Tag Archives | Danger Close Consulting

Low-Pro Products Light Mounts

By Matt on December 26, 2012 in Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

A few years ago the light mounts from Danger Close Consulting were really gaining traction in professional circles. Unfortunately, they seemed to disappear as quickly as they came on the scene or at least that is how it appeared to me. What I didn’t know at the time is that the mounts that Danger Close Consulting sold were actually made by AMS Machine and they pre-dated the Danger Close Consulting brand. Thankfully, AMS Machine is now selling these mounts under their own brand – Low-Pro Products.

Low-Pro Products has several light mounts available but this review will deal specifically with 2 of my favorites – the Offset Flashlight Mount Scout and the Short Projection Flashlight Mount.

Overview

The two light mounts in this review are very different in form since they are designed to mount two very different lights but they have more in common than you can tell at a glance. The Offset Flashlight Mount Scout is designed to mount the Surefire Scout series of lights and the Short Projection Flashlight Mount can mount a variety of lights depending on the size. My sample is designed to mount lights with a 1.032” diameter like the Surefire G2 (there are also models for the Surefire E series and standard 1” lights).

Both are machined from aluminum with a black hard anodize finish. Low-Pro Products mills away as much as of their mounts as is possible without sacrificing strength so you will find large voids in both mounts that reduce weight. Both mounts also hold their respective lights very close to the rail. This is a hallmark of Low-Pro Products… hence the name.

Both mounts are made from a single piece of aluminum. There is no rail grabber that must be tightened to grip the rail. Instead, the mount slides onto the rail and there is a single set screw that pushes the mount away from the rail to keep tension. The screws have a small rubber pad on the base that helps it grip and prevents marring and loosening under recoil. It is a simple and very strong mounting system with an absolute bare minimum of moving parts. Prudent users will apply a dab of thread locker to the screw.

Observations from Use

The thing that I most wanted to know is that these were still the same mounts that I have come to know and love. I am happy to say that they are. Those of you who knew and loved the Danger Close Consulting offerings will find that all of the same quality and functionality that loved in the DCC mounts can be found in the Low-Pro Products mounts.

These mounts are extremely lightweight yet still very durable. Their lightweight may take you off guard at first. In the case of the Short Projection Flashlight Mount, it is actually lighter in weight than common plastic light mounts on the market. The Short Projection Flashlight Mount weights only 1 oz and the Offset Flashlight Mount Scout weighs only .8 oz.

Both mounts hold the lights very close to the rail. They are more low profile than most. In fact, the hold the light so close to the rail that the light may actually bump up against some rail covers. I had to remove a few sections of rail cover behind the Short Projection Flashlight Mount to leave room for the tail cap. The tailcap that I use is slightly oversized and would not install with the rail covers in place.

These mounts fit well on the Ultimak AK rails. They are low enough on the top of the rail to stay out of your sight picture and place the light well for support side thumb activation.

Wrap Up

These are great mounts and I really glad to see them out there on the market again, readily available. They are light weight, durable, and very low profile. Their design is strong and simple… elegant even.

Check out the Low-Pro Products and AMS Machine website. Their products are currently available at Grey Group Training.

The Regular Guy Sessions: Jon at Danger Close Consulting

By Matt on May 3, 2010 in Flashlights, Guns, Tactical Gear, The Regular Guy Sessions

In this installment of The Regular Guy Sessions, we will be talking with Jon at Danger Close Consulting (DCC). Jon is the man responsible for the recently reviewed Low Pro Scout Mount as well as other excellent light mounts (and some pretty hilarious t-shirts). I first found Danger Close Consulting on Lightfighter where he shares his knowledge as a Moderator. I ordered one of his mounts recently and, like I said in the review, it solved a problem for me. That is what I like my gear to do – solve problems.

I have said it before and I will say it again – if you can trust the person who makes the gear, you can trust the gear. That is the point of these interviews. I want people to get to know those who are making their gear. I want to connect buyers with sellers and give people options when it comes time to spend hard earned cash on gear. I think after you learn a bit about Jon, you will certainly trust his gear.

I want to first start out by thanking Jon for his service to this country and for taking time to answer my questions. Thank you, Jon.

Can you tell us about your background?

Jon: I am an active-duty Army soldier. I have served in Infantry and Special Forces assignments. I am fortunate enough to have had a wide exposure to the weapons systems used by US Forces and the military forces of other nations. I have 4 combat rotations overseas and have participated in numerous programs for the development of SOF weapons systems. I am also an avid participant in the sport shooting arena when time permits. I have always had an interest in firearms and tactical products, so when I got to a place where I was able to dedicate the time to developing and producing weapons peripherals it was a no-brainer.

How does your line of work influence your product design? How do end users influence your product design?

Jon: I have been afforded the opportunity to receive some of the best tactical and shooting training in the world in my job, as well as a good amount of combat experience. I also have a network of peers which is extremely valuable for gaining a huge amount of feedback and guidance. These are key factors in being able to know by looking at a product or concept and know it’s strengths and weaknesses over a broad spectrum of possible uses. I can translate this combined information into product gaps, and then I find ways to fill so end-users have what they need to most efficiently do their jobs.

What made you decide to strike out on your own when there are already a TON of light mounts on the market?

Jon: Nobody made an affordable, durable, ultra low-profile mounting system. I could pick any two of those three traits but not all of them. By pure luck I found an experienced local machinist who could make it happen, and already had experience with making products like I needed. Our low-profile G2 and 1″ mounts are simply a further refinement of a piece he has been making since 2003.

