Simple AR WML question

[The Principal]

I am ordering a streamlight tlr-1 for my AR-15. I have never had a light mounted to a rifle. I often see people mount them opposite  side of their forward hand, on the handguard, at either 3:00 (or a 45 degree mount from there) to allow room for their forward hand. After I mount my foreword grip, I may have room on my handguard to mount my light in front of it (between the muzzle and the foregrip) at the 6:00 position, directly in the underside. If I can turn on the light with my forward hand, is there any disadvantage of mounting the light on the underside of the handguard?


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[Gunnerdad80]

I watched a YouTube video just last night about mounting positions for lights on AR platforms. I wish I could remember who the guy was but basically they said the 12 o’clock or 6 o’clock position is best especially if in a dark room and looking around corners. With the light at the 3 or 9 o’clock position it can cause shadowing in the room limiting the operators view.

It made sense to me. With that said, I have my Streamlight TLR mounted at the 9 o’clock position at the end of the handguard with a remote switch at the 12 o’clock position. I don’t have a long barrel blocking much of the light on my setup so it works best for me.

[The Principal]

Gunnerdad; Thank you for the feedback.


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[double-d]

Since both of my AR's have a bayonet lugs and front site bases, I use the Crosstac Picatinny rail mount.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/crosstac-front-sight-picatinny-rail.html

Weapon light (Olight PL-PRO) up forward at 6 o'clock, pressure pad at 2 o'clock on handguards. The Crosstac is tilted down slightly to help minimize shadowing from the barrel/flashider.

YMMV

[M1A4ME]

On a couple (the AR 15 pistols) I have the lights located at 9 o'clock.  It just seemed to fit my grip position just right to allow me to operate the switch with my support hand thumb.  Works out pretty well.

On a couplle of the rifles/carbines I have the lights mounted at 3 o'clock with the tape switch located elsewhere.  Vertical grip on the bottom of the XM177 handguard has a slot in the right side for the tape switch.  The extra cord/wire to the light is cable tied to the handguard in a couple places to keep it out of the way.  One one the tape switch is placed between the 9 o'clock rail and the 12 o'clock rail on the quad railed free float tube.  Again, works well to let me operate it with the support hand thumb.

[Hammer Time]

If you're going to mount a TRL-1 I'd highly recommend getting the tape switch for it.

[The Principal]

If you're going to mount a TRL-1 I'd highly recommend getting the tape switch for it.

I did order the switch with the light... I need to determine the ergonomics of the different forward grip techniques I may use, and make sure everything fits, which is why I am considering a 3 or 6 o’clock light placement. I like shooting with a traditional, tight elbow grip, like I learned in the USMC 25 years ago. I also want to shoot using the magpul angled forward grip, with my support hand further forward, and a less bladed stance. I’m limited right now to an indoor range, but I want to get used to some basic ergonomics. I have a handguard of decent length, so I may have space for a 6:00 mount of the light.


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[The Principal]

Since both of my AR's have a bayonet lugs and front site bases, I use the Crosstac Picatinny rail mount.

https://www.opticsplanet.com/crosstac-front-sight-picatinny-rail.html

Weapon light (Olight PL-PRO) up forward at 6 o'clock, pressure pad at 2 o'clock on handguards. The Crosstac is tilted down slightly to help minimize shadowing from the barrel/flashider.

YMMV

I don’t have the bayonet lugs on my AR, but I am considering a similar placement. I have an M-LOK rail that I can install in a similar location.


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[The Principal]

Any advice about how far forward the light should go toward the muzzle before particles, etc., could cloud the light? Can the front of the light go up right where the muzzle break screws onto the barrel?


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[Gunnerdad80]

Any advice about how far forward the light should go toward the muzzle before particles, etc., could cloud the light? Can the front of the light go up right where the muzzle break screws onto the barrel?


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Mine stops right about where the threads end on the barrel. I have an S&J NLC (nano linear compensator) on mine though so everything is pushed forward.

[Gunnerdad80]

Update on my setup, not that anyone is hanging on my words. Just an example of adapting what you have to fit your needs. With my WML at 9 o’clock, and after originally adding the TLR remote switch at the 12 o’clock, I haven’t been fully comfortable with my grip. I ended up adding an angled picatinny mount to move my light to the 11 o’clock position allowing more grip surface for my fingers. I feel like the 12 o’clock position is probably optimal so the 11 o’clock spot works out better than 9 o’clock for my grip and for lighting up a dark space and casting less of a shadow ultimately eliminating as much blind spot as possible. I hope that made sense, at least it did in my head.

Oh, and my light moved back a little. The face of my light is now 2 1/8” from the tip of my compensator.

[The Principal]

Update on my setup, not that anyone is hanging on my words. Just an example of adapting what you have to fit your needs. With my WML at 9 o’clock, and after originally adding the TLR remote switch at the 12 o’clock, I haven’t been fully comfortable with my grip. I ended up adding an angled picatinny mount to move my light to the 11 o’clock position allowing more grip surface for my fingers. I feel like the 12 o’clock position is probably optimal so the 11 o’clock spot works out better than 9 o’clock for my grip and for lighting up a dark space and casting less of a shadow ultimately eliminating as much blind spot as possible. I hope that made sense, at least it did in my head.

Oh, and my light moved back a little. The face of my light is now 2 1/8” from the tip of my compensator.

Thank you for your thoughtful comments.  Below is where I am experimenting with the light/switch. I am right handed, so my thumb would depress the switch. Feels decent to me, but I have not fired it with a forward hold yet. I haven’t seen rifles with this particular orientation. Thoughts?



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[Gunnerdad80]

Thoughts?



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Looks good to me. I like the 6 o’clock spot too but I have an AR pistol so my hand is right at the 6 o’clock. But as long as your setup meets your needs then roll with it.

My lil 'P' shooter. The angled mount was exactly what I needed for more grip surface. Notta whole lotta real estate up front.

[the war wagon]

DON'T overthink it, and unless you have some creepy, alien-hands, put it where you can REACH it.  As a righty, that means:







1 or 3 o' clock.   

[Gunnerdad80]

DON'T overthink it, and unless you have some creepy, alien-hands, put it where you can REACH it.  As a righty, that means:







1 or 3 o' clock.   

Dig that BCM.