New tac-light review.

[Pond James Pond]

A while ago (1 week) I watched a Nutnfancy video in which he championed the virtues of the Streamlight TLR-3 due to its CREE LED, 125 lumen brightness, weight and beam.

His enthusiasm for this model was heavily influenced by a, then, very affordable offer price. $55 IIRR.

His argument was that in this price bracket, there was no competition and even in costlier ones it comparable. I think his points were well founded.

Anyway, at the time I had been researching affordable, available rail-lights. In Europe, either can be a difficult criterion to satisfy.

I noted that the TLR-3 is sold in the UK and I have contacts there that can buy and bring to me if postage out to me is prohibitive. About the same time I found another model online, from another UK company. I asked someone to see if it could be delivered to them as I was expected visitors and the next thing I know I have an email saying it was ordered!!

Well, that certainly took care of any decisions. So which model is it?

It is a Chinese made torch called Nextorch and I have seen it advertised on US online stores too.

By Nutnfancy's reckoning this should now oust the TLR-3 from the best-buy spot, IMHO.

The WL10 “Exectutor” rolleyes 230 lumens (claimed 130m range), 3.2oz (inc single CR123A battery), ambi' on-off switch with momentary beam possibility. IPX-7 waterproofing, aluminium body in a slim but sturdy design rated for drops from 1 metre. The only thing it really lacks is the “US made” accolade that I know is important to some.
On US websites (Brownells, I think), I saw it on sale for $40!!! Assuming it performs that is staggeringly good value.

So far, only two issues have been raised by users. One review said that the toggle switch failed and a couple had said that the rail attachment (an adjustment wheeled that raises a bar into the picatinny groove) worked loose under recoil. I feel confident the latter could be addressed with loctite. Beyond that I saw a number of perfectly satisfied customers on YT and elsewhere.

One point that I have noticed is what you might call the “travel safe” mode. Basically, there are two marks on the screw-on lens assembly. One where it should be to work. The other is where you should turn the housing so that it won't get accidentally switched on in transit. However, if you just go by the markings, it can still be switched on. You need to turn another half turn before the contacts inside are broken and the battery isolated. Certainly not a deal-breaker for me.

I have not shot it yet, but will do so soon and I shall see how it holds up to recoil. Any product will have a bad review or two out there, I guess the same is true here.

The manufacturer's blurb states the light was modelled around Glock dimensions but will fit any railed handgun. The only issue is where the toggle switch lies in relation to the shooter's finger-tips. In the case of my SP-01, the light's LED housing extends about ½ an inch past the muzzle and the toggle is a little shy of the trigger guard. However, I can still comfortably activate it with either strong or support hand index fingers. Any readers of my comments on the CZ DA trigger reach will realise that I am not long-fingered. The toggle switch is light but positive with a tangible click when fully on, but only springy resistance when using the momentary function.

Naturally, one of the first things I did when it got dark is switch off all the lights and see how it performed. It was light switchin the lights on again. It is BRIGHT. Its beam has a very powerful central zone which, at about 5 m, was about 1.5m across. A slightly less intensely lit area is also visible about 2m around that central area. So, at 5m the wall was illuminated with a 5m diameter circle of clear white light. Any BG's in your field of vision will also be in your field of illumination. I can also say, having looked at the business end, that the light dazzles the recipient.

One final point that should not have any bearing on mature grown-ups like us is the fact that my SP-01 now looks serious tacti-kool/badass and clearly is the property of a seasoned spec-ops specialist….

Kinda makes me want to do rolling break-falls over the sofa, screaming “Tango down!” as I dry-fire at a mean-looking armchair.

Range report to follow….

 

[Pond James Pond]

Today I tried the light out at my club's range. I wanted to see how easy it was to shoot with a light; if it changed the feel of the gun and if the rail system worked loose whilst shooting.

