Viridian Weapon Technologies has a new laser sight for long guns that already looks like a hit. Their new green light laser sight, the HS1, is built into a hand stop that puts the shooter in position right where the activation switch goes.
“The HS1 combines the functionality of an AR hand stop with the rapid target acquisition provided by a Viridian green laser,” said Viridian president and CEO Brian Hedeen. “The combination makes for a much more ergonomic rifle and cuts down on the attachments that add bulk to a gun’s foregrip.”
While the design lends itself to use with AR-15-style guns, the small hand stop can be used with just about any defensive rifle or large-frame pistol. It can even be used with some shotguns and other long guns.
Viridian’s HS1 uses Magpul’s M-Lok mounting system to achieve a very low profile and small footprint. But it can also be mounted to Picatinny rails with an adapter.
Viridian plans to start shipping the HS1 in September with a suggested retail price of $179. The Picatinny adapter is sold separately for $24. Of course, in-store and online pricing can be less than MSRP. It’s also backed by a 7-year warranty.
Viridian did a test batch of HS1 laser sights earlier this year and they sold out right away. The HS1 runs on a single 1/3N lithium power cell and has a constant-on runtime of an hour and a half.
Real-world battery life varies and is typically a bit longer when used intermittently. This is in-line with other compact green light laser sights. The HS1 has a pressure switch right at the front that Viridian calls “Auto Activation” because it’s right at the user’s fingertip.
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Because it’s all in one unit the HS1 doesn’t have any wires to snag on that need to be routed around a handguard or forend. The HS1 can be adjusted for windage and elevation so shooters can set their point of aim at a specific distance. The green light laser is daylight visible to 100 yards.
Hopefully the HS1 is the first in a series of handstop accessories from Viridian. A handstop light would be a good seller as well as a light and laser combo device.
Laser sights are popular with many handgunners but don’t seem to have the same appeal to rifle owners. Part of that is because many rifle pointers are bulky and expensive–or worse, bulky and cheap.
The HS1 is sleek and it serves a purpose as a hand stop outside of being a laser sight. The HS1 is different and will sell fast when it goes into full production. For availability information and more check out the Viridian Weapon Systems website.