Tactical Flashlights - Page 2

SCDeac82 · July 23, 2011, 07:41 PM

Thanks for all the input guys.

I wanted the light for nightstand & glovebox use.

Choosing a light is 2X more complicated than choosing an HD pistol!

JB

Kevin Rohrer · July 23, 2011, 09:53 PM

Any LED flashlight that uses AA batteries.

I carry a Streamlight PT2AA, which may be longer than you want (6"), but my requirements are probably different from yours. It is very bright (brighter than my full-size, incandescent Streamlight) and the batteries last a long time.

LEDs are a welcome advancement in flashlight technology.

Kestrel4k · July 24, 2011, 11:42 AM

Another way to look at it: How about asking for what gun to buy on a flashlight forum?

Seriously though, check out Candlepowerforums. It's generally a good group of folks, and well-moderated for content (I'm a Mod there, so I should know, LOL)

tsmith247 · July 28, 2011, 10:48 AM

I've got the new Elzetta with strobe and it's great. If you haven't checked out Elzetta yet, may be worth your time. You can configure them however you want (different bezels - standard or strike) and different tailcaps depending on your use and your preference. I love mine...and made in USA!!

Rj1972 · July 28, 2011, 12:21 PM

+1 for candlepowerforums. I wanted to check out the same type of thing and they have great reviews of a million flashlights, not to mention more technical information that you can shake a stick at.

I ended up buying a fenix Pd20 R2 for about $55. 190 lumens. It can light up my back fence (70 yards away) at night about the same as my dewalt flood light connected to the huge 18v battery. Very happy, great quality.

armsmaster270 · July 28, 2011, 07:13 PM

When I was on the Police Dept most officers carried streamlights a lot still do all over the country. I have a Streamlight Ultrastinger in my Car and a Stinger DS Led in my headboard and a SL-20x on my wife's side of the bed.

http://www.streamlight.com/product/class.aspx?cid=2

http://www.streamlight.com/product/class.aspx?cid=9

madmag · July 30, 2011, 03:32 PM

Watch out for protected CR123 lithium cells. They are great for shelve life and high current delivery, but most of the cells are protected. That means they have a built in circuit that shuts the battery down when it goes below a certain voltage setting. This is done to prevent high current that could cause a fire. The problem is that the shut-off occurs without warning. So if you are using them in a tactical situation you could loose light without warning.

Alkaline and ni-mh rechargeable don't have this issue. They just get dim and that's your warning they are getting low.

Slotback · July 30, 2011, 04:37 PM

I have a couple of Surefires and several Fenix's. Surefire for weapons and the Fenix's go in vehicles, lay around the house, etc.

madmag · July 30, 2011, 06:32 PM

Yes, I also have Surefire. They are great lights, but the protected cells is an issue. I have had my Surefire go from on to dead in a second due to the cells cutting off. I now try to get lights powered by AAA thru D size.

Now I admit if you always make sure to keep new fresh CR123's then you won't have an issue, but I am cheap and try to get the most out of my 123 cells.

EastSideRich · July 30, 2011, 07:55 PM

I have a handful of Fenix and 4Sevens lights.
Can't go wrong with either one, and they have a lot to chose from, depending on what features (size, output, modes, user interface) you are looking for.
You can get an awesome light for under $100.
For the uses you mentioned, I would make sure to get something that has a wide range of output levels. Also, you don't need crazy lumens, even for "tactical" uses (I hate that word). 300 lumens is SUPER bright, and a little overkill indoors.
Here's what I carry in my pocket:
http://www.4sevens.com/product_info....oducts_id=1599
I think something like that would make you more than happy, as well as make you buy more flashlights (you'll find other "niches" that need to be filled - although this is a superb all-purpose light).

madmag · July 30, 2011, 09:02 PM

General comment about run times.

I have tested run times on most of my lights. I am a flashlight geek so I have quite a few. Some are $200 plus down to some low cost Costco lights.

I find a good rule of thumb is to take about 70% the advertised run times and that's about what you will really get. Still not a bad number for most modern LED's.

BTW, I find some of the low cost lights have as good run times as the expensive lights. Of course now days most all are using some type of Cree LED.

carprivershooter · July 31, 2011, 12:28 PM

I bought a mag lite 150 (i think ) it is led cost $30. throws more lite then my surefire and uses 3AAA s. It has a hi and low setting and a strobe. its rugged. Just my 2cents worth.

madmag · July 31, 2011, 02:45 PM

Now there are two many good lights out there to name. When LED's first became bright enough to be useful there were only expensive lights using them, usually with CR123 batteries. Now you can buy low cost lights all over that have at least 150 lumen's and run on AAA or AA batteries. And they are mostly with good regulated run times.

You can go to Sears, Target, Cosco and similar stores and buy lights that would have cost you $150 plus just a few years ago for low cost, or order off the net.

