I cannot spend $300 or more. I would like to be around $100-$125.
I want to mount to an AR15. preferably to a standard round hg. No rail. It does have a fixed front site post.
I am thinking something with a switch. This is a bump in the night set up

DabigBR has the Streamlight HL-X with tape switch for $110. Would that be a good set up. If so, How would I mount it on the AR?

Is there a better set up?

I really want to get this in the works.

Your thoughts and advice are appreciated. Especially if you have first hand knowledge.

Thanks guys.

Current setup is an OLight PL2 mounted on a rail. Its positioned in such a way that my forward thumb is in position to turn it on/off.
No tape or pressure switch needed.

I think they discontinued the PL2, but this looks like the same light with the built in charging pad on the bottom.

https://m.olightstore.com/pl-pro-valkyrie.html

This is a good mount for the A2 front sight for light/laser attachment.
https://www.gggaz.com/the-dual...accessory-mount.html

IWC makes great stuff. Here you go, mounts directly to the top handguard.

https://www.impactweaponscompo...-light-mount-n-slot/

I will echo the IWC endorsement. I have that exact mount on my "car carbine", which wears mid-length CAR handguards. Where the light is concerned, I'd just do my damnedest to get one that's made in America.

The HL-X rail mount that you are considering is a good light, and the pressure switch works well. I have 8 of them at work and have received no complaints so far. As to mounting it on your gun, that depends on your current handguard setup. The light comes with a rail mount attached, and with mounting clips for the pressure switch that attach to a picatinny rail, and some small zip ties for wire management.

If you have an existing rail on your handguard, it will mount right to that, but it sounds like you don't, so anything you do for any light is gonna be kinda kludgy. I know you can get rail segments that attach to a FSB, or even ones that tie into the round holes at the top and bottom of a Mil-Spec handguard (that IWC mount posted above looks pretty cool, if you are truly married to that handguard style). If it was me, though, and I wasn't wanting to go to a free-float tube, I'd buy a Magpul MOE handguard and install that, as it's got mlock slots on it that you can install rail segments on as needed. It doesn't have all the options that most free-float mlock tubes give you, but they're pretty inexpensive, and IMO a much better option that trying to make stuff work with a round Mil-Spec handguard. That said, back in the day, even the guys from the high-speed-low-drag outfits used to attach stuff with bike iner-tubes and duct-tape...but thankfully there are better options available today.

Also, just a shout out for DaBigBR...I've done business with him in the past and he's a stand-up guy with good prices. If there something you need and he's got it, IMO that's a good route to go.

I like the look of that IWC setup.

My Viking Tactics arrangement here is…dated… (Yes - circa 2005 has in fact called wanting their WML back haha) but it does work. I think the IWC setup would work better. I don’t remember who made the little section of rail that’s attached to my carbine’s handguard. I bought all that back in 2009 save for the light, which is a more recent LED upgrade from the original incandescent SureFire G2 that came with the VTAC mount.

Here’s a Midwest industries front sight rail. No gunsmithing.

https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...003375327?pid=968824

I used a similar one to the gg&g system for years.. https://www.gggaz.com/the-dual...accessory-mount.html
The cool thing was I used a TLR https://www.streamlight.com/pr...s/detail/index/tlr-1 WML for a pistol that I already had…hung the light on the left rail and I could move the switch with my left thumb.

But I free-floated my AR after retirement and put a rail on the tube for a light.

Having a Picatinny rail segment available for mounting opens up more opportunities. If it’s a traditional military style handguard with ventilation holes there are any number of adapters that provide a rail base. One thing to consider is that depending upon how we anticipate using the light, it can be very valuable to have a constant-on setting rather than just momentary that requires keeping pressure on something like a tail cap switch.

I really like the INFORCE lights. They are easy to operate and switch between momentary and constant on and use a simple mechanical block to prevent unintentional light activations. For a rail mounted light they are also quick and easy to attach and remove, unlike some types. They even have a strobe function that I consider to be worse than useless, but it’s there to use if desired.

https://inforce-mil.com/produc...ghts/wml-wmlx-white/

I agree that a constant-on functionality ought to be a priority.

