ambient light source to illuminate the reticle. Needless to say, this sight not very useful in low light situations.

FN P90 Reflex Ring Site – Comparison to TM – Left Side

So why get 1 of these Real Steel Ring Sights? Well to be different then all the TM P90’s with their Counter Strike Style red dots.

This is almost a virtual drop in replacement for the TM Red dot sight. You do have to file down a nub on the left side of the FN Sight, but no other mods other then that. You reuse the 2 TM Sight Mounting screws and the new sight is in.

FN P90 Reflex Ring Site – Comparison to TM – Right Side

You can find these for sale due to most Real P90 owners are swapping up to the Triple Rail or an easier to use sight system. FN has discontinued shipping P90’s with the White Rings for Black Rings sites, which are supposed to be easier to use.

This is a great add-on, to make your P90 stand out, and it’s nice you can swap out optics relatively easily if needed.

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Manufacturer: CREE
Type: Tactical Light Replacement Bulb Assembly

CREE – Q5 LED Tactical Light Replacement Bulb Assembly

I kept coming across these LED Bulb assemblies on Ebay. I already own an Inova T2 LED and Surefire G2 LED and have been more then happy with their performance.

CREE – Q5 LED Tactical Light Replacement Bulb Assembly

These assemblies go for about $20.00 shipped from Hong Kong and claim a 270 lumen output, it was an affordable experiment waiting to be paypal’d.

Received the LED assembly about 5 days after payment. The assembly comes with 2 contact springs. The large outer one may need to be removed to fit into some lights. But it’s a drop in fit. This assembly fit and functioned in all my Surefire G2’s and 6p’s as well as my G&P Surefire clones.

So is it really 270 Lumens??? I fitted the Q5 into 1 of my Surefire G2’s and plopped new CR123a’s on all lights (Gah…exspensive). Lights were about 15 feet from wall.

CREE – Q5 vs. Surefire G2 LED

CREE – Q5 vs. Surefire P6 Incandescent

CREE – Q5 vs. Inova T2 LED

Definitely an affordable option for those who already own incandescent tactical lights. Lumen output is very impressive. Will report later on battery life and durability.

EDIT 04/2008

I ended up buying 3 full lights, that use this same bulb assembly for my shop. All metal fabrication, but not a Surefire compatible body. Although you can still swap the bulb assemblies around.

CREE – Q5 Full Light

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Manufacturer: Vanaras, (China)
Type: Optics

Valaras – 3x Magnifier w/ QD Twist Mount

The Valaras – 3x Magnifier w/ QD Twist Mount is a replica of the Aimpoint 3x Magnifier w/ QD Twist Mount. Physically it’s build is a metal 30mm tube with rubber armored cover and Aimpoint trademarks. It’s a great facsimile of the original. The QD Twist Mount is also a spot on replica and functions well. It comes with windage and elevation adjustments even though it has no reticle. It does adjust the reticle of whatever reddot sight you choose to use.

Valaras – 3x Magnifier w/ QD Twist Mount

All the pieces fit pretty tightly together. There is a bit of play in the QD Twist Mount though, but that doesn’t effect performance. The glass used is surprisingly clear, but unfortunately eye relief is pretty bad. The Valaras replica has about a 1" -1.5" inch eye relief. Real Aimpoint 3x’s have up to a 2.5" Eye relief. The QD Twist Mount works well, but you have to remove the magnifier entirely to clear your red dot sight. This QD Twist Mount is relatively low and meant to work with a standard "L" style 30mm mount. You will need risers for it to work with a cantilever type of mount or an EOTech.

Hendsholt 1.5x Magnifier w/ Larue Side Flip Mount, Top
Valaras – 3x Magnifier w/ QD Twist Mount, Bottom.

I also own a Hendsholt 1.5x Magnifier on a Larue Side Flip Mount and was planning to use the Valaras on the Larue Side Flip mount, but the Hendsholt Magnifier has much better eye relief and optics. I also prefer the over all higher height of the Larue setup.

Side by Side Setups

On my EOTech 511, I’m using the Larue ESOC-C Mount, which has a built in riser to the rear of the mount and it accommodate the QD Twist Mount perfectly.

