DEBATE: Weaponlights (White) on SPRs, Yes or No?

Paris_Bulks

Paris_Bulks

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Minuteman
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Sep 15, 2020
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North Carolina
#1
Yes or No?

I rarely see them on bolt guns. Do they have a place on your SPR? Why or why not? If so, have you used your weapon light? When? If not, have you encountered a situation where you needed one?

An extra .4lbs on the end of your rail…

What am I missing?
 
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#7
I have a SureFire M640-DFT-Pro mounted on opposite side of the Unity Axon SL switch, both mounted on M-Lok rail near muzzle break on my 300BLK SBR. I have them mounted this way so that I can do a momentary press and give my target 100,000 candela of brightness (aka momentary blinding) or full-on for any other desires. No reason to put one on a bolt-gun...totally different use-case.

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#9
What’s the use case for the spr? 18” barrel with a ~10x optic doesn’t exactly scream CQB or home/self defense.

Then again, there is a school of thought that says “put a light on everything.”
 
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#12
Well I guess you could call my carbine an spr and yes it wears an aim point pro and a 1000 lumen light I got from primary arms years ago . I live out in the boonies and raise turkey's , chicken's , quail , meat rabbit's and have raised dairy goat's . I have gone out the door in the middle of the night many times because stuff likes to eat my small live stock . my dog's take care of most of the varmint's but I did drop a feral hog trying to get in my quail pen at 1am . the normal predators my dogs usually shred , but along with the ferrel hog issue's the bear population is increasing and a mountain lion killed a calf up the road a piece from where we live . So yeah a bright light is a necessity .
 
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#14
USK308 said:
I have a SureFire M640-DFT-Pro mounted on opposite side of the Unity Axon SL switch, both mounted on M-Lok rail near muzzle break on my 300BLK SBR. I have them mounted this way so that I can do a momentary press and give my target 100,000 candela of brightness (aka momentary blinding) or full-on for any other desires. No reason to put one on a bolt-gun...totally different use-case.

View attachment 8363984

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What’s up with the brake mounted vertical? Or is that just an illusion on my end?
 
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#17
"The mission dictates the equipment, and the equipment dictates the movement."

What are you using this rifle for?
If you're shooting comps with it in the daylight and showing your friends when they come over for dinner, then a light isn't necessary.
If you're patrolling or hunting and there's any potential you'll find yourself outside after dark, then you may need a light to see what you might need to shoot at.

OP, I think you're thinking too much about what other people prefer to do. Some of these guys are picking their butt with their Cheeto cover fingers before caressing their rifles to Rambo III. Don't be like them.
 
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#18
I put a single cell surefire scout on my KAC LPR after selling off my PVS-30/steiner SPIR combo that live on it for a few years. If I'm being honest, I don't know that I've ever actually used it aside from making sure I could activate the clicky cap with my support hand.
 
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#19
hafejd30 said:
What’s up with the brake mounted vertical? Or is that just an illusion on my end?
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I hadn't fully timed it...just added to the barrel, so I could snap a pic for a buddy who wanted to see the rifle. I've since properly timed for horizontal positioning! FWIW, I am waiting for my suppressor to be released from ATF "jail", thus the timing of the brake won't matter that much...but until it IS released, I do want to be in position to squeeze off supersonic ammo, so I timed the brake correctly!

Peel washers can be a real pain when arthritis kicks in (lmao)...
 
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#20
I see no place for one in my use case but I can understand why some might. They do look sorta proper on a gasser with a rail lol.
 
#21
USK308 said:
I hadn't fully timed it...just added to the barrel, so I could snap a pic for a buddy who wanted to see the rifle. I've since properly timed for horizontal positioning! FWIW, I am waiting for my suppressor to be released from ATF "jail", thus the timing of the brake won't matter that much...but until it IS released, I do want to be in position to squeeze off supersonic ammo, so I timed the brake correctly!

Peel washers can be a real pain when arthritis kicks in (lmao)...
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I have done this several times with my rifles I run cans on 100% of the time. Didn’t see a can so was curious how the brake worked out for you like that

With a can won’t make a difference. Except everyone points it out like I did 😁
 
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#22
Yes...I actually use my weapons at night...it gets dark...I want to see what I damaged, wounded or killed. Can you carry the light instead? Yes...but it's not readily available and you've now tied up a hand. Ever have something pissed off charge you at night? Not fun. 0.4lbs on the end of your rail? Questionable rail...or more PT for trigger puller. This goes for a sidearm as well. Same purpose/reasoning. If LARPing is your primary MO sure...why not...looks are half the battle.
 
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#23
All my HD carbines have weapon lights and QD sling options/slings.

Some of my carbines that would fit in the SPR role do or do not, though I am working on some solutions that streamline everything.

If you are on a budget and your HD carbine is also your intermediate/long range set-up, then you should have a light on it when configured for HD.

If you have a gazillion ARs like some of us, you can do what you want. It’s just a few seconds to add a light to any carbine with a rail or MLOK slots, so not really a big discussion needed.

The placement of WPL relative to LAMs and other competing accessories for real estate is what has always bothered me.
 
#24
My 6 ARC is a long range plinker and possible coyote rig (yet to see if it'll end up in that role), I just don't see the need for a white light on there when shots will be 200+. I have multiple other AR's, mostly SBR's, that all have WML's on them as expected. Like others have said, I think the mission drives the load out here.
 
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#25
Paris_Bulks said:
Yes or No?

I rarely see them on bolt guns. Do they have a place on your SPR? Why or why not? If so, have you used your weapon light? When? If not, have you encountered a situation where you needed one?

An extra .4lbs on the end of your rail…

What am I missing?
Click to expand...

I have an ebay chinese surefire clone for shooting pest animals at night. It has a button on the back of it. With nightvision becoming better for cheaper it doesn't make as much sense but it's always nice to have the option.
 
