Options to mount IR Illuminator to Sterling MK5 (L34A1)

[motorgun]

I own a Sterling MK5 that I occasionally use for night feral hog control.  It's pretty accurate at 100 yards and much quieter than other suppressed, night vision equipped SMGs and MGs I own.  When it was built by Andrewski/KGB, two studs were added for a picatinny rail that can accommodate an Eotech red dot sight and PVS-14 night vision monocular. The only drawback is that I cannot figure out a way to mount an IR illuminator, such as a Luna LN-EIR, to it for nights when it is extremely dark and the night vision monocular needs some help due to the lack of ambient light.

Any ideas would be appreciated. I have shown where I would like to mount the IR illuminator in yellow.  The illuminator would need to mount to a small picatinny rail.

Edited August 1, 2024 by motorgun

[Rekraps]

My friend, you add one more accessory to that rig and you'll have to mount it on the back of a jeep! My I suggest that you use a free-standing tripod to mount the illuminating IR source?

I bought one of the Andrewski DLO Sterlings, MK4 version (L2A3) and his work is superb. I often think I should have spent the extra $2K and got the MK5. Too late now!

[StrangeRanger]

A clamp with 2 semi-circular ring segments that fastens around the suppressor shroud and mounts a rail segment at 6:00 would be a relatively simple item to draw up and manufacture

[motorgun]

StrangeRanger -great idea!  I was able to find something similar to what you are describing, made by a company called G&G for airsoft guns with faux suppressors.  

The only place I could find with some in stock was a store in Canada.  I ordered one.

When I receive it, I'll post a picture of the MK5 with a Luna illuminator attached.

 

[motorgun]

Rekraps - I already have the Jeep and mount for it.  As an alternative to the MK5, maybe I just need to figure out how to suppress and add night vision to the 1919....

 

[Rekraps]

6 hours ago, StrangeRanger said:

A clamp with 2 semi-circular ring segments that fastens around the suppressor shroud and mounts a rail segment at 6:00 would be a relatively simple item to draw up and manufacture

Good point, and it does not alter the gun!

[Rekraps]

1 hour ago, motorgun said:

Rekraps - I already have the Jeep and mount for it.  As an alternative to the MK5, maybe I just need to figure out how to suppress and add night vision to the 1919....

 

That jeep is way too cool! I was in Normandy (at the museum) and they have an original jeep still in the shipping crate (wood)! 

[johnsonlmg41]

.....memo.....thermal scope..... or at least a handheld to find things.  Or put the NVG on your head and put a PEQ-15 on the gun that has an illuminator on it and an IR dot.  Maybe too out of the box, but I have a combo of all these, but have never run any of it on a 9mm.   I'd think it would be too under powered for hogs?

Side note, no problem putting an NV scope on a 1919.   Suppressor would be a lot of work and while guys have done it, no one ever said it was awesome?   I have TVS-2 and 5 on my .50's. 

[StrangeRanger]

I don't like the hose clamps.  They're functional but fugly

I had something like this machined optic mount that Got Uzi made for an M3 (only turned upside down) He's done similar mounts for a Swedish K and a Beretta 38/44.  The two aluminum clamp halves bolt to a common base that mounts the optic

Edited August 3, 2024 by StrangeRanger

[Rekraps]

On 8/2/2024 at 4:11 PM, motorgun said:

Rekraps - I already have the Jeep and mount for it.  As an alternative to the MK5, maybe I just need to figure out how to suppress and add night vision to the 1919....

 

Heck, if you live in Texas you can hunt them with grenades!

[Rekraps]

On 8/2/2024 at 7:27 PM, johnsonlmg41 said:

.....memo.....thermal scope..... or at least a handheld to find things.  Or put the NVG on your head and put a PEQ-15 on the gun that has an illuminator on it and an IR dot.  Maybe too out of the box, but I have a combo of all these, but have never run any of it on a 9mm.   I'd think it would be too under powered for hogs?

Side note, no problem putting an NV scope on a 1919.   Suppressor would be a lot of work and while guys have done it, no one ever said it was awesome?   I have TVS-2 and 5 on my .50's. 

My vote is for a thermal. I have two and there is no comparison. Technology has come a long way and prices are reasonable. 

[motorgun]

Thermal is an excellent idea.  Then there wouldn’t be a need for an illuminator.

I have an older model ATN/Thor 640-5X that I never thought of using on the MK5.  Although it’s pretty large, it may weigh less than an Eotech + PVS14 + Illuminator.