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Posted: 10/31/2014 8:01:28 PM EDT
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Does anyone have a weapon light they recommend for an AR15? I currently have a Nitecore P12 on mine, which is a really nice light. However, I think I like it better as a handheld light and want to try something different on my rifle. I've tried a Surefire G2 Pro... but wasn't sold on it. I like Surefire though, and have had their lights before. I would buy another one again.
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What type of shooting do you do? What illumination range do you need? Generally, the smaller the better as long as it has sufficient lumens to perform whatever duty you anticipate using it for.
I really (really) like the latest-generation M3X. It won't do much for you past 50 meters, but indoors it blows away any bajillion-lumen freakshow light as it is bright enough to disorient any suspect / intruder yet soft and diffused enough to light up an entire room without blowing everything out. That, and it's SMALL AND LIGHT! This is my night rig: 
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Not much right now but I am in the police academy and I plan on using this rifle on the street once I graduate. I have a TLR-1s for my Glock and I like it. I've heard a lot of great things about Insight lights though. I don't know about your department, but most will provide a list of gear they've approved for personal purchase to use on duty if they don't insist you use their issue gear. I would check with them first before committing to something they may not approve after the fact. |
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I generally like an X300U at 12:00 in front of a fixed FSB, but this is a really smart setup. |
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What type of shooting do you do? What illumination range do you need? Generally, the smaller the better as long as it has sufficient lumens to perform whatever duty you anticipate using it for. I really (really) like the latest-generation M3X. It won't do much for you past 50 meters, but indoors it blows away any bajillion-lumen freakshow light as it is bright enough to disorient any suspect / intruder yet soft and diffused enough to light up an entire room without blowing everything out. That, and it's SMALL AND LIGHT! This is my night rig: http://huntsvillebible.com/images/biff/full_goat_01.jpg Your pictures always make me drool 
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I don't know about your department, but most will provide a list of gear they've approved for personal purchase to use on duty if they don't insist you use their issue gear. I would check with them first before committing to something they may not approve after the fact. Quoted:
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Not much right now but I am in the police academy and I plan on using this rifle on the street once I graduate. I have a TLR-1s for my Glock and I like it. I've heard a lot of great things about Insight lights though. I don't know about your department, but most will provide a list of gear they've approved for personal purchase to use on duty if they don't insist you use their issue gear. I would check with them first before committing to something they may not approve after the fact. They're pretty open regarding what gear you can use on patrol. As long as you can qualify with it. There are guidelines though so that is something to take into consideration I suppose. Most of the officers I know have a wide variety of lights... I've pretty much seen almost ever sort of weapon light on patrol rifles lol. |
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Surefire 6P Original with a Malkoff M61 drop in. Infinitely upgradeable as newer and brighter LEDs come along. Stick it in a VTAC offset mount. I already have the VTAC offset mount and I like it. I will check out the Surefire 6P Original. Thanks for your response! |
| I run a 300-lumen TLR-1 on my AR and have been really happy with it so far. It's small, lightweight and has plenty of lumens. My TangoDown stubby vertical grip in conjunction with the "magpul"-ish style hold allows me to reach the rear toggle switch quite comfortably. Also, you can easily throw it onto a pistol if you ever needed to. If you keep your eyes open you can sometimes find them BNIB for less than $100. |
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Not for 235.00. |
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Why black out your Troy front BUIS? I run a pair of Troys. click here OP I run a TLR-1 and it works fine. |
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Why black out your Troy front BUIS? I run a pair of Troys. click here OP I run a TLR-1 and it works fine. I am fully aware of the "boycott". If you are boycotting troy you should take them off your rifle instead of trying to hide them. |
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I am fully aware of the "boycott". If you are boycotting troy you should take them off your rifle instead of trying to hide them. Quoted:
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Why black out your Troy front BUIS? I run a pair of Troys. click here OP I run a TLR-1 and it works fine. I am fully aware of the "boycott". If you are boycotting troy you should take them off your rifle instead of trying to hide them. What's the deal with the Troy boycott? Haven't heard of that. |
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Not for 235.00. Quoted:
Not for 235.00. Seriously, why not? It's a Malkoff M31 basically, and a quality front sight, and it weighs a total of about 3.2oz with battery. |
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I never went to academy, and I have a light on my rifle. What does that have to do with it? Quoted:
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Why sui you need a light on your rifle? You are not even out of the academy. I never went to academy, and I have a light on my rifle. What does that have to do with it? Just wondering if OP has the cart in front of the horse. |
