SteyrAUG
08-11-09, 18:09
Well we've come a long way since 1980 when the SAS was running around the Iranian Embassy with giant mag light type flashlights on scope mounts.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1029/ndvd037vg4.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7372/ndvd039xk6.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3521/ndvd055gj5.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/682/ndvd094zp2.jpg
Not that it didn't work, but clearly there had to be a better way. And the need for such an application led directly to what became the common solution for most. The SureFire weapon forearm.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2365/p1003833vr0.jpg
And it was a great improvement, but still had some issues.
One problem is the tape switch. Many HSLD types tend not to like them. As Kyle Lamb pointed out they are notorious for accidental "light discharge" which can be disastrous on certain occasions. Under stressful conditions people tend to grip their weapons harder and often engage the tape switch. Slip and falls usually involve catching the weapon and engaging the tape switch. When cased tape switches are often engaged by gear bags which results in dead bulbs and batteries.
Also there is no "constant on" option for those few times one needs it. In a darkened basement or parking garage where there is no other light source, keeping the tape switch engaged with pressure can be just frustrating enough to distract you from what you need to be focusing on. Another problem is the SureFire hand guard crowds the hand to the rear and after sustained fire against a hot receiver.
And finally the SureFire places the light in front of the barrel. Ostensibly this was done to prevent shadows in the light (such as what is experienced with an attached suppressor) but this results in burns to the light and the lens itself.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2570/p1003834pj8.jpg
And if you are going to be transporting in a truck or helo with the weapon in the barrel down position the light is placed on the deck which can result in damage as well. Another problem is the original weapon lights didn't allow room for a suppressor. This has been solved by current models which offer an offset adapter.
Obviously it is still better than a maglight on a weapon mount, but there are other options. Especially ones that don't cost as much.
With the new generation of guns like the UMP there are rail options galore.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/775/p1003842ew6.jpg
And rails mean you can use all kinds of weapon light setups, even the M3 or TL1/2 lights which are so popular for handguns. This means you carry one light and can trade it from handgun to SMG/Carbine without tools in a few seconds.
It also means you have the preferred setup where you can engage a momentary light with the option of a constant on without altering your grip on the weapon. With the UMP (or similarly setup weapon) this is simply done with the thumb.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1921/p1003844qk2.jpg
You are also far less likely to accidentally engage the switch and if you really must have a tape switch you can adapt one to the same weapon light for a total cost of about half of what a weapon forearm costs.
But what if you have an older HK series SMG/Carbine?
Well B&T does make some excellent railed hand guards, but these have a few drawbacks such as limiting space on the hand guard for the hand, high cost and some people simply don't find them comfortable (especially those not wearing gloves) for shooting.
But there is a simple and cheap solution. Streamlight makes a cheap and effective short rail which sits on the side of the front sight. So you once again can use the same M3 or TL1/2 weapon light you have for your railed handgun.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8162/p1003835nn9.jpg
With the light mounted it sits behind the bore (but not enough to cause a shadow) and with a minor modification allows the attachment of most QD style suppressors. So with the weapon barrel down in a transport the light is protected.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6412/p1003837sg5.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2372/p1003839ib1.jpg
It can also be "fitted" to any 90 series or G3/33 variant with little work.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5184/p1003840nx9.jpg
In this setup it is simply engaged with the index finger.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6858/p1003848vw6.jpg
If one needed a forward pistol grip they could use a K Grip and K Grip adapter and have something closer to the UMP setup with the same rail.
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/1029/ndvd037vg4.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/7372/ndvd039xk6.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/3521/ndvd055gj5.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/682/ndvd094zp2.jpg
Not that it didn't work, but clearly there had to be a better way. And the need for such an application led directly to what became the common solution for most. The SureFire weapon forearm.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2365/p1003833vr0.jpg
And it was a great improvement, but still had some issues.
One problem is the tape switch. Many HSLD types tend not to like them. As Kyle Lamb pointed out they are notorious for accidental "light discharge" which can be disastrous on certain occasions. Under stressful conditions people tend to grip their weapons harder and often engage the tape switch. Slip and falls usually involve catching the weapon and engaging the tape switch. When cased tape switches are often engaged by gear bags which results in dead bulbs and batteries.
Also there is no "constant on" option for those few times one needs it. In a darkened basement or parking garage where there is no other light source, keeping the tape switch engaged with pressure can be just frustrating enough to distract you from what you need to be focusing on. Another problem is the SureFire hand guard crowds the hand to the rear and after sustained fire against a hot receiver.
And finally the SureFire places the light in front of the barrel. Ostensibly this was done to prevent shadows in the light (such as what is experienced with an attached suppressor) but this results in burns to the light and the lens itself.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2570/p1003834pj8.jpg
And if you are going to be transporting in a truck or helo with the weapon in the barrel down position the light is placed on the deck which can result in damage as well. Another problem is the original weapon lights didn't allow room for a suppressor. This has been solved by current models which offer an offset adapter.
Obviously it is still better than a maglight on a weapon mount, but there are other options. Especially ones that don't cost as much.
With the new generation of guns like the UMP there are rail options galore.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/775/p1003842ew6.jpg
And rails mean you can use all kinds of weapon light setups, even the M3 or TL1/2 lights which are so popular for handguns. This means you carry one light and can trade it from handgun to SMG/Carbine without tools in a few seconds.
It also means you have the preferred setup where you can engage a momentary light with the option of a constant on without altering your grip on the weapon. With the UMP (or similarly setup weapon) this is simply done with the thumb.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/1921/p1003844qk2.jpg
You are also far less likely to accidentally engage the switch and if you really must have a tape switch you can adapt one to the same weapon light for a total cost of about half of what a weapon forearm costs.
But what if you have an older HK series SMG/Carbine?
Well B&T does make some excellent railed hand guards, but these have a few drawbacks such as limiting space on the hand guard for the hand, high cost and some people simply don't find them comfortable (especially those not wearing gloves) for shooting.
But there is a simple and cheap solution. Streamlight makes a cheap and effective short rail which sits on the side of the front sight. So you once again can use the same M3 or TL1/2 weapon light you have for your railed handgun.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/8162/p1003835nn9.jpg
With the light mounted it sits behind the bore (but not enough to cause a shadow) and with a minor modification allows the attachment of most QD style suppressors. So with the weapon barrel down in a transport the light is protected.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6412/p1003837sg5.jpg
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/2372/p1003839ib1.jpg
It can also be "fitted" to any 90 series or G3/33 variant with little work.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/5184/p1003840nx9.jpg
In this setup it is simply engaged with the index finger.
http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6858/p1003848vw6.jpg
If one needed a forward pistol grip they could use a K Grip and K Grip adapter and have something closer to the UMP setup with the same rail.