Viridian Red C5L-R and X5L-R Lasers

Viridian now offers 2 red dot lasers with flashlight versions of their green dot C5L and X5L lasers. The C5L-R and X5L-R use the same style body as their green laser counterparts, but the flashlights are brighter and their beam is designed to throw a rectangular shape, called “Radiance Combat Optics”. Viridian claims this new expanded view reveals more area and light is not wasted on the ceiling and floor.

The flashlight’s lumen output on the C5L-R has been increased to 140 lumens when using 1 of the 3 strobe modes, while the X5L-R cranks out 190 lumens while in one of its strobe modes. They also allow you to adjust the flashlight’s brightness up and down.

As you can see, the C5Ls look almost identical when compared side to side.

As for the red dot laser, this sucker is bright. From my unscientific test using my backyard at 10:00 am on a somewhat overcast morning and then in my basement, I compared the C5L-R (red dot laser) to the C5L (green dot laser). The lasers were set 25 feet away from the target area.

In the backyard, the red laser was almost as bright as the green laser, but the red dot is smaller which is common when comparing red to green lasers. Down in the basement, they both were very bright. The red halo and white laser center are not seen in real life. They are a product of the camera I used.

Run times between the C5L-R and X5L-R differ greatly. The C5L-R runs from 75 minutes with light and laser to a whopping 35 hours using just the laser in pulse mode. The X5L-R runs from 60 minutes with light and laser and up to 10 hours using just the laser in pulse mode.

Unlike the C5L which uses both 6061 Aircraft Grade Aluminum and high strength Zytel polymer, the C5L-R does not use 6061 aluminum in its construction.

The Viridian C5L-R and X5L-R red dot lasers include 3 interchangeable rails that fit just about any gun with a standard rail mount, making it easy to mount or attach the laser to a different firearm, such as pistols, rifles and shotguns that have a standard Picatinny or Weaver rail.  They are also set up to use ECR automatic holster activation or manual on/off.