9 Best AR-15 Lasers: Hands-On Experience [2024]

Laser sights have revolutionized the way shooters use their AR-15s, offering a more precise and intuitive aiming solution for various tactical situations.

These devices project a beam directly onto a target, clearly indicating where a shot will land, unlike traditional red dot sights or scopes. Particularly effective in low-light or nighttime conditions, laser sights have become a staple for short to mid-range targeting in both law enforcement and military operations.

They are increasingly popular in the civilian market as well, thanks to advancements in technology and affordability.

In this guide, I will highlight the best AR-15 laser sights available, including both green and red lasers with versatile features, budget-friendly options, and premium choices for the dedicated marksman.

Stay tuned for detailed reviews and comparisons of these products, ensuring you find the perfect laser sight to meet your shooting needs.

Image	Product	Price
	Best Tactical Combo – Holosun LS321G Green Laser/IR Laser/IR Illuminator Combo	Check Price
	Best Flashlight/Laser Combo – Streamlight TLR-2 HL G Tactical Weapon Light with Green Laser	Check Price
	Best Budget Laser – Sightmark LoPro Mini Green Laser Sight	Check Price
	Best Premium Laser – Steiner DBAL-A3 Green Laser	Check Price
	Best Lightweight Laser – Streamlight TLR-4 G Compact Tactical Light & Green Aiming Laser	Check Price
	Best Red Laser Sight – Holosun LS117 Red Laser Sight With QD Mount	Check Price
	Best Premium Flashlight/Laser Combo – SureFire X400 Ultra LED Green Laser Sight	Check Price
	Best Compact Laser – TruGlo Micro-TAC Handgun Micro Laser Sight	Check Price

Best Tactical Combo – Holosun LS321G Green Laser/IR Laser/IR Illuminator Combo

Specifications:

Holosun are well-known for their high-quality optics, but guess who designed a visible laser/IR laser combo?

The Holosun LS321G Green Laser Sight combines its visible laser and IR laser for maximum efficiency. It’s a coaxial unit, which means that the lasers are perfectly mounted and zeroed at the same time for co-adjusting elevation and windage.

Not only that, but much like the Steiner DBAL-D2, it has an IR illuminator for night vision utilization which allows you a clear shot in low-light conditions.

The high-quality lenses are housed by a highly durable, machined 7075-T6 aluminum construction. The well-designed edges do a good job of protecting the fragile lens.

You can install it on a Picatinny rail with ease, and if you want to adjust the tension on your QD mount, there’s a complementary Torx tool for it.

The remote cable allows you to activate the laser without readjusting your grip, but it’s fragile, so be careful. Otherwise, the Holosun LS321G laser offers mid-tier performance for tactical operations for your AR-15 rifle.

The slightly cheaper Holosun LS321R red laser model is also worth considering.

Best Flashlight/Laser Combo – Streamlight TLR-2 HL G Tactical Weapon Light with Green Laser

Specifications:

Here’s the Streamlight TLR-2 HL G, one of the best laser light combo devices money can buy.

Technically, Streamlight markets it as a light with a laser, but the features it has work together perfectly to give you a tactical advantage, especially for home defense.

The main highlight (pun intended) is the 1,000-lumen light blast with a 260-yard beam distance, while the 542 nm direct-drive laser with the strobing feature can reach up to the standard range of 25 yards. The concentrated beam with peripheral illumination is an important feature for a flashlight/laser combo.

What makes the Streamlight TLR-2 HL G special is that the laser is inside the flashlight, so zeroing it is super easy because they’re centered in the exact same place. A lot of AR-15 and handgun enthusiasts praise how long it stays zeroed.

The battery life is around 1.5 hours if you have them both turned on and 17 hours with the laser turned on. The windage and elevation adjustment screws are really tightened to the aluminum construction, so you may need some tools for it.

The Streamlight TLR-2 HL G can fit most Glock-style rails and all MIL-STD-1913 rails. There are also the much cheaper TLR-2 HL and the TLR-2 with a less powerful flashlight.

