Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Weapon Light


The idea of the housegun AR is to be able to meet home invaders with something more than a couple revolvers.  I intend to make it easy access, yet concealed.  So, since most of the time I am in my house it is dark out, and the house lights are off, I think I want a weapon light.  I have a cheapy Chinese weapon light with a picattiny mount, but I want something better.   

There are several options.  Either an expensive light with an easy to hit button that also does IR stuff on the chance I actually have nightvision on.  It also takes the same battery as my EOTech, and I have battery storage in the stock.  Then there is more of a pistol light.  And then is just the repurpose the regular flashlight with the red lens with what amounts to a scope ring that fits my flashlight.

The other option is the unconsidered.  Maybe a commenter will pipe in.

10 comments:

ZerCool said...

I'm planning on option 3, myself. I've found a nice little offset light mount that'll hold a G2L in a good spot to hit the button with my thumb on the VFG. (Midway's part number is 856127, not going to link and end up in the spam trap.)

Anonymous said...

Spend the money. You'll be glad in the long run.

Geodkyt said...

I recommend one that has a pre-selectable strobe option (as opposed to a "click three times o strobe" or "doubletap the switch for strobe").

The effect of a high lumen strobe on an attacker has to be experienced to be believed (take your longest indoor shot, stand half that far from a mirror with dark adapted eyes, and strobe yourself in the mirror). It feels like a physical slap to the face and it is impossible to adapt your eyes and see the target behind the light - thus, return fire risk is reduced.

Of course, my AR has a Streamlight TLR2S (really more of a handgun LED that runs off CR123s) on it ("doubletap the switch for strobe"), because that's what I had lying around. I have it mounted on a 45 degree rail with the switch right up where my support thumb naturally rests. (I don't use the extension cord pressure pad because I don't need to, it eliminates another snagging hazard, and I'm not afraid of jamming my thumb during the earthshattering kaboom and recoil of the 5.56mm. {grin} )

Geodkyt said...

Oh, and I underscore the comment on "go quality". I also recommend going with something that eats CR123 batteries -- in the long run, you will spend less on batteries, and are far more likely to have a hot battery if you actually need the light for real. Always have one unused replacement set on hand in a proper container -- as soon as you swap batteries, buy a replacement set.

As for battery life, it's 10 years shelf time for these. Just throw the batteries out every five years (or save them for low-light training, so you don't drain your Der Tag set on zombie drills) -- that way, even if you skip a cycle, you always have a hot set installed.

Bubblehead Les. said...

Well, since you have decided to use that AR as your "GoTo" gun when you REALLY,REALLY,REALLY NEED A GUN, Money for the Light should not be an issue. I mean, what's your Life Worth?

On a Related Note, you are going to buy High Quality Ammo for it and Practice with it, right? I refer you to Tam's Post the other day about the Cletii and Cheap Ammo. Don't be "That Guy."

New Jovian Thunderbolt said...

High quality ammo for a M4gery? You mean milsurp ball.

Geodkyt said...

Ditto.

M193, baby. Unless you want to upgrade to Hornady TAP, stick with the US or Israeli milsurp M193.

Unknown said...

This is the one I use on my every day carry duty AR. It is less expensive than most an uses tail-cap activation only.

http://www.vikingtactics.com/lightsmounts_surefire6p.html

Unknown said...

This is the one I use on my everyday carry duty AR and on my home defense shotgun. Quality light and solid mount even though its polymer. Much less expensive than most other light/mount combos out there.

http://www.vikingtactics.com/lightsmounts_surefire6p.html

Tam said...

The TLR-1 worked fine for me.