For those of you not wanting to slog through 6 pages of comments, lemme re-cap for you here what all da buzz is, in case it might be of interest to you.

If you dabble into Night Vison, which a lot of us do, you might be interested in some good quality accessories, such a good Laser Aiming Module (they call them different names today, but this one is in keeping with the PEQ-15 timeframe).  Once someone gets a -14, or whatever, the next move, after setting up a helmet, is to get something to aim your rifle with.  You see gobs of thread over at NV, talking about this set up, or that set up, and frankly they seem to go around in circles.   So here is "A" way of going, whether you're into airsoft, milsim, or Real Steel.  

The idea is to have some way of aiming the rifle, with your NV gear on.  You can go two ways.  First, is the legacy IR laser/illum, called "active aiming".  You simply light up the target with an IR laser, and illum if required, and shoot.  The other way is called "passive aiming", which involves setting up your RDS so you can view it through your NODs.  You simply look through the RDS, pick up your reticle, and shoot.  This can also be supplemented with IR illum.  

Personally I think it's confusing when we talk about "active" or "passive" becasue to many this means using a laser, or a reticle.  I think it's better to talk in terms using the reticle for "passive" shooting, whether you're up Visual or IR.  And supplementing with WL or IR illum for "active" shooting, when necessary.  Just my opinion (and not shared by everybody by a log shot).  

But anyway, to pull this off, you need a Night Vison Device, of some sort, a helmet mount system, and something with both on-board IR laser and illum.  In addition, you can add a separate White Light source.  

The Somo Gear PEQ-15 is a good replica of the USGI unit.  It has just enough differences to not be an exact copy, but still gives you the same "form factor", which is shirt-hand for: the looks and controls of the original PEQ-15.  It looks like most other airsoft replicas out there, with one big difference: it actually works.  It has a low and high IR laser (.9 mW, and 20 mW), and a low and high IR illuminator (8 mW and 20 mW), which is not as powerful as some, but way better than civilian-legal US stuff.  Another important difference: It will zero, and stays zeroed, as well as any other LAM (they all tend to wander).  It also has a visible laser (4.9 mW and 20 mW), which is useful for checking zero before dark (yes they are slaved).  And finally, the IR illum is adjustable.  

Now is it as good as the USGI PEQ-15?  No.  But it is damn close.  It has better IR and illum, not quite as good adjustments, and the housing/mount was not as strong.  The current models use a stronger housing (and mount I hope) and are pretty damn good for the money.  Oh I didn't mention that yet?  The new ATPIALs are 16-1800 bucks.  The SG PEQ-15 is 259.00.  Yeah really.  

Some suggestions.  I would personally go with a UT AXON, Modlite, or TAPs switch.  The SG switches are OK but not quite there yet.  Since you have a decent IR illum, you don't need a "SYNC" switch, just the basic model.  That way on a dual switch, you have a "WL over-ride" button, and a laser/illum button, depending on what you switch up.  

To have an up-close IR flood, get the L3/EOTech diffuser cover for the PEQ-15 or ATPIAL.  The SG cover is just that.  The original cover gives you up-close/indoors flood illum.  

Be careful with over-tightening the mount.  I would suggest blue Loctite, and witness marks.

Oh and get the potting.  I mean why not.

In closing, this is not a mil-spec unit.  But for many of us, it doesn't need to be.  From what I've read, it works well with all airsoft models, and from what I've experienced, it works well with low or normal volume 5.56 fire.  That last one will stir some contro, but, SG has steadily improved it's product, over the past year or so, and the current models are usable on RS.  At least for 5.56 caliber.  You will see some disagreement on this but I think for the most part, they are 85%, or better, than the original, and worth the risk at this point.

As much as I'd love to take credit for it, that was all Goatboy.  Like I have said, I think he is truly trying to find an accommodation for all of us here.  

I think there is much cornfusion concerning "airsoft" quality kit, and probably for good reasons.  But the market is changing.  There are vendors out there that are tickling the corner of the "real steal" market.  This presents a problem, when the form factor and logos are copies of US kit.  So this hybrid segment is gaining in popularity (ex: Somo Gear PEQ-15) and raises the ire of mainstream vendors.  What are some solutions.  Well as I posted over 'yonder, I think they can make subtle changes to still give you the look and function of the US stuff, but be different enough to avoid these issues.  I think the first vendor to do this will make a mint (arfcom to Somo Gear: how copy?).

Who knows, these days; he certainly has all the patches.  I think that one sez: death to yankee air pirates.  You guys are all probably too young to get that reference.  Maybe Sinister.

Man, that's a helluva off-set, between the mag and the RDS.  Also pretty high up as well.  But the RDS needs a higher mount.

Yeah that's sorta why lotsa folks are trying them out.  Dammit all, I'm gonna have to get another one to get the new housing.  

You know what's funny with pic above, dude looks like a Chinese airsofter; I mean a lot of the kit they sell looks just like what their pipe hitters are sporting these days.  Nor sure if this is form factor or what.  Sorta like Russian stuff being so butt-ugly.  Chinese stuff just looks like what you'd see bubba selling at the gun show.

Let's just admit it, US made stuff is just damn sexy.  You gotta give it that.  

Two important buts.  It's the Indian, not the arrow.  If they won't sell it to you, then WTF.

Somo Gear has actually been very good on shipping times.  Out of 4 units, I'd say average shipping time was about 2 1/2 weeks.  Of course there are out-liers.  

With Paragon now a domestic stocking dealer, you have a closer link to these products.  I will probably end up ordering a NGAL through them shortly.