Runner-Up Flashlight/Laser Combo – Crimson Trace CMR-301 Railmaster Pro Green Laser and Flashlight

Specifications:

In the laser sight business, Crimson Trace are well-known for their pistol laser CMR-206 and CMR-204 models, but I believe that the Crimson Trace CMR-301 Railmaster Pro is where it’s at.

The Crimson Trace CMR-301 has a standard 3R green laser and 1000-lumen flashlight combo that work together in perfect accord.

While it lacks night vision capabilities, it offers decent target acquisition at night and can reach up to 100-yards. The rechargeable batteries are also a big plus.

Mounting it is easy on Picatinny rail mounts or an M-Lok barrel clamp, but it’s not compatible with a Magpul MOE handguard. You’ll need at least 2.75-inch rail space for this one. With a barrel mount, you can move the laser closer to the muzzle.

There’s a tail switch along with a very convenient pressure pad switch that’s mountable away from the laser unit, both of which serve as on and off buttons. The CMR-301 is adjustable for windage and elevation.

I’m guessing the reasonable price is due to the polymer build, as some would expect a well-machined aluminum construction. However, I’d definitely recommend the Crimson Trace CMR-301 if you’re looking for a cheaper Streamlight laser and flashlight combo.

Best Budget Laser – Sightmark LoPro Mini Green Laser Sight

Specifications:

If you think that the military-grade IR laser/IR illuminator combo stuff is a bit overkill, here’s the Sightmark LoPro Mini Green Laser Sight. It’s a well-rounded green laser sight without the fancy features.

The Sightmark LoPro Mini is a brilliant, no-nonsense model, and the design is completely focused on the laser’s quality.

Although a bit heavy for a single laser unit, it’s an all-around option for both rookies and veterans that can be easily mounted on Picatinny rails, and it sits relatively low. Additionally, it’s a bit off-center so that your front sight doesn’t block it.

The CR123A battery has up to 18 hours of continuous battery use, the windage and elevation knobs are easy to adjust with 1 MOA per click, and since you’ll be using it for the 25-yard range, it’s relatively easy to zero. What’s more, there’s an easy pressure pad for activation.

There are other Sightmark LoPro models available, like the LoPro Flashlight/Visible laser combo or the LoPro Flashlight/Visible laser/IR laser, which is a 3-in-1 combo. They’re not that much more expensive as well.

Best Premium Laser – Steiner DBAL-A3 Green Laser

Specifications:

A definite military-grade laser sight made for civilian use, the Steiner DBAL-A3 is the ultimate in covert tactical laser operations. It boasts one of the most powerful visible green lasers on the market.

The DBAL-A3 combines a visible green laser that can be seen up to 50 feet on sunny days and 800 yards at night. The 835-nm IR laser can reach 275 yards at night, while the IR illuminator needs to be paired with a tactical NVD (night vision device).

This Metal Gear-level green laser is housed by aircraft-grade aluminum, built to be as shockproof and durable as possible, and it’s made to withstand AR-15 recoil for a very long time.

The integrated push-button activation switch is conveniently placed and is ambidextrous, and the remote pressure pad can be tapped once for momentary laser mode or double-tapped for continuous laser mode for 5 minutes.

The DBAL-A3 is definitely not for just anyone, and I would recommend this only to the serious AR-15 enthusiasts with a decent night vision headset. The Steiner DBAL-D2 is basically the same, except it has a stronger IR illuminator and is heavier.

Best Lightweight Laser – Streamlight TLR-4 G Compact Tactical Light & Green Aiming Laser

Specifications:

Streamlight TLR-4 G is an option for handguns, but that’s what makes it a great compact flashlight/laser option for your AR-15. It’s a less powerful but far cheaper model than the TLR-2, and it’s compact with just 2.8 ounces of weight.

The white LED flashlight has a 170-lumen power, which is enough for home defense and self-defense in dark alleys. The 640-660nm green laser can reach up to 10 yards in broad daylight.