PS, incandescent flashlights are dead. For anything up to 700 lumens LED's are the way to go, for more lumens then HID's are the way to go.

saands · August 1, 2011, 08:45 PM

I'm surprised that no one really commented on features that you might want ... or if they did, I missed it in my scan.

Anyway, for a SD/HD light, my calculus is VERY different than for pretty much any other use. First off, I always look for a light that I can pulse on ... as in, carry off through the house or yard and with a semi-depression of the switch get a momentary pulse of light. Unfortunately, most of the lights mentioned in this thread click on and pulse off ... I don't understand why they would be designed that way, but it must be simpler (cheaper!) electronics that way. The second thing I look for is single mode ... at least from the switch. If you pulse off most multi-mode lights, they wake up in the next mode, so if you bump your tailcap you can go from a max light that you want to a strobe

So ... for my SD/HD lights, the SOS and strobe functions are negatives, not features. I have a couple of great Fenix EDC lights and I'm thrilled with them ... but after trying many of the lights mentioned in this thread, my current SD/HD light is a SureFire 6P with a ~200 lumen drop-in single mode P60 LED module that I probably picked up at DealExtreme. The SureFire switch just seems much more reliable (than the imports) to me and I think that the prices on the 6P lights are falling due to the impending extinction of incandescent bulbs, so this combo is quality without breaking the bank.

Saands

Rinspeed · August 19, 2011, 07:59 AM

If you want a tough bright light you can't do better than a Surefire 6P with Malkoff P61 drop in. They do have complete lights for sale now and I'm sure the quality is first rate I just don't have any experience with them. Some of the made in China lights will give actual OTF lumens but with most of them you are lucky to get half the output they claim.

http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/t...8bfc1df336d8c2

July 23, 2011, 07:41 PM	#26
SCDeac82 Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2010 Location: Southeast-USA Posts: 222	Thanks for all the input guys. I wanted the light for nightstand & glovebox use. Choosing a light is 2X more complicated than choosing an HD pistol! JB __________________ "No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government." -- Thomas Jefferson

July 23, 2011, 09:53 PM	#27
Kevin Rohrer Senior Member Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: Medina, Ohio Posts: 1,049	Any LED flashlight that uses AA batteries. I carry a Streamlight PT2AA, which may be longer than you want (6"), but my requirements are probably different from yours. It is very bright (brighter than my full-size, incandescent Streamlight) and the batteries last a long time. LEDs are a welcome advancement in flashlight technology. __________________ Member: Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, ARTCA, and American Legion. Caveat Emptor: Cavery Grips/AmericanGripz/Prestige Grips/Stealth Grips from Clayton, NC. He is a scammer

July 28, 2011, 07:13 PM	#31
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	When I was on the Police Dept most officers carried streamlights a lot still do all over the country. I have a Streamlight Ultrastinger in my Car and a Stinger DS Led in my headboard and a SL-20x on my wife's side of the bed. http://www.streamlight.com/product/class.aspx?cid=2 http://www.streamlight.com/product/class.aspx?cid=9 __________________ http://www.armsmaster.net-a.googlepages.com http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...aster270/Guns/ Retired LE, M.P., Sr. M.P. Investigator F.B.I. Trained Rangemaster/Firearms Instructor & Armorer, Presently Forensic Document Examiner for D.H.S. Last edited by armsmaster270; July 28, 2011 at 07:20 PM.

July 30, 2011, 03:32 PM	#32
madmag Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: The South Posts: 4,239	Protected Cell Issue Watch out for protected CR123 lithium cells. They are great for shelve life and high current delivery, but most of the cells are protected. That means they have a built in circuit that shuts the battery down when it goes below a certain voltage setting. This is done to prevent high current that could cause a fire. The problem is that the shut-off occurs without warning. So if you are using them in a tactical situation you could loose light without warning. Alkaline and ni-mh rechargeable don't have this issue. They just get dim and that's your warning they are getting low.

July 30, 2011, 07:55 PM	#35
EastSideRich Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2007 Location: St Paul, Minnesota Posts: 369	I have a handful of Fenix and 4Sevens lights. Can't go wrong with either one, and they have a lot to chose from, depending on what features (size, output, modes, user interface) you are looking for. You can get an awesome light for under $100. For the uses you mentioned, I would make sure to get something that has a wide range of output levels. Also, you don't need crazy lumens, even for "tactical" uses (I hate that word). 300 lumens is SUPER bright, and a little overkill indoors. Here's what I carry in my pocket: http://www.4sevens.com/product_info....oducts_id=1599 I think something like that would make you more than happy, as well as make you buy more flashlights (you'll find other "niches" that need to be filled - although this is a superb all-purpose light). __________________ Give your opponents one hundred dollars worth of steak, and you shall receive one trillion dollars worth of pork. -Proverb of The US Congress

July 24, 2011, 11:42 AM	#28
Kestrel4k Member Join Date: March 29, 2011 Location: The Willamette Valley, in Oregon Posts: 97	Another way to look at it: How about asking for what gun to buy on a flashlight forum? Seriously though, check out Candlepowerforums. It's generally a good group of folks, and well-moderated for content (I'm a Mod there, so I should know, LOL)

July 28, 2011, 10:48 AM	#29
tsmith247 Junior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Posts: 7	I've got the new Elzetta with strobe and it's great. If you haven't checked out Elzetta yet, may be worth your time. You can configure them however you want (different bezels - standard or strike) and different tailcaps depending on your use and your preference. I love mine...and made in USA!!

