Problems with mounting a light on OEM handguards

[SpookyPistolero]

Howdy folks-

I've got a 16" middy with OEM handguards. I purchased the MI rail attachment, roughly 4" long and goes through the vent holes at three locations. It's secure, but unfortunately when placed on the top guard at the forward most location (where I'd like my light to be), the nuts will hit the gas tube. Since moving it back defeats the purpose, I tried to give going on the lower guard a try. This still hits the barrel a bit, but more troublesome is it makes me unable to get a nice distal hold.

My light is a G2LED on a VT offset mount.

Has anyone else run into this sort of problem? Would you guys expect one of the mounts that attaches to the front sight base to work better?

[TomMcC]

You might want to use the MI mctar-01 mount instead. Use a Vltor non-offset mount with it. That way you have max usage of your handguards for your hand.

[ST911]

Sight tower mount would eliminate the problem.

You might also try replacing the OEM MI nuts with a shorter lock nut and washer at your local hardware store. Remember to loctite them.

[LOKNLOD]

Sight tower mount would eliminate the problem.


This is probably the cleanest fix. May actually allow you to get the light even further forward and in a better position for your grip.



You might also try replacing the OEM MI nuts with a shorter lock nut and washer at your local hardware store. Remember to loctite them.

On that note, would it be possible to put the screws up through the handguard, with the head on the inside, and then put the nuts on the outside, in the holes in the rail? It may require some different hardware or trimming the existing to get it to fix low-profile enough.

[SpookyPistolero]

Thanks guys, I believe I'll search around for the tower mount then.

Do you guys usually run a light on a tower mount on the left side or right side, for a right-handed shooter? Seems like, with the offset VT mount I have, I could run high & right, and then put my thumb over the guard to operate. Or keep it high & left to just keep my thumb on that side.

[SeriousStudent]

I run one of these on a BCM middy upper:

http://www.gggaz.com/index.php?id=59&parents=38,47

With a Surefire X300 mounted on the right hand side of the Cav Arms handguards.

I got the idea from Rob's basic carbine build article, and it has worked well for me.

http://www.tacticalyellowvisor.net/8343/59827.html

Good luck to you.

[sonrider657]

Here is my solution (http://www.elzetta.com):
http://www.christiancarnivore.com/green.jpg

Lightweight, ambidextrous, and inexpensive.

[LOKNLOD]

Thanks guys, I believe I'll search around for the tower mount then.

Do you guys usually run a light on a tower mount on the left side or right side, for a right-handed shooter? Seems like, with the offset VT mount I have, I could run high & right, and then put my thumb over the guard to operate. Or keep it high & left to just keep my thumb on that side.

I would put it in the place where it works best with whichever grip you are using currently. If you're already an thumb-over gripper, then putting it on the right side makes a lot of sense, but if you don't shoot that gun (or any other gun) that way when you're not using the light, I don't think it should be your first choice.