Slightly late for this thread.

But relevant.



~Augee

The PAQ-4C isn’t necessarily the best laser option out there these days and not what I would recommend to someone looking for a modern aiming laser, and it’s got a lot of shortcomings compared to the things that would come after it, but I’d say the same thing about this the 723 and the whole rest of the setup, too.

Nevertheless, I think the PAQ-4B/C units have a lot of historical significance in terms of the evolution of the modern night fighting gun and night fighting and IR laser technology—and I consider it to be the first truly “modern” IR aiming laser.

The PAQ-4B/C introduced the now common offset laser, 12 o’clock handguard mount design that pretty much every military aiming laser for the last twenty-five odd years has used, with the MAWL being the first really popular or well received major paradigm change in laser design since then.

Prior to the PAQ-4B/C, aiming lasers were usually some combination of receiver/carry handle mount like the PAQ-4/PAQ-4A, or barrel mounts, etc., like the AIM-1D, all of which make some sense when you consider the concept of railed handguards and receivers was still not really a thing in terms of the operational force (guys had just started bolting small sections of Weaver rail to their handguards to mount lights, some FF tubes, the occasional modified receiver with the carry handle removed while things like the ACR program and other prototypes were introducing the concept for standard production weapons in the future).

While this one is using an old-school barrel mount, the PAQ-4B/C was the first to really introduce the rail-grabber to common service.

Later, better developments like the PEQ-2, ATPIAL, etc., all built on the general concept of the PAQ-4B/C, making it (IMHO) an historically significant piece of kit and configuration, with this configuration being more or less the “last step” before full out SOPMOD M4A1s.

I’ve noticed a lot of people have a tendency to periodize a bit, and tend to look at “BHD CAR-15s” as far removed from the M4A1, but it’s worth considering that probably no more than 6-18 months separates the weapons used in Somalia from this configuration, with an equal amount separating this configuration from SOPMOD M4A1s with KAC RIS, PAQ-4s, etc.

In all reality, “the” BHD CAR-15 configurations were nothing more than a snapshot in time that happens to be well documented and publicized, happening in the midst—and at the tail end of a lot of rapidly changing paradigms, technology, and products in terms of a fighting carbine that leads us directly into the present day.

Now, all that being said, IIRC, you had a PAQ-4C on one of your rifles back what, in 2006-2007, a full decade after this configuration would be considered “cutting edge” before getting a PEQ-2A?

The PAQ-4C definitely doesn’t compare to a PEQ-2A for a combat deployment, especially in that timeframe—my unit still had some at that time as well, and we did end up issuing them sometimes to individual augmentees and support personnel as the 2As ran out, and I still had them in my arms room when I did my Command Inventory in 2016, so yeah, I feel you on not liking the 4s.



~Augee

Better photograph, replaced the original Gangster Grip with a repro appropriately direct-mounted to the handguard and “LAV-style” Jungle Mag.

Final version of this configuration, have a couple other light/laser setups for it as well.



~Augee

I just removed the rail-grabber and mounted the Gangster Grip directly to the handguard through the vent holes as they were on the originals.

My other Gangster Grip is an original unit, so I wasn’t going to go disassembling it, so I mounted it to a Weaver rail section mounted to the handguards until I got the repro GG.

The original Gangster Grip lives on my KAC MRE equipped M4A1 replica, though I’m thinking of replacing it with a replica as well to prevent damage to the original grip, which is one of the few, if not the only original grips I’ve seen with a complete and intact original wiring harness—most surviving original grips have had the wires cut.

~Augee

The “correct” demil process involves putting a screwdriver through the emitter face, I haven’t seen many “true” demil units offered.

I’ve seen broken ones offered up once in a while, and functional units come one sale regularly if not often. Gray market units for sure, but they’re out there.

Unless you can find a broken unit for cheap, I wouldn’t really bother, and if you’ve never shot NV with lasers, I would recommend giving it a try, you’ll sell of what you need to get the NV/IR lasers.



Still trying to get some close up photographs of that Gangster Grip as requested, but prepared to be disappointed when I do, y’all, it’s not that interesting, hahaha

~Augee