I just ordered a Springfield Kuna and I’m going to want to put a light on it. Back in the day lights with a pressure switch were pretty popular. Are they still used? What would be a good light to put on the Kuna?

Yep, still popular. It lets you mount the light wherever it fits best, and then route the pressure pad to where your thumb naturally reaches.

The Streamlight Protac Rail Mount HL-X is a solid, reasonably priced rifle light.

But if you want something more compact to go with your compact PCC, the Streamlight TLR RM1 is a good option.

Still popular.

There’s some good and some not-so-good pressure switches out there.
Good are the recognized name brands-
Streamlight
Surefire
Fenix
Axon

Then there’s the cheap, made in CHI-na crap, airsoft stuff…


A hint- whatever mounting mechanism you use, please do something to protect the cable(s) from the light to the switch.
Small zip-ties
Duct / 100mph tape - athletic tape

This way, cables aren’t hanging loose and getting snagged on stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
The Streamlight Protac Rail Mount HL-X is a solid, reasonably priced rifle light.

But if you want something more compact to go with your compact PCC, the Streamlight TLR RM1 is a good option.

The ProTac is fantastic, and has way better throw and coverage than the RM1 or RM2. I have 4 of them currently mounted and in use (AR, 870, 1301, PS90).

That said, the included pressure pad is HUGE and does not work for me in a lot of installations. It seems to work best on top of an AR pic rail, where it can be tie wrapped down to the rail. For shotguns, and my PS90, I wind up using the light without the remote switch because I can’t find a good spot to mount the pressure pad.

YMMV…

quote:

Originally posted by stormin:
The ProTac is fantastic, and has way better throw and coverage than the RM1 or RM2.

Yep, but it's also quite a bit larger.

I ended up switching to a RM1 on my CZ Scorpion pistol, as the much smaller size made more sense on a diminutive PCC.

(You don't really need the Protac HL-X's significantly longer throw on a compact 9mm PCC anyway.)

But my serious use rifles have full-sized scout-type lights like the Protac HL-X or the Cloud Defensive Rein.

After personal experiences and seeing the results of other users dealing with separate pressure pads with their cables, I long ago settled on the INFORCE lights.

The pad is built into the light itself and because it’s direct pressure operated there’s no need to find a small rotating switch if a separate pad isn’t wanted. Being able to switch from momentary to constant on is convenient with a little throw lever.

One thing I caution about the line is that different models have different features, including infrared operation. If you don’t need that, there’s obviously no reason to pay for it.

An example of one model:
https://www.amazon.com/Inforce...TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1

I wanted to like the Inforce WML family of lights, and bought 4 of them over the years, but haven't had the greatest record with them.

A couple cracked (their bodies are plastic, rather than aluminum like most others). One developed parasitic drain.

And their output is kinda disappointing, especially compared to its similarly priced competition like the aforementioned Protac rifle lights.

Plus, you can't always get the Inforce lights mounted in exactly the spot you want on every rifle, and they don't accept a remote pad.

So I've moved away from them an on (back) to scout-type lights with remote pads. Or the metal bodied RM1 and RM2 in a couple cases, which provide a similar form factor but without the Inforce's issues.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:

quote:

Originally posted by stormin:
The ProTac is fantastic, and has way better throw and coverage than the RM1 or RM2.

Yep, but it's also quite a bit larger.

I ended up switching to a RM1 on my CZ Scorpion pistol, as the much smaller size made more sense on a diminutive PCC.

(You don't really need the Protac HL-X's significantly longer throw on a compact 9mm PCC anyway.)

But my serious use rifles have full-sized scout-type lights like the Protac HL-X or the Cloud Defensive Rein.

You’ve got a good point there about size on a PCC. I went back and forth with my PS90 as to ProTac, or RM2. Either would work for me, but I’ve had excellent prior experience with my ProTacs, so that won out. The RM2 would have been a bit more compact, but the ProTac isn’t obnoxious.

Crossing this very bridge myself. Kind of want to experiment with an M-lok 1" light body mount and stick a Surefire G2 or similar in there. Want to see if it will give me the OG Surefire MP5 forend vibe.

Slight thread drift..where did you find the kuna?

I plan on getting a sig sauer weapon light for mine when I eventually find one!!!

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
Slight thread drift..where did you find the kuna?

I plan on getting an sig sauer weapon light for mine when I eventually find one!!!

Kentucky Gun Company has one on display that you can handle and look over. I ordered one, the manager said it could be about a month before it comes in. He said they are coming in sporadically at this point.

I run a Streamlight ProTac on 2 AR uppers (10.3 and 11.5) and a SCAR 17. Both have the tape switches on the top rail right behind the FSB and I like it quite a bit.

I have a Cloud OWL (sadly discontinued) on a 16 inch AR. It has a pressure switch built onto the top of the housing that functions the same way as I have my ProTacs set up. It's a little heavy, but it's stupid bright and there are no cables to snag. I wish they still made these.

Once I get into PCCs I tend to prefer thumb buttons. My SP5 has a Surefire forend (mainly for that sweet Cold War vibe) that I can swith out to a pic rail forend if I want to run suppressed. All my other PCCs run a X300 on pic rail.

I prefer to avoid a tape switch whenever possible. The Surefire Scout light, properly mounted, allows for thumb manipulation of the standard switch. Your rifle's configuration may not allow this. I know nothing about the "Kuna".

I've had Surefire Scout's on my rifles throughout the years. This go around I am trying out the ModLite PLHv2. Ordered this morning, so I do not have it in hand for a personal review. It has a slightly larger tube size 18mm - Surefire is 16mm - so instead of using the standard CR123 batteries, it bumps up to a slightly larger rechargeable lithium ion.

Regardless of brightness, lumens, candela, etc., the real world test for me is determining how will it hold up to recoil and adverse weather conditions.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
I prefer to avoid a tape switch whenever possible. The Surefire Scout light, properly mounted, allows for thumb manipulation of the standard switch. Your rifle's configuration may not allow this. I know nothing about the "Kuna".

This is a good looking like and I know Surefire makes good lights. I think I will go this route instead of messing with the pressure pad.

For me I always prefer the Surefire. And then I like the Sig Foxtrot lights after that. I prefer them over the Streamlight weapon lights.

What mount is that Para?

It's an IWC SMC Scout Light Mount. The owner of the company passed away some time ago, and for a while, products from the company were not available, but it looks like they're now available.

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

For the Magpul handguard, this mount is tough to beat. It puts the tail cap switch of the Surefire Scout light right where your thumb can activate it, and it's ambidextrous.

Oh, and I should say that this mount is for the older M300 and M600 Scout lights. I don't think this mount works with the current generation of Scouts.

For PDW size weapons, I like the Inforce mounted on the strong side activated with middle finger of the support hand. I've had pretty good luck with them with only one failure that Inforce replaced without issue. For fighting rifles, Para is right about the IWC mount. Low profile, perfect position for support hand thumb operation, and the ring size is customizable. It took some searching to find a mount to work with Protac 1L lights and IWC's 0.83 ring works great and not crazy money like some mounts.

For the most flexibility, I like Vltor SMQ quick release mounts. Flip the QR and it's a handheld flashlight. I don't do tape switches.

Vltor

quote:

Originally posted by techguy:
I just ordered a Springfield Kuna and I’m going to want to put a light on it. Back in the day lights with a pressure switch were pretty popular. Are they still used? What would be a good light to put on the Kuna?

what light did you go with and are you happy with it?