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Manufacturer: Rico Tactics (Hong Kong)
Type: Tactical Light

Rico – Alpha 9 Tactical Light

The Rico Alpha 9 Tactical light has been available for a few years now. Many reviews already exist but the real draw for me was how popular the Rico Alpha 9 has become in the Real Steel Gun community. I have experience first hand how durable these are when mounted to AR-15’s. The manual states they will work on guns up to 7.62×51.

Rico – Alpha 9 Tactical Light

This one is the newest generation of Alpha 9 that features a new pressure pad with guard and a paddle switch.

The Rico Alpha 9 is constructed with a high quality polymer body and aluminum skeletal frame. The light is impact resistant from a 2 meter drop and is water resistant. It has a super strong 3mm poly-carbonate lens and full aluminum lamp housing with striker flashlight head and butt cap. Powered by three CR123A batteries, the 250 lumen bulb will deliver blinding illumination. The small LED search lights are functional and provide enough light to search a small room without giving up your position with the main light.

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Manufacturer: LaRue Tactical (USA)
Type: Optics Mounts

LaRue Tactical – M68 Cantilever Mount

Ended up buying the Larue M68 Cantilever Mount since it the exact height of Larue Pivot Sidefold Mount.

LaRue Tactical – M68 Cantilever Mount

Great engineering as you would expect from Larue.

LaRue Tactical – ECOS-C EOTech Mount

I also got a Larue ECOS-C EOTech Mount, which gives me a throw lever and slightly raised mount.

LaRue Tactical – ECOS-C Eotech Mount

Comes with a raised rear rail for use with a fixed PVS-14 NV Mount.

LaRue Tactical – ECOS-C Eotech Mount

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Manufacturer: LaRue Tactical (USA)
Type: Side Folding Mount

LaRue Tactical – 30mm Pivot Mount w/ Hendsholt 2.5 Magnifier

I've been jealously eyeing AEX Mickey's Samson Side Folding Mount and Aimpont 3x Magnifier since he first got it a few years ago. but with a price tag near $600, I put this on the back burner.

Fortunately, the good ol's boys at LaRue Tactical came up with their own setup. It's a side folding mount with 30mm ring and setup to mount an Aimpoint, EOTech or any 30mm tubed magnifier at the same height of an aimpoint. They also make a version that is the proper height for an EOtech 551, 552 direct rail mounted. The side fold is easy to operate and keeps the magnifier positively held in position.

LaRue Tactical – 30mm Pivot Mount w/ Hendsholt 2.5 Magnifier with Eotech

The LaRue guys also found a bunch of surplus Hensholdt rocket launcher 2.5x sights. They are only 1 inch tubes (with included 30mm adapter), but for the price they work great. 2.5 Magnification is great for airsoft engagement distances. It gives you enough of magnification advantage w/o being too powerful to track your bb's flight path.

LaRue Side Flip Mount and Hensholdt Magnifier costs under $200.00 and LaRue was nice enough to throw in other goodies (Hat, Armadillo Multi-Tool).

UPDATE

Quality optics wise that Hendsholdt sight is crystal clear. Probably due to the glass not being tinted, but impressivly nice optics.

LaRue Tactical – 30mm Pivot Mount w/ Hendsholt 2.5 Magnifier with AP mounted on a Samurai M69 adjustable height mount.

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Manufacturer: Aimpoint (USA)
Type: Killflash Filter

Aimpoint – Killflash Filter

The Aimpoint – Killflash Filter, is an Anti Reflection Device. This attaches to real Aipoints adn with some work can be made to attach to a clone Aimpoint Optic. It is a very low profile add-on, but works well.

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Manufacturer: Classic Army (Hong Kong)
Type: Killflash, Aluminium Honeycomb Filter

Classic Army – Killflash, Aluminium Honeycomb Filter

The Classic Army – Killflash, Aluminium Honeycomb Filter, is CA's version of the Aimpoint Kill Flash Anti Reflection Device. The CA version is much longer and should attach to any aimpoint clone. I've attached it to King Arms, Guarder, AMP Tactical and G&P Aimpoint copies.

Classic Army – Honeycomb Filter on a Guarder Reddot mounted on an M14 EBR CQB.

Installation requires the removal of a threaded retention ring on the optic itself. The this untit simply screws on.