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Seriously, why not? It's a Malkoff M31 basically, and a quality front sight, and it weighs a total of about 3.2oz with battery. Quoted:
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Not for 235.00. Seriously, why not? It's a Malkoff M31 basically, and a quality front sight, and it weighs a total of about 3.2oz with battery. They also sell just the mount for $70 which is a good deal on a front sight. |
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They also sell just the mount for $70 which is a good deal on a front sight. Quoted:
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Not for 235.00. Seriously, why not? It's a Malkoff M31 basically, and a quality front sight, and it weighs a total of about 3.2oz with battery. They also sell just the mount for $70 which is a good deal on a front sight. Price includes shipping (2 day) I ordered on a Wednesday and got it on Friday. add up the cost of a front sight, a quality light, and a mount. then add shipping and let me know where you are at cost wise. plus if you already have a light or like one better than a Malkoff. they offer the mount/sight separate as fatcat4620 pointed out above. |
| Did you want to use a mounted handheld light like you currently have or a weapon specific light? What are your mounting options on the rifle? What handguard it's on the rifle? Do you prefer a tape switch, toggle switch, clicky switch, or twist/momentary switch? Do you have a specific battery preference and do you want to use rechargeable batteries? |
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Did you want to use a mounted handheld light like you currently have or a weapon specific light? What are your mounting options on the rifle? What handguard it's on the rifle? Do you prefer a tape switch, toggle switch, clicky switch, or twist/momentary switch? Do you have a specific battery preference and do you want to use rechargeable batteries? I just recently purchased the Troy Alpha rail and have a VTAC mount. I currently have a Nitecore handheld light that is on it now, but would like something else. I've always had a handheld light in the VTAC mount so I don't have any experience with weapon specific lights... such as the Surefire Scout. I would love to try it but it's a bit out of my price range. I prefer the "clicky switch" buy I've tried the tape switch and liked it as well. I don't have a battery preference, although I don't necessarily like AA or AAA batteries. |
| I would move the front sight back and mount the tlr1 in front of it to see if I liked that configuration. I don't view the light you have now as a primary handheld and it may be too bright for a secondary light (looking at ID with a 900 lumen light will blind you). If you like what you have now you can always buy another hand held. I would look into a rechargeable hand held primary that can throw a good beam and a small secondary to use for mundane tasks. |
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Price includes shipping (2 day) I ordered on a Wednesday and got it on Friday. add up the cost of a front sight, a quality light, and a mount. then add shipping and let me know where you are at cost wise. plus if you already have a light or like one better than a Malkoff. they offer the mount/sight separate as fatcat4620 pointed out above. Quoted:
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Not for 235.00. Seriously, why not? It's a Malkoff M31 basically, and a quality front sight, and it weighs a total of about 3.2oz with battery. They also sell just the mount for $70 which is a good deal on a front sight. Price includes shipping (2 day) I ordered on a Wednesday and got it on Friday. add up the cost of a front sight, a quality light, and a mount. then add shipping and let me know where you are at cost wise. plus if you already have a light or like one better than a Malkoff. they offer the mount/sight separate as fatcat4620 pointed out above. Yep, I bought several, and for 0-50 yards, they are amazing products. Past that, and I like a TIR light. I modify mine though. Sapphire lenses. |
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I would move the front sight back and mount the tlr1 in front of it to see if I liked that configuration. I don't view the light you have now as a primary handheld and it may be too bright for a secondary light (looking at ID with a 900 lumen light will blind you). If you like what you have now you can always buy another hand held. I would look into a rechargeable hand held primary that can throw a good beam and a small secondary to use for mundane tasks. Good idea! Thanks for the suggestion, I'm going to try that. The light I have on it now is rechargeable... love that concept. |
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12_gauge- I love throwers but I don't think the should play a role in a civilian weapon mounted light. Definitely as a handheld though.
(Not taking about hunting) ETA: I have built singe P60 clones with R5 emitters under two 16340s with smooth reflectors that could throw 100 yards so there is middle ground. The problem is that with a thrower you have no peripheral light and that can cause tunnel vision. |
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I use the Streamlight TLR-1 HL (wide beam) and the TLR-1s HP (spot), I like the rocker switch to quickly turn on and off but you cant leave it on the gun in a case because most of the time it will get bumped on and kill the battery's, Its easy to take on and off so no biggie. I use it at times a lot 2-3 times a week during the season and they hold up well, battery life is OK about 1 to 1.5 hours run time, so that turns into a lot of trigger time as its only on when you are shooting.
For the light to work really well you need to have a long forearm and mount it out at the end of the barrel, so the isn't a shadow from the barrel in the picture that is a 14' forearm with a 16' barrel The Streamlight TLR-1 HL fits close to the barrel, wide even beam good out to 75-80 yards maybe a little more, will pick up eyes a lot further maybe 150+ yards. Its great when using thermal to sneaking up on hogs, try and get within 30-40 yds, the wide beam is great shooting a a 1-4x Vortex scope with a red dot at 1x you can pile them up in a heart beat. 
