Weapon Light for Carbine

[firestorm1284]

Hey guys, I'm in the market for a decent weapon light. I don't have a lot of money at present, so I'd like to be able to use it as a separate flashlight for camping, etc. as well.

There seem to be nearly endless options out there, and I need help narrowing them down. I'd like to spend about $40, but could go as high as $75. I realize that this limits many options, but that's the way it goes. I'd also like any advice about whether to use a pressure pad or simply use a rear activated button. It seems to me that the rear button would avoid unnecessary wires and things to get snagged on or go wrong, but I have no real experience with them.

So far, I have been looking at the Olight T20 and the Fenix TK15, but am open (and in fact LOOKING FOR) any suggestions. I have no experience with these types of flashlights. I generally carry a maglite, and the only weaponlight I have is a Streamlight TLR-1s on my Glock. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

TK15 is pretty nice but that will run you $80. That is not a weaponlight as I don't think it will handle recoil. Unless you go with a used light you may find a Surefire M951 for around $130 or so (used) on egay. I really don't think you will find anything that isn't from china for under $100.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

Yes, I am pretty sure that at least the Olight's are made in China. They make weapon mount brackets for those as well as the Fenix lights. I assumed that this meant they would hold up under recoil, but that was actually part of my concern.

Will these less expensive lights hold up under recoil? Likely it would only be on a 5.56 carbine, but I would consider putting it on my defense 870 as well.

 

[The Mechanic]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I am really not sure. I really have never put a "cheap" light on any of my rifles, pistols, or shotguns. I have a TK12 that I use at work because I don't get mad If I drop it or break it but I would not use anything that is used to protect life and limb to china. Last but not least an 870 would not treat a weapon light kindly.

 

[Chucky]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

For that price range I would look at our SureFire 6PDX. 200 lumens 1 stage with a click on and off tailcap. It should be able to handle that recoil no problem. You can find them online for about $85 and they are made in CA.

 

[mark5pt56]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I would at least buy the Surefire, they are well made and always work. I would highly advise on getting the LED heads, saves on batteries and are robust for recoil, drops, etc. Always use the Surefire batteries, plenty of stories of blown up, burned, low life, etc. aftermarkets. The Vltor mount is great also, easy on/off for dual use.

Remember why you need this and if you have to wait a month or two, get something good.

Mark

http://www.vltor.com/scount-mount-cge.htm

 

[shooterman_zero17]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

Grabbed a new in box Surefire G2X for $60 I believe, and a VTAC Mount included with some other stuff I purchased. I love my G2X, but I am likely going to move a TLR1 HP onto my carbine and have the G2X as a handheld. I would go the Surefire route for sure.

Edit, using the G2X off the weapon with a VTAC mount isn't so fast though...

 

[pharm762]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

The surefire G2 series are great and ultra durable mounts are easy to find too. You can get a set of YHM at your local gun store. As long as it has a 1" opening you are good to go. The new ones have 200 lumens in them and has a feature that you can click again and get only 15 lumens out.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I am definitely going to give the Surefire lights a good hard look. Any other brands that have lights in a reasonable price range that are good?

 

[insight3b]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

+1 on a surefire G2 I also have a Steamlight. Both work well with the standard/led bulb when mounted to my carbines. No need for the shock isolated bezel and I mount them both in 1 inch scope rings for attachment to the carbine rails.

 

[rero360]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I have a SureFire 6P with a Malkoff 120 lumen LED head mounted in a Haley Strategic Thorntail SBR mount. Little bit out of your price range but not by much. I also had my light bored out so it can accept a 18650 rechargeable battery.

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

If you can wait, save up, and are willing to stretch you budget to from $150 - $200, you can get into a HDS clicky. Great guarantee if you ever should need it. Operates on 1 primary or lithium rechargeable 123 battery. Come in models from 140 - 200 lumens and are fully customizable. Have 4 settings that you can choose in any order, out of 20 or so output optins - you assign any of the output options into the 4 slots us find most useful.

The UI (user interface) seems pretty complicated, that is until you get familiar with it. For a small sized light, they put out a heck of alot.

They are not as cheap as other options out there, but if you want a "built like a tank" light, the HDS is it.

http://www.hdssystems.com/?id=Products

One of my 3 HDS's resides on my AR without any problems from recoil.

