Why are these so expensive?

[The Deer Hunter]

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/carfnbr/266/sesent/00

I keep seeing these surefire fore ends everywhere, needless to say arfcom too but I have to ask whats so special about these? I can appreciate the practicality of a light on a weapon but how does a piece of plastic and a flashlight sell for so much money?

I was looking at one forend, in the description:

Each unit is equipped with five separate switches:

5 switches? Thats quite a lot to be fumbling around with in a high stress situation.

So whats the deal with these? Is surefire really that good that it commands a price comparable to the price of the gun they are going to be put on?

 

[The Deer Hunter]

Sorry to sound like a bit of a troll but I honestly want to hear opinions on the lighted fore-grips.

And sorry if this should be in the accessories section.

 

[Avenger29]

I've thought that there has to be a cheaper way than Surefire- I mean, I can't afford a $100 flashlight and a $150 forend for it...

I have seen railed forends out there (Midway has one for $60), and I think Streamlight makes a ring mount with a short rail for mounting a light, such as a Glock light or similar. Don't know how long said light would last, but should last long enough for self defense. The 12 gauge recoil is brutal. Even surefire reccomends removing the light from the forend for range sessions.

 

[ColinthePilot]

I have two surefires, neither mounted on weapons, but I've left a trail of broken mini mags on my way to the surefires and they are well worth it and both have seen more use already than any of my mini mags ever did. Their overall quality is excellent, but I have never mounted one.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Not the same mounting, but the light parts are the same.

This light has been on this rifle through at least 4000 rounds and there has been no problem with recoil or anything.

I have been through 2 1000rd+ carbine classes, both with lots of night shooting. Never had a single problem with this light.

One of the classes had an exercise where you had to identify a letter on a target before you could engage. With the 225lumen bulb I was able to identify the target at 100yds. The closest to me in that class was another Surefire with a 125 Lumen light at about 60 yards. Everyone else using standard flashlights in various mounts could not identify the letter outside of 40 yards.

As for the switch settings, there is a Full on,, Momentary on for the light, and a Full on/Momentary on of the colored LED. In practice you don't have to move your hand to operate the switches. You will want to use the momentary light in a "real" gunfight and that switch is in the most comfortable place and uses a longer tape switch.

They are expensive. They work.

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I'm just thinking out loud here but maybe I could look into producing lights that work and don't break your bank...

 

[Conqueror]

Personally I'd get a railed forend and then put a pistol light on it, like a Streamlight TLR-1.

 

[dwwhite]

If you already have one of the surefires with the 1" diameter body, and you have a rail already on your forearm, you can use a standard weaver or picatinny compatible scope ring to mount it.

Using a quick detach ring will also allow you to remove the light without tools. A little bit of experimentation and a lot of practice will allow you to hit the moment switch with a knuckle or a thumb, or you can twist the tail cap for always on.

I can't post a pic right now, but this system works really well for me, and so far seems solid, though I've not shot more that a couple hundred rounds with it.

 

[bond007]

In addition to collecting firearms, I collect flashlights. Wander over to Candle Power Forums and you'll find plenty of cheaper alternatives that may suit you.

However, you'll also find that Surefires are among the most popular because of their quality, durability, reliability and lifetime guarantee.

When asking why flashlights cost so much keep in mind how often we've had to justify to non-firearm persons the cost of an HK, 1911 or really good optics.