homemade Lightforce monopod

K

knockemdown

New member
I'm sure many of you guys hunt at night alone and know of the frustrations attributed to running the light & gunning all by yourself.
Well, after reading some prior posts & gleaning ideas, I decided to rig up a swivel monopod for attaching my Lightforce 170 to for solo night calling. The project took me all of 10 minutes...

Picked up the monopod @ Gander Mt for $19.99. The gun cradle swivels easily and just happens to fit the Hogue foregrip of an AR perfectly!

The shotgun mount from Lightforce was a hair too big for a firm grip on the monopod leg so I served some camo decoy string around the leg to add some girth. The string also provides for some extra grip for the plastic mount to grab & compress when tightened down.
Lightforcemonopod002.jpg

The shotgun mount tightened down nice & snug against the string wrapped monopod leg...
Lightforcemonopod004.jpg

I had to rotate the Lightforce quick detach clip on the light 90` for it to articulate with the monopod mount.
Lightforcemonopod006.jpg

Since I'm a righty, I opted to have the Light on the right side of the monopod so I can scan by swiveling the monopod with my left hand...
Lightforcemonopod005.jpg


I got comfortable on the floor and snapped a pic of how the setup looks from the side...
Lightforcemonopod007.jpg

It was very comfortable to sit in that postion and I could easily rotate the light back & forth while keeping the gun shouldered at a fixed position. Adjusting the light beam's height can be done by simply leaning forward or back.
I'm thinking this setup should also allow for me to keep the AR at my right side at the ready and then rest it gently in the cradle when the eyes show up.

Hopefully the first trial run will be next weekend...
 
Looks great, too bad we cant use light here in Sweden....

///Fredrik /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I just mounted my 170 hand held to a monopod. I removed the gun rest and made an adapter to attach the monopod to the light. It works much better than holding it by hand or using the scope mounted verison. I like your mounting idea. I may try it to see if it works better. Thanks for the post.
 
Thanks guys! I've learned so much here on PM that I'm happy to return the favor.
Hope to get in a few stands next weekend so I'll post a followup on how it functions in the field...
 
I just did the exact same thing a week ago. I have not tried it yet. The only thing I don't like is it feels a little off balance. I wish I could get the light centered.
 
Cooper,
For me it doesn't feel that bad with the weight of the gun in the cradle. But it wouldn't be too hard to add some type of counterweight opposite the light to balance out the "swing of things".

hmmmm, now you got me thinkin' again...
 
knockemdown,
I'd like to say I invented this but I got it from a guy called kec1357 who is from New York, and is on this site also. I had this made a couple weeks ago and his design, now mine has the light dead in line with the pole and "V" sor shooting. I made my "V" out of a piece of plywood and put silicone rubber on the two legs that hold the gun. The gun does not slip that way. We both have the same rig going but yours hangs out to the side and as you said would be out of balance. I only tested this here at home and have not field tested it yet. I'll let everyone know. I can tell you one thing, when your taking these pics alone from a tri-pod and setting the 10 sec. timer...you have to move pretty fast to get in position...lol /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

IMG_0108.jpg
IMG_0109.jpg
IMG_0106.jpg
 
peterjc,

Let me know how that rig works in the field! I can make me of them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif I can adapt that to a light I already have! Is that a peice of pvc tubing on top?

Thx,
HS
 
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So do you guys prefer having the light seperate from the gun? It seems like one more thing to go wrong trying to line up the light and the gun for a shot. I'm always up for change if it will improve my odds.
 
Hogsniper,
Yes it is a piece of black plastic "T" that I had laying around. Didn't really know I had it in the junk pile. It just fit over that piece of wooden dowel I had so nice. The guy that I got the idea from that I mentioned before has his rest..the vee swivel seperate from the light. I may have to alter this once I try it but I don't see a need for it to swivel from the light cause when you find eyes, you have to swivel the gun over and in line with the light anyway, but I'll find out real quick., going out tomorrow night to try it. I plan on keeping the gun off the vee and twisting the dowel light left and right till I see eyes then put the gun on the vee and shoot. At least thats what my plan is..may have to wing it if I have a problem. Film at 11.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif Also I wanted to say that it might not be quite as steady as the shooting sticks I'm used to but if you notice in the pic I have my left forearm against my left knee and my right elbow on my right knee and I found that to be very steady. Like I said I'll let ya know...
 
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What's the CZ chambered in? I am guessing it is a shooter, most are. I don't think the light can be attached to the Gun in PA.
 
jdunham,
The CZ IS a shooter and it is a 223Rem cal. I load 50 gr. Nosler Bal. tips. BTW we got that law changed here in Pa .. you can now have a gun mounted light. I just like it better this way. If you have a partner then a gun mount is great cause the partner can scan with another light and you then shoot. But I hunt alone a lot so this is my solo rig, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Peterjc,
I like the look of that setup alot! Keeping everything in line will surely help for balancing as a whole unit. I did use some zip ties to mount the switch & keep the cord from dangling...

I need to get out for a hunt or two with mine before I pass judgment about the balance. With the gun's weight resting in the cradle, the light seems to rotate easily without "tipping" off to one side.

If the mount does torgue while rotating the light, then it's back to the drawing board. I really like the swiveling part of the monopod so I'll work around that feature.

Could maybe cut the top section of my monopod and epoxy both ends back into a PVC T-fitting. The 90` end can be used for fitting a 30mm pipe for mounting the Lighforce as in your pics.
hmm....the wheels are turning again!


Thanks for sharing the pics & idea!!!
 
Knockem,
Well I got out tonight with a buddy and my light worked fine however still room for improvement. The first thing I notice is why the other guy has his cradle swivel. Mine don't. I was wrong in my thinking. Mine moves with the light so I can't keep my gun in the cradle while I'm scanning. If it swiveled then you can rest the gun in the cradle and still swivel the light all around. When you see eyes then you can bring the gun into position with the light. So I'll be changing that. The other thing I learned, if you look at the bottom of my dowel you will see a drywall screw that I ran up into the bottom. I left the head on and that is what it sets on when I swivel back and forth. The thing wrong with that is, you can't let go of the whole thing if you want to get something with your hands. So I'm going to run and epoxy a rod up in there and leave out about 5 inches so I can just push it into the ground and I can leave it go for a few seconds to do whatever.
Now for the good part, First set we called in a coyote. Buddy had shotgun and I had 223. I couldn't get on him fast enough and he busted us. Would have been a great shot only about 75 yds.
Later at another spot walked in field and see eyes about 600 yds. caught out in the open and he starts to go to the right leaving. Start calling and he comes back came within maybe 400 yds but got down wind a tad and took off.
Too far to see for sure if coyote or fox. Good night anyway, called critters and thats all that counts. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
My gun sits in the swivel "v" and I spin my monopod with light on until its time to shoot. Since gun sits in swivel "v"...its just a matter of spinning the gun on the critter for a shot...pretty easy. Watch the rod peterjc. If it gets in ground too much might not be able to rock back or forward to tilt light/gun/monopod to right shooting/scanning angle. Hope that helps....Glad its workin out for ya peterjc.
 
Thanks kec, I knew yours swiveled seperately but I thought I was smart by changing your idea...well I'm dumber than a 5th grader. I should have listened to you. Live and learn. I will be changing mine shortly. As for the rod in the ground, I know exactly what you mean and I'm not going to make it too deep, just enough so I can let go of it for a second to maybe reach into bag or pocket to get whatever. Of course now that I'm thinking about it, the way you have yours, your gun on top will hold it while you can use your other hand to do that. I'll get her working..Thanksw again for the idea. Pete /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 


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