Night Vision Attaching SureFire Helmet Light to Ballistic Ops Core Type Helmet?

[gyz77]

I have a Surefire Helmet light that I picked up with the IR lights to use with my NVG's. I have a helmet like the ops core but it's a ballistic helmet as I'm LEO. Is there an attachment that will run in the rails on the side that the light will snap on to?

 

[Delta4-3]

Which helmet light it is? Does it have the 5 LED's on the front? There are a couple iterations of the light. The older ones come with a base that clamps right to the helmet, and some have different mounting interfaces. A picture would help if you can.

 

[gyz77]

It's the one that comes with the attachment that clamps to the side. But with the padding, ballistic thickness and the rails the clamp doesn't open up enough to be used. And yes it's the 5 lights 3 LED white and 2 IR LEDs.

 

[Delta4-3]

If it is close to fitting you could file the contact point on the inside metal piece down easily. If not, I believe they make an adapter for rails, but I don't know that for a fact. I would pull the pad and put the clamp arm underneath it.

 

[gyz77]

I made a mistake. The ballistic thickness and rail are the only thing there. No padding. I'll see if I can find the mount. That's what I was hoping was an adaptor for the side rails.

 

[jdr724]

What's that?

 

[IR-V]

I made a mistake. The ballistic thickness and rail are the only thing there. No padding. I'll see if I can find the mount. That's what I was hoping was an adaptor for the side rails.

You need the Tango Down SureFire Helmet Light Mount, which clips into the horseshoe underneath the SureFire and has a M1913 Picatinny rail clamp on the other side. Example here:

TangoDown SureFire Helmet Light Rail Mount (R)

The ARC rails used on the Ops-Core helmet come with Picatinny accessory rail sections about 1.5 inches long that slide and tab lock into the helmet rails. You can clamp the Tango Down mount (for or with the SureFire light) onto the Picatinny rail section, and then slide the entire assembly into the groove on the ARC helmet rail.

One thing to note about this attachment method is that it puts the Surefire light array about 2 to 3 inches higher than the level of your eyes, and will cause the light to shoot over (instead of onto) any object, such as a map, that you are holding in your hands and trying to look at. For this reason, I typically recommend pairing a Surefire mounted on helmet rail with a Princeton Tech that has the flexible light arm mounted on the opposite helmet rail and adjusted (with a downward angle) to illuminate anything being held in the hands.

IR-V

 

[gyz77]

Just what I was looking for!! Thanks!!

 

[IR-V]

Just what I was looking for!! Thanks!!

You're welcome - glad to help!

Stay Safe,
IR-V

 

[RobertB]

Damn, I just bought one and that's what I Need. I used some southern ingenuity. Meaning kniving/filing crap to hell and back LOL. It works but this will be better. Thanks from me too

 

[Delta4-3]

Damn, I just bought one and that's what I Need. I used some southern ingenuity. Meaning kniving/filing crap to hell and back LOL. It works but this will be better. Thanks from me too

Don't be afraid to say the word redneck! I have a few. One of them I mounted to a PT Bravo and cut up a beer coaster to use as shims on the inside of the helmet....

 

[IR-V]

Damn, I just bought one and that's what I Need. I used some southern ingenuity. Meaning kniving/filing crap to hell and back LOL. It works but this will be better. Thanks from me too

You're welcome! Glad to help.

Here's a set of photos that show:

-- (at left) the Tango Down mount with Surefire Helmet Light on ARC rail, on MICH/ACH ballistic helmet
-- (at middle) the "horse shoe" interface that connects the Surefire to the Tango Down mount
-- (at right) the Princeton Tech light with flex arm adjusted to optimally illuminate items held in the user's hands

IR-V