Much like the TLR-2, it stays zeroed for a long time and has ambidextrous, easy-to-use switches. You can say that it’s the most balanced in price, power, and features.

The TLR-4 G only lasts up to 1.5 hours of continuous use and 15 with just the laser. It can also mount on a Picatinny rail.

What the Streamlight TLR-4 offers is just great value for those of you who are just looking for a featherweight tactical device for when things go bump in the night.

Check out the even more powerful Streamlight TLR-8 with a durable aluminum build and 500-lumen LED flashlight. As a word of advice, I would avoid the red laser model because it’s significantly less powerful.

Best Red Laser Sight – Holosun LS117 Red Laser Sight With QD Mount

Specifications:

Here’s the Holosun LS117 red laser sight, which is somewhere in-between commercial and professional-grade devices. I recommend this sight if you want a smaller, more tactical edge from a class IIIA visible red laser with a decent price tag.

The Holosun LS117 has a 0.5nw collimated red laser pointer for close-quarter combat that can reach up to 25 yards and more if you’re in low-light conditions.

It’s one of the best compact red laser options with a lightweight yet durable 7075 T6 aluminum housing.

The Holosun LS117 has all the standard features of a good laser sight like an IP67 water resistance rating, extreme weather resistance from -40 to 124 Fahrenheit, a QD release Picatinny rail mount, a remote cable switch for easy activation, and high/low brightness settings.

I recommend this one if you want to go for the IR night vision models, but you’re short on cash for the LS321 or the Steiner DBAL-D2. There’s also a green laser model available and in combination with an IR laser.

Best Premium Flashlight/Laser Combo – SureFire X400 Ultra LED Green Laser Sight

Specifications:

The SureFire X400 Ultra LED Green Laser Sight is a certified standard among the laser light combo devices on the market.

The high-performing 1000-lumen LED flashlight, along with a very sharp 5 mW/515 nm green laser sight, makes for the ultimate in pistol and AR-15 tactical shooting, especially at night.

The SureFire X400 has more than an hour of battery life, and it can be easily mounted on both rifles and pistols via universal or Picatinny accessory rails. It’s waterproof, thanks to the O-ring-sealed, aircraft-grade, Mil-Spec hard-anodized aluminum construction.

It has ambidextrous controls and a pressure-pad switch for AR-15 rifles that can easily be activated from both sides with one finger and from a shooting stance. The light also has a pulsating and a constant light mode for your convenience.

A lot of customers have noticed that the SureFire X400 has really tight Nylok adjustment screws, but that’s why it rarely needs zeroing. What’s more, the recoil-proof 1000-lumen LED light beam could also scare off hostiles and temporarily blind intruders at night.

A red laser sight model is also available along with 123A Lithium Battery packs, and there’s a far cheaper SureFire X300, which is a less powerful but still viable laser light combo.

Best Compact Laser – TruGlo Micro-TAC Handgun Micro Laser Sight

Specifications:

Yes, you can use a pistol laser on your AR-15.

The ultra-compact TruGlo Micro-TAC is the David in the world of AR-15 laser Goliaths and is well-known to have impressed lots of skeptics.

The aluminum construction is durable, lightweight, waterproof, and shockproof, and it’s universally compatible with most weapons, being able to fit Picatinny or Weaver-style rails.

The Micro-TAC has “pulse” and “constant” laser settings, and it automatically shuts down after 5 minutes of idle time.

It’s pretty easy to install, and the windage and elevation adjustment buttons are easy to manipulate. What’s more, its on/off button is ambidextrous, which makes it a very convenient choice for most.

Zeroing it can be difficult if your handgun has higher rail and iron sights, and this is what makes it more suitable for AR-15 rifles. The tense adjustment screws compound the issue, making it difficult to fine-tune the sight.

With its laser power output of 520 nm of wavelength, it’s intended for the 25-yard range tops, and it might not be your best choice for long-range shooting.

