Posted: 9/6/2007 9:58:04 AM EDT
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I am preparing to buy another weapon light and I am trying to decide what I want to buy. I have an ITI M3LED on my Home Defense gun and it really works well for that role as I never carry that gun (it sites on the dresser at night and in the safe during the day) but I am now looking for a new weapon light for my SHTF Glock 17. I am looking for a system that is more robust, perhaps brighter, and will allow me several holster alternatives. In addition, my G17 does have an extended threaded barrel as well as an AAC Evo 9 attached much of the time but that should be an issue for most weapon lights. I see the Surefire 200x series is available with LED lamps but I had a tough time searching out any reviews with the good or bad. My alternate choice would be one of the new streamlight models (TLR-2 perhaps) but I am looking for a robust system as this gun and light will get stuffed in a pack a good amount of the time. |
| I am a big fan of Insight products. I have owned a M3, M6X and M3X. They make tough products and the big advantage is they slide on to rails and lock without having to tighten a screw. There are lots of holser options with insight products especially for Glock. I would get a M3X as you have already have used the LED versions. Mine will light up anything inside 75 yards. The bulb versions seem brighter than LED versions. If you are set on something new surefire is second. They are probally a bit more durable than the M3X but I have put my Insight products through a fair amount of abuse without breaking or bulb failure. I haven't seen many holster options for streamlight. I keep the M3X with a LED flashlight handy. For SD/HD you should definately have a hand held light. |
Thanks... and I do have a handheld (Surefire Z2) as well. |
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I have a Surefire 200 series light. I dont' remember which one now. It is mounted on a Glock 34 with a threaded barrel and an AAC Evo-9 suppressor. I really can't give you any kind of a review on it. It has worked fine for what I do with it. I have never done anything to really test it's durability or how it stands up to abuse. The one I have is years behind the times in terms of LED technology (CREE) but, it is bright enough for what I do with it. Inside the house it is fairly bright. Outside I have used it several times to shoot jackrabbits at distances out to 25 yards or a little beyond and the light performed better that I expected it to. I don't have a lot of experience with rail mounted handgun lights. This is the only one I have ever owned so I can't compare it against anything else. I own a lot of Surefire lights but am starting to come to the conclusion that for my needs, I can get brighter/smaller lights for a lot less money. If I was looking for a rail mounted handgun light, I would definitely see what else is out there besides Surefire before I did anything. You can be assured with Surefire that you are spending the maximum amount of money for a given performance level. |
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Streamlight and Surefire have normally been the only options for weapons lights, but now Safariland has come into play with the RLS weapons lighting system. It comes with a belt clip built in so no holster is required. Uses an LED bulb thats 65 Lumens bright and is powered by 3 AAA batteries loaded into a circular magazine tube. Cheaper than CR123A Lithiums. Can be used on any 1913 Picatinny rail system and is rated for shotguns, handguns, and rifles too. Has O-ring for waterproofness and has a button for momentary illumination or if you push the button all the way in- it clicks and stays on. This light can be adjusted for left hand or right hand use on the firearm and sells for $125.00 This light fits all models of Glocks, Sigs with rails and any handgun with a non proprietary rail. Will fit H&K P2000 with the picatinny rail but not the older USPs with the proprietary rail yet- until an adaptor comes out later on. Easy on and off weapons with no buttons to push. I love mine so far. One more thing about this light is that if you want to use it as a flashlight, you can. Just pull it out of the molded housing and it can be a regular light with a clip....if you want a gun light then just put it back in the housing. Happy Choosings... ESQ |
| I have had the X200 for about 2 years now and have used the streamlights too. for the money the streamlight for 100 bucks is much better choice i think. my biggest complaint about the X200 is that it turns on anytime you touch the switch. accidental light ups have been a problem. The throw on mine is about 25 yds. The biggest thumbs up is that it is so small and light. I have had mine for about 2 years now and when i bought it was the s. I have used mine on raids, patrol, and a couple of week long schools. Its really durable and the battery life seems like it goes forever. I usually replace the battery about once every 6 months just to be sure but have never completely run it down. If you shoot much with a light attached to the hg much, you will start to get a carbon build up on the top of the light. The barrell on my G-22 doesnt extend as far as the X200 and when i am doing alot of shooting I put some tape over the bezel of the light so as to not foul it up and have to clean. The tlr i tried in recent carbine school really had a long throw and alot brighter. I would have to say if I could trade the sf for one of those tlrs with laser, i would. My light usually rides the rifle. I would rather use hand held light with hg. I have seen a new light from SF in mags lately maybe alot better?? anyone know??? If i were looking for a new light now I would look for the one with the best throw. I have bought some really cool led lights that just couldnt light up very far. |
