Guide rod lasers for Glock pistols have been in use for some time by law enforcement and military personnel as well as civilians, but they have all been red lasers—until now.
LaserMax has introduced the most compact green laser ever produced, one small enough to fit into the dimensions of a Glock guide rod! The technology was already established with red laser guide rods, but it took a new design approach to put a green laser into a guide rod. LaserMax calls it “Native Green” laser technology, a breakthrough in downsizing green lasers that makes this the smallest and most durable on the market.
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The new technology also mitigates many of the issues green lasers have had in the past with temperature extremes. Native Green technology offers greater stability and the enhanced visibility green lasers provide in brightly lighted or daylight conditions. Where Native Green differs is that, unlike traditional green lasers that convert infrared light through crystals to synthesize green laser light (known as diode-pumped solid-state, or DPSS, technology), the LaserMax guide rod emits its green laser natively through a groundbreaking green laser diode that eliminates the need for DPSS technology.
Going Green
Like the Red Guide Rod Lasers built by LaserMax for Glock pistols, the new green laser replaces the standard Glock guide rod and recoil spring, slide lock release and slide lock spring. The slide lock release (used for disassembly) becomes the on/off switch for the laser by pressing it inward from either side. When the lever is centered, the laser is off. This allows activation at the operator’s discretion.
With the green laser beam emitted from the face of the guide rod, directly below the muzzle, there is very little chance of inadvertently blocking the beam, and it is also more naturally aligned with the barrel than lasers mounted to the grips or triggerguard. With the laser right below the muzzle, there are no required adjustments for elevation or windage; the Guide Rod Laser is factory aligned at LaserMax for each specific Glock model and caliber to the point of aim (POA) at 10 yards, and it’s guaranteed to be within 1 inch (1.5 inches for subcompact Glock models) of the POA. With all of the electronics, innovative green laser diode and batteries contained within the guide rod housing itself, there are no external modifications to the gun, and thus no need to have a special holsters for your laser-equipped Glock. This is of particular importance for law enforcement, where specific duty holsters may be required.
Rounds Downrange
To test the new Green Guide Rod Laser, I chose a standard duty-sized Glock 22 Gen4 in .40 S&W. The G22 is the .40-caliber equivalent of the 9mm Glock 17, and it’s one of the most commonly carried sidearms for law enforcement. The Green Guide Rod Laser enhances the field capabilities of this model for
police and civilian use alike. The quick installation only takes about three minutes and requires a single tool (provided by LaserMax) to remove the slide lock and slide lock spring.
During the range test, conducted in full daylight, the LaserMax green laser was visible well beyond 10 yards. I fired all shots using a two-handed hold in a Weaver stance. LaserMax uses a single, heavy-duty recoil spring with the Guide Rod Laser, whereas Glock’s Gen4 models have a new Dual Recoil Spring Assembly. Replacing it with the LaserMax unit does slightly increase recoil, but not to the extent that the firearm’s performance is diminished. At 30 feet from the target, seven rounds fired at one-second intervals struck inside the 10 and X rings of a B-27 silhouette target, with the best five measuring 2 inches and four of five in the X at 1.75 inches center to center.
Given the properties of the green laser and its high visibility in bright sunlight, the new LaserMax Green Guide Rod Laser is a worthwhile addition to any Glock pistol and particularly for those being carried as duty guns or for self-defense use.
For more information, visit lasermax.com or call 800-527-3703.
This story was featured in the 2015 HANDGUN BUYER’S GUIDE. To subscribe to the HANDGUN BUYER’S GUIDE, please visit PersonalDefenseWorld.com/subscribe.
