Mini Laser LED Gunlight

With the continuing and seemingly ever-expanding ranges of gun torches available you might think there was no longer a place for the more traditional, gun-mounted lamp, which was once all we used. Cluson Engineering doesn’t seem to think so as their latest product attests to. Their Mini Lazer LED Gunlight (GL17) is in essence a scaled down version of their famous Blazer and Lazerlite systems. Typically it comes as a package that includes all the accessories!

The lamp is compact at 2.75 x 3.25” with an ON/OFF (rocker) switch at the rear and the ability to fit filters. With a 50mm reflector it uses a T6 CREE LED, which Cluson says: “has an output approaching 1000 lumens that now produces a punchy super bright 400m beam!”

Power uses an external, compact 8.4V/4.4 amp/hr Li-ion battery, in a nylon pouch with Velcro straps, which measures 3.25 x 1.75 x 2”! Also included are Cluson’s now famous A36 dual gun mounting kit, a remote switch with Velcro pad for stock mounting, handle assembly conversion and a mains re-charger. Optional, snap-in filters (red, green and orange) are also available.

SET UP

The A36 mount is a small plastic G-clamp with a spade connector on top that sockets into the base of the lamp. This sits in a ball & socket and twin clamps allow it to be set at any angle. The mount is for 30mm scope tubes but a 1” insert is included, the A36 can be set anywhere around the body tube to suit. The handle uses the same connector, so converts the lamp into a hand-held unit; in this mode the head can angle through 180°.

The battery jacks directly into a cable & socket in the side of the lamp and can be manually-operated by the rocker switch at the rear. This option is probably better for hand-held use! For on-gun control the remote cable/pad plugs in to the rear of the lamp with the pad Velcroing to the forend or pistol grip depending on your preference. Cleverly it offers click (fully ON) and momentary ON/OFF modes depending where you apply pressure. So good for a quick ‘dab & shoot’ or a full scan!

IN USE

The Mini lives up to its name and is reasonably compact and offers lots of adjustment/mounting possibilities. I have a couple of minor issues: first the battery needs to be put into your pocket if you are walking hunting. Second the cabling; lamp-to-battery and remote-to-lamp runs the risk of catching up on things. Neither of the above is a problem for static use, though the compact size of the battery would allow it to be stock-mounted if the straps on its case were longer!

Range-wise you can catch eyes at about 300 yards but in terms of seeing the target for a clear shot I’d say 200 yards on a good night is maximum.

FOR:Compact and well priced, Versatile mounting system
AGAINST:Cables might get in the way, Where do you put the battery?
VERDICT:A classic gunmounted system that works well