The TLP-1s HP is great when you have long shots at night, really throws a beam out there, 150 yds positive id with a 4x scope is no problem. 
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TLR1S or TLR1HL in front of the front sight. Low weight reliable light that with that placement keeps your rifle slim and less likely to snag on your gear. I tried my TLR-1s in front of my flip up front sight but couldn't get used to it. Just didn't like it as much. |
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I use the Streamlight TLR-1 HL (wide beam) and the TLR-1s HP (spot), I like the rocker switch to quickly turn on and off but you cant leave it on the gun in a case because most of the time it will get bumped on and kill the battery's, Its easy to take on and off so no biggie. I use it at times a lot 2-3 times a week during the season and they hold up well, battery life is OK about 1 to 1.5 hours run time, so that turns into a lot of trigger time as its only on when you are shooting. For the light to work really well you need to have a long forearm and mount it out at the end of the barrel, so the isn't a shadow from the barrel in the picture that is a 14' forearm with a 16' barrel The Streamlight TLR-1 HL fits close to the barrel, wide even beam good out to 75-80 yards maybe a little more, will pick up eyes a lot further maybe 150+ yards. Its great when using thermal to sneaking up on hogs, try and get within 30-40 yds, the wide beam is great shooting a a 1-4x Vortex scope with a red dot at 1x you can pile them up in a heart beat. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5601/15557179678_69aedd4c13_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7507/15122665094_288ae504f5_b.jpg Wow thanks for your response. I've never seen the TLR-1s HP before... that thing looks like a beast. I have the TLR-1s for my Glock and have tried it on my AR before. Another user here recommended putting it in front of my front sight but I just didn't like it and couldn't get used to it. I may have put it where you have it when I was bored and playing around but pretty sure I haven't shot it like that before so it wouldn't hurt to try it. The TLP-1s HP is great when you have long shots at night, really throws a beam out there, 150 yds positive id with a 4x scope is no problem. https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15123209463_633ffe0cae_b.jpg https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7496/15557449047_cacbc79020_b.jpg |
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How can we be this far into the thread and nobody has recommended a Surefire M600U scout light?
500 lumens in a lightweight package that doesn't have exposed toggle switches like the pistol lights mentioned here. Remember theres no trigger guard protecting the backplate on your TLR or X series and thats the vulnerable point of the light. Please consider the scout light, especially if this is going to be a working gun. They are damn near bomb-proof and can be combined with a SR07 if thats your thing. Check it out here. They even have the M600P (600 lumen version with a different head on it) for 244 bucks, but its not in stock right now. |
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How can we be this far into the thread and nobody has recommended a Surefire M600U scout light? 500 lumens in a lightweight package that doesn't have exposed toggle switches like the pistol lights mentioned here. Remember theres no trigger guard protecting the backplate on your TLR or X series and thats the vulnerable point of the light. Please consider the scout light, especially if this is going to be a working gun. They are damn near bomb-proof and can be combined with a SR07 if thats your thing. Check it out here. They even have the M600P (600 lumen version with a different head on it) for 244 bucks, but its not in stock right now. I would LOVE to get one of those but the price is what kills me. Being in the academy now I can't afford much. I may have found one for a decent price but not sure on the condition. |
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I would LOVE to get one of those but the price is what kills me. Being in the academy now I can't afford much. I may have found one for a decent price but not sure on the condition. Quoted:
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How can we be this far into the thread and nobody has recommended a Surefire M600U scout light? 500 lumens in a lightweight package that doesn't have exposed toggle switches like the pistol lights mentioned here. Remember theres no trigger guard protecting the backplate on your TLR or X series and thats the vulnerable point of the light. Please consider the scout light, especially if this is going to be a working gun. They are damn near bomb-proof and can be combined with a SR07 if thats your thing. Check it out here. They even have the M600P (600 lumen version with a different head on it) for 244 bucks, but its not in stock right now. I would LOVE to get one of those but the price is what kills me. Being in the academy now I can't afford much. I may have found one for a decent price but not sure on the condition. Then wait until you can afford one and put it off until you're out of the academy....or even off of FTO and out on your own. Duty rifles need duty quality parts. I've seen a lot of really lousy suggestions in this thread, and you need shit that works, period. |
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Quoted: How can we be this far into the thread and nobody has recommended a Surefire M600U scout light? 500 lumens in a lightweight package that doesn't have exposed toggle switches like the pistol lights mentioned here. Remember theres no trigger guard protecting the backplate on your TLR or X series and thats the vulnerable point of the light. Please consider the scout light, especially if this is going to be a working gun. They are damn near bomb-proof and can be combined with a SR07 if thats your thing. Check it out here. They even have the M600P (600 lumen version with a different head on it) for 244 bucks, but its not in stock right now. No more fast food for a while OP. Pinch those pennies.
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