Crimson Trace MVF-515 Laser and Light Foregrip
Lewis Creek Shooting School 12.06.13
Using an optically-sighted rifle at night can be a challenge. Even with an illuminated reticle, it’s almost impossible to find a target without having some form of light pointed at it. This night was moonless and there was a series of targets to be neutralized. As my Colt CRP-18 came out of the case, I activated the laser and light and shot like it was daylight. I had the right equipment for the job.
It only makes sense that I had the right equipment for the job because the Midnight 3 Gun Invitational (M3GI) was created as a showcase for the low-light shooting products from the leader in firearms lights and lasers, Crimson Trace. My Colt was equipped with a MVF-515 Red vertical foregrip, light, and laser. The idea behind the MVF-515 was to provide attachment and ease of activation with a practical vertical foregrip. With a tang made of 6061 aircraft-grade aluminum, the MVF features a red laser sight and a 150/200 lumen LED flashlight. Both laser and light are controlled easily while holding the foregrip and the switches are ambidextrous. Laser and light functions are programmable with three illumination modes to select from: independent momentary, strobe, or constant beam; and there is a master switch that allows a complete shutdown of laser or light. While my test unit had a red laser, you can also purchase a green laser module to convert to green, or order the unit in green.
The MVF-515 attaches to a standard rail and will work with any firearm with a bottom rail that’s 2-3/4 inches long. It runs on two CR123 batteries and laser run time is about 48 hours. Windage and elevation adjustments are with the Allen wrench supplied with the unit and zeroing is easy; simply adjust windage and elevation until they co-witness the sights or crosshairs.
Ergonomically, the MVF-515 works well. I chose to set the switches to the maintained setting because it was difficult for me to concentrate on the shot while maintaining pressure on the light and laser switches. Practice with this would make the process much simpler and would have real advantages in defensive situations. While the MVF-515 was primarily designed as a tactical device, it would be a wonderful addition to a predator or hog rifle, allowing enhanced aiming under low-light conditions. The laser beam covers about a minute of angle and would be useful for shots out to 200 yards and beyond when accompanied by a good optical sight like the Bushnell Elite Tactical 1-6.5 I used at M3GI.
Quality
Crimson Trace products exude quality and the MVF-515 is no exception. The aluminum tang, tough polymer, and ergonomic design establish this is a well-made and -designed product.
Reliability
I have an old-school mentality concerning anything that uses a battery, so I wouldn’t use a laser as my only sighting device on a handgun or rifle, but I have Crimson Trace lasers on all my defensive handguns. As far as lasers go, Crimson Trace wrote the book.
Value
This is a quality product that’s better than anything else in the category. Still, with the red versions retailing for around $400 and the green closer to $600, it’s a fairly expensive option to add, potentially costing more than the firearm it enhances. Should you ever be in a situation where you need to defend yourself in low-light, however, it would be a bargain at any price.
Referability
As an accessory on any defensive long gun, a laser and light are obviously a good idea. Most defensive situations happen in low-light—especially home defense. If you can mount a laser and light (or both, as with the MVF-515) to your home-defense firearm, you should.
Dick Jones is an award winning outdoor writer and a member of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association Board of Directors. He writes for four North Carolina Newspapers as well as regional and national magazines. He’s hunted and fished most of his life but shooting has been his passion. He’s a former High Master, Distinguished Rifleman, and AAA class pistol shooter. He holds four Dogs of War Medals for Team Marksmanship as shooter, captain and coach. He ran the North Carolina High Power Rifle Team for six years and the junior team two years after that. Within the last year, he’s competed in shotgun, rifle and pistol events including the National Defense Match and the Bianchi Cup. He’ll be shooting the Bianchi, the NDM, the National High Power Rifle Championship, The Rock Castle AR15.com Three Gun Championship and an undetermined sniper match this shooting season.
He lives in High Point, North Carolina with his wife Cherie who’s also an outdoor writer and the 2006 and 2011 Northeast Side by Side Women’s Shotgun Champion. Both Dick and Cherie are NRA pistol, rifle, and shotgun instructors and own Lewis Creek Shooting School.