#26
USK308 said:
I have a SureFire M640-DFT-Pro mounted on opposite side of the Unity Axon SL switch, both mounted on M-Lok rail near muzzle break on my 300BLK SBR. I have them mounted this way so that I can do a momentary press and give my target 100,000 candela of brightness (aka momentary blinding) or full-on for any other desires. No reason to put one on a bolt-gun...totally different use-case.

View attachment 8363984

View attachment 8363985
Click to expand...

This is not an SPR. If they don't belong on bolt guns why do they belong on SPRs?
 
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#31
hlee said:
Talk to 10 guys and you’ll get 12 definitions of SPR…
Click to expand...

True, but in the traditional sense it's usually a 16-20" mid-range focused small frame AR used in more of a DMR role typically with a MPVO. Anything shorter and more versatile (14.5-16") would fall into more of a RECCE or general purpose battle rifle role. Obviously the lines have been more than blurred over the years.
 
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#32
tex68w said:
True, but in the traditional sense it's usually a 16-20" mid-range focused small frame AR used in more of a DMR role typically with a MPVO. Anything shorter and more versatile (14.5-16") would fall into more of a RECCE or general purpose battle rifle role. Obviously the lines have been more than blurred over the years.
Click to expand...
Yep, and my first post said as much. But…

18” with a 2-10 optic? No light?

16” with a 1-8 optic? Light?

That’s splitting some red and curlies.

I would fall more to “put a light on any gun you intent to, or might be forced to, shoot at night.”
 
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#33
More than one dude in the world has had to clear a room with a MK12 or a SAM-R. A light helps.

Now, I'm not prescribing a light fort anyone's rifle, but I am saying these guys who are acting as if there are hard and fast rules for what should be on what kind of rifle have no idea what they are talking about.

To use Aristotelian terms, the final cause and the efficient cause should be the focus when assessing what equipment to add/use.
 
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#36
Bakwa said:
More than one dude in the world has had to clear a room with a MK12 or a SAM-R. A light helps.

Now, I'm not prescribing a light fort anyone's rifle, but I am saying these guys who are acting as if there are hard and fast rules for what should be on what kind of rifle have no idea what they are talking about.

To use Aristotelian terms, the final cause and the efficient cause should be the focus when assessing what equipment to add/use.
Click to expand...
Your first sentence is a good point.
 
#38
There are plenty of hunting situations or just general farm use if you’re out at night if you have a couple hundred acres where it makes sense. I’ve gotten to where I use a short rifle for everything on the farm.

You do have to pay attention to fish and game laws. I can’t use a light on a deer hunting rifle in Alabama or I could get a ticket. But not an issue for varmints or pests
 
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#40
Bakwa said:
OP, I think you're thinking too much about what other people prefer to do. Some of these guys are picking their butt with their Cheeto cover fingers before caressing their rifles to Rambo III. Don't be like them.
Click to expand...
Weird how you knew that. Must be a camera around in here.........(looks around)
 
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#42
I consider my "SPR" build a range toy and not something I would be likely to grab in any sort of situation. This is how I justify no backup irons and no light etc. I think if your SPR is a rifle you would consider grabbing in a situation then it's better to have it and not need it then need it and not have it.
 
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#43
I would consider a short, light, accurate rifle with a mpvo and a piggyback dot one of my main go to rifles

It’s nice to have the ability to take precise shots from a distance in a standoff

I think a standoff scenario is more likely than entering buildings and going room to room in a hostile environment from a individual perspective and not leo or mil
 
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#47
will enter this with many questions as i know nothing about weapons lights. have 2 carbines: 14.5 pinned PSA and a 16" walther barreled .. considering a light,prob on PSA. it is plenty accurate for my needs and functions with no issues. the walther is more accurate,of course. both have 1-10s and buis. am looking for affordable $80 or less. yea,i'm a poor.
right handed,so where to mount? seems best underneath but? if a side mount is preferred,which side and why?
want a piece with wired on/off to be in reach of rt hand with gun shouldered. about 4-800 lumens adequate for most uses?
starting light by using lt hand directly on a switch direct seems awkward,but?
straight white light. have no interest in or use for strobe. water proof likely a +.
 
#49
Not for me, but if I found myself in a situation where I might be in a scenario where I'm doing any type of work at night or in structures, I would have one 100%. Inside 20 yds, the focused beam of a white light is a great alternative to an RDS...

Until then, I've not ever wished I had a light on my coyote rig (as close as I get to an SPR role today)
 
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#50
LRRPF52 said:
Did you not own one before? Not criticizing, just curious.
Click to expand...
No, I did not. I live in the ‘burbs and have little call to pull out a rifle after dark. And- as mentioned by another poster- hunting game animals with artificial light is an unlawful act here in Texas. This has kept me from mounting a weapon light on my rifles- just the ass-pain of removing an accessory just because I want to carry that rifle during deer season.

This doesn’t mean that I didn’t recognize the potential use case for a weapon light, and this thread was the final push to say, “just f’n do it.”

And, I have a question in to the TPWD regarding the actual statute. The statute says that using any artificial light to take game animals is unlawful. Shooting a deer under an outdoor light, “jack lighting,” ”spot lighting,” using a headlamp or flashlight to illuminate a deer- these are all illegal. But, you can hunt deer from a vehicle equipped with headlights (on private property), use a flashlight or headlamp to find your deer blind before light, and use a spotlight to find a downed deer after dark. I can have a flashlight in my pocket, but so long as I don’t use it to illuminate a deer I order to shoot it, I am within the law. It stands to reason (though no one ever said the law was reasonable) that a weapon light that is not used to shoot game is no different than a flashlight in a pocket, or a headlamp.
 
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