I would recommend this AR-15 green laser sight for the rookies who are just dipping their toes in the laser business and for those who are looking for a short-range home defender.

Like with any AR-15 accessory, before you buy the best laser sight for you, you first need to understand why you’ll need it, and for what.

Let’s get one thing straight; my honest opinion is that laser sights are designed to be used at night, preferably with night vision goggles.

Their efficiency significantly drops when used in the daylight, despite the visible green laser sights, and even so, why would you waste money on sights that only reach 50 yards tops?

Some of these sights are for pistols, but that’s actually a good thing because laser sights are built to suit short-range weaponry, and this is where they truly shine (pun intended).

Rest assured, as long as your AR-15 rifle has a Picatinny rail or a Weaver rail, it’s all good.

Let’s start with power.

Laser Output

You should look for 3A/IIIA or 3R-classified lasers that are well-within FDA regulation. These lasers offer no more than 5mW power output, but you should consider the general wavelength of the visible laser, the IR laser for that matter, and the IR illuminator if you picked the triple combo.

You can’t go wrong with 525 nm or 840 nm, but you should be careful with the quality, bloom, and precision of the laser dots.

A lot of retailers promise one thing, but it’s an entirely different story in the field, so it’s a bit risky to choose a laser with reliable output power, especially on laser listings on Amazon.

I recommend the lasers that I listed out by Steiner, Holosun, Crimson Trace, and Sightmark.

Overall Brightness and Battery Life

If you’re considering the flashlight/laser combos like the LoPro Flashlight/Visible laser/IR laser or the SureFire X400 Ultra LED Green Laser Sight, make sure you take a look at the lumens they offer. This is the unit measurement for how bright your light is and how far it can illuminate.

Some flashlight combos like the Streamlight TLR-2 HL G have a brightness power of up to 1,000 lumens, but most of the time, you’ll only need 170 lumens, which is enough to brighten a dark street or dark rooms.

Stick to 500-lumen power, combine it with a good green laser sight, and make sure the battery life is enough for your shooting purpose.

Price

As always, the quality of your chosen laser is directly proportional to its price, but you don’t have to overspend on features and power you might actually not need. Think about the purpose of your purchase, how you’ll use your laser, and the range you’ll be using it for.

If you’re going to frequently use it for nighttime tactical applications and you already have an NVD, it’s a no-brainer to go for a visible/IR laser/IR illuminator combo.

But, if you’re a rookie who’s just looking for some fun or a concerned homeowner, get yourself a proper laser/flashlight device. You have lots of models, types, and feature combinations that you’ll need to consider.

A word of advice:

Some popular lasers are circulating around Amazon like the very cheap Pinty, Ozark Armament Green Laser, Tacticon Armament, and Feyachi models.

I suggest you steer clear because they’re low-quality airsoft lasers with a relatively weak laser output to be taken into serious consideration.

Construction, Size, and Weight

Compact and lightweight lasers are cool, but you can’t have cool features and a lightweight device.

It’s a real trade-off when it comes to a flimsy, yet lightweight polymer build, and a durable, yet hefty aircraft-grade aluminum construction.

Whatever you pick, make sure the laser device stays put, doesn’t lose its zero from the AR-15 recoil, doesn’t block your sight, and doesn’t add swing weight to your rifle.

As you can see, there are countless models and laser types with features that have a little something for everyone. It just depends on what exactly you’re looking for, how, and how much you’re going to use it.

I’m guessing you’re a serious buyer who’s looking for a decent, nighttime tactical device, and if that’s the case, consider the Steiner DBAL-A3 Green Laser. The Holosun LS321G and the Crimson Trace CMR-301 are also great choices if you want cost-effective and quality lasers.

There are also versatile flashlight/laser combos like the Streamlight TLR-2 HL G that get the job done as well.

One final thing, when you purchase your laser, make sure you zero it around the 10-yard mark or the 25-yard range, and you’re good to go for home defense. Pairing it with a reflex sight is easy and doesn’t affect the laser’s reach.

Stay safe, shoot straight.