So the first thing I noticed was that I found it easier to shoot the gun faster. This might be because I've recently done a number of competitions shooting hot .44Spls in DA and by comparison a 9mm SA shot is easier. It might be because the added 3.2oz up front tamed muzzle-flip that bit more or it might be that, in total darkness, the superbly bright area on the target really made my sights stand out. Either way that worked: all 50 shots fired in the Alpha, or to a lesser degree Charlie, zones of an IPSC mini-COMSTOCK at about 8 metres at quite a fast rate of fire.

If that were a BG any of those hits would have equated to striking a CoM or head sized area.

So far so good: shooting with a light was fine and the gun felt good to me.

Now on to the rail attachment. After two mags the adjustment wheel for tightening the light to the rail was indeed looser than it had been, but nowhere near the point where the light might have slid off. A long way off. The beam certainly never shifted off target.

Below is a picture taken with a camera phone and sadly it just doesn't do the beam any justice whatsoever. Trust when I say that in the illuminated area it was very bright. I can testify to the brightness at the business end, just shining it briefly in my face left me dazzled for a number of seconds.

I also noted a couple of other things that are worth mentioning: firstly, despite extending beyond the muzzle, the light showed no signs of dirt beyond a small amount of soot on the lens which wiped off with a light touch of a finger-tip. The other thing was that the on/off toggle is so light that indeed it can very easily switch on in a bag for example. I found mine had been burning for 10 minutes in my hold all which, when the battery lasts 80mins, is not a good thing. So in this case, the battery isolation system described in the first post, is really worth using whenever transporting this light, especially on a gun.

I am diametrically opposed from being a gun light expert so take these conclusions with that in mind, but from what I've seen, the Nextorch WL10 is a fabulous light for the money.

However, it may require a dab of loctite threadlock on the rail mounting system and I would not put it on a gun that is to be carried around a lot yet might need to be called into action at short notice due to the ease with which the paddle-switch can be activated accidentally.

On the other hand, if you have a light destined for a bedside pistol or rifle (this can mount on the rail of an AR just ahead of a vertical grip, for example), then this is well worth consideration.

HTH.

 

[2damnold4this]

I think a man of means, such as yourself, should buy the Streamlight so you could do a side by side comparison between the two lights. : )

 

[Pond James Pond]

That is one possibility, of course...


....but an even better idea is for one of the other men of means on TFL to volunteer a TLR-3, and post to me in the pursuit of full and objective gun-light reviewing.

 

[gbclarkson]

Thank you for the review. I, recently, have been Net surfing for an affordable light to equip a Bersa BP9cc for nightstand duty. (the gun I seem to point most naturally) The Bersa has a short barrel though: 3.3". I worry that any light will extend too far beyond the muzzle and, thus, cease to operate when blasted with hot gas. Your CZ has a 4.5 inch barrel? I try to imagine your pistol with an inch+ cut off the front end and I see a melted flashlight.

 

[Pond James Pond]

The TLR-3 is shorter.
2.7" according to the 'net.

However, I'm not sure it would be that much of an issue. Taking the Nextorch as it's the only one I know, the body is aluminium and the lens is glass. So externally it is quite solid. The Nextorch is 3.4" long, so let's say 3" if we ignore the paddles.

Then we have to consider the number of shots fired, in quick succession, for the gases' temperature to have any marked effect on the torch. One mag quick-fire? Two? Three? Realistically, I can't imagine that kind of extended firefight. You'd need to have something really worth having for assailants to continue their assault....

If you were to get a torch like mine, I'd say that when in training, just don't put the light on all the time. Train as normal, then do one mag or two with the light to get used to the different handling, then only leave it on at night.

I think this is likely to be a challenge whichever light you choose as yours is very much a compact...

 

[2damnold4this]

I think if you are going to have a light on your gun, leave it on. One advantage to having a light poke out a bit beyond the muzzle of the gun is that if you must make a contact shot, the slide won't be pushed out of battery.

 

[Pond James Pond]

I think if you are going to have a light on your gun, leave it on.

I have the means to carry the SP-01but don't: too bulky for comfort.

So, my light will stay on, only coming off if I decide to do an IPSC competition with it. Then back on once it's home...

Good point on the contact shots.