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Like many people, I needed a way to add a flashlight to an AR-15. I did not want to add a rail system due to the cost and weight associated with many of them, and some of the “rail-less” systems I had seen did not seem very sturdy or easy to install.
In this Elzetta ZFH1500 review, I discovered that I was able to quickly add a high-intensity flashlight to my AR with an easy to install mount that is very rugged. The best part is the price: MSRP is only $29.95 for the model I tested.
Simple and Elegant
Some of the best tools are the simple ones. Sure everyone likes the gadget that does everything, but generally the simple tool is the most effective. The Elzetta ZFH1500 is simple, and I found it to be very effective. Installation was easy, and once in place it just worked.
The ZFH1500 body is made of plastic and it comes as two halves in the kit. Also included in the kit are spacers, five screws and nuts plus a hex key. The only thing you have to provide is a flashlight and an AR-15 rifle with a standard A2-type front sight base. It will work with and without a bayonet lug.
You can use pretty much any flashlight with a body diameter of 0.7 – 1.1″. While it is not necessary, to get the full use of the unit, the flashlight should have a tail cap switch.
To install, you place one half of the Elzetta ZFH1500 against the front sight base and barrel. You place the flashlight in the groove and then place the other half of the unit on top of the flashlight and rifle. The screws and nuts hold the package together. Depending on the size of the flashlight, one or two of the spacers may be needed to secure the light.
Once installed, the forward hand can activate the light by pressing the sling swivel forward, which presses the flashlight’s tail switch. Elzetta has a video demonstrating this:
Range Time
I managed to scrape up enough .223 ammo to take the Elzetta ZFH1500 to the range. While I would prefer to run a few thousand rounds through the gun with it attached, the reality is I simply don’t have that many rounds due to the current buying frenzy. (For future generations: To mark how crazy it is currently, the day I am writing this is the first time in more than eight months that I have been able to find any .22 LR to buy.)
With a Streamlight Strion LED HL flashlight mounted in the ZFH1500, the gun ran fine. I did not expect any reliability issues, but some guns with a light attached can start having problems.
The Elzetta mount stayed firmly attached to the gun and did not shake loose. Even so, I considered adding Loctite as an added measure of safety. Ultimately, I dismissed the idea because one needs to swap the batteries in the flashlight now and again. The Streamlight I used is rechargeable, so I will be replacing it with a more reliable CR123A powered light (like the Streamlight ProTac HL) in the very near future. (Update: I didn’t like the ProTac GL for this application. The light output was great, but the endcap is scalloped, making it more difficult to activate the light using the sling mount. I’m still looking for the best light for this application.)
Bottom Line
If you need a very easy and inexpensive way to attach a flashlight to your AR-15, give the Elzetta ZFH1500 a close look. It is a rugged mount with a simple design. It does not require the addition of any expensive rail system and it will work with a wide range of flashlights.
Hopefully, this Elzetta ZFH1500 review has been helpful to you. If you have any experience with this flashlight mount, sound off in the comments below. If you think the ZFH1500 is right for you, click here to buy one from Amazon today.
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