A thing to keep in mind on the plastic handguards is, depending on who made it, the holes' size and spacing may be different than "mil-spec".

I'm still rocking the vtac mount with a 6p and malkoff head for my HD gun. I have a OWL but that's out of the range you listed. I think the HLX is a great option, I have the handheld version of that for my plainclothes light and its pretty great without spending Cloud or Modlight money. Alternatively you could put a TLR1 or similar pistol light on a rail.

The streamlight will be hard to beat in your budget, add a fsb mount and you should be good to go.

At the low end, a Streamlight Polytac and Gorilla Tape will do the job.

Yeah, I didn’t mention it, but the Streamlight Tlr-1 HL is what I have on my FS2000. It’s a “pistol light,” but it works well, is plenty bright, and I can active the switch with my thumb on the hand holding a vertical fore grip.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: P220 Smudge,

quote:

Originally posted by MikeinNC:
Here’s a Midwest industries front sight rail. No gunsmithing.

https://www.midwayusa.com/prod...003375327?pid=968824

I used a similar one to the gg&g system for years.. https://www.gggaz.com/the-dual...accessory-mount.html
The cool thing was I used a TLR https://www.streamlight.com/pr...s/detail/index/tlr-1 WML for a pistol that I already had…hung the light on the left rail and I could move the switch with my left thumb.

But I free-floated my AR after retirement and put a rail on the tube for a light.

The MI mount like the above and a GI surplus weapon light with a tape switch including batteries was about $60 total. I'd have bought a GG&G, but found an MI local before I found a GG&G.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:
Having a Picatinny rail segment available for mounting opens up more opportunities. If it’s a traditional military style handguard with ventilation holes there are any number of adapters that provide a rail base. One thing to consider is that depending upon how we anticipate using the light, it can be very valuable to have a constant-on setting rather than just momentary that requires keeping pressure on something like a tail cap switch.

I really like the INFORCE lights. They are easy to operate and switch between momentary and constant on and use a simple mechanical block to prevent unintentional light activations. For a rail mounted light they are also quick and easy to attach and remove, unlike some types. They even have a strobe function that I consider to be worse than useless, but it’s there to use if desired.

https://inforce-mil.com/produc...ghts/wml-wmlx-white/

Yep. Survived for ten years on my PD AR15. Good light 400-800 lumens depending on the model. 400 is plenty for close in the home use. one model even has an IR mode for night vision if you like.

Thanks guys, some really great posts on the subject.
The IWL mount seems like a winner. So does the one linked to on Midway.

Thanks 92f on the HL-X. Good to hear.

The constant on is an important topic. Does this stream light with tape switch have this as an option, Thanking not.

I need to spend more time going over your guys thoughts. Thanks again. All of your posts have great info.

Thanks again guys

I’ve got that HLX on one of my SBRs. The other has a Cloud OWL. The Streamlight is actually really nice. It doesn’t have the same insane throw as the OWL but it has better spill. Plenty of usable light. And it does have a constant on switch on the pressure strip.

quote:

Originally posted by copaup:
I’ve got that HLX on one of my SBRs. The other has a Cloud OWL. The Streamlight is actually really nice. It doesn’t have the same insane throw as the OWL but it has better spill. Plenty of usable light. And it does have a constant on switch on the pressure strip.

That's a really good oft-overlooked point. We all think we want the throwiest light but spotlighting one bad guy leaves you blind to the rest. Spill can be really useful to keep track of everything not just that one very specific point. Doesn't mean we all want a romantic fireplace on the end of a rifle but a good balance of the two is ideal.

quote:

Originally posted by copaup:
I’ve got that HLX on one of my SBRs. The other has a Cloud OWL. The Streamlight is actually really nice. It doesn’t have the same insane throw as the OWL but it has better spill. Plenty of usable light. And it does have a constant on switch on the pressure strip.

Why would you want a weapon mounted light constantly on?