Posted: 4/15/2007 7:48:35 AM EDT
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I'm wanting a tactical, rail mounted light, for my Glock 23. I'm looking at either the Streamlight TLR-1, the Surefire NITROLON (now discontinued but still out there for sale) or a X200. Who here is using one of these and why would you suggest it? Thanks! |
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The TLR is the best bang for the buck by far. It's half the price of the X200, but is at least as bright. Both are pretty well built like tanks. The surefire is a little less bulky, and has a slightly different switch. The TLR fits in holsters made for the M3, which are easily found. The X200 has to have its own holster. I am used to the M3 switch, so the transition to the TLR was a no-brainer. I am very hppy with it. A few pics to follow:     |
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Whatever you do, I would recommend you stay away from an M-3. They don't have a very good beam compared to others and they just don't keep running. They may work ok for a home defense situation or some place they won't get banged up. Guys on my team got rid of ours beacuse they break down alot and at the worst moment. 1* |
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A bunch of us had M3, M3X, and TLR-1s, we are all switching to the Glock Tactical Light. It fits the gun better and with our holsters (the Safarilands), there is no room to get a finger on the trigger. With the M3/TLR holsters, we were able to get a finger into the holster and pull the trigger. |
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TLR-1 is best bang for buck. I researched my purchase thoroughly before buying 2 of them and they beat everyone on price and run time. Problem. I bought my first TLR-1 for my Glock 23...this gun was 100% reliable with my chosen defense load (180gr. Gold Dot) UNTIL I put on my TLR. After that I could not get through a full mag without the bullet getting caught up on the feed ramp. Glock said it was only happening with certain gun/ammo/specific light combos of TLR-1. You see the Glock frame needs to flex in order to work right and some light/gun combos don't work because they make that part of the frame too rigid to flex which speeds up the cycle and causes ramp hang ups. Mainly seems to affect the 40 cal glock. Needless to say after this I was less than Glock happy. I had really lost confidence. Well I took another shot at a Glock with light as my Home Defense option and bought another TLR-1 and a new Glock 21 (non-SF). 300 rounds later, with 2 different types of hollow points and two different brands of FMJ and the thing is flawless! Super accurate too. I guess my point is that you should really test your gun with the light and a variety of loads before you trust it. Myself, I won't ever put a light on a Glock 40 cal again. I'm sure there are plenty folks here that have lights and thousands of rounds through their 40 cal Glocks with no problems but I won't do it again. |
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X200!!! - I have X200B's on my G34's for home protection. The M3 I was issued and carried on duty was a piece of junk (poor o-ring seals, burnt out lamps too quick, horrible beam quality), the TLR1 I'm now issued (on an issued G22) is much better quality wise, but I've seen a few of them, including mine, fly off the mounts during repeated range drills. We were repeadetly having to tighten the mounting screw, but it still works loose. Now we are trying a small spot of locktite to see it that helps. The X200's are expensive, but are worth it. Very solid mounts, excellent beam. 
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| For duty I run the X200B. For clearing rooms and getting people out of vehicles it is great. Some guys run the M3s and M6s but they did not impress me. I also love the fact with the X200Bs wider beam I am not F-Aing anyone but still can see well at the low ready. JMTCW.....Trapfan. |
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Issued an M3 for duty G22/23. Works fine, but as stated not the most robust unit. I feel the light is plenty adequate for the size and purpose, IMO. But functioning is 100%...and it was free. I bought a couple TLR-1s as I was impressed with their light output and construction. My G22 would not function reliably with the TLR installed. Different weight impacted the slide movement/frame flex in a negative way. Installed on my pers CCW G19 and it works great 100% function thru sev hundred rounds. I would buy the TLR first. BUT run many rounds thru your .40 Glock before trusting your life to it. I've read where others have had similar problems with the TLR on mostly .40 cal Glocks. 9mm seems to have a different recoil impulse that isn't as finicky as the .40. Anyway, that's my experience. |
LOL. That must be a MI LEO term...say that to another LEO from another state and they look funny at you.. |