Posted: 4/14/2011 11:27:57 AM EDT
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I've been doing some research before buying a strobe light. From my reading, I've learned strobe flashlights are good for disorienting the suspect, diminishing night vision, creates a visual and psychological hurdle for the suspect to aggress, and decreases frontal, peripheral vision. The negative side it can also mask the suspect's hand movements since it isn't a direct light. I've searched the topic but didn't find anything on the boards. My question is how many of you use strobes and what are the cost/benefits that you have personally observed if any. Also, what would some considerations be when training while using this type of light.
Do you recommend a particular model, was checking out the brite strike lights. |
| In reality it isn't going to do much. If a suspect is close enough for a flashlight strobe to "disorient" them they are already to close and you should be doing something else at that point. Just get a good flashlight and dont worry about a gimicky strobelight. That be singaid my HDS clicky has the function on it. |
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In reality it isn't going to do much. If a suspect is close enough for a flashlight strobe to "disorient" them they are already to close and you should be doing something else at that point. Just get a good flashlight and dont worry about a gimicky strobelight. That be singaid my HDS clicky has the function on it. +1 I have been in alot of fights during my career. Not one of them did I think "Damn I shoulda used my strobe light first." ETA-My Insight Tech. weapon light has the strobe feature. I think its dumb. |
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I use it for directing traffic at night haha! .... thats a joke right? seriously though, i have spent over a grand on flashlights in the past 4 years to get to what i like. The strobe feature is an interesting novelty in my opinion. In doing low light CQB training i have found that the light is just as disorienting for the user as it is for the suspect and it makes it just as hard for you to ID targets and objects quickly in building clearing as it does for the suspect to locate your location. Plus if you're searching in pitch black darkenss and you're not in a super small room or using a big ass light, they shouldnt be able to see much of whats behind the light anyway if you're doing it right. That and anyone that decides to shoot at your light isnt going to be worried about the disorienting flashing, they're just going to dump half a mag in a panicked fashion at the side of the room that the light is coming from. Also, there are precious lights that have incorporate the strobe feature into the light in such a manner that you can actually use the feature intermittently or momentarilary without it being a big distraction and pain in the balls. The Streamlight stingers require you to double click for strobe and then the light is kept on in that mode. Its a BAD idea to search with a light left on constantly and it takes too much time and focus to double click the light every two seconds while your searching. Strobing is taught in some low light CQB and building search circles and it certainly has become more popular in the past few years, but if you really want to go that route then just buy a small flashlight with an easy to use tailcap momentary pushbutton switch that you can bump rapidly. I use a surefire Z2 combat light, (like a surefire 6P or G2 nitrolon), with the tailcap screwed down to almost being on the constant on position. Then you just tap the button gently and the light comes one. If you are clearing a doorway and want to strobe the room first you can bump the light a couple times in the doorway as you go through. However, truthfully if you are clearing a building correctly you should be moving at a relatively brisk pace. Any suspect in the place is going to know that you're there and doing a slow methodical search just makes you an easier target. I dont run through houses but i dont dally in hallways and doorways either. Im usually moving fast enough that a dedicated strobe feature on any light would slow me down. |
| I use a Stinger DS LED as my primary light. Strobe feature is nice on building searches and on traffic detail...seems to get drivers attention better. I also have a TLR-1S on my patrol rifle but dont really use the strobe feature unless im doing a building search with it. To answer the OPs question, i have yet to use the strobe feature to disorient a suspect. I find the full 150 lumen blast gets the job done just fine. |
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my TRL1s which is gunmounted works like a charm.
about 7 or so weeks back we had a robbery by some late teens (3 of them) and we were surveying the area, they were walking down the street and had not looked back, so they did not see us. We rolled up and I had already turned the strobe function on but kept it against the door. When we rolled up I simply lifted the strobe onto them and gave commands. All of them put their hands in front of their faces to block the light without fail (even the one with the gun in his waist band). It gave us enough time to get out of the vehicle, and for my partner to run around grab the gun and cuff the main doer. The other two complied with commands as well. Only after I turned my light off did they realize I had a gun on them 
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In doing low light CQB training i have found that the light is just as disorienting for the user as it is for the suspect and it makes it just as hard for you to ID targets and objects quickly in building clearing as it does for the suspect to locate your location. The main idea for the light is what you just listed and everyone I know has the same problem as you. Someone thought that since we will click the light off and on at will, a strobe feature would be great. It looks cool... that is about it. |
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Streamlight Stinger here.
I love the strobe. I have used it to disorient people- not in the sense that I shine it in their eyes and they fall down in a convulsive fit, but it is annoying and it occupies their mind for a brief moment and re-directs them. I also love it for traffic. Mine has a little orange cone to pop on the end, and the strobe makes it very visible edit... back up light is a Gladius. I haven't used it in years. It has a strobe, but rotating the bezel is more of a pain than the double click of the Stinger. I also like the stinger has an on/off button in the base as well as one on the neck of the light. Depending on my grip, I have used both. |
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We have Streamlight Stinger DS LED's. A double click on the tailcap switch will initiate the strobe. Otherwise, a single lick is full power. Single click and hold, it will go to half power. Pretty nice light. Inova T4's are the same way. The strobe is very good as a warning device too. |
i am using the stream light ps12ds swhatever it is. It has a strobe feature which I think is kind of cool but I have not found a perfect use for it. I know a guy above me was making fun of someone for using it for directing traffic, but i have used it for just that...kind of. I use it at roadblocks for vehicles approaching my area. No one has ran me over yet so I would say it works great 
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