AR15 light/mount options

[Alex45ACP]

I want to put a light on my AR15 for home defense purposes. However, there are so many choices that I don't even know where to start. I do know that I would like a light that uses AA batteries.

Also, I'm not sure how to mount it on my rifle. I don't have a rail and don't want to replace the handguards with one, but I've seen some rifles that have what looks like a rail that attaches to the top/bottom of the handguard somehow. How do those work? I've also seen the mounts that attach to the bayonet lug, but I'm not sure if it's a good idea to have the light under the barrel.

Any suggestions?

 

[uspJ]

i bought some rails fro cheaper than dirt. you just remove the handguard, mount them on the handguard and put the handguard back on. it took about 20 min. to do the job and they worked fine. i was using a m-3 tactical light that mounts to a picatiny style rail.

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ARR054-7.html

 

[Saakee]

Crimson Trace has a discontinued laser model that replaced the grip for use with A1 style uppers you might be able to find on some site or other.
They also have an in production vertical foregrip with integral laser/flashlight. Depending on how your upper is setup, you can either attach a bit of rail to your handguard or completely replace it with a railed handguard in either freefloat or whatever they call nonfreefloat ones.
I've never used the Crimson Trace models mentioned though I have a CTC on my G19.

 

[killchain]

These are an option if you want to retain your handguards.

http://www.botachtactical.com/mosydem4ha.html

I recommend buying a SureFire tactical light. I wouldn't recommend using a light that uses AA batteries because most of them aren't packing the output that's desirable.

 

[sonrider657]

I use an Elzetta ZFH1500 Light Mount which does not require any rails and keeps your handgards uncluttered.



I would not get a light that takes AA batteries. Good tactical lights use CR123 batteries for a reason. That have much higher output and longer shelf life. Buy a quality U.S. Made Light from Surefire, Elzetta, NovTac, etc.

 

[benEzra]

This option is inexpensive and works well:

http://www.botachtactical.com/caam4frsimod.html

Get one of these and you can put any recoil-tolerant 1" barrel flashlight in there, like a Surefire G2 LED or G3 LED:

http://www.botachtactical.com/gg1mori.html

Mounting on the side of the front sight puts the light in a very good place; the barrel shadow is low and to the side, instead of being right where you need light the most, and it is easy to press the momentary-on tailcap switch with the thumb of the support hand if you use a thumb-over-the-top grip.

In my opinion, AA operation is overrated. You can buy CR123 lithium cells at Wal-Mart, if you're running a LED light then they will last a long time, and you can stock spares because they have a shelf life of many years. I've had a Surefire G3 LED for over a year and I am not sure if I have even changed the batteries yet (if I have, I have only done it once).

 

[jackinil]

I also went the Elzetta route with a G2 LED