CAGE: TACLITES/ILLUMINATORS

THE CAGE: CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

CONTINUING ON THE THEME OF HOW WE SET UP OUR INDIVIDUAL RIFLES, CARBINES AND SMGS THE LEGION LOOKS AT AN “ILLUMINATING TOPIC” THIS MONTH! THERE’S NOTHING BETTER THAN A GOOD URBAN GAME, AND IF THAT’S AFTER DARK IT’S MORE ENJOYABLE; HERE THE CREW TAKES A LOOK AT THE TACLITES AND IR ILLUMINATORS THAT THEY RUN REGULARLY!

Airsoft is a fast paced, dynamic game to play but there’s a side of it that really gets my pulse racing and that’s a good night game, especially if that’s also in an urban environment. Not all sites get to grips with this type of game as obviously there are inherent dangers that not everyone is comfortable with, but if you get an experienced site operator that knows what they’re up to not only in terms of controlling the flow of play but also in relation to lighting and pyrotechnics then playing after dark can be absolutely exhilarating!

I’ve been lucky enough over the years to play on both urban and woodland sites after darkness falls and have to say that I absolutely love it, preferring the “grey out” of the urban setting if truth be known; everything slows down, movement becomes more considered and both situational awareness and tactical skills have to be at their sharpest edge. Sound carries further in the still of the night so patrolling and ambush drills need to be spot on.

It’s when things “kick off” though that the adrenaline really kicks in; suddenly an explosion lights up the night and you find yourself in the middle of a firefight with BBs whizzing everywhere! Flames burn brightly from “artillery” strikes and taclites pop on and off all around, strobe-lighting up dark corners momentarily to ensure that everything is clear. It’s a joy when you get it right… and can be painful if you get it wrong!

Add to this some night vision gear, thankfully options for which seem to be getting more affordable if this is your bag, and as Jase puts it so succinctly later you’ll be “owning the night” and loving it. Kick in a tracer and some tracer BBs and you’ve got it all going on! Some of the very best games I’ve had the pleasure to play in have been

“overnighters”, and it’s an element that I, like many of you, simply adore.

But what of the “right kit” I hear you ask, and my simple response to this is that the “right kit” is what you like and what works for you; however, when I got into it with the Legion there seemed to be an awful lot of overlap to what we’ve come to use and trust over the years, and we hope that this information will help you when you come to set up your own AEG or GBB for low-light, no0light Ops!

TEAM TALK

So, as always I posed my question to the members of the AA Legion, and this month it was: “Do you use a taclite or laser module on your AEGs and GBBs (both pistols and “longs”)? Do you use an IR unit with NVGs? Which models do you use, and do you run them full-time or for specific games?”

Boycie: For me it really depends on my mood. I swap between M300, M600, Streamlight HL-1, X200, X300 and Inforce WML but also I use a black Element PEQ-15, mostly for the illumination but occasionally I use the laser too. The Inforce WML, X200, X300 and HL-1 are also used on my pistols depending on the holster I use.

Miguel: NVG? I wish... They are a bit over my price range (sad face)! During night events I use my trusty Olight M2T Warrior and I must make do!

Jase: (Whispers) Owning the night.. So I personally use a G&P DBal and a Wadsn DBal, both with IR functioning laser and flood. The G&P is better when it comes to the flood. If I’m heading down the white light route, my pistol torch is a Surefire x300 and on my longs, it’s a very old SolarForce with an LM Cree bulb; I have a few different options, they are a bit unsightly nowadays but work so well. I do have a Wadsn SF copy, its ok, but no comparison to the Solar Force.

Robbie: I have a variety of illumination tools. They only go on when needed. I have 1080+ IR illuminator and laser set (usually only Gen 4 and above can see it), and I have several clone white illuminators that are a good as any premium. I still run always thumb button style, no pressure switch as they always fail on me. I have a cheap knock off potato light Bill gave me ages ago that I replaced the module in and still use for indoor games. It’s perfect, lightweight, safe, works flawlessly!

Dan: I use a variety of Surefire: M640V, M600DF and X300UA’s. There’s a few structures at local fields that are quite dark inside (even in direct daylight) due to absence of windows or other illumination, which is where having a nice white light comes in handy for poking into the dark corners.

On the “night guns”, those will be using the M640V and the IR illuminator mode for those situations where I might need a little extra punch for my NVG’s. It’s used sparingly: just a momentary blast, then shoot and scoot. I’ve used much more powerful Modlite IR heads in the past, but found them to be absolutely overwhelming for our environment; 9 times out of 10 they’d cause my night vision to autogate. The 640V sits in the Goldilocks zone for being “just right”, especially for the contact distances we see in Airsoft.

My general preference for switches is for the small Modlite Modbuttons so I can activate the light from either hand. And for light mounts, I’m a diehard Arisaka fan! I’ve been stepping back from the IR lasers as night vision use has started to really proliferate and passive aiming solutions have become more optimal.

