Help finding a lo-profile offset light mount for an AR

I also like to be able to remove my lights in some applications, so I feel your pain there.

The problem is that the thumbscrew mounts wind up needing to be tightened past hand-tight or they will fall off, almost negating the benefit of the thumbscrews to begin with. I do think they are better than allen screws in this application because you can tighten/loosen the thumbscrews with any pliers/multitool while the allen screws require the exactly correct size.

But if you really want QD, I would use either a throwlever mount like the Larue or ADM, or simply make room to slide a Surefire X300 onto the rail.

I'm running the old style Vltor (as pictured above) with the thumbscrews. I'm happy with it, but if I were looking for another one, I'm getting the version with the lever.

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Originally Posted by spamsammich

http://www.dangercloseconsulting.com/products.html

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That mount looks really tiny. I just don't like the idea of putting a set screw into my rail I paid so much for... On another note, the hole in the side almost looks like it could be a QD Sling mount haha. That seems like it would be a cool idea to have both in one rail attachment. I don't think anybody is making one like that right now though...

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Originally Posted by rob_s

I also like to be able to remove my lights in some applications, so I feel your pain there.

The problem is that the thumbscrew mounts wind up needing to be tightened past hand-tight or they will fall off, almost negating the benefit of the thumbscrews to begin with. I do think they are better than allen screws in this application because you can tighten/loosen the thumbscrews with any pliers/multitool while the allen screws require the exactly correct size.

But if you really want QD, I would use either a throwlever mount like the Larue or ADM, or simply make room to slide a Surefire X300 onto the rail.

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Great input. I was thinking of going to the thumb screw style. KZ makes one as I posted earlier and they're only like $30.... but maybe I should learn from my previous instances of buying cheap. I usually end up cheaping out and then breaking the item or having it not suit my needs and then buying the expensive part anyway... hmm

I was looking at the Larue LT-606 mount and lusting after it for a long time... but I'm not sure it would work well mounted on the top rail... I think I'm leaning toward the VLTOR QD...

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Originally Posted by Thomas M-4

Vltor's off set light mount .
http://www.vltor.com/images/mounts/off-set-sm.jpg

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Another vote.

If you are mounting on 3'clock with SWS rail and Troy folding sight, It will rub and sight will non-functional.

http://www.elzetta.com/zormFAQ.htm

http://www.elzetta.com/images/Strobe%20Tailcap.jpg

It's a nylon tipped set screw, doesn't injure the rail. I'd rather have a cup tip that actually bites in, but so far it is rock steady. The guy that designed it is SF so this thing gets real world R&D. I doubt they care very much about scratches and nicks on their rails. Your rail will wear if you shoot the gun enough. Shouldn't hold you back from getting good kit.

A) Flashlights are allowed by USPSA rifle rules.

B) Don't take the screws out of the VTAC mount. They don't need to be completely removed to get the light in/out or the mounted on the rail.

C) Takes up too much rail space? What are you trying to hang on the rail that you need to save space? Are you working with one only one three slot rail on your handguard? If you need more rail space...get more rail.

D) Thumbscrew mounts suck. They're never tight enough, you're constantly checking them because they loosen up and the only way to feel "ok" about them is to gronk on them so hard that they're no longer removable without a tool of some sort. Give me a throw lever any day. That's tool-less removal the smart man's way.

E) The set screw on a DCC mount is nylon tipped to prevent marring the rail.

F) Maybe you should spend some time in the Weaponlight Mount Pic thread.

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Originally Posted by subzero

A) Flashlights are allowed by USPSA rifle rules.

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AWESOME! Thanks for lookin that up for me.

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Originally Posted by subzero

B) Don't take the screws out of the VTAC mount. They don't need to be completely removed to get the light in/out or the mounted on the rail.
C) Takes up too much rail space? What are you trying to hang on the rail that you need to save space? Are you working with one only one three slot rail on your handguard? If you need more rail space...get more rail.

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I've only takes the VTAC mount off twice and both times it seemed like I had to back out the screws all the way, I'll have to take another look at it. The times I did take it off, I dropped the nuts that fit into the other half of the mount, which I didn't like at all. I could just see myself taking the mount off at the range and losing them in the gravel or grass.

I'm using this on a 13" VTAC extreme rail and I think I want to put the light mount at the very front, and the front sight just behind that. The idea is to have the tailcap and the front sight actuator reachable right there at the front. Having a light mount that uses less space would allow me to get the front sight as far forward as possible, especially since I'm thinking of swapping the rail for an 11" and using the 13" on another build.

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Originally Posted by subzero

D) Thumbscrew mounts suck. They're never tight enough, you're constantly checking them because they loosen up and the only way to feel "ok" about them is to gronk on them so hard that they're no longer removable without a tool of some sort. Give me a throw lever any day. That's tool-less removal the smart man's way.

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Great input there. I'll be staying away from the thumb screw mounts. Thanks, you and other similar comments probably saved me from buying another mount and having it end up in the used parts box.

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Originally Posted by subzero

E) The set screw on a DCC mount is nylon tipped to prevent marring the rail.

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Well thats good. I'm still not real excited about it being a set screw design though. I guess you would screw the set screw down into the groove in the rail. That would be a bit more secure than I was thinking originally. I still like the concept of a bolt going all the way across the grove to hold it on. They do look like a really light mount though.

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Originally Posted by subzero

F) Maybe you should spend some time in the Weaponlight Mount Pic thread.

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I actually looked through the whole thing before posting here :D


Thanks for all the help guys. I ended up finding a VLTOR lever mount in the classifieds on this site and jumped on it :D I'll have to take a pic of it when it comes.

I got the light mount today and was able to install it and take a few pics. The flashlight I have is the 4Sevens 123 squared turbo, which actually has a ~0.850" body so the VLTOR mount didn't fit at first. I added some duct tape to the body for now, and I'll probably end up with something else as a shim or maybe even another mount that fits it better :( But for now, this works :D

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...M/IMG_9555.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...M/IMG_9559.jpg

With a far forward grip, the light and actuator for the front sight are in the perfect place to not even have to move my hand.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...SightLight.gif

And I finally got to take some other pictures while I had it all out and was playing around with new parts :D

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...M/IMG_9570.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...M/IMG_9575.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...M/IMG_9577.jpg

Another vote for the Danger Close mount. Very small, very light. Works perfectly.