What makes your mounts different and better?

Jon: Our mounts provide a level of function and value few have been able to match. I do not want to set a price that would make a Law Enforcement Officer, Service Member, or civilian shooting enthusiast have to save for two months to buy one. My partner and I both have day jobs to pay the bills, and we produce these mounts because we love making these products. We are also able to bring a level of expertise in both tactical experience and manufacturing capability that is not often found elsewhere.

As far as I know the Low Pro Scout Mount is the first mount of it’s kind. Where did the inspiration for the Low Profile Scout Mount come from?

Jon: Pat Rogers of EAG Tactical, 100%. He called me and said, “Why don’t you make an offset Scout Light mount?” And I did… (We here at Jerking the Trigger think that is probably the only proper response when Pat Rogers wants something!)

Can we look forward to more gear from DCC soon? Can you share any teasers with us?

Jon: We have a solid lineup of new gear coming out, and in addition to weapons parts we are going to introduce some specialized soft goods. In the near future we look forward to offering a new handstop that offers improved grip, footprint, and value over others on the market as well as some new solutions for attaching slings to popular weapons systems. I want to expand at a rate that is manageable with my primary job, and also I want to make sure we are not re-inventing the wheel with our products. I don’t wish to compete with other manufacturers, really. I want our products to be specialized and truly offer something different from others on the market. If I can go buy it from LaRue, I will just go do that instead (shameless plug for LaRue, BTW.)

Review: Danger Close Consulting Low Pro Scout Mount

By Matt on April 22, 2010 in Flashlights, Guns, Reviews, Tactical Gear

Here is the bottom line up front…The Danger Close Consulting (DCC) Low Pro Scout Mount is the mount that should come with the Surefire M600 Scout Light from the start! I have had this for a couple of weeks now and it is everything that I hoped it would be and does everything I hoped it would do.

The DCC Low Profile Scout Mount works great on the Daniel Defense 9.5FSP Lite Rail.

Problem Solver

I think the one of the best compliments you can pay to a piece of gear is to say that it solves a problem. This mount solves multiple problems. The M600 Scout Light is a great weapon light in its stock form but it has some shortcomings, especially for those who will be using it without the remote pressure pad switch (I despise them). The stock mount places the light too low in relation to the shooter’s support hand grip. The light falls in a place that is awkward to reach with the support hand thumb. The stock mount also places the light high above the rail and has a large thumb screw that can be a snag magnet.

The DCC Low Pro Mount allows the user to place the light at around 11 o’clock on the rail and it tucks the light in very close to the rail. This is a much more natural position to hit with the thumb of the support hand and there is no more thumb screw to snag anything and everything.

Here you can see just how low profile the mount really is.

Attention to Detail

Attention to detail is often what separates good gear from great gear and the DCC Low Pro Scout Mount is great gear. The mount is very nicely machined with no visible machining marks. The hard anodized finish is smooth and evenly applied. There is a large hole that has been machined away to save weight. It would have been easier and cheaper to just machine a round hole, but DCC chose to mill a more complex shape that would save more weight. The set screw that provides tension against the rail even has a small rubber pad to prevent the steel screw from gouging your aluminum rails. That is attention to detail.

Note the lightening cut.

Locked Down

This mount is solid. The light is held to the mount with 2 screws (provided). I used a bit of Loc-Tite on both screws. The mount itself must be slid onto the rail from the end. The set screw should then be positioned in a rail slot. Once the set screw is in position, you simply tighten the set screw. This keeps the mount from moving forward and back by dropping into a slot and by pulling the mount up against the under side of the rail. It is rock solid.

Here you can see the two mounting screws and the green rubber pad on the set screw.

In Use

The difference when you are actually using the light must be felt to be believed. Those who are familiar with trying to use an M600 Scout Light with the factory mount will know immediately what an improvement this mount has the potential to be. I shoot with a vertical grip but I don’t wrap my hand around it. I use a thumb forward grip on it much like I would with my support hand when shooting a handgun. The original Surefire mount didn’t work very well with this grip. It was simply too low since it could only be mounted at 9 o’clock on the rail. I would have to contort my hand and shift my grip to get my thumb down to the tail cap which basically meant that I left the light unused. Now, with the DCC, the tail cap falls much more naturally under my support hand thumb at around 11 o’clock on the rail. I no longer have to shift or contort my grip and the light is much more usable.

Verdict: Buy One!

Jon at DCC is a genuinely nice guy and he is active in the Army Special Forces so he knows a bit about what makes gear work. If that isn’t enough reason to buy one, then knowing that this is the only mount of its kind should be. If you running the M600 Scout Weapon Light with the “clickie” tail cap then you need this mount. Buy one.

Look for an upcoming interview with Jon at Danger Close Consulting on Jerking the Trigger.

Preview: Danger Close Consulting Offset Surefire Scout Mount

By Matt on April 15, 2010 in Flashlights, Guns, Tactical Gear

The Surefire M600 Scout Light is one of the most compact and lightweight rifle mounted weapon lights available. It is truly an excellent light. However, I have always had issues determining the best place to mount it since I do not care for tape switches and the standard mount places it in an uncomfortably low position for use with the support hand thumb. The Scout is a light in need of an offset mount but, until recently, no one made them.

Danger Close Consulting has filled that niche and filled it well! I have one of their mounts in hand and it is excellent.

Look for a more complete review with pictures to be posted here soon.

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