LED Vertical Foregrip Flashlight for AR-15/M-16 Rifles

"Fashlight used in conjunction with a firearm to aid low light target identification, allowing the marksman to simultaneously aim and illuminate the target. LED lights can be handheld or mounted to the rifle gun with the light beam parallel to the bore. Handheld lights are generally restricted to use with handguns, as long guns require two hands to operate. While just about any handheld flashlight can serve in the role of LED light with the proper technique, some features are more readily adapted to the role. Gun mounted lights  offer hands-free use, leaving the operator free to use both hands to control the gun. Most models have an on/off switch mounted on a short wire. The switch is then mounted somewhere on the gun within easy reach of the firer's fingers. Gun mounted lights are most commonly seen on rifles, shot guns, and submachine guns, but they are becoming more common on hand guns as well."

LED flashlights serve a much different purpose to household flashlights, their history and development has been made to serve a different market. LED flashlights were originally developed to be used in conjunction with a firearm to assist with target identification in areas where there is limited lighting. Rather than wielding a separate flashlight, it would allow a marksman (law enforcement, security or military) to  illuminate a target at the same time.

For police and security, LED flashlights were a great innovation as they could offer a concentrated light beam which could temporarily blind an assailant or suspect, assist with target identification, and, with the much bigger LED flashlights such as the Maglight, it could be used as a blunt weapon much like a police baton. This field of use meant the LED flashlight had to be constructed differently, as household flashlights are often made of cheaper materials such as plastic, and would not be able to provide these same uses for those specific industries.

LED flashlights would also extend into further military use, where instances might permit for lower lighting filters to be used, such as red light filters to preserve a person’s night vision as well as being able to illuminate an object. Some LED flashlights can also be used with infrared filters, which when used in conjunction with night vision operating equipment, can serve as a marker or illuminate objects or areas to only night vision wearers. This is also used with laser sighting for guns, which is a standard practice for the military to use precision aiming at night.