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Posted: 5/27/2026 9:45:14 AM EDT
| I'm running a surefire m640dft on my rifle. Having issues after adding a suppressor with shadow on the off side of the gun. Looking for suggestions on how to deal with that. Do you guys just run the light really far forward and use a tape switch? I prefer using a clicky tail cap and activating it with my thumb but would change that if i need to. |
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Maybe it's my lack of real experience but any time I light on in a structure my gun is at the high ready meaning the dot is in view but I'm not aiming at what I want to PID. So I'm using the unshadowed portion to PID, and generally I still get a pretty good hot spot where my dot falls. What is your relation between the hot spot and the dot or reticle? |
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| I put the light high on my strong side about 10:00 (I'm a lefty). This puts the shadow low on my weak side which is about the most obscured location it can be anyway from my point of view as the shooter. I use a remote switch at 12:00. It also keeps the light bezel from poking you in the leg, and gets it around the most common (strong side) barricade configuration. |
| Ok let me try to explain without a pic. I have the 1913 pic mount on the light as far forward as I can with a backup front sight there. Im right handed and have the light swiveled over to about 11:00. This was a great setup until i installed a turbo k with a cover on it. Now it seems that no matter how I swivel the light there’s a huge shadow at my 3:00. Big enough it barely clears the hot spot when looking at my dot. I was thinking of mounting it around 3:00 or so with the mlock mount and pushing it as far forward as possible then using a tape switch at 12:00. I unfortunately prefer my sling mount forward so that is making me run out if rail space at the 9-10 position very quickly. |
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If you want to minimize the shadow, you have to move the light as far forward as it will go, and if it interferes with your front sight or sling mount, you just have to move those back. Edit: For my surefire turbo (pro) I put the mounts on the 9:00 most forward Mlok slot (remember lefty) and swivel it up to where it just clears a suppressor. It doesn't interfere with anything on the top pic rail, so you can put your front sight and/or remote switch where ever works for you. Since I put the light on my strong side, it also doesn't compete for rail space with a forward sling mount. Having the shadow in your peripheral vision is just a fact of life if you want the light mounted on your weak side to activate with tailcap only. Having it mounted high should still help and at least drop the shadow below the sight line. |
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WML shadow has been a non issue in actual usage over the last 14 years of running around inside structures and out in the field at work with a rifle. Do what you can to minimize it but don’t sweat it. I run my lights in the same position as you on my rifles. When I’m searching for a target I am connected to the rifle but have the rifle depressed and out of my eye line “hunt position”, once a target is found aim in as long as the area your reticle is covering is illuminated you can process the target as need be. |
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