Best moderately priced weapon light??

[MacGyver]

Come by anytime you want to check out the light or the holster.

Frankly the offer stands open to anyone who wants to check out a x300 and a TLR-1 or TLR-3 side by side. You'll likely be perfectly happy with the Streamlight unless you compare it to the Surefire. Put them next to each other, and you'll be like, "oh."

It's simply a better light.

full disclosure: I still keep a TLR-3 on my Walther P99 because the rail isn't long enough to take a Surefire. That said, it's also one of the reasons I switched from the P99 to a G19 for everyday carry.

[mikegideon]

The more I mess with guns, the more I lean toward higher quality components. If there is an obvious "best in class", I would rather just cry once.

[Oh Shoot]

Looks nice but I didn't think about the light sticking out further than the barrel. That pretty much just killed the whole idea for me. The light would be stabbing me in the leg and I don't want that.

Solution: Crimson Trace LightGuard

http://www.tngunowne...ace-lightguard/

Bout $115 in hand.

- OS

[maroonandwhite]

I think you just solved my problem!! I assume someone makes holsters for these.

[Oh Shoot]

I think you just solved my problem!! I assume someone makes holsters for these.

Quick search shows some, yeah, including the uber popular Crossbreed

https://www.google.c...lient=firefox-a

https://www.google.c...iw=1638&bih=687

[maroonandwhite]

sweet

[mikegideon]

Solution: Crimson Trace LightGuard

http://www.tngunowne...ace-lightguard/

Bout $115 in hand.

- OS

That looks like a pretty good solution for pistols.

[Oh Shoot]

That looks like a pretty good solution for pistols.

Yeah, I like it. Even though there were plenty of reviews/vids online, I put it through the paces with about 75 shots to make sure it held up, all good. No way it's gonna jiggle loose either. Battery weight is really only added weight. Really lights up most all of my largest room, too, center of beam quite bright but plenty of peripheral light, including enough bleed/bounce to see sights even.

I don't carry it, but could I reckon.

- OS

[mikegideon]

Yeah, I like it. Even though there were plenty of reviews/vids online, I put it through the paces with about 75 shots to make sure it held up, all good. No way it's gonna jiggle loose either. Battery weight is really only added weight. Really lights up most all of my largest room, too, center of beam quite bright but plenty of peripheral light, including enough bleed/bounce to see sights even.

I don't carry it, but could I reckon.

- OS

I just ordered the X300 because I see more times when I would slap a light on an AR. If I was going for a dedicated nightstand solution (and I might), the CT looks pretty good. I've played with a few of the CT products, and their ergos are always good.

[Guest rebeldrummer]

question:

what are the requirements that one would want a weapon light to met in order to label it as reliable and effective? and worth owning?

Edited October 30, 2012 by rebeldrummer

[mikegideon]

question:

what are the requirements that one would want met to label a light as reliable and effective? and worth owning?

For me... what MacGyver said. I trust his judgement.

[Guest JMP]

You will be very happy with the Surefire. It is nicer and if you do mount it on an AR at the 12 o clock position on a rail (my preference) the bezel of the light doesn't block part of the sight picture like a TLR-1 will.

[mikegideon]

It will have to be 9 or 3 on both of my AR's with rails.

[Guest JMP]

I guess it doesn't matter if it strays off topic at this point, but have you tried http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Daniel-Defense-Tactical-Rail-Light-Mount-1-O-clock-p/dd-15000.htm? I have one sitting in a bag that I have never used. I'm holding on to it because I like the x300 @12:00 in front of my DD front sight well enough that it's strongly influencing my sbr build, but I may wind up with a FSP and just do a scout light. IDK what I'm going to do yet change my mind twice a week it seems... Just curious. I haven't found many people that have tried the offset from DD.

[MacGyver]

question:

what are the requirements that one would want a weapon light to met in order to label it as reliable and effective? and worth owning?

I want several things:

1. LED bulb - better as far as shock sensitivity is concerned and as far as consistent output is concerned.

2. Waterproof - I'm waterproof - my light needs to be as well

3. Shockproof - both lights stick out past the end of the barrel - they're going to absorb some energy

4. Operation - I've got small hands. I need to be able to actuate the switch without adjusting my firing grip. This includes both a momentary on press and a full-on rocker movement. I can't do it with the TLR series.

5. Holster availability - with the Streamlight and Surefire series, this shouldn't be a problem. Get out beyond that and your selection may be sparse.

6. For me, I want a more focused beam as opposed to a full flood effect. This is a matter of personal preference, and in a typical household environment won't much matter. The x300 is going to reach out a lot further than the TLR series will.

After all that, it needs to pass my carry test. That is, I need to carry it day in and day out for a while without it failing or feeling like it might. A lot of gear fails this test, and I'm not particularly hard on my gear. The wheat is separated from the chaff on a lot of tactical fluff when you actually put it into service and carry it.

[peejman]

question:

what are the requirements that one would want a weapon light to met in order to label it as reliable and effective? and worth owning?

Depends largely on your intended purpose. Nightstand gun, tactical carbine class, or fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan? Some might feel only the best will do regardless, but you have to decide for yourself what's "good enough" and balance that against your budget.

If it was my nightstand gun... I need a handful of reviews showing some comparable use/abuse and 100 or so rounds downrange myself to be confident it works adequately.

[mikegideon]

Just got my X300. Downright sexy. Bright too.

[MacGyver]

Good to hear.

[mikegideon]

[quote name='MacGyver' timestamp='1351881085' post='837891']
Good to hear.
[/quote]

It's not a surprise

[CWW710]

ultradon beat me to it. SureFires are the best...Streamlights works great for me. I have the TLR3 on my G23, TLR1S on my AR, and the Polytac on my Mossberg 500. Many rounds and always function great.

[Guest nowheretobefound]

Walther Tactical Pro
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/143019/walther-tactical-pro-flashlight-led-bulb-aluminum-black

We looked at a half dozen models well over a year ago and went with the above after looking at the specs and trying several that Umarex sent.

They are well made, beat allot of higher priced models per specs, very rugged and reliable.

We are not trying to mount them on side arms, for the most part don't ever use lights on side arms, but they are on the HKs and M4s the M590 and AA12s.