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Posted: 1/30/2012 7:53:38 AM EDT
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I've got a VLTOR offset light mount that I had previously been running mounted at the front of my 3 o'clock rail so that I can get to the lights cap switch with my thumb while holding the foregrip. Sometimes I pull that light and mount off for trips to the range, sometimes I leave it on. Of course, when I pull it off, it leaves a short expanse of exposed rail. No big deal...just cosmetics really. I can always put that last XTM panel back on if I take the light off...but sometimes they are a bit of a pain getting on and off that way.
Recently I've tried moving the mount to the front of the 6 o'clock rail with the light in close to the same position as it was...so that I can still get to it with my thumb while holding the grip. The light itself is in almost exactly the same position, but this way I can put that last rail cover on the 3 o'clock side and not have to take it off. However, I don't recall seeing many other folks with an offset mount in that position. I see them mounted on the 12 o'clock rail off to the side all the time. I see them at 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock...but I don't think I've seen many others mounted this way. Maybe its relatively common and I just haven't noticed but then I started wondering if, for some reason, maybe its a bad idea to position the mount there, and maybe there is a good reason I don't often see lights mounted that way. So I figured I'd ask. I've attached a couple of pics, one with it mounted at 3 o'clock and one at 6 o'clock to illustrate what I was trying to explain. Thanks! 
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I'm not a Super Tactical Operator or anything, that being said I would hazard a guess that a lights position would be dictated by three things. 1) Ability to access the on/off switch, be it a tailcap or remote pressure pad, without having to move the forward hand from the regular shooting position. Basically it should be easy to turn on and off with little hand movement and effort, but still secure form accidental illumination. 2) It should be placed in a manner so the weapon casts as little shadow as possible on the surroundings. A giant barrel shadow at 3 or 9 o'clock is not good for fast target acquisition. 3)Will the light Bezel and Lens be rammed in to a barrier or cover when using cover to stabilize the weapon (i.e. placing the bottom of your rail on a berm or wall)? It would suck to run up to your cover and jam you flashlight on brick or cinderblock. Just my 2 cents.  |
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