What is your intent for the use of the light? Let the mission dictate the gear. A Gladius is a very good tool for entries (enclosed structures) and marginal distances. I love mine as a handheld, but carry a Surefire M3 with the MN11 bulb for outside work. If you want it for the cool factor, that's a personal preference. I've met and talked in depth with the creator of the Gladius, Ken Good of Strategos, and I'm now a loyal follower of their (with Blackhawk) product line. Several other officers I work with deploy them daily, and it is an impressive site to see when properly used...I'm still learning and probably always will be. I guess this is a little off topic on an AR-15 forum. There is a great forum with info. on the Gladius as www.strategosinternational.com. Although if I remember right you have to have attended their class to get a password due to some info. being considered LE and Military sensitive. I've attended a class, but never posted there. I am off my tangent now and appologize if I've hijacked this thread.