By MTG Mikey T
As I’ve progressed through my training, I’ve had the ability to be able to try out a variety of good (and bad) products. I’m also a firm believer in the adage “You get what you pay for”. This is certainly the case for the Cloud Defensive Torrent Offset M-LOK Mount. When Will asked to review it, I jumped right at the opportunity.
A few years ago I took a Small Unit Tactics class with my close friends at Lodestone Training and Consulting. At the time, my chosen weapon light was a SureFire PX4 mounted on the front of my rifle with a polymer Magpul M-LOK Offset Mount attached to a Magpul Light Mount V-Block and Rings. We went out to do a force on force drill and I distinctly remember checking my gear ahead of time to make sure I was ready to go. The moment the first shot was fired, I dropped to the ground and fired a well-placed volley of shots back my enemy (at the time, Garry Marr of Tremis Dynamics). Just as quickly as it had started, it had ended – we all brushed off the plastic from UTM rounds and started walking back to camp. Half way there, I looked down at my rifle and noticed that the light was gone. I thought to myself, “you’re never getting that back, who knows where it could have dropped”. I immediately gave into the fact that I was going to have to spend a good $400 or more on a new light and mount.
Also read our Cloud Defensive Taps Switch Mount article.
The next day we went back to pick up our brass and as I was cleaning up the spot where I had hit the deck the day before, I saw it, right where it had fallen off the day before – my SureFire PX4! I picked it up and it was still attached to the V-Block and Rings – I found the offset mount about 8 feet away. Moral of the story – you get what you pay for.
While I was researching new available options on the market, Cloud Defensive was just releasing their Torrent Mount series. If you don’t know by now, the Torrent Mounts are a direct partnership with Impact Weapons Components (in conjunction with Haley Strategic Partners) and manufactured exclusively for Cloud Defensive.
I knew Cloud Defensive made quality products, so I grabbed a Torrent Offset M-LOK mount from MTGTactical.com (I’m an owner so Im biased). Cloud Defensive says that the Torrent series of mounts is designed to work with all Surefire M300 & M600 Scout lights and Streamlight Protac Rail Mount 1, Rail Mount 2 and HL-X series of light bodies.
When the Torrent Mount arrived and I opened the packaging, I was happy to find that it was made from 6061-T6 billet aluminum and had a nice (black) anodized finish – it also came with mounting hardware and instructions for installation. One of the first things I noticed, is that it is completely reversable, so it’s a great mounting option for both left and right-handed shooters. When I put it on and tightened the t-nuts, I knew it wasn’t going anywhere – it felt snug and there was no slipping.
The other thing I noticed was all the little holes where the light mounts to – I soon learned that this was done to give me 6 different light mounting positions so it can be adjusted to stay clear of my DBAL i2 IR laser. Fortunately for me, I put my laser on the top-center of my handguard instead of all the way forward, for balance. Either way, I really like how close it keeps my Surefire Scout Light to the rail. I want everything to be as close to the rail as possible and this mount keeps it right up against my rail in the 3 o’clock position.
I’ve been using my light and the Cloud mount for a little over a year now and it hasn’t moved a drop. As a matter of fact, it hasn’t come off since I put it on. It’s been though a few classes, countless static and dynamic drills and even used in a few break-n-rake drills – not once have I had a problem. Its aluminum construction really holds up. I may or may not have “accidentally” banged my rifle against the wall at the range directly on the light a few times at the range as a stress test – it didn’t move a bit and it’s still on my rifle.
At 0.653 oz. it’s so light that I’m more concerned about the weight of the Scout Light than the mount itself. I’ve stopped worrying about losing my Scout Light long ago and let it become an extension of my rifle, as it should be. This mount is exactly what I needed – no matter what I’ve thrown at it (or it at), it’s stayed rock solid.