Stewbacca: Aside from my LA5 replica unit that I purchased for the AW Colt Canada L119A2 “Obi Wan Nairobi” getup last year and have barely used, I only have the integral torch foregrip for my WE MP5 GBB that I got off a teammate with the gun.

For the most part we play outdoors these days and there’s little need for illumination, although we have a MilSim camping weekend coming up in June so I should probably consider that. I did have a combination laser and taclite unit on the front of my G36C but rarely used that even in CQB and the bulb shook itself off the PCB due to recoil after a while anyway!

Bill: I first came across the KLARUS brand of flashlights and tactical torches many years ago and have had a couple of models from them in my gear pile ever since. My most regularly used flashlight, whether it has been for everyday use in my pocket or rifle-mounted for lowlight situations, is an original grey bodied KLARUS XT11; this wonderful taclite has given great service all over the world and is still going strong!

Although I do own a number of “real deal” Surefires, for airsoft I make use of dedicated lighting solutions; the NUPROL NX300 is a light designed to be

fitted to a range of railed handguns, giving the ability to quickly acquire targets in low light conditions whilst allowing you to keep both hands on your pistol. The torch is constructed with an alloy body and head, a solid polymer toggle switch at the rear, and features a high power 200 Lumens Genuine CREE LED Bulb. The lights rear switch features an Ambidextrous Textured Toggle, allowing activation by both left and right handed shooters. This is perfect for any night game or CQB situation, as you can light up an entire corridor or sweep out corners in any room with added accuracy and visibility.

On my “longs” I use the NX600 series; the two models, available in Black or Tan, are Long (L) and Short (S) variants. They follow the trend towards small, bright “scout” type tactical lights that affix solidly to the rail of your RIF; designed specifically as rifle lights they are made of quality alloy and tough as old boots. Measuring 90mm the S variant takes 1xCR123 battery and gives out a clear white light. The L variant is 125mm long and takes 2xCR123. Both lights have a very slim, low profile, and the single bolt clamp is equally minimalist. The two lights come superbly packaged with both a “rats tail” remote pressure switch and standard tailcap which makes them very versatile; NUPROL even include the velcro strip to attach the pressure switch so they really have thought of everything!

Although I don’t often use any form of NVGs I recently finished setting up my Mk18 and for that I decided that it REALLY needed a functional IR unit; I decided upon a tan PEQ-15 module and even sought out proper stickers for it! As a standalone Laser/Light Module you also get an IR laser built in, and although it’s mainly polymer-bodied, it does have an alloy rail mount, lens housing and battery cover. The torch itself is nothing to write home about, so I have a red filter over that for “admin and searches”; the red laser though is bright enough to see up to about 30m in daylight, and further out in the dark, and the IR laser works well with NVGs. The module can be activated in all settings either by using the large rubber button on the top of the module, or via the included “rats tail, although Jimmy kindly gave me a brilliant WADSN combi pressure switch recently that lets me activate both the NX600 and the PEQ-15 from one railmounted source… SWEET!

Jimmy: When it comes to illumination or target markers you’re pretty spoilt for choice but ultimately a lot of airsofters will barely use them for the intended purpose. A lot are merely to make your RIF look extra tacticool and they certainly do. For me a platform without any attachments is like chips with no salt and vinegar, very plain and boring. I love the look of a fully kitted out AR. RIS, RAS, handguard whichever it is has been designed for modular use, so use it I say! Any of these items though if put to use should be fitted correctly to gain the most out of them and to give the user an advantage which can sometimes be more difficult than you think.

My set up tends to stay the same if the rifle/pistol allows for such setup. DBAL A2 way up front, torch as far forward as possible on the right (furthest point forward as to not cast shadows) switches mid-rif on top of the handguard and T1, Eotech, Cmore, Aimpoint M2 whichever I’m running slap bang in the middle. Thus setup I find to be the best for me. I’m no hardcore milsimmer so I don’t require the use of high end real equipment and quite frankly I can’t afford it so I have compiled over time what I believe to be the best clones a small budget can buy.

Wadsn make some great DBALS and they are priced incredibly well and offer several variants from an empty battery box to a fully functioning device which even a milsimmer would be happy to use. There are heaps of manufacturers presenting us with a very vast selection of torches all offering what are good quality clones again Wadsn being one of them. I have several torches and they are all on par with each other, and all work equally well; Nuprol x600, Tomtac Scout, Wadsn Scout and all come in roughly the same cost. I really rate Wadsn as they offer so many items for any airsofter. When it comes to pistols I don’t really use a torch if I’m honest while for the look cool I actually prefer to use just a tracer unit if said pistol allows for one to be fitted although I do like the look of a Surefire x300 which I think is probably the most popular pistol torch style. AA