Barrel mounted light? Pros/Cons?

[Logistar]

I would like to add a light to my SAR-1.

It appears to be EASY and "cheap" to just buy a light that clamps onto the barrel. Somehow I feel uneasy about this.

Should I find a different way to mount it? - Maybe an expensive handguard with a rail??????

I am getting an M3 light for my Vertec... I could switch then....

My real question is:

What is BAD about a barrel mounted light (if anything)?

Will it mar up the barrel real bad?
Will it cause the barrel to rust????
Will it make the AK significantly less accurate?
If I clamp it down too tight will the barrel collapse and blow up when fired ???

THANKS!!!!!
Logistar

 

[VG]

What is BAD about a barrel mounted light (if anything)?

Like tracers, they point both ways?

 

[Art Eatman]

Shot a coyote at night, one time, with a Streamlight held against the forearm by my left hand. Worked great.

What's your purpose? That would probably determine what sort of mount you'd use.

"Will it mar up the barrel real bad?" Only if you're ham-handed with tools.

"Will it cause the barrel to rust????" Don't see why, unless you let it get wet and don't clean it.

"Will it make the AK significantly less accurate?" It might change the point of impact from your present sight-in, but shouldn't affect group size. But, depends on the mounting system, some, I guess.

Art

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Will it make an AK significantly less accurate?

LOL! I just about spewed diet soda out my nose!

The AK is not know as a great gun for marksmanship accuracy. As with any other gun and such additions, most shooters won't even realize there is a difference, assuming there is a difference, when you add something to the gun.

It is like a friend of mine explained when he floated his AR-15 barrel. There was a difference between before and after, but it was less than 1" at 200 yards and that was slow fire, rested shooting. There can be a difference, but is that difference actually significant to what you do with the gun? Probably not.

Can you clamp the barrel so tight it collapses an causes a KB on your next shooting? Sure, but not with any sort of light, sling, accessory mount. You might get such results with a vise, however, but not some minor accessory.

 

[Logistar]

I wasn't completely serious about all the potential "issues"!

I just wanted some general feedback. The idea was mainly as a self-dense tool. I am looking at defense from animals moreso than 2-legged enemies. I occasionally end up out in the boonies where I have been bringing my AK (only rifle I own other than a .22).

If I was ever "approached" at night I thought a weapon-mounted light might be nice. If I carried a light in one hand and a rifle in the other, I see me dropping one or both of them if startled.

I know the light can make you a bullet magnet. I was just concered about any problems it might cause for the gun itself. I thought maybe that type of mount might damage what little finish I have left and possibly promote rust.

It's no big deal, I just thought I'd see what everyone thought.

Thanks!

Logistar

I keep trying to float my barrels but they keep sinking!

 

[Jack19]

Clamping a light to the barrel of an AK really shouldn't pose a problem.

Observe proper technique....light on...look fast....light off....MOVE....and you should be fine. Light on for long periods (unless your AO is really secure) = Bad juju.

 

[jrhead75]

I can't think of any problems with a barrel mounted light other than possible heat issues.

You can buy a lower handguard with a rail, but as you say, they're a bit spendy. In my ramblings around the internet, I've heard of folks epoxying/gluing a rail onto their existing handguards and one guy even heated up a rail and melted it into his lower handguard...IIRC, he said it worked great. You'd need plastic hand guards for either of those solutions though.