Posted: 6/13/2008 9:14:40 AM EDT
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I'm looking for some navigation and advice on a light for a rifle. It's going on an AR, that has a full length rail on top only. The Daniel Defense offset mount looks like a solid detachable option, but I'm concerned that the bell of the light my not get the required clearance for a high output type and size. The light needs to be bright and durable. Think varmint hunting, not room clearing. No remote switches or forward grip stuff. Any normal on and off function would suit me fine. Any suggestions on combinations that you think might fit this bill are appreciated. (my searches all point me towards snactical stuff.... needs more fudd) |
My pickup already has two of those 
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| The JTAC handguards are modular.. you can get short rails to put on them from Brownells(Clickeh). My next AR will have the same handguard(built one for a friend and I loved it). |
Gonna use a sling? If not, you can mount a small rail to that swivel. |
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Well, the unfortunate fact of the matter is that since spotlighting has been illegal for most forms of hunting, nearly all weapons mounted light systems were developed for tactical use, not hunting. This also translates into relitivly short range light throw and focused beams. I seem to recall a few "fudd" type lights, but, given the designers preferences for weapons and a lack of standardization, I can't guarantee that any of the lights will mount to your rail. Here's one: fudd hunting light Or you can get a really unweildy hunting light that mounts to your scope. One can be found here: scope mounted hunting light But, if those don't float your boat, you'll have to find a "tactical" style light that has the range to make your rifle worthwhile at night. Of course, this gets spendy, but your alternative is duct taping a handheld spotlight to your rifle.....  For quality and power, either the M97 series, the 9volt model, or the M98 series, which is their 12 volt models, will be a good fit for an AR. Yes, it has the tactical preassure switches and dohickeys, and costs a lot, and they go through batteries like a bitch, but the systems are one of the few that will be powerful enough to reach out any distance without weighing a metric ass ton, and they are waterproof, and relitivly small given their high performance output. Surefire is also making LED replacement lamps for most of their product line now, and I would suspect that LED's for the larger models isn't too far away. Of course there is the Pentagon series, which while I can't seem to find anything better then a 9 volt system, they are cheaper. I can't speak for their quality, or ability to withstand harsh conditions or even if they are really waterproof, but you can find their 9volt model here: Pentagon 9volt I also can't speak as to the quality of the light throw, splotchiness, etc. I've heard some good things about Pentagon, and there have been a few random problems here and there that I seem to remember, but nothing super bad that I can recall. Not a super in depth coverage of the options, but I hope it helps. |
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This looks like the best option for me so far, (size, no cords, price). Do you know if there's a way to get it with a different mount? (same style, just not Larue) |
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If you wanted to spend a little time searching, the SureFire 9P, or the polymer version with a Turbohead and some sort offset mount with enough room for big bezel would give you a light that would reach out to a hundred yards easily. Finding the turbohead would be one of the harder parts, and finding an offset mount that would puth the light far enough out would be a bit harder I think. Of course this is what you were asking about in your initial post anyway isn't it. Unfortunately without going to a bigger light the turboheaded surefires are about the only option to get a beam of light to go far. The larger bezel just focuses the light into a tighter beam that reaches further. One major advantage of using the 9P or the Nitrolon version instead of the two weapons lights that Grupy posted would be the $200 savings. The light itself would be less than a $100, and the Turbohead goes for about another $100 at MSRP. www.opticsplanet.net/surefire-turbohead-conversion-kit-kt2-ha.html I'm not endorsing that sight BTW. It's just one of the first ones that popped up in google, and I'm linking it only to show the turbohead. The threads are the with the C3, 9P, etc. |
Nope, sorry. Everything I've found for that series has only the Larue mounts. But, i've found a series by pentagon that comes with a simple rail mount that can be easily removed. Too bad it has a preassure pad though. It can be found here: UX300 with rail mount and tape switch. I have found Pentagons simple hand held light, but I don't know if it will attach via a regular mount like the one you originally listed. I "think" it might, but I can't verify for sure. Also, after careful examination, I'd shy away from pentagons LED lights as they follow the "stuff as many LED's into the head" theory instead of a singular, high performance LED with a good throw and coverage. In other words, Pentagons LED's won't give you the distance. The hand held 9volt can be found here: X3 xenon handheld |
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This all helps a ton, and explains why I was having so much trouble finding something on my own. (I've spent quite a bit of time looking over the past year or so, and kept giving up when the answer wasn't even remotely evident) Dagnabbit, it's a lot more legal to spotlight critters, than it is to engage your enemy. Where's the fuggin gear at?  Seriously though, thanks again. I'll keep studying. 
