Tactical Flashlights

S

SCDeac82

New member
Hello Everyone:

I've just begun to look into buying one, but have no first-hand knowledge of what to look for or where to buy.

What's the deal with the batteries? Some use regular and others have special (rechargeable?) batteries?

Want something relatively small with good brightness, and willing to spend up to $100.00.

Any feedback/suggestions would be appreciated.

Best Regards,

JB
 
I have a couple of Surefire lights. My E2E I believe I spent about $100.00 for it. Surefire is pricey but they are rugged and dependable. If I had it to do again, I believe I would get one with the strobe.
Ultra&Knife.JPG
 
Sources for white lights(tactical flashlights)...

There are a few good sources for "white lights" or tactical flashlights.
Most tactics or defense instructors suggest at least 65 luminems(check spelling). Li powered battery designs or lights that offer strobe features are good too. A rear push button or duel control function is ideal. Newer models with CREE or LED systems are popular with many armed professionals & private citizens.
Sportsmans Guide had a great rechargeable white light with 240 lum & a strobe. It was around $40.00 and came with a kit. The product sold out but they may offer a new version soon around the same retail price.
Other popular models include Surefire, Streamlight, Blackhawk, 5.11, Maglight, Inox. For prices, features & sales see; www.Galls.com www.Natchezss.com www.Policehq.com www.qmuniforms.com www.uscav.com www.blackhawk.com .
You should find a good white light in your budget or with the features you require.

CF
 
Im a proud American, but when it comes to tactical lights I say buy CHINESE! JetBeam, Fenix, WolfEyes, iTP, Olight, etc etc. They all put Surefire, Blackhawk, Streamlight etc to shame udder shame. A lot of guys on here only know tactical lights because of the Surefire cases at their local gun store, and so thats all they buy... But there are TONS of better lights for the same price or often cheaper.
www.batteryjunction.com
www.goinggear.com
www.lightjunction.com

Tell me what you are looking for and I can make some suggestions. My edc light is a JetBeam Jet-1Pro V3. Its fairly small and bright, also very customizable. Lumen output is 70-75 lumens on 1 Alkaline AA, 145 lumens on 1 Lithium AA, and 240 lumens on 1 rechargable 14500.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-oUSLsU_hM

Im also NWdude83 on www.candlepowerforums.com
 
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Check out Coast before you go blowing hundreds of dollars on those tacticool companies products. Not sayin their bad but some seemed way over priced. I use a Coast LED lenser daily on my job and it works great. I have beat the hell out of this light and it keeps on working. I've had it for about three years now i think and gets used frequently. Has aluminum body ,o-rings,uses standard AAA batteries and has a adjustable focus lens which is very important when buying a LED light. Retails for about $40.00 about 115 lumens and they have much brighter lights if you want to spend a little more. I liked mine so much i bought three of them.
 
If you are dying for a CR123 battery light, I have found this to nearly match my P6 Surefires and it runs on just one and costs $14.

http://www.dealextreme.com/p/ultrafire-a30b-cree-q5-wc-220-lumen-led-flashlight-1-cr123a-21478

This is my current favorite pocket carry. Runs on 1 AA or one rechargeable 14500 battery. On the 14500, I carry it over my Surefire. $13.
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/unique...lumen-led-flashlight-black-1-aa-1-14500-30987

I also gave the latter has Xmas gifts last year which were a big hit. They are good lights.
 
I believe a local vehicle part store used to sell the flashlights dns just mentioned...alot of people had them around here ( I never seen any mounted onto rifles ) but in car doors and such...I think they stopped though..idk why
 
SCDeac82
Tactical Flashlights
Click to expand...

Lots of brands out there. If it is for SD/HD, stay with brands like Streamlight & Surefire.

I can tell you first hand that the cheaper ones may be as bright but their quality is not on par with the good ones. I've had many cheaper lights fail on me after one drop or in the case of weapon mounted lights, after a few trips to the range.

My nightstand gun has a TLR-2.
 
Maybe try on of these, they are 200 lumen LEDs from Surefire. They make a great beam that is bright enough to clearly see things out past 70yards with ease. Just make sure you do not look at the business end at night or you will be seeing spots for a hour.:D

http://www.surefire.com/6PX-A-BK I paid about $100 on amazon.
 
Tactical Flashlights? The only tactical flashlight I ever owned was a military crookneck light that had three filters in the base cap. I put the red filter in and threw the others away. It was perfect for hanging from my MOLLE gear when I was reading a map. That was back in the day when I was a warrior. Times change.

Nowadays I use an LED light that's made by Maglight. It's short, heavy, uses two D cells and gives excellent service. I've got several of these things because they're so inexpensive and virtually indestructible. I carry one in my cruiser and one in my pickup and one stays on my workbench. It's heavy enough that it can also double as a bludgeon.
 
After dumping tons of money over the years on Surefires and Streamlights, I found these at Shining Beam from recommendations on a couple of boards.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-55/Romisen-RC-dsh-F4-CREE-Q5/Detail

For $20 you really cant beat them. They are a bright white LED thats 2-3 times brighter than my Streamlight Stingers. They easily throw a beam 75-100 yards. Ive gone through two now in the past three or four years, but they hold up well to a pretty good amount of abuse. Things on my person dont have an easy life, and these have held up better than a lot of other things. No better or worse than my Surefires or Streamlights either.

I carry one in my pocket everyday, and use it pretty much every day as well.

I also recently picked up one of these from them.....

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-136/**NEW**-P-dsh-Rocket-XM-dsh-L-850-pls-/Detail

Its a bit more money wise, but the light it puts out is just WOW! They claim an 850 lumens rating (the first one above is ''only" 235). The only thing I dont like about it is the three way "switch" for three different brightness levels. Its really not bad, compared to some, but I really prefer a "fixed" power so I know its the same every time I hit the biutton.
 
i use my G2X Pro for work. its small enough you can use it effectively with a handgun, its got two settings, it uses a small diode with two settings. The dim setting is great for checking ids but the 2nd setting is great for looking in tinted car windows and lights up dark rooms, as well as has an awesome range. Granted its expensive but well worth the buy.
 
Streamlight PT2L - $45 online. Just do google. 2 cr123's but has a low beam function as well to save on battery life. Very small with a high end output of 180 lumens. I own a couple.
 
Check out the good, old Coleman Lantern products at Walmart. 140 lumens for $27.00. I bought a Surefire G2 just to compare, and their light output was identical. I will admit that Surefire has the best end-cap switch, though. Every other flashlight I've tried has the button slightly recessed, it can be hard to get to with your thumb.
 
Really true Mall Ninja stories; white lights...

About 2 years ago in early 2009, I was working on a security post with a US Navy veteran who was showing me his new, super-cool LED flashlight.
The cheap knock off that he paid "only" $20.00 for broke and wouldn't turn on.
The security guard wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer but the incident drove an important point home; "you get what you pay for"! :)
Quality brands or products are worth the $. If you want gear or tools that can protect you or save your bacon someday, buy decent kit.
 
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