Pond James Pond
New member
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….
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….
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