What's a good spotlight?

[jeff43]

I have a Streamlight Waypoint,it's 210 lumens.I would like to have something brighter, battery or rechargeable .Any ideas?

[Guest ThePunisher]

Get a Streamlight Protac HL for around $80.00. 600 lumens and 253 meters of beam distance. I just got one and it's really bright and has strobe also.

[leroy]

Jeff:  Take a look at one of these from here: http://flashlightconnection.com/Dereelight-Flashlights/Dereelight-DBS-Cree-XM-L-versions/Dereelight-DBS-T-Cree-XM-L-Flashlight-Warm-White-p422.html

 

The Dereelight stuff is good stuff... I've had one with an extender on it (...it adds battery time and makes the light more easily carried...) for several years... I can stand on my back deck and illuminate utility poles on the lower street (...probably 250 ft away...) like it's daylight... They are a great light and they are well built... As to the flashlight Connection guy; i've bought stuff from this guy for several years; he is a good guy... I would avise buying some rechargable li-ion batteries and an inexpensive charger... They work like a charm...

 

PS-- If ya get interested in this flashlight thing; go to Candlepower Forums... You'll learn more than ya ever wanted to know about this flashlite stuff....

 

hope this helps a bit...

leroy

Edited October 17, 2013 by leroy

[jeff43]

Does the Protac throw a good beam of light?I was wanting something , that I could see a coyote at 200 to 300 yards.

[TLRMADE]

About to jump on one of these! 500lumens!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BS46LGO

[Wiljo05]

Does the Protac throw a good beam of light?I was wanting something , that I could see a coyote at 200 to 300 yards.

if you can find an adjustable beam it will help. My Protac has a more of a flood pattern. its solid at sub 100 yards but washes out after that. Dont get me wrong, its stupidly bright, but even thru a scope i have trouble seeing beyond 100yrds

[jeff43]

I saw a Q beam at Wal Mart,thought I might try it.

[Wiljo05]

I saw a Q beam at Wal Mart,thought I might try it.

Can't beat the corded one. I've never had much luck with the battery powered ones. They never seemed to hold a charge long enough to be practical for me

[jeff43]

Yeah ,I have a corded one too.I have had it for a long time,it has a good beam. Edited October 18, 2013 by jeff43

[Guest ThePunisher]

Does the Protac throw a good beam of light?I was wanting something , that I could see a coyote at 200 to 300 yards.

Over 253 meters of beam distance. Yes. Bright, bright 600 lumens.

[jgradyc]

I have this light... a Jacob A60. It cost $16 from WallBuys in China, but shipping takes about three weeks.

 

http://wallbuys.com/Product/Jacob-A60-Cree-XR-E-Q5-3-Mode-310-LM-White-LED-Flashlight-Torch-wStrapBlack1x18650--8738

 

It puts out a tight spot surrounded by a weaker circle of light. I'd say the spot is maybe 6 feet at 100 yards. It's very bright at 100 yards. I just went out outside to check. At 200 yards, you could probably see a coyote, assuming you were looking through a scope.  I don't think it would reach 300 yards. I also have a Defiant 3c from Home Depot that puts out the same brightness, but a bigger spot... maybe 15 ft at 100 yards. It's a big 3 C-cell LED flashlight.  It might reach 300 yards, but I doubt it. I don't have a clear field of vision from my yard to see that far... sorry.

 

I suggest you go to http://budgetlightforum.com/  and search for spotlight or "throw" as they call it. You'll find beam shots and user reviews of inexpensive lights. It's a friendly place and you can ask the same question that other newbies have asked 4 times over the past year and you'll get helpful responses. Except for the throwers, which can go up to $200, they seldom review lights that cost more than $50-80. Most are in the $30 range.

 

If you'd prefer to pay a lot more than $50-$80, go to candle power forum. They only review expensive lights and the moderators are like the SoupNazi guy in Seinfeld. You have to strictly follow their rules and THE RULES ARE NUMBERED... You'll get a nasty post saying you've violated rule #23 with your question.

Edited October 18, 2013 by jgradyc

[jgradyc]

I love the BLF website. Here's a link to some beamshots with a couple dozen LED flashlights. http://budgetlightforum.com/node/23875

 

Scroll down until you see the photos. The first banner is 300 meters away, so you can find a light the will meet your criteria.  Keep in mind that the wider the beam, the more it's going to destroy your night vision, so there is a trade off in lighting up everything up close and seeing something far away. I was surprised to see that the Jacob A60 I mentioned can in fact light up the banner 300 meters away. The spot is so tiny that when walking the dogs, it seems dimmer than my other lights because it only has that pencil thin bright spot. When looking a distance through gaps in the trees, a super narrow beam is an asset because you won't get light reflected back at you from nearby trees.  I hope this helps. A comparison of several lights at night is a lot better than comparing "lumens" rating, which can be all over the place.

Edited October 19, 2013 by jgradyc