The LaserMax company − one of the world's best known providers of laser target illuminators for civilian shooters and professional (mainly law enforcement) operators around the globe − first showcased a prototype of its latest tactical gunlight back in January, at the 2016 edition of the SHOT Show in Las Vegas. Developed in close collaboration with Manta Defense, the new flashlight could seriously place itself among the top-selling tactical accessories thanks to its enticing list of features.
Dubbed the Manta Ray, LaserMax' new tactical gunlight is, above all, particularly user-friendly under basically all points of view. Its patented Manta interface and its elastomer-coated, thermoplastic structure allow installation on any Weaver or MIL-STD-1913 "Picatinny" type rail in seconds − a significant departure from the sometimes difficult installation of laser sights and tactical gunlights to rail interfaces due to the stiffness of aluminum or polymer rail mounts, screw-on mounts, or "quick-release" latches. Also, the LaserMax Manta Ray flashlight is one of the world's lightest at just 51 grams (1.8oz), and its ruggedized housing offers one of the lowest profile packages currently available.
The LMR-M visible-light, commercial version of the LaserMax Manta Ray flashlight mounts a green-colored LED that can provide a 140 Lumen output of "mint green" light; since the human eye picks up green better than any other wavelength in the color spectrum, the Manta Ray offers maximum visibility in the dark while at the same time preventing eye strain.
A dimming system allows the output brightness to be adjusted down to 20 Lumen for navigation if necessary; the LaserMax Manta Ray also features an auto-timeout system that shuts the device down after ten minutes of continuous runtime to save power.
A professional version of the LaserMax Manta Ray gunlight, dubbed the LMR-IR, also exists; its IR LED offers a maximum output of 260mW of infrared light, dimmable down to 10mW, to boost the capability of commercial night vision devices.
The LaserMax Manta Ray gunlight features a surface-mounted direct activation switch, and is compatible with LaserMax' own LMS-RAS remote activation switch − sold separately at a manufacturer's suggested retail price of about $59.00 (about 52,18€ at the current official exchange rate) along with rubberized pads that cover and protect the activation cable when installed on Weaver or Picatinny rails. the LMS-RAS remote activation switch sports a Mini-USB plug, which makes it compatible with many recent LaserMax products, including some of the latest visible or IR Class 1 laser pointers launched by the Company.
The Manta interface system also allows the LaserMax Manta Ray gunlight to be quickly removed from the gun and used as a handheld flashlight or navigation tool if necessary.
The LaserMax Manta Ray tactical gunlight is powered through a built-in, rechargeable battery; a Mini-USB factory-supplied charger offers a 90-minutes recharging time, and a fully-charged battery offers a continuous runtime of one hour. The MantaRay is also shockproof, waterproof to 10 feet (3 metres) for over 20 minutes, and is covered by a 5-years warranty.
LaserMax still hasn't made the Manta Ray tactical gunlight available to the commercial market, but definitive launch is slated to take place soon. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the United States has been set at $219.00 (about 193,67€ at the current official exchange rate) for the LMR-M visible "mint green" light version; and at $265.00 (about 234,34€ at the current official exchange rate) for the LMR-IR infrared light version.
For further information, visit the Lasermax website
