Last Round Indicator

[Last Round]

Hi Folks,

I made a last round indicator on a S&W M&P 40 and would like to see what people think about it. It is a flashing battery powered red LED you can see on the rear of the pistol below the slide. All the workings are inletted into the frame and battery is acessed through the removable grip. It illuminates when the mag follower raises the slide stop/release lever. The intent is to provide a warning (Tactical advantage)when your magazine is empty but prior to the slide locking back on an empty weapon. I would appreciate any comments pro or con about it. Thanks

Photo of LRI on M&P 40

 

[Last Round]

Hi Folks,

I made a last round indicator on a S&W M&P 40 and would like to see what people think about it. It is a flashing battery powered red LED you can see on the rear of the pistol below the slide. All the workings are inletted into the frame and battery is acessed through the removable grip. It illuminates when the mag follower raises the slide stop/release lever. The intent is to provide a warning (Tactical advantage)when your magazine is empty but prior to the slide locking back on an empty weapon. I would appreciate any comments pro or con about it. Thanks

Photo of LRI on M&P 40

 

[bill_in_TX]

I like the overall concept.

Being old, a bit arthritic and left-handed I haven't allowed a mag to run to slide lock for quite a few years because reloads are then just too slow. Consequently, I practice the old "FBI" technique of a new mag at any break in the action (or pause between targets in our informal IDPA shooting) which often is a bit premature.

Something like you've got in this concept would allow me to more fully utilize mag capacity without running out of battery.

I've only a couple particular concerns/comments.

First, I personally am not a big fan of anything powered on my arms. I'm just neurotic about batteries crapping out at exactly the wrong moment and don't even own a red dot for any rifle. My ideal in that setup would be something mechanically activated rather than battery (for example a piezo element that would trigger the LED by pressure -- if there is such an animal that's robust and reliable).

Second, I wonder how much more training I'd need to be able to notice the light under stress -- even the relatively mild stress of game shooting.

Those comments notwithstanding, good idea IMO.

 

[OU812]

I like the idea, but can you make it work on a M-16 type weapon. That's a firearm I can't seem to remember till it goes empty.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Since the advent of larger capacity weapons there has been the difficulty of anticipating an empty magazine. I think your idea has merit and could find a substantial market.

If I were you I would be in touch with a patent attorney quickly to secure your rights to this invention.

 

[jeepjeepwhat]

+1 for what Lobo said.

except for the patent attorney part, wait until I get to one first....

 

[Last Round]

Hi Guys,

Thank You very much for the commentary!

Having anything battery powered can be a drawback since they have to be maintained to insure reliability. So far,red dot sights on some of my weapons as well as the LRI have worked well when I monitored and maintained them. I feel the overall quality of performance-tactical and accuracy edge they give makes the maintenance worth doing. For the most part, I can see the warning pretty instantaneously. There is a small chance to overlook it if you do something like a double tap then drop the weapon to low ready to move or to scan for additional threats/targets but this is rare.

The patent is a long story, in short, more varried and complicated version(s)are on the books but have not been reduced to practice or presented to industry. I came up with the idea first more than 10 years ago. Someone else then blanket pattented many diferent ways to do it then did nothing with it. I presented it to S&W at the 2007 SHOT and followed up but nothing yet. (Joe Bergeron was a pretty busy man)It would be great to see it come to market in any case & that is why I wanted to see everyone's thoughts about it. I think the S&W performance center has a great record of bringing inovative ideas to reality.

 

[Last Round]

A photo and video of it will be out soon on the website lastroundindicator.com so you can see it in detail. So far it has been on a S&W M&P40, a Beretta 92F and an Armalite AR10A4.If enough people are interested, perhaps S&W will produce it.

Thanks!