I spoke on the phone with a guy who put some HDS lights through some abuse testing for HDS. He stated they set up a light and intentionally shot it in the lens with a 9mm...... cracked the lens, but the light continued to work. You can also see an abused light on the home page of HDS, abused by the same individual.

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

Wow, those HDS lights sure are intriguing, but unfortunately that is definitely out of my price range. Also, I don't need anything fancy, I just want a good light that will hold up under recoil.

Thanks for the additional comments on the surefire's as well. It seems that this is the option that most people choose.

Rero - I have never heard of boring out a light to accept a different kind of battery. I have a large metal lathe, and could easily perform this operation. My question is: How much material needed to be removed, and do the walls feel to thin now? Did the battery upgrade make a big difference in battery life?

 

[EXSOCAL]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firestorm1284</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, those HDS lights sure are intriguing, but unfortunately that is definitely out of my price range. Also, I don't need anything fancy, I just want a good light that will hold up under recoil.

Thanks for the additional comments on the surefire's as well. It seems that this is the option that most people choose.

Rero - I have never heard of boring out a light to accept a different kind of battery. I have a large metal lathe, and could easily perform this operation. My question is: How much material needed to be removed, and do the walls feel to thin now? Did the battery upgrade make a big difference in battery life? </div></div>

Boring a Surefire 6P / 9P to accept the larger 18650 Li-Ion cells is a great upgrade. CR123A batteries (what the surefire lights come with) are approx. 16mm in diameter. the Li-Ion 18650's are approx 18mm in diameter. I've bored quite a few 6P's and C2 centurions and it doesn't effect the structural integrity of the tube walls at all. They are still over built true to Surefire fashion even after boring.

As far as run time goes, it varies according to the emitter used. Standard disposable lithium CR123 batteries have a capacity of around 1500 mah and nominal voltage of 3V. the 18650 Li-Ion's have approx 3,000 mah capacity and fresh off the charger they measure between 3.7-4.0 volts. So the capacity of two CR123 disposables and one 18650 rechargeable is close to the same (3,000 mah), but the two CR123's in series will have a higer voltage (6V) than the 18650 (3.7-4V). Soooo, in the end, it all depends on what emitter you use and whether it is regulated. All of my lights are bored for 18mm cells because havign the ability to re-charge batteries is a huge plus for me. I always have fresh cells on hand. Also, even with a bored surefire, you can still use CR123's, they just rattle around a bit but there are companies who make thin little delrin sleeves to eliminate the rattle. It gives you the best of both worlds.

Gene Malkoff's P60 Drop In modules for Surefires are top notch, bomb proof, and will withstand anything you can throw at it. They are not cheap, but the quality and customer service is beyond any of the competition. Check em out.

 

[fireEMT5]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

No doubt the HDS lights are higher than many think is sane to pay for a light, but they are built tough. All the electronics inside are potted and can't move from harsh movements such as recoil.

This could be considered a "buy once, cry once" proposition if you have a real need for a dependable light such as for a duty weapon where you need to know that it's built for the task.

If you can stand to wait a little longer and save up a few more dollars..... up to you.

I can't speak to Surefires or the other brands mentioned, as I've never used them. Therefore can't say thumbs up or down. Many people do recommend them, like them, and use them and they can't all be wrong.

Whatever route you choose, as long as it's designed to take the sudden, violent punishment that a recoiling rifle/shotgun induces on the light, you should be good to go.

As someone else already mentioned, if you plan to use the light alot, on as well as off the gun, you'll be happier in the long run if you look for a brand/model that is capable of using the rechargable lithium batteries that are available. You'll find you'll use your light more. Another benifit is that you can alway leave the house with a full battery as well as a spare or two. Unlike lights that can only use throw aways which you leave the house with what's left in the battery and better have a spare or two along.

Here's some more reading if you're interested -

http://www.hdssystems.com/?id=ActionLightHistory

http://www.hdssystems.com/?id=Articles

Good luck on your quest!

FWIW these are made in Tucson, AZ. Not sure if all the parts are "made in USA", but Henry the owner of HDS is considered almost God like over on candle power forums. Those that follow lights in a hard core way, know that Henry knows his $hit

 

[kingjr]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I have been very happy with TLR-1 on both pistol and rifle.
Run about $100

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I am very intrigued by the bored out Surefire idea. Rechargeable batteries definitely seem like the way to go to me. Thanks for the excellent info SOCAL!

