I noticed in the thread link below there were a few stating they wouldn’t get a MAWL, in part due to price and delivery time. I wanted to get more feedback specifically on the MAWL vs other IR laser/illuminators, if not a MAWL than which one and why. TIA.
I would hope they’re using IR (infrared) and not UV (ultraviolet); they’re literally on the opposite sides of the spectrum (infrared wavelengths being longer than the human eye can see, ultraviolet being shorter).
The MAWL is king in the civilian world; only real weakness is price and weight (durability seems to be also something I’ve heard brought up). The illuminator is far superior to those on older full power units, as it is my understanding that it is literally a fully power illuminator that is used, even in the C1+, and that the use of the VCSEL technology is what allows for this, as it is technically many emitters that do not exceed 0.7 mW, combining for up to 80 mW of output. It also has excellent switchology, allowing you to easily switch illuminator modes between short, medium, and long range; this does limit your ability to fine tune the settings of the MAWL, though, which some people would find as a weakness (though I am told that BE Meyers can tune the power and divergence of the illuminator as needed, based on contracts).
Your most viable civilian alternatives are either a Steiner DBAL-D2 or else a ZenitCo Perst-3. The former is bulky, heavy, and utilizes an LED for illumination, which will have a downrange visible signature. The latter is a Russian full power unit, and thus has limited warranty, dubious availability, and lack of aftermarket support for tape switches. There is also the possibility of utilizing something like a DBAL-A2 or some other IR pointer without an illuminator and pairing it with something like the Modlite IR-940 or Luna LN-ELIR-3. Pure class-1 units like the Steiner DBAL-A3 and L-3 ATPIAL-C are pretty much garbage in terms of illuminators, and thus aren’t viable alternatives without an LED illuminator to pair with it. The only real reasons to not go with the MAWL in the class 1 realm, IMO, is cost, which is admittedly substantially more than the DBAL-D2 and the Perst-3.
If you have the ability to swing it, there is also the L3 NGAL and the Wilcox RAID-X. The former, as best I can tell, is simply a smaller, lighter LA-5, so despite winning the SOCOM contract, I would consider it the worst of the three next-gen units. The Wilcox RAID-X is much lighter and smaller than the MAWL, with way more ability to fine-tune the laser pointer and illuminator outputs, along with the divergence of the illuminator, at the expense of a less intuitive switchology. Both the NGAL and the RAID-X are more expensive than the MAWL-C1+.
There is also the tuned down Wilcox RAPTAR, as there is apparently a guy out there that can unlock it for you to be full power now (note that this is not the same as the RAPTAR ES, RAPTAR-S ES, etc.), but that’s a very niche MFAL, not really something I would considering on a fighting carbine, but more on a precision rig.
I’ve found three vendors in the last few months that are willing to sell FP peq15s, and NGALs to anyone, not stolen, Factory new.
A little conversation goes a long way.
also, I won’t be saying who.
But it’s not hard to get full power products anymore I wouldn’t grab anything less.
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Yes, derp. Thanks for your post.
Cant really say anything more than has already been said other than I run multiple MAWLs! MAWL wins the illuminator battle as stated. Nice thing about it with the switch layout is you can change the beam patter on the fly or without reaching up to the unit and trying to dial the pattern you want. I find it very well balance as I run my white light on the opposite side of the MAWL.
What’s this about unlocking a Wilcox raptar?
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Guy does it here: https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/snipershide-newest’s-commercial-supporter-elite-unlocked-aiming-solutions-unlocking-raptars.7029460/
Again, this needs to be a RAPTAR neutered via a software lock, and not one of the inherently eye-safe variants.
I used a MAWL and have this but haven’t had the chance to compare them side by side. I’ll have to borrow a MAWL one of these days for a video…
What is that?
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Wilcox Raid X
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OMG! $3600??!! I don’t my truck is that much on the trade in.
I need to go lay down.
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Imagine paying that, and then finding out it’s not FSB friendly on the top rail.
Pshhh, Lame.
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That’s like retail price. Grey market price is like double a MAWL.
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Why not a get MAWL and if not a MAWL than what?
Some people can’t justify the cost. And realistically, I don’t need to illuminate things visually at 200+ yards, because the odds of being able to accurately ID it without incoming fire are nil. Sure, steel plates are easy, but you know they are ‘hostile’.
For distances outside of 200+, I firmly believe money is better spent on thermal over visual / lasers.
So for me a DBAL-A3 for $1100 with a Surefire-V are more than adequate. Not keeping up with the tactical tommies, but that is always a loosing proposition, esp since they exist to sell more shit. 
MAWLS are pretty easy to get, they popup in stock often from various retailers. The biggest issue many have with it is the price point. But when you compare the C+1 to other civilian units, nothing else compares. That said, it’s pretty easy to get FP units as others have described.
For an entry level IR/Vis laser, I recommend getting the PERST 4+ and using a 600V or any other IR illuminator. The PERST4+ is cheap, it’s a full power unit and it works - but it’s not made in the US. The second best option would be a Holosun laser, but it’s low powered and not American made either.
It all boils down to what you plan to use it for, your skillset, and need. If you’re rarely shooting at night, and don’t need it for any reason - why spend $2800?
For me the reason was cost.
I considered the Perst 3 full power model but as said, the lack of support kinda threw me off. I want to build a “modern” AK And I think I will use the Perst for that because you know… AK.
I have a DBal A3 and other than the battery drain problem it seems to be working just fine. The illuminate is rather narrow but I believe it will work for what I need. In small spaces my NODs have a built in illuminate which is pretty damn good.
Are you leaving the battery in your A3 and leaving the switch on?
Battery in, switch in the off position.
Interesting. About when did you buy the A3? I haven’t heard of any drain issues on the A3 and we sell a ton of them, most especially now when most other IR laser models are so backed up.
Any reason you are not taking the battery out at the end of every night? In general that’s a good SOP for lasers, NODs, etc.
Got it in August.
Put a new battery in, zeroed the visible laser and left it alone. The unit is on a suppressed BCM SBR which sits by the bed at all times so I never took out the battery. Nov 2nd my NODs came in. Went to play and nothing. Battery dead.
I knew about taking the battery out of the NODs but never saw that about the laser.
Sitting on my home defense rifle I thought why not have a laser as well which is why I left the battery in. I know I don’t need it so if I have to store it without the battery it isn’t the end of the world. Just didn’t know bout having to do so.