What’s the best place to mount a weapon light on an AR-15? With modern Picatinny / M-LOK® AR-15 handguards, you can put a light pretty much anywhere, says Brownells Gun Tech™ Caleb Savant. If your light is controlled by a tailcap switch, you’ll want it on the side of the handguard closest to your support hand’s thumb, so you can easily operate the switch. If your support hand is your left hand, put the light on the LEFT side. Shooters who support with their right hand will want the light on the RIGHT. But adding a VERTICAL grip reverses those rules. Confused? Caleb shows us how it works. A remote pressure-pad switch gives you a lot more flexibility in where the light goes because only the switch needs to be close to your support hand. If you’re an ambidextrous shooter, put the pressure switch where it’s easy to operate with EITHER support hand.
Mount the light far enough forward on the handguard so it doesn’t interfere with where your support hand naturally falls when you grasp the rifle to shoot. If the light ends up just behind the muzzle, that’s OK – unless your AR-15 has a muzzle brake. Putting the bell of the light too close to the brake can result in a charbroiled weapon light! The closer you can mount the light to the handguard, the better. It’s less likely to snag on stuff or get bonked when you’re handling the rifle. Midwest Industries has a low-profile M-LOK® mount that snugs the light neatly into the 1:00 position next to the Picatinny top rail.
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I prefer mounting my light far forward, and on the bottom of my handguard, with just a direct push button. On the bottom is ambidextrous, and I can reach the button with my support hand index figure.
On the first rifle…its a little to close to the muzzle for my taste…. personally I mount my lights at the 6 o'clock position except on my shotgun…the sling would interfere with it.
which handguard it that and how long is it? I like the opening on the end how it goes over and under the muzzle device, any suggestions for a handguard that will cover a 16" barrel and muzzle device similar to the one you have shown?
Putting the light adjacent to the muzzle brake where the gas exits doesn’t seem to be a good choice for location.
You locked Steve in the safe so you could do this vid alone …didn’t ya…. Yup, he’s in that safe…
As a fellow lefty (eye), thank you!
I’m righty and left eye dominant too !
Not a problem shooting long gun, I shoot righty but I bit more complicated shooting handgun.
Actually, that would be a good subject for a video. Righty with cross eye dominant, share your experience with us.
Thnx! Great vid! Just starting my first build & stuff like this is very helpful! Love your products!
I run mine as far forward as possible to try to eliminate the muzzle shadow.
I just duct tape my light to the bottom-front portion of the foregrip.
I prefer running my lights on my strong hand side as it helps to keep me from getting jabbed when using a sling. Good video Caleb 👍
As always, your videos are top notch. What are your thoughts on mounting a light in the 6 o'clock position on the hand guard? Any disadvantages?
Unless you’re SWAT don’t bother. Lmaooo
I really like that setup with the tight to the barrel at 10:30 (1:30 for me) mount and pressure pad. Caleb got me thinking about that in an earlier video and it still looks snag free (relatively speaking).
Right now I use an INFORCE Gen2 WML mounted at 3:00. That’s about as low profile as you can get for a rail mounted light. Left thumb on switch is very ergonomic for me. A plus for me is that the INFORCE light mount is quick detach so I can take it off to put the firearm in a case, for range use, etc. However, Caleb’s point about a top-mounted pressure switch working with either hand has me thinking.
has anyone considered using a smaller light? i've got a tlr1 on mine, and it's just as easy to use, weighs a bunch less and uses a bunch less real estate
Good content,also Caleb you aren't wired, like me you're one of those people who are in their right mind.
Only 4 people downvoted… lol THATS how you know it’s a good vid
Good points
Go Algo!
I always enjoy your videos….thanks!!
Why use the offset mount when one could mount the light inline at the 11 or 1 o’clock m-lok position?
Yes .. and your not lighting up the barrel as much and keeps you more concealed !
Does heat affect the light or the battery, such as from the barrel, block or the exhaust from a piston AR?
Nice video for new firearm owner
One of this rifles has the light very close to the muzzle brake . This will be a pain to clean the light . My buddy has a TLR1-HL in his G19 . It gets pretty dirty from the muzzle discharge . It's hard to clean it off .
I mount my light on the bottom rail flush with the end of the hand guard as I can lay the gun in my range bag on either side without worrying about the light. No pressure pad; takes a second to turn the light on.
Left eye dominant isn't weird. We are fabulous people. Lol. Something a bit weird, I shoot long gun left and a handgun right, leaning my head over to use the left eye.
For suppressors or large muzzle devices, I think it is worth checking out the TRex Arms light bar!