TM LAM Unit (from TM Mk23 Socom) Review

[MayhemXXXFrosty (AndrewMp5k)]

A spur of the moment buy led me to me recieving a package containing a Tokyo Marui LAM Unit, same exact one off of the TM Mk23 Socom NBB, on my doorstep.




First Impressions:
So, I unwrap the box in which contained my new TM LAM Unit and my first thoughts deal with:
How to operate it?
Where do I put the Batteries?
What gun could this fit on?

Well at first I thought only 2 AAA batteries went into the bottom, but upon many attempts to turn it on and not working, I found a 3rd battery space.


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There is also an On/Off turn dial on the bottom of the Unit.



Flashlight:
Basically a white LED. Crappy and nothing close to a SureFire or anything of that quality.


Laser:
Basically a Red LED. Barely projects out and nothing close to a regular laser sight.


Performance:
I took the Unit downstairs and turned it on to see how it functions. It lit up close things, but anything farther then 20 feet and it was almost as if it wasn't even turned on.

Although there are two spots for laser sights in the top, there is only one installed on the Unit. And it's not even a Laser, it's basically a Red LED. I was very disappointed in that.

Rating:
First Impression: 9 out of 10
Performance: 5 out of 10
Appearance: 8 out of 10
Function: 6 out of 10
Light (White LED): 4 out of 10
Laser (Red LED): 2 out of 10
Power: 4 out of 10

I am going to customize this unit to have two functioning Laser Sights in the top instead of one crappy LED. It would also be better since the M97 that RedWolf offers retail for $87 doesn't stay permanently on like this TM Unit does. Instead, you have two different buttons on the M97. One is for the Light, while the other is for the Laser. The Light is of higher quality then the TM LAM Unit's for sure, since it has a genuine SureFire lamp unit with over 200 LUMENS of illumination power.

I am hoping to upgrade the Flashlight to higher power, but I may have to up the battery's power then.

[BoredKender]

the second spot isnt for a laser. on a reallam unit, its where a UV light is stored that reflects off from the laser beam to make the entire beam visible

[MayhemXXXFrosty (AndrewMp5k)]

Well for around for $3000 for a real LAM, it should come with a UV Light. But I doubt I would want to have a UV Light in there since that could get costly and take up all the spare room.

[BoredKender]

Although there are two spots for laser sights in the top, there is only one installed on the Unit. And it's not even a Laser, it's basically a Red LED. I was very disappointed in that.


was in reply to that part. the other spot is just to simulate where the UV would be had it been a real lam...

[Munin]

Snoopy has already modded his LAM unit to use a SureFire Nitrolon G2 bulb and reflector assembly. It's bright as hell and aligned such that at standard pistol distances (anything up to about 50 feet) the center of the beam is pretty much exactly over where the bb is going to hit. Way cool. You may want to pick his brain for suggestions or ideas.

[FISHMAN]

And a Hawkeye from my team has modded the red LED to a regular lazer we picked up from WALL-MART along with a pressure switch for it. He also put in an adjustmeant screw so you can sight it in. Feel free to talk to him about that.

[Nightcrawler]

Mods on the LAM are by no means unheard of. I've stumbled across plenty of articles pertaining to modding the light to actually do some good and turning that red glow into a real laser. I'll get some links. Sorry, gave up. I'll still keep my eye out though.

[Dawg Bait]

AndrewMp5k2005, when you tweek yours, tell me what you did to it.. i have a TM Mk23 with the silencer and the LAM and i want to make the LAM unit better..


Ross
Dawg Bait