How to mount your Surefire tape switch

[Tim K]

Many of you will know Skullybones on here. He's the founder of Dynamic Resistance, a company manufacturing a line of excellent muzzle brakes. He's also a talented young (from my decrepit perspective) designer and machinist.

We've become friends recently due to our mutual interests in shooting and CNC machining. We work in different media, but there is lots of crossover. It doesn't hurt that we are ten miles apart.

Skullybones was in my shop the other day and I was bitching about the dearth of clean mounting methods for Surefire tape switches. During the course of the conversation, I whipped out a short section of Picatinny rail and wondered how we might adapt it to mount a switch.

What you see below is the idea we developed. He executed it perfectly, and it's pretty damn clean. The switch presses into a tapered and undercut slot cut directly into the rail section. The fit is tight, but not so tight it won't pop out before the wire breaks if you snag up hard on something. If that happens, you just press it back in.

I dislike vertical grips, and this is the perfect solution for me. I can move it anywhere on the fore end that suits me, and get this, it still functions as a section of rail if you need it for something else.

Here are some pics we took tonight.

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/0DB79E9D-9F7A-4E8C-81B0-342B7A28F7C7-3341-000007A208E73005_zps08c62ef2.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/0FAA9666-3BEB-4254-AEF9-AFDB1BFB5035-3341-000007A23D1D09A4_zps749931ff.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/90F39E7D-1AB1-4270-8F71-F2FE53B76F60-3341-000007A1D0CCEF06_zpsf9800399.jpg

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/9E4FAB6C-DA9E-46F2-8B59-A58D4493B833-3341-000007A1046D06F1_zpscdcb5a7c.jpg

Yes, that's one of his brakes on the end of my AR! This is my first real experience with a high quality brake, and I have to say it's very effective for the modest increase in report.

I think he should add these switch mounts to his product line. I'm pretty much in love with this one and am very pleased to be the owner of número UNO.




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[Mazin]

That looks cool as hell thanks for sharing!

[Mick-Boy]

If I'm only running a white light I like the push button option more than a tape switch, that being said the tape switch is the most viable option when running lasers.

On DI guns I put my tape switch as tight to the left side of the 12 o'clock rail as possible. This allows me to activate the switch with my non-firing thumb but gives me a small amount of protection from NDing my light/laser/illuminator/etc.. On a gas piston gun I put my switch on the 9 o'clock rail (looking toward the muzzle end). I don't like that placement as much but it saves the switch from taking the abuse from the venting gas that it would in between the rails. I made that change after I broke a tape switch on my first piston upper.

[skullybones]

I made that change after I broke a tape switch on my first piston upper.

Thanks for the input Mick. What was the mode of failure with the broken tape switch?
I agree with your positioning of the tape switch, and it coincides with the grip I run as well. Tim is running a more choked up grip that works for him.

All said, I am assuming you run your support hand almost fully extended?

The mount turned out quite ergonomic being sunk into the rail section. It protrudes way less than velcro/tape, and less than the surefire clip-on mount. I'll let the cost of the matter be subjective to those spending the money.

[thvigil11]

That's a good looking setup.

[Tim K]

That's a good looking setup.

It's a nice light I got from some character in Raton. :)

[275RLTW]

any picts of just the mount?

[skullybones]

This prototype was a touch rough looking, since it was a modified Magpul 5 slot rail. As I milled deeper it exposed some injection molding flaws. If I produce them, they will be aluminum rail anodized black. This one is with Tim, so he can post pictures as he sees fit.

[Roger Ronas]

I'd be interested in a Couple if they are ever produced. Put me on a list.

Roger

[Tim K]

any picts of just the mount?

I'll take some pics tomorrow.

[Mick-Boy]

Thanks for the input Mick. What was the mode of failure with the broken tape switch?
I agree with your positioning of the tape switch, and it coincides with the grip I run as well. Tim is running a more choked up grip that works for him.

All said, I am assuming you run your support hand almost fully extended?

The mount turned out quite ergonomic being sunk into the rail section. It protrudes way less than velcro/tape, and less than the surefire clip-on mount. I'll let the cost of the matter be subjective to those spending the money.

Mode of failure - unknown. The switch (new) stopped working. Either heat or concussion was my guess as the culprit but I don't know for sure one way or the other.

Support hand - I'll run my hand to the end of a 10in rail when I'm shooting unsupported. I don't try to reach much farther than that. Shooting from unsupported kneeling or prone my hand is much closer to the receiver.

I'm also interested in seeing some more detailed photos of the mount. It looks like a good option.

[Tim K]

http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/60A593C8-967D-4FE4-ABE5-916832FB3E70-3341-000009C16BCCF8F9_zps2ff777db.jpg


http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c173/tkulin/2E3F4391-B5BD-4415-AC26-36961DC39861-3341-000009C1299F82B4_zps286c89cb.jpg

[TheBelly]

Crap, NOW I know what I'm looking at.! It's pretty brilliant little design there, especially since those little magpul moe sections are cheap.

[Tim K]

Hey Skullybones, any news on the "real" version you're going to make? I like the prototype so much I may need another.

[skullybones]

I received extruded rail on Friday. Finalized the design over the weekend, and will start the next phase this week. Thank you to everyone for the interest. Hopefully I can get a few out for T&E, so a few more folks can check out the usefulness of the product.

[Squeeze]

Skullybones for the win. Talented, gifted, and glad he's on our side! Thank you for bringing another awesome product to the table!