What's the difference?

I see the PAQ4C has the paddle, and listings seem to say that the PEQ4 is more powerful.

Can someone please explain to me the differences, please?

IIRC, I suspect most of the references you're seeing listed for the AN/PEQ-4 are erroneously designated and referring to the AN/PAQ-4C, the only references I can find for an AN/PEQ-4 look completely different:



http://www.knesekguns.com/commercial/m33/Insight-Technology/p284/AN/PEQ-4-Medium-Power-Laser-Illuminator-(MPLI)/product_info.html

Not sure what the difference in basis of issue for the AN/PEQ-4 is, but certainly doesn't look like it would be well suited to being top mounted on a conventionally configured M16/M4 like the PAQ-4C.  I think a good bit of the confusion that's come around is the fact that while many troops consider the AN/PAQ-4C and AN/PEQ-2A to be functionally identical (nevermind that they're not... but I digress), and I've seen, even in official documents such things as: "PEK 4" and "PAQ-2" and more abortions of the proper designation, none of which is helped by the fact  that the AN/PAQ-4 and AN/PAQ-4A look completely different from the AN/PAQ-4C.



http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/call/call_96-3_cpt3appd.htm

Near as I can tell, the designation "PEQ" designations an illumination system, while the "PAQ" refers to an aiming light only, however, then again, the Insight CVL is designated the AN/PEQ-5 when it only has a visible aiming light, and the EOTech 553 is designated the AN/SU-231 PEQ, so really, none of it makes any sense at all.

HTH,
~Augee

Thank you.

Well here is a PEQ2A and a PAQ4C.  PAQ4C on the left.

The PAQ4C has a single IR laser while the PEQ-2A has both an IR laser and an IR illuminator. The IR illuminator can be focused and the two IR lasers can work together. The PEQ-2A also has two power setting hi and lo and correct it is a more powerful unit.