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I used a Surefire E2E a lot this past year. I know, it's a tactical light, but I liked it a lot. It's small, but has some pretty good throw. I could easily and brightly illuminate stuff 100m away (which might not be far enough for ODT's use, but that's a lot farther than room clearing distances). In an otherwise dark environment, I imagine you could use it to about 150m. If there are streetlights and stuff around to mess with your vision, it's not so useful that far out, though. I also used the LaRue offset mount, which was pretty decent. I can bring the setup to the LCR, if you want to check it out next weekend. |
If I wasn't working I'd bring pretty much the light I suggested to you (it has a cheap pressure pad on it instead of a clickie tailswitch) to LCR. Unfortunately, I'm working a swing shift Saturday. If I get a chance, maybe I'll swing by PCR's so he can bring it out for you. |
Very good of you. That compact unit is appealing, but I assumed that their purpose was for handguns at handgun distances. Please let me know what you see tonight. A yote at 100 is the passing mark for me. (anyone know how much better the 300s are over the 200s?) I'd like to try a lot of this stuff first hand, but I just took a pretty good ding on the high-zuit LED Pentalight I heard was the answer a year or so ago. It wasn't at all. 
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I can add that I managed to thoroughly examine their products at the SHOT show 2 yrs ago and found them to be top-notch. I would have purchased one of their lights for my carbine if it weren't for the fact that i could get one of these Wolf Eyes Eagle 3 for even less and yet it was rather well made. It may not be top notch but for the $$ and the light ouput, it is a true value. I would say it is about 90% or better of the high-end lights and for my purposes, that's good enough. As for mounting it, anything with a 1" ring will do unlike other brands that are slightly under that dim to force you into buying a specific mount. |
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I can't speak to the mount, but I'd suggest using a SureFire two cell body, with an aftermarket, dropin led bulb. SureFire has a good 80 lumen dropin led, but the aftermarket guys are doing a lot better than that. Neatest one I have run across is by Malkoff Devices. Gene Malkoff says it runs 235+ lumens and will illuminate to 350 feet. I don't know how you measure that, but mine will certainly light up my neighbor's trees, at about 200 feet away. Mince dropped right in my SureFire C2, and I know they'll go in a SureFire 6P as well. Good battery life too, 'cause it's led. |
OdT, I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I am looking to put together an upper just about like the one on this rifle. What are the specs on the barrel and rail? What kind of muzzel device are you planning on using? I really like that setup. Thanks |
Looks like a great hand held light. Unfortunatly, it isn't weapons rated. Even the Pentagon handheld light lists that it's weapons rated. Which leads me to the next step. ODT, seeing as how everything my research shows leads me to believe that the Pentagon handheld light is "weapons rated", and the fact that they seem to make a limited number of body styles, I would, at this point, say with 99.9% clarity that the pentagon 9volt handheld light will in fact work properly with the DD offset mount that you mentioned in your first post, and will probably be fairly good at illuminating game. So that might be an option worth investigating as it is weapons rated, tail cap activated (no tape switch), and 9v for some decent distance. I'd say stop by Quantico at some point and fiddle around with the pentagon lights in person before making a decision. Good luck! |
FWIW, They do have other models that are such as Wolf Eyes 6A Sniper Tactical Flashlight or the Wolf Eyes 9DX Raider. But again, for my puposes, it works just fine even mounted to my weapon since the bulb is rated for that activity. The 3X model lacks the battery isolation found in "weapons rated" lights. If I was worried about heavy recoil (.223 thru an AR is hardly that), repeated or heavy use, that would be a concern of mine. Its worth noting the light output of these lights....quite a bit higher at 200 lumens than most of their piers. The guy that sells these lights is often at the Puyallup show where one could demo them as well as break them down to inspect build quality. |
Maybe next weekend.
Barrel Reciever Bolt CG Charging Handle Gas Block Handguard Top Rail Muzzle device (QD type, with flash hider for WA use) |
I'll raise your 3000 lumens to 4000 and light paper on fire with it and probably for a lot less $$....read about it at Extreme Geek |
Yea sure, an estimated 4,000 lumens. Now put in on an M2 and lets see how it works 
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I guess before that, you used to tie a torch to the end of your Brown Bess. |
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This little gem proved to get my "fuggeneh" approval at LCR. Anyone know if the exact same thing can be accomplished without the larue brand mount? |
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Vltor and Viking -REad |
Thanks. But I should have been more clear. The larue mount comes in 3 different ring sizes, and I haven't been able to locate the the O.D. of this specific Surefire. Can anyone verify the O.D. of the E2E Executive Elite? |
It's under 1", you'll need a specific mount made for the E series, You need to remove the bezel to insert the 123 batteries as the tail cap end is too small. |
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For the best option I could say... Sure fire 9p with a 3V add on, its called the a19 part. it attaches to the back of the sure fire to make it hold one more batt. It then allows you to use the 12V lamps in the turbo head...  I have a A19 on the back of my 6p to make it equivilant to a 9p with the high output bulb added.
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I pulled my X300 out last night and can light up our tree line that's 80ish yards away pretty good. Defiantly enough to see a person standing up and to spot eye of critters but I'm not sure it would light up a dark Yot not looking at you. I tried to take pics but could not figure out how to turn the dam flash off on my camera, sorry. 
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