SHOT Holosun IRIS: Resetting IR Expectations

Since its announcement at SHOT Present 2024 with guarantees of superior IR efficiency at a finances worth, shooters have eagerly waited for the IRIS to develop into obtainable. The flagship IRIS-3 is lastly delivery, and its sister fashions are shut behind.

Try the HOLOSUN web site for extra data on the IRIS line or to discover a seller close to you.

On this article, we are going to cowl the specs and options of all 4 of Holosun’s new IRIS lasers beginning with the IRIS-1 and dealing our method to the full-featured IRIS-4.

IRIS-1

The IRIS-1, being the lightest and most compact laser within the group, weighs solely 4.6 ounces because of the 7075 T6 aluminum development. A single AA battery powers the unit’s solitary laser.

Fashions can be found with a 5mW pink, 5mW inexperienced, or 0.7mW IR laser. The unit is Crane plug suitable and might change between high and low energy.

IRIS-2

The IRIS-2 options two slaved emitters in both pink and IR or inexperienced and IR. The unit runs on a single CR123A battery and comes with a small distant change. Aside from that, this unit is principally the identical because the IRIS-1 simply with two lasers as a substitute of 1.

IRIS-3

That is the unit we’ve been anticipating since final yr and now it’s lastly obtainable for buy. The IRIS-3 is more likely to be the most well-liked within the sequence due to its three-emitter design. Every unit incorporates a 0.7mW IR laser, a 5mW pink or inexperienced seen laser, and a 60mW VCSEL IR illuminator.

Up to now, the biggest downside to cheaper civilian authorized IR lasers has been the poor IR illuminator efficiency. This was attributable to restrictions from the FDA that restricted how robust an IR laser may be.

VCSEL know-how doesn’t fall prey to the identical regulation however till not too long ago it was solely obtainable in premium items that fall extra within the $3000+ worth vary. Due to Holosun this know-how is now obtainable in a extra inexpensive unit.

Aside from the output of the illuminator, one other defining characteristic is the top-mounted slider lever for focusing the beam. Older fashions utilized a knob on the again of the unit to handle focus however the slider lever appears far more ergonomic and fast to regulate.

IRIS-4

The IRIS-4 retains all the identical options because the IRIS-3 however with the addition of a white mild and a extra highly effective 18650 battery. Whereas the biggest of the group, it solely weighs 8.5 ounces.

I’m typically not a fan of combo items that embody a white mild as a result of the sunshine is usually trash however this one truly appears alright. With 1000 lumens and 25,000 candela, the IRIS-4 positions itself as an excellent choice for SBRs or subguns the place rail area is restricted.

Conclusion

The speed at which IR lasers have improved over the previous couple of years is astonishing and Holosun has definitely been a frontrunner as they convey these superior items to market at an inexpensive worth. The IRIS-3 is at the moment obtainable with a avenue worth of round $900 and the opposite fashions ought to ship by the tip of the yr.

Try the HOLOSUN web site for extra data on the IRIS line or to discover a seller close to you.

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