The
good the better & the really cool
Being able to outfit my favorite parkerized carry gun with a laser that boasted the features of the ArmaLaser, sounded really good to me. I've had my eye on the PocketSlipper for some time now - and I almost bought one a week before I accidentally found the ArmaLaser on eBay. I was searching for the finger rest to replace my standard 7 round magazine bottom - then bumped into the ArmaLaser. My first impression was - cool! But does this little piece of polymer and tiny laser really live up to its billing? After checking out the website and looking at the considerable size difference as compared to the PocketSlipper, I knew I had to try it out.
This is what I've been
waiting for. The company states that: "The ArmaLaser Tactical
System is designed to be a lightweight, tough, reliable addition to
polymer-based pocket and subcompact pistols." Well I was about to
get mine in the mail and test a few of those claims, here's some of
those results...
The instant touch sensor hype
The
ArmaLaser documentation says that this feature is "effortless and
seamless" also "the system will fire the laser, as if by magic."
At first I didn't even pay much attention to this feature when I was
making my purchase decision. The size was the thing that sold me.
Switch, no switch, no big deal right... well, let's just say that I'm a
big enough man to admit that I was wrong!
Buy
it for the size - Love it for the instant on system! This is hands
down the best feature of the ArmaLaser. When first installed it
takes a little bit of getting used to - where your finger brushes the
soft coating over the metal touch plate to activate it. After a
few times you figure it out and it literally becomes second nature.
This feature is soooo SMOOTH. Draw the weapon - on trigger on
target - instant laser target acquisition. No buttons to press, no
switch to apply pressure to, I quickly learned that I had underestimated
the instant touch sensor!
Once
you do activate the laser, it projects a constant beam (no blinking for
those of you like me that hate that) for 12 seconds. This time seems
good and if you need it back on after the auto shut off just a slight
brush of your finger again and its back on for another 12 second
interval. The "kill" switch is in a good position and can't be
easily bumped off, but is great when you don't want the laser to fire
accidentally. I must have turned the laser on and off hundreds of
times day in and day out for the month that I tested it and it worked
very well. When I re-packaged the laser the batteries were just as
powerful as when I put them in so there must be something to the Varta
name, because I really expected them to be drained as much as I played
with the laser.
In the documentation it does say that the system requires a small amount of power to stay in the "ready to fire" mode, and that a set of batteries can last up to one year. But they recommend that if it's being kept in a constant "ready to fire" mode, you should be able to have 2-3 sets of batteries last one year. Oh, did I mention that you will really like the instant on feature? Ok, just making sure!
"Printing"
ArmaLaser claims that the system creates a more squares and blocky outline which helps against printing. While this would only be a concern if you throw it in your front pocket - like I did for a month. Some people obviously like that fact that it does this.
I suppose that it does
make for a more blocky appearance - but to me if it makes it bigger -
than it's more noticeable period. For instance the pocket slipper
sorta squares off the whole thing - but it also makes it allot larger -
thus more noticeable, maybe not the gun outline, but more noticeable non
the less. It does square off the pistol which is why its listed as
a pro not a con. And if you use your imagination it could look like a
pack of smokes and a Zippo, or a really cool P32 with a ArmaLaser.
But to me I think that because of the super compact size and design of
the P32 that it practically disappears all by itself. You be the
judge on this one - the jury is still out in my mind.
I
think I like it...
I don't want this pros page to start to sound like a ArmaLaser love fest but this really seems to be a good product that is made in the USA to boot. Once this laser in on your P32 you might not want to take it off again. As far as weight goes, you don't even notice it - what more can I say about that.
The DuPont Zytel polymer is rugged stuff and this really does feel like it belongs on your weapon. My hands are smaller than average so the P32 feels good for me as is anyway, but with the addition of the ArmaLaser it seems to add a more solid feel to the pistol itself. I can't wait to test fire this and complete the review but so far so good.
I
practiced pulling this from concealed position with weak and strong hand
draws. Both felt simple and smooth. No major noticeable
difference except for some catching on the logo as mentioned in the cons
page. I carried mine in either my front pocket or the hidden
pocket of my 5.11 tactical shirts and this worked fine - but I missed my
uncle mikes inside the waist band that is part of me now. I hope
to try out the
SmartCarry system soon as this might be a good non-holster way to
carry my P32 with the ArmaLaser.
The
beam itself seemed to be very bright. As you can see in the picture even
in broad daylight you can see the dot within an acceptable distance.
At night, this thing will shoot across a field and easily project
farther than your P32's accurate range. I really like the visual
deterrent factor of the laser. The odds that one would have to use
lethal force should decrease upon seeing the laser dot. Seems like
it would instantly answer more than a few questions in a bad guys mind
without a word being spoken. Overall - I really hated to send mine
back. I'll be sure to post the results of my range test once I get my
new one.
