I was at my local gun shop the other day and had a chat with a Game Keeper who shot foxes on an almost industrial scale.
He used a XQ38 to spot and starlight a Long Bow, what interested me was the torch mount he used. Which was basically an Optilock 1 inch ring on a weaver base, the thing that caught my eye was the fact that the torch could be moved both on a vertical and horizontal plain very easily with no screws or nuts to turn.
I asked if it eliminated the the white out type situation whereby the light bounces of a mound or hill in front of the beam and leaves whatever is behind in a sort of dead ground and un seeable. He said not in 100% of situations but not far off. So here is what I came up with.
I chose a Burris Signature High 1 inch ring which has a weaver base and importantly has the inner convex plastic ring which allows it to move within the outer metal concave. Its the same as the optilocks system but very much cheaper at £50 for the pair (I have one left if anyone is interested).
I put a washer on one side of the ring to create a slight slackness to allow movement as in the picture.
It took little experimentation to get it just right. As you can see I use a B20 IR Illuminator but its the same size as the Drone Pro illuminator which the unit comes with.
View attachment 74846View attachment 74845View attachment 74844View attachment 74843
Ive taken it out twice now and I have to say I'm very impressed, it takes a little getting used to at first but in terms of getting rid of the white out its very good. You can illuminate a subject with the full beam or if necessary with the edge of the beam.
Its very easy to fit and stiff enough to hold position (I used some vaseline to smooth out and lubricate the movement). And for £50 not a bad investment. I dare say optilocks are just as good, not sure if better.
Bryn
He used a XQ38 to spot and starlight a Long Bow, what interested me was the torch mount he used. Which was basically an Optilock 1 inch ring on a weaver base, the thing that caught my eye was the fact that the torch could be moved both on a vertical and horizontal plain very easily with no screws or nuts to turn.
I asked if it eliminated the the white out type situation whereby the light bounces of a mound or hill in front of the beam and leaves whatever is behind in a sort of dead ground and un seeable. He said not in 100% of situations but not far off. So here is what I came up with.
I chose a Burris Signature High 1 inch ring which has a weaver base and importantly has the inner convex plastic ring which allows it to move within the outer metal concave. Its the same as the optilocks system but very much cheaper at £50 for the pair (I have one left if anyone is interested).
I put a washer on one side of the ring to create a slight slackness to allow movement as in the picture.
It took little experimentation to get it just right. As you can see I use a B20 IR Illuminator but its the same size as the Drone Pro illuminator which the unit comes with.
View attachment 74846View attachment 74845View attachment 74844View attachment 74843
Ive taken it out twice now and I have to say I'm very impressed, it takes a little getting used to at first but in terms of getting rid of the white out its very good. You can illuminate a subject with the full beam or if necessary with the edge of the beam.
Its very easy to fit and stiff enough to hold position (I used some vaseline to smooth out and lubricate the movement). And for £50 not a bad investment. I dare say optilocks are just as good, not sure if better.
Bryn
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