[b]Friends,
The Surefire 900A/910A vertical foregrip lights make a lot of sense to me. You get a flashlight and a vertical pistol grip all in one.
Is there a reason they are not more popular? Cost? Weight? Unsound principal?
I’m thinking of heading in this direction soon and I’d like your opinion of it.
Thanks!
Joel N.
“Yog” (in Alaska)
“Molon Labe!”[/b]
For me, it was the weight and the inability of accessing the side switches with the overhand grip, when shortstocking the rifle during CQB. Overall, it is a sturdy light. I found the X300 to be much more versatile for considerably less weight and cost.
It’s heavy, oversized, and expensive.
Having the light and VFG as one unit forces most shooters to make a compromise in optimal placement of the light (which should be as far forward as possible) and VFG- which is a heavily individual preference, usually either as far forward as possible or in the rear 1/2 to 1/3. It also forces the shooter to adopt a “chicken-choker” grip on the VFG, which most proficient shooters do not use.
6 o’clock is also a poor choice in light position as it makes shooting over and around cover more difficult. The best position for a light is 12 o’clock, but light size and fixed front sights usually shift the lights to between 10 and 2 o’clock, depending on hand dominance. A 12 o’clock X300 type light with a “thumb on top” grip on the HG is a superb ambidexterous use setup.
The VFG on the 900 series is too long for a VFG. It interferes with real-life movement and positions.
The rail attachment is also notoriously finicky.
The only cool thing on the 900 that you don’t get with other setups is those LED “running lights”. But they aren’t that cool.
But that’s just my £.01.
Ill disagree with F2s. Respectfully though as he is more experienced then I.
I love my 900 series light, sure my rifle is heavy. Its heavy because of the 553 and all the extra crap thats stored on it also. (Batteries extra bolt and Firing pin ETC).
In most of the training I have received the only hinder i have found with the 900 series lights is that my rifle most come up from a low ready farther too Id an object or person. Kicking in doors or perimeter this a non-issue since your gun should be at combat ready or on-target anyway. Ive only encounterd this when searching a field.
Every position to mount a light is horrible. ever try shooting under a mid level object with a light mounted at 12 o clock. That being said now I turn my whole gun and body sideway’s so 12 and 6 (on my rifle )are running horizontally whether shooting over or under an object.
I own two m4’s and one runs a m910a and the other runs a m500b. both lights serve the purpose the guns are on. Its whatever suits you best.
R.Miksits
I’ll be surprised if the M900 doesn’t get either a very extensive retooling, or gets dropped from the line in the not-too-distant future. It can’t really do anything that a good VFG and a Scout Light can’t do, except that it’ll do it a LOT heavier. Even the Millennium series of lights appear to be on their way out, due to the ever-increasing performance of LED technology and the smaller, lighter trend in tactical lights. As with all Surefire products, its well made and bright, with a flawless beam that has tremendous throw. It also weighs about 3/4 of a ton and is about the vertical length of a broom handle. Its a concept who’s time is passing due to the evolution of the product line.
I put my 910A up for sale. Not that it’s a bad system, but there are better white light/VFG arrangements. It is on the heavy side, but with the unit all the way out on the end of the rail, there’s enough leverage for you to move it from target to target about as fast as you need to. I overcame the accidental lighting problem by choking up on the VFG to where my left forefinger laid forward, instead of grabbing it like a baseball bat which guarantees occasional mashing of the tape switches when you didn’t mean to. When you need the light, slip your support hand down to mash the switches.
I finally got tired of the weight, and it also occurred to me that I could sell it for over $300 that could go to better uses. Right now I don’t have a light on my carbine, just a full-length TangoDown VFG, which I might see if anybody wants to trade for a short TD VFG. When I get around to it, I’ll Weaver-ring a SureFire 6P at 3:00. I used to worry about the light in that position snagging on things, but I noticed how many people who know what they’re doing put the light there, so it’s something to try.
If Surefire was smart they would incorporate the advances in LED technology and shrink the package down to a more friendly size.
I agree with this.even if they just shrunk the cap on the bottem of the VFG part it would be a tremendous help.
I personally like the setup, except for the price and its a little heavy.
I bought a Rico Alpha 9 light instead of the Surefire. It a little lighter and the LED model is a hell of a lot brighter. They are only $250 ish.
Boo on this light.
I just removed mine about an hour ago. I couldn’t figure out why I was feeling so wimpy. The M900 is heavy. VERY heavy. It’s also not very ergonomic for me.
After removal, the weapon seemed far more nimble.
I used the crap out of my M900A on the last tour. Yes it adds weight, but I hate stuff hanging off the sides of my weapon. It jsut works for me. Yes it is expensive, but I don’t put a price tag on my life or the lives of my men.
I own one but…
I have seen at least three break in training. They all break in the same place - at the joint right were the VFG meets the rest of the unit.
i own and have deployed with them. a lot of guys including myself didn’t like them because it would break exactly where Armati stated. That being said a lot of guys including myself liked them for how streamline it is. overall i think it’s a great concept that could have been better executed. i would agree that it would be cool to see a smaller, compact, led version. I do have one on my personal ar though because i had one sitting around and i’ll be honest…it looks cool. can’t be schwacking anybody if you don’t look cool…
Telecustom hit up a point that has been personal for me as of late. I had some goodies mounted to the side-rails of my blasters.
Nothing over-the-top, but I have been making it a policy to have two lights mounted on a weapon for redundancy’s sake.
About a week ago I’d had enough. Despite have cool toys to mount, enough got to be enough, and I removed EVERYTHING bolted to the rifles and started over from scratch.
As it stands now, my three rifles ONLY have items mounted to the top rail, bottom rail, or both. I was initially excited to have additional mounts available on the sides, extended options, etc.
Well, eventually I had the side rails full where every one of the guns looked like a scorpion with a giant lady pleaser (VFG).
The new stripped down setup is:
The M900 had been on the M4, but the weight and bulk was getting to be more of a nuisance than a benefit.
I replaced the M900 with an Insight M3X and a Tapco VFG. More light weight, more ergonomic for me.
I like the idea of the M900, but it needs to be retooled/overhauled for the current market. Some serious streamlining is in order. I’m beginning to think some of the newer, competitive VFG/Light combos are probably worth looking into.