Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Introducing the Noisefighters CliffhangIR: a new tool in the world of firearm accessories. This single-piece platform elevates your red dot optics, magnifiers, aiming lasers, and clip-on thermal imagers by 0.83 inches, ensuring a more ergonomic and heads-up shooting stance. Whether you’re shooting with passive night vision or navigating the bulkiness of heavy-duty hearing protection, the CliffhangIR eases the ability to get behind your optic.
It seamlessly integrates popular red dot and flip-to-side magnifier setups without needing adjustments. Also, for those looking to maintain a laser’s zero with a more rigid mount, the CliffhangIR stands out as a robust choice.
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Table of contents
CliffhangIR Specifications:
- Accessory Attachment: M1913 Picatinny
- Brand: Noisefighters
- Color: Black
- Finish: Hardcoat Anodized
- Mount Compatibility: M1913 Picatinny
- Mount Height: 2.25
- Optic Type: Picatinny Mount
- Quick Release: Semi-Permanent
Construction
The Noisefighters CliffhangIR features a monolithic design machined from 7075-T6 aluminum. This high-strength material is paired with a durable hardcoat anodized black finish. This combination ensures resilience against wear and corrosion while providing a sleek look that complements most upper receivers.
Weighing only 3.8 ounces, it is impressively lightweight without sacrificing durability. The one-piece construction enhances rigidity. This makes it an ideal platform for mounting various shooting accessories, including red dot optics, magnifiers, aiming lasers, and clip-on thermal imagers, without worrying about losing their zero.
Mounting the CliffhangIR
While the CliffhangIR offers numerous advantages, its mounting system is quite different than that of most mounts. It attaches to an AR’s M1913 Picatinny rail by sliding on from the rear, requiring removal of the bolt carrier group (BCG) and charging handle.
The system relies on the screws themselves as the bearing surface and lacks an indexing mechanism between rail slots. This design makes me skeptical about its stability under intensive use, as the absence of an indexing feature could allow vibration to loosen the mount eventually. Although I didn’t experience this issue when tightening the CliffhangIR to the specified torque, there was noticeable play between the screws and the slots. As with any mount, there will be some movement, so to mitigate this, push the mount forward or towards the muzzle while tightening to help prevent it from working loose.
However, the lack of an indexing feature is also common with the tried and true ACOG mounts. So this concern may just be a personal thing while not having any merit in reality. Noisefighters also informed me that they collaborated with YHM to develop the CliffhangIR. Consequently, it uses the same YHM mounting design that has been proven over the years. Being machined from a single piece of material enhances rigidity, leading to improved accuracy.
Advantages
In addition to the unique mounting system, the CliffhangIR offers several notable advantages. The riser height of 0.83 inches provides a comfortable, heads-up shooting position, making it particularly effective when using passive night vision or dealing with large hearing protection. This elevation maintains an adequate cheek weld for controlling recoil and aiding consistency. One of the standout features is its effectiveness in mounting IR lasers. Lasers often struggle with zero retention when mounted on handguards due to rail deflection. I wrote a whole article on this issue, and compared which rails mitigate this issue the most, but they all face some deflection.
SEE MORE: Testing Popular Rails to Find Zero Retention for IR Lasers
The CliffhangIR resolves this by providing a more stable and rigid platform. This ensures that the laser maintains its zero. One downside is that the massive illuminator of the Steiner DBAL-D2 will illuminate my support hand causing IR spill, but most IR lasers have much smaller illuminators which should avoid this issue. However, the elevation allows the laser beam to clear the shooter’s hand with a C-clamp grip.
Even with a front-mounted pressure pad, making it a practical choice for night shooting. For those running lasers, this is a huge selling point in my mind. Also, mounting a laser to this rail instead of the front of a handguard shifts the center of gravity towards the rear. This makes the rifle much easier to maneuver quickly (+10 mobility).
Summary of the CliffhangIR
In conclusion, the Noisefighters CliffhangIR addresses several common issues faced by shooters using IR lasers and optics. Its thoughtful design makes it a valuable addition to any weapon system intended to be used in the dark. While the mounting system intrigues me, its benefits in terms of elevation and rigidity for laser mounting make it a compelling option.
The engraved torque spec is a handy detail, further emphasizing the product’s focus on reliability and precision. Priced at $150 and available exclusively through Primary Arms, the Noisefighters CliffhangIR offers a compelling solution for shooters seeking enhanced performance when shooting with night vision.
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