After a fifteen-year hiatus, my interest has returned to AR15s.  I made a list of the attributes I wanted in a tactical mount for my patrol rifle.
1.  Must be a SureFire Weapon Light.  No cheapies.
2.  Must mount in the twelve o'clock position.  I dislike side mounts and prefer the beam to be above the bore.
3.  Must mount as far back as possible to maintain balance.
4.  Should not mount directly to the barrel.
I finally found the set-up I wanted on the cover of SureFire's "Combat Tactics" magazine.  The problem was that it was shown with a laser module (on the cover) and it was not listed anywhere in the catalog or website.
After a bit of cajoling at the Shot Show, I was directed to someone at the factory who might know what I was talking about.  What I wanted was the Model 976, which is a 9V weapon light with an offset mount that attaches to the front of the front sight assembly.  To make a long story short, it was ordered and received within a few weeks and mounted minutes later.  Here are some pics.  Rifle is a Colt A2.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pd92c80ea7e0868843bc9eba50ee4b022/fc3b5dad.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p04959b936d3707951bf1f43a1337bacb/fc3b5a99.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pe46b8e731c93352b06ec400628d9985b/fc3b5980.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p39da8921d2cffcffafce9cf880434e6a/fc3b5f9e.jpg

It’s getting perfect, I just need a little more time (and $).

ML

Nice friggin red X's.  I actually joined a picture hosting site just to post these pictures -- which took more time than it took me to assemble the light and mount it.  Oh well, I'll work on it.
ML

Try this:
[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pe46b8e731c93352b06ec400628d9985b/fc3b5980.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p04959b936d3707951bf1f43a1337bacb/fc3b5a99.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pe46b8e731c93352b06ec400628d9985b/fc3b5980.jpg[/img]

[img]http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/p39da8921d2cffcffafce9cf880434e6a/fc3b5f9e.jpg[/img]

Thanks a bunch Dean.  How in the world did you do that?
ML

Deanh,

That is cool.

very creative, i like it.

very nice


your problem was this

*your url*

http://%20http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pe46b8e731c93352b06ec400628d9985b/fc3b5980.jpg

*url that needed to be used*

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid61/pe46b8e731c93352b06ec400628d9985b/fc3b5980.jpg


*clif notes* you had a extra http:// in there :)

Thanks Jason.  I don't know what I did, but I think I've got it.
ML

FYI,

I have never seen a 9V light with an offset adapter - Plenty of 6V setups but no 9's. Cool!

The only issue you may want to be aware of, is that smoke rises.  White light off smoke (think fog) can be self blinding.

It is a small consideration but something to think about when creating "the perfect" setup.

Anything mounted over the barrel is also something in your visual field that can obstruct target location/ID.  Since you have the optic and handle there already, it should not really make a difference either way.

Thanks, Ken.  I carefully weighed the smoke issue against what I considered the more serious drawbacks of side and bottom mounts and chose accordingly.  Hopefully, I can move if the smoke gets too thick.  And, you are correct that with my current sighting system, the bezel is below my line of sight.
ML

Maybe one of these days Surefire can make a little rail compatible fan [shock]

If that won't work, you can carry a little rechargeable vacuum pump on your belt.  Duck tape a tube to the pump and run it all the way up to the flash suppressor.   Make sure you run an exhaust tube down you pant leg and leave it trailing by at least 10’.  That way, return-firing threats will follow the smoke and shoot there instead of your actual location.

It order to synchronize the vacuum with your firing habits, you will also need to hook up a magnetic micro-switch behind the trigger that will send a radio transmission to the vacuum pump.  You should be good to go then.  Carry an extra battery with you as well.

There are OSHA approved versions I am told.  Although a bit more expensive, they filter out any lead contaminates from the smoke thereby assuring the surrounding fauna and ground-based microorganisms are not affected by your obsessive desire to defend yourself.

Wow Ken,

You gave my smart-ass comment a lot more thought than I did LOL.

Hahahahahaha!

Mind if I ask how much that set up was?  I am trying to figure out a set up for my AR that isn't too expensive.  I don't have $400-$500 to spend on a light right now.. :(  I am thinking a G2 mounted under the rail.  Not sure...  Any ideas would be helpfull.

Thanks

I'm very curious about the price, too.  This looks like a very nice setup; it doesn't increase the profile of the weapon much.

Before anyone goes out to get it - please take a look at Ken Good's reponses...

He has likely forgotten more about low light encounters than most of us will ever know.

Kevin,

Id never rag on Ken. Just taking a little poke at the creative wizards in R&D at Surefire. [;)]

I was just courious as to the price.  I'm going to go with either a under or side mount.  Not sure what I'm going to get yet....

The 676 (6V) WeaponLight is about $275-$300.

The 976 (9V) WeaponLight can be made from the following parts:
L39 Lamp Module (P90 9V)($80)
A15 Offset Adapter (holds One SF123A) ($95)
A12 Adapter (holds One SF123A) ($25)
U05 Universal Housing Body [A21] (holds One SF123A) with a TailCap with a tape pressure switch on a 5" long cable. ($100)
M26 mount for Colt front sight post ($75)
Total: $375.

If you have a 676 you can convert it to a 976 by swapping the P60 for a P90 ($20) and adding an A12 to the body ($25).

[prices are approximate]

Al