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Surefire X300 is due out in October. It is identical to the x200, except that it comes with the 5-watt CREE LED. 110 lumens for 2.4 hours. MSRP is going to be $225 to compete with other brands. Surefire is working on an X300 laser model, but have no release date at this time. (I talked to them on the phone last week) |
Just checked the Surefire site, the X200 series isn't even listed anymore... any idea if there's a conversion kit to mod the 200 to the 300 series? I seem to be a bit dense on the CREE upgrades. |
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I'll throw my 1 cent in the mix... I have 3 x200's. I love them. They are not cheap, nor are they inexpensive. I have 1 M3 and have tried the other new version (TLR series). The M3 is plastic and works, but is not my idea of tough. It is also larger. The TLR seemed like a nice light, but also seemed larger than the x200. It seems to me also, that the only IWB holster w/ gun/light combo you can get is with an x200. This may not be an issue for you, but it was for me. Another thing that was an issue for me was the "remote" pressure switch. SF has the best that I have seen. IIRC, the TLR is cheaper, which may be a plus. Depending on your needs, I would think either the x200 or TLR would work fine. Personally, I prefer the x200. |
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SF had two models of the x200, the A and B. One had a more diffused light, making it wider and shorter, while the other had a narrower beam for distance. I have the narrower beam, giving me more distance. IIRC, I can get decent visual out to around 35 or 40 yards or so. This new x300 (on their website now) looks very interesting though. |
From what Surefire told me, even though the bodies are identical, there won't be a conversion available. |
They can't get much better in the current package. 5-watt LEDs generate heat. The new X300 has a CREE LED, which was king of the mountain for a short time. But there is already something brighter and more efficient. Surefire went from a 3 to 5 watt LED when they moved from the X200A to B. Undoubtedly a 6, 7, 8, 10, 20... etc. LED will be available. But they will draw too much current, and generate too much heat to be used in a package as small as the Surefire X300 light. Keep in mind, this isn't heat like an equivalent xenon bulb would generate, but enough heat to affect the operation of the LED, if not kill it. I'm sure the X300 is already pushing that limit. Last I knew, 5-watt converstion kits for MagLites weren't doing too well because of heat issues. I don't know how Surefire solved the problem. |
So, as designers conjure up more efficient LED's, they will consume less wattage at a given light output, thus generating less heat, or creating significantly more light at a given power consumption rate. So is the case with the new Cree Q5's. Will this LED tech keep improving like the computer industry? Will there come a time when we get a 250 lumen light from a single AAA battery flashlight? The new Fenix P1D CE Premium Q5 puts out 180 lumens from a single CR123A. Who would have thunk such a thing 5 years ago. |
True on all points. However, in general, higher output usually means more consumption. Granted, they are making them more efficient. And I have looked at those Fenix torches you mentioned. But aren't those LEDs overdriven? And what is the runtime? It is difficult to speculate on anything in this field since it is moving so fast. |
Overdrive? I guess, they specifically say not to use it for more than 10 minutes as it gets pretty hot. But you can run the P3D Q5 continuously at: 120 lumens for 4.8 hours 53 lumens for 13 hours 12 lumens for 65 hours When ever you run out of adequate power to run at a chosen mode, it still runs at the next lower mode. I don't know how they get run times that so smoke the competition, but I imagine there's more to the story than just the LED. I think Fenix must have an awesome voltage regulator as well. |
By "overdriven", I meant feeding it more power than it really wants. People into high intensity flashlights over at the candlepower.net forum know all about pushing things to the limits, whether it is incandescent bulbs, LED lamps, or laser diodes. It will run hotter and brighter. But it will also cut it's life expectancy. Surefire could probably get 200 lumens out of their X200B or X300... but they aren't going to put their name on something that won't operate more than 10 minutes at a time, and can't be waranteed for more than a month |