Saturday, April 05, 2008

Another change in Schwaggie: placing the tactical light

One of the things I found with the placement of my tac light that I didn't like was that I had to move my sling mount towards the receiver. One of the advantages of running the sling as far out as you can is that the rifle swings less when you are carrying it. Additionally, the sling can be used as a shooting aid.

I have to admit that this knowledge isn't directly mine. I've been asking questions from friends who've been there, and taking tips from Kyle Lamb's book Green Eyes and Black Rifles. There's so much info in there I can't process it all. I have to admit to being a stickler for grammar, punctuation, and spelling, and there are more than a few in this book. However, the minor irritation that causes versus what I'm gaining from reading the ideas of a true master of the combat carbine can't be compared. This book is well worth buying, even at its relatively high price. It really is great stuff.

At any rate, I thought I would try moving the light to the opposite side to see if I could make it work there. KL has his light placed in this position, but where I am using the Vltor Scout Mount, he's using the Viking Tactics mount, which allows the light to sit below the rail, rather than inline with it. Photo is from the Viking Tactics site


As you'll see with the photos of my light and mount, the placement of the light is higher. What I found was that I needed to move the light rearward in the mount a little bit; less than a quarter of an inch or so. When I first mounted it up, I found I was straining my support hand whenever I reached for it. Moving it back just a bit made a huge, huge difference. That also allowed me to move my sling mount forward again where it was before...and where I found I really liked having it. The balance of the rifle is better, and the sling can be tensioned against my fore arm (by reaching through the sling before getting to the vertical grip or grabbing the fore end and putting tension on it), which really stabilizes the rifle in an offhand shooting position. I think I found a much better way to run this system. Now all I gotta do is pick up the newer, rotation-limiting QD mount from Daniel Defense, which will keep my sling from twisting.

This photo shows the placement of light and sling mount from the top. The rail is still the Daniel Defense 9.5 FSP, in case anybody forgot. Yes, that top rail ladder is OD green. I didn't have another black one to use in the position.


This photo is of the underside, showing the relative placement of the light, sling mount, and vertical grip. To be honest, I'm not completely sold that the vert grip is the way to go, but I need to do a lot more shooting to see which really works better for me. Since The Big Boys don't use them and are the best combat shooters in the world, I'm thinking that I may have to find a way without it.


Now my big project is to shoot the heck out of it, which is not easy with the cost and availability of 5.56 ammo these days.

5 comments:

NotClauswitz said...

I need to get the new blaster a sling that's not a Turner's-type, one with the quick-release thingy. I haven't done a post on the carbine because I'm avoiding drawing more attention to it - a California thing.

Haji said...

Bummer. Cali screws it up for everybody else again!

There are only two slings in the world: the Blue Force Gear Vickers Combat Action Sling (VCAS) designed by Larry Vickers, and the Viking Tactics (VTAC) sling designed by Kyle Lamb. Both of these are adjustable two point slings. The big differences: the VCAS is wider and doesn't have a running tail. The VTAC is somewhat faster to adjust. Both are awesome.

NotClauswitz said...

Or maybe I don't... My Turner's model-1917 sling mounted underneath provides a stable hand-stop and platform, maybe negating the forward vert grip, you're supposed to jam your forward hand right up to the swivel.
I've tried shooting my Swiss K-31, which is real sweet but it has the forward sling all side-mounted like that and it's hard to get the right grip, stability, and pressure on it.
Ok so that's Across-the-Course style shooting (and the Swiss didn't do it that way - we're the only ones who even have/ever had a "sling technique"), but it's really pretty easy to get in and out of, and "sling-up" with good accuracy and control. Flip the two straps halfway apart and stick stick your arm in there and slide back the keepers to your bicep...
Maybe. I think.
I tried installing the sling at the 6:00 position forward and it worked for me during a Practice anyhow, the way I'm used-to it, using the A2 stock-lower with the rear sling in the same plane.
I'm probably wrong though.

NotClauswitz said...

Huh, I guess I tried to mimic that photo - the stance anyhow I must have internalized it.

Haji said...

I didn't notice that until you mentioned it. Now I see the similarity. Classic! If you're gonna emulate a shooter, K. Lamb is one of the ones to choose.