Completely Baffled About Weaponlights

[dan1775]

So I'm considering hanging a flashlight off of my rifle for the first time. I'm confused to the point of inaction by all the options - paralysis by analysis. So, in no particular order, following are some of the questions I'd like to hear your thoughts on:

Rotary or clickie switch?

I have a Surefire G2 (rotary) that I use as a handheld. For a handheld I would rather have a constant-on (clickie) that I could easily engage single-handed.

That said, on a weapon light, I like the idea of a deadman switch that turns off when I remove pressure. It occurs to me that it would likely be too easy to inadvertently activate the constant-on of a clickie under stress.

OTOH, is it difficult to activate the rotary constant-on when it is mounted on a weapon? Seems like it might be - but that may be advantageous. Trading off the ease of activating the constant-on for protection against activating it unintentionally, as it were.


Mounts

Here's where I really get lost. Offset? Scout mount (what is that, by the way)? 12 o'clock? VLTOR? Zorm? FSB?

In my inexperienced opinion, it appears that the determining factor of positioning the weapon light is weapon configuration, preferred manipulation and stance.

In my case, I have a mid-length gas system and my most comfortable support hand (left BTW) position is a little forward of mid-way up the handguard. I use a stubby VFG and a thumb-break grip. A 12 o'clock mount is not an option on my rifle.

So it seems to me that I can rule out the FSB mount. I think it would be too far a reach given my rifle and stance. I'm left with mounting on either the left-side rail or the top rail.

Your thoughts on mounts?

That's it for now. I'm sure your answers and comments will prompt more questions, which I will ask here. Thanks in advance.

[markm]

Rotary is completely useless to me.

12 o'clock?

As far as the 12 o'clock fad??? I find it to be over-prioritized. This barrel shadow in your spill nonsense is such a non issue. I guess it works for the "Scorpion" method of holding the gun if you're into that fad.

I like a recessed button so I can put it in a case or the back of the truck and not worry about the light turing on when I don't want it to.

I like the GEARSECTOR mounts so much, that I'd buy a light based on the mount as opposed to the other way around.



My second favorite mount it the VLTOR.

[dan1775]

I ask your indulgence for posing boot questions which no doubt have already been covered ad nauseum. Unfortunately, questions of this nature are common enough that a search yields an unwieldy number of hits.

[aflin]

I shoot the same way as you. I run a VTAC mount on the 2 o'clock position. With the thumbs over method of shooting, I can activate the light at the 2 o' clock position without compromising my preferred way to shoot.

I agree that rotary tailcaps sucks. Surefire never designed the 6P or G2 to be run as dedicated weapon lights, hence the rotary tailcap. In this instance, I use the McClicky Kit. It utilizes light press for momentary on and hard press for instant on. Another bomb piece of kit no 6P or G2 should be without.

Personally, I do not run the 11 o' clock method. I found that taking off my thumb off the rail to activate the light caused me to fumble a bit when trying to find the tailcap. Instead of worry about a potential threat, I found myself worry about hitting the tailcap. As well, this does compromise my style of shooting.

Each to his or her own. Try everything you can, learn what you like and don't like. Light placement and Sling placement is subject for endless discussion. There is no right or wrong way

[dan1775]

Thanks for your responses. Good info - I'll wait for a few more responses and then respond.

Also, I added a poll. I'm not going to decide by committee, but I would like to see if the clickie trend continues.

[The_War_Wagon]

I like a clickie, where my offhand thumb can GET it - usually 10, 11, or 12 o'clock. As another poster noted, Gear Sector and Vltor offsets are my preferred method of access at 10 & 11 o'clock. On a carbine length gas system, I run DD Omega-X 12.0 FSP rails (I have 2 such rifles). I find this gives me JUST enough room to run a PentagonLight in a Vltor Scout mount at the 12 o'clock position, which works for me as well - especially since I run AVG foregrips!

The nice thing about trial and error is, you're never short a flashlight! Of course, I've got a couple of mounts, and a Surefire M952, that for the life of me, I can't figure out what to do with now.

[markm]

Personally, I do not run the 11 o' clock method.

Which reminds me... the mounts above can place your light in the 11, 2, 4, or 8 o'clock positions.

[Pax]

Offset mounts can get the light closer to your thumb's natural position on the handguard as well as clearing up your optic's field of view. Both mounts pictured in Markm's post, for example, are offset mounts. Gear Sector, LaRue and VLTOR all manufacture quality products for this application. Viking Tactics also manufactures a very affordable plastic offset mount. I have heard of some people breaking their VTAC mounts when mounting them, though, so I would advise you to purchase an aluminum mount if you can expense it. I highly recommend an offset mount for your G2. If you find that the light interferes with your thumb's natural position when firing, I suggest throwing your thumb over the bore and allowing the tailcap to sit in the webbing of your hand between your thumb and forefinger.

"Scout" mounts as you said may refer to simpler mounts that put a light directly above a rail, not literally offset at an angle. "Scout" is a term often heard when discussing weaponlights, however, because Surefire manufactures a popular line of expensive, lightweight weaponlights called Scout lights. Scout light mounts are discussed as a result because manufacturers such as Gear Sector and Larue also produce aftermarket Scout series mounts.

As far as clickie vs. rotary is concerned, I'd say it's a matter of personal preference. I find that the moments when I need a constant source of white light are moments when I've got plenty of time to twist a tailcap. I also find that, when storing or transporting a rifle in a case, I've got plenty of time to twist the tailcap in the other direction to eliminate the possibility of accidental activation. For these reasons, a rotary tailcap suffices for me but others may have other requirements.

Hope this helps.

[outrider627]

If you want a clicky tail cap for a weaponlight duty G2, look at the Surefire Z49 & Z59 and the Oveready McClicky tailcap with the hardpress boot.

The Z49 has a recessed button to protect from accidental activation. The Z59's button feels like it has a lot more travel before it clicks, but you might still be able to press it completely under stress. Oveready's McClicky tailcap w/hardpress button is awesome. Not too much pressure needed for momentary on, but you have to press really HARD for it to click on. One warning, it is a major pain in the ass to install if modding the factory tailcap. Oveready now sells pre-modded G2 tailcaps.

[markm]

The Z49 has a recessed button to protect from accidental activation. The Z59's button feels like it has a lot more travel before it clicks, but you might still be able to press it completely under stress.

I want to put one of those on my Solarforce Lights... but I'm not sure I can stomach giving Surefire any of my money.