MP15 - Thanks for the links as well. I actually read the article Henry wrote about designing the caving flashlights from the ground up. VERY interesting, and it really seems like he is passionate about it. Unfortunately, his lights are still too expensive... but I can always drool.

Kingjr - As I mentioned, I have a TLR-1s already on my pistol. I agree, it is a great light! However, the switch system doesn't seem very well suited to a rifle to me. I'd rather have a push button at the rear. Thanks for the recommendation though.

 

[rero360]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: firestorm1284</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wow, those HDS lights sure are intriguing, but unfortunately that is definitely out of my price range. Also, I don't need anything fancy, I just want a good light that will hold up under recoil.

Thanks for the additional comments on the surefire's as well. It seems that this is the option that most people choose.

Rero - I have never heard of boring out a light to accept a different kind of battery. I have a large metal lathe, and could easily perform this operation. My question is: How much material needed to be removed, and do the walls feel to thin now? Did the battery upgrade make a big difference in battery life? </div></div>

I didn't do the machining myself, I bought the flashlight from Oveready.com although, I suppose I could take some measurements and bore out my other 6P myself, would have to see if my old boss would let me get some time on the Haas lathe.

I have a Pila IBC charger, haven't really used it enough to have an opinion yet, so far so good.

 

[CE1371]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

http://haleystrategic.com/store/inforce_wml_hsp.php
$109
· 200 Lumen Output
· 90 Minute Run Time
· Momentary On Only Activation Switch
· Weight with Batteries 3oz

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

Wow, I am actually EXTREMELY intrigued by that Inforce light. I love the idea of the ergonomics. However, when it says "momentary ONLY" does that mean you have to keep your thumb on the button the entire time? I don't think I would want that, I think I would want to be able to switch it on and leave it.

I did some research and it appears Inforce has a similar model that only has 125 Lumens, but otherwise appears to be the same design. It looks like they offer it in a momentary only, or a more expensive version that has a bunch of different modes. Does anyone know if they will be offering this one in a model that isn't momentary only?

I'm seeing a dangerous precedent being set here... you guys are ratcheting up my price... like a damn car salesman!

 

[sawman556]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

6P LED or G2X. IMO, the best no bullshit flashlights on the planet.

 

[Beef82]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I've thought about upgrading, but then I remember I'm cheap and what I have works, I do not do entrys for a living and have a somewhere in the well below 1% range chance of actually needing my weaponlight and a much lower one of being engaged in an actual firefight with it. So my personal cost analysis says there's better things to spend money on. I run an old LEDlenser, its a hundred and some odd lumens iirc, runs on AAAs for several hours, tailcap can be switched out I prefer the tape switch when its mounted. I have shot with it some, but not a whole lot due to most ranges frowning on nightfires. Its held up, as has the brand in general for me to countless drops, many immersions in industrial chemicals, temps from -50* - 120* maybe more, I even had one that got run over by a semi, stripped the bezel threads, but still worked. I think they've changed their line since the last time I bought one, but I'd definitely look at them if your budget conscious.

For a mount I use a cheap CAA mount, it holds, but comes off quick enough, points in a forward direction, it is plastic and no doubt could be broken, but when the small chance of using it in an engagement is considered first the probability of its durability being an issue during the engagment becomes rather inconsequential, to me, you may feel differently.

 

[CE1371]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

The inforce I linked was a special edition sold only by Haley. If you want one that stays on with a single click you can get it, just check out insight's web site to find a dealer who sells that particular version.

In using a light, many experts encourage users to flash and sweep with a light and then turn it off as soon as you've cleared a room so as to not broadcast your position. Something to think about on how your light works and how you utilize it.

I think the big selling point with the Insight is that it's incredibly light unlike most weapons lights. I'd recommend google-ing some reviews, they all seem to be very positive.

 

[Rprecision]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

I am suprised nobody has mentioned foursevens

I run this

https://www.foursevens.com/product_info.php?products_id=2873

Adjustable LED from multiple settings 1,30, 75, 120, 350 Lumens. Standard 1" mount

Been using it on a SBR for over a year, great light

Even a Quark Tactical is a great light at 230 Lumens for around $60

 

[firestorm1284]

Re: Weapon Light for Carbine

Well since it seems my price range was too limiting, I asked my wife for a 4Sevens Maelstrom MM-X for Christmas. Good choice?