using an X300 weapon light on a Glock22 and an AR15

[flybywire]

My goal was to put a weapon light to my AR15 in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Why not kill 2 birds with 1 stone? Get a Surefire X300 and keep it on my nightstand G22, and if needed, slip it off and put it on the AR. Perfect. After all, the X300 will light up the neighborhood (110 lumen).

So I bought the Midwest Industries MCTAR-04 light mount ($35).

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=94

It is a beautifully machined part. Fits on the AR's front sight post securely and positions the light perfectly. Support hand on the handguard, thumb pressing the topside momentary light switch. No blind spot, simple, lightweight, inexpensive, reliable, etc., etc. Life is good.

Ooops, one problem. The Glock uses a Universal mount. The MCTAR-04 uses a Picatinny mount.

The "recoil lug" (that slot that runs across the mount) on a Universal mount (Glock) is approx 0.15 inches wide. On a Picatinny mount it is approx 0.20 inches wide. (Look at your Glock, and the pic in the above link... the difference is small but noticable.)

The Surefire X300 does come with both a Picatinny mounting plate and a Universal mounting plate. It takes about 10 minutes to change the light between a P and U mount configuration (remove & replace 6 hex screws, don't lose the spring).

So right now, I can take the light off the Glock and put it on the AR, but the light is loose on the AR, and I'm not sure it will hold up under fire? The mounting plate on the light is hard plastic.

I talked with Troy at Midwest Inustries. They were busy now getting ready for the SHOT show, but as soon as they get a chance, he said he would look at making a Universal mount to add to their catalog... at least 3- 4 months.

Hope this has been informative.

[ajstrider]

I am not sure for your full intentions of your light on your AR but the X300 may not be what you want. It is designed for pistols and being used inside of one room. The beam from these lights doesn't carry all that far, it is wide enough to light up an entire room though. I have an X200 and I love it for my Glock pistols. But you might want to consider getting a different light that will throw the beam farther to make more use of your AR's range capability. But if the AR is for CQB, well then the X300 will do just fine! This is just some food for thought.

[flybywire]

Thanks for your interest.

Ironically, the thing about the X300 that impressed me most when I first turned it on was the sharp focus of the beam. I wonder if the X300 and X200 have the same beam?

But, this is my first weapons light, and all I have to compare it to are my Surefire L2 and L4 flashlights. The X300 seems somewhat more focused than those. I just tried it across a room, 18' wide. The beam seemed about 3' wide and was sharply focused on the edges. May even be too bright for in the house?

I took the X300 outside (quite dark) and could easily illuminate objects 2 -3 houses down the street.

May not be the best illumination device for a rifle, but it was a simple solution to my simple needs.

Again, thanks.