July 28, 2011, 12:21 PM	#30
Rj1972 Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2010 Posts: 129	+1 for candlepowerforums. I wanted to check out the same type of thing and they have great reviews of a million flashlights, not to mention more technical information that you can shake a stick at. I ended up buying a fenix Pd20 R2 for about $55. 190 lumens. It can light up my back fence (70 yards away) at night about the same as my dewalt flood light connected to the huge 18v battery. Very happy, great quality.

July 30, 2011, 04:37 PM	#33
Slotback Senior Member Join Date: May 30, 2010 Posts: 162	I have a couple of Surefires and several Fenix's. Surefire for weapons and the Fenix's go in vehicles, lay around the house, etc.

July 30, 2011, 06:32 PM	#34
madmag Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: The South Posts: 4,239	Yes, I also have Surefire. They are great lights, but the protected cells is an issue. I have had my Surefire go from on to dead in a second due to the cells cutting off. I now try to get lights powered by AAA thru D size. Now I admit if you always make sure to keep new fresh CR123's then you won't have an issue, but I am cheap and try to get the most out of my 123 cells.

July 30, 2011, 09:02 PM	#36
madmag Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: The South Posts: 4,239	General comment about run times. I have tested run times on most of my lights. I am a flashlight geek so I have quite a few. Some are $200 plus down to some low cost Costco lights. I find a good rule of thumb is to take about 70% the advertised run times and that's about what you will really get. Still not a bad number for most modern LED's. BTW, I find some of the low cost lights have as good run times as the expensive lights. Of course now days most all are using some type of Cree LED.

July 31, 2011, 12:28 PM	#37
carprivershooter Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2008 Location: Michigan, Upper Pennsula Posts: 396	tac lite I bought a mag lite 150 (i think ) it is led cost $30. throws more lite then my surefire and uses 3AAA s. It has a hi and low setting and a strobe. its rugged. Just my 2cents worth. __________________ CarpriverShOOter Finch, I don't like guns. Reese, Me either but if someone has to have guns I'd rather it be me. (Person of Interest). No trees were destroyed in the posting of the this message

July 31, 2011, 02:45 PM	#38
madmag Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2007 Location: The South Posts: 4,239	Now there are two many good lights out there to name. When LED's first became bright enough to be useful there were only expensive lights using them, usually with CR123 batteries. Now you can buy low cost lights all over that have at least 150 lumen's and run on AAA or AA batteries. And they are mostly with good regulated run times. You can go to Sears, Target, Cosco and similar stores and buy lights that would have cost you $150 plus just a few years ago for low cost, or order off the net. PS, incandescent flashlights are dead. For anything up to 700 lumens LED's are the way to go, for more lumens then HID's are the way to go. Last edited by madmag; July 31, 2011 at 02:54 PM.

August 1, 2011, 08:45 PM	#39
saands Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 1999 Posts: 1,573	I'm surprised that no one really commented on features that you might want ... or if they did, I missed it in my scan. Anyway, for a SD/HD light, my calculus is VERY different than for pretty much any other use. First off, I always look for a light that I can pulse on ... as in, carry off through the house or yard and with a semi-depression of the switch get a momentary pulse of light. Unfortunately, most of the lights mentioned in this thread click on and pulse off ... I don't understand why they would be designed that way, but it must be simpler (cheaper!) electronics that way. The second thing I look for is single mode ... at least from the switch. If you pulse off most multi-mode lights, they wake up in the next mode, so if you bump your tailcap you can go from a max light that you want to a strobe So ... for my SD/HD lights, the SOS and strobe functions are negatives, not features. I have a couple of great Fenix EDC lights and I'm thrilled with them ... but after trying many of the lights mentioned in this thread, my current SD/HD light is a SureFire 6P with a ~200 lumen drop-in single mode P60 LED module that I probably picked up at DealExtreme. The SureFire switch just seems much more reliable (than the imports) to me and I think that the prices on the 6P lights are falling due to the impending extinction of incandescent bulbs, so this combo is quality without breaking the bank. Saands

August 19, 2011, 07:59 AM	#40
Rinspeed Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2000 Posts: 1,505	If you want a tough bright light you can't do better than a Surefire 6P with Malkoff P61 drop in. They do have complete lights for sale now and I'm sure the quality is first rate I just don't have any experience with them. Some of the made in China lights will give actual OTF lumens but with most of them you are lucky to get half the output they claim. http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/t...8bfc1df336d8c2