Weapons lights

[moonbat60]

Hey guys,

something along these lines has been probably posted before...............

how many lumens are enough for a weapons light ?

I know that there are models out there going at 100+ lumens, and then I've seen models going over 200 lumens.

I guess at a certain point it does not matter any more, as I'm not going to outperform any stadium floodlights anyway.

Any input appreciated.

Thanks,

Pete

[moonbat60]

Anybody ?

[redrum007]

You want at least 80 lumens for a pistol 100 for a rifle. Its kinda like beer, you can never have enough. Make sure you go with a good quality brand. What is it going on and what applications are you thinking of using it for? Law enforcment, military, home security?

[VonFireball]

My advice:

As many lumens as you can get for your rifle, unless you are looking at close quarters operations in which case the glare might blind you i.e a room painted white/light colors. Many of them are variable power.

In my opinion here is a more important tip: Get one that runs on AA or AAA batteries. In SHTF there is not gonna be much available for CR123 batteries (and they are pricey) or rechargeables whereas I can find deals on AA and especially AAA all the time.

I actually bought the old lady a Coleman LED light that throws a decent beam of around 110 lumens that runs on AAA for about $16 at Wally World. Not sure how tough it is, but it had the crenelated bezel and all.

I'm a USA made dude, but Surefire and other USA brands are way overpriced. I've had good luck with Fenix lights, but they are chinese. Consider visiting candlepower forums where a custom light maker will sell you as much power as you want in a tough Surefire casing (but custom guts).

Hope this helps Moonbat. Lemme know which direction you take.

[brunop]

Inside your house you dont need more than 100, but outdoors you will need more than 100 on a rifle. Depends on what you think you're doing.

If you are spotlighting invading creatures walking up on a checkpoint, I'd have 225 or more - you need to see what is going on before it gets to you.

You put 225 in your house, and you will be lit up like candle from all the backlighting from wall reflection.

Finally, I have had good luck with SureFire and Streamlight. I haven't tried the new brands like Pentagon or Pelican or whatever is the latest, greatest thing out there. I think the x300 is one of the best pistol lights going. I have two on carbines, too.

[moonbat60]

I'm looking for one to put on a home defense shotgun.

I already got a Streamlight TLR-1 in use on a pistol. The other day I saw a Nebo Protec weapons light with 190 lumens ( as advertised ) .

Thanks so far guys,



Pete

[SID325]

+1 on the Surefire X300 or a X200 if you can find one. I use a X300 on my Glock and my old X200 on my AR. CR123 batteries are not that expensive anymore and if you get a LED based light, the battery life is good.

sid

[EMSflyer]

I'm using one of Surefire's polymer LED flashlights on my FAL.
I think it's the G2, can't remember and too lazy to get it out of the safe right now. Anyway it's the model that takes 3 batteries and it's over 100 lumens.

I mounted it with the rail DSA sells that mounts to the standard handgard
vent slots.

Make the FAL kinda front heavy but not too bad.

Going to use it this way for pig hunt later on.

[Right Side Up]

There's nothing wrong with having 300 lumens out the front on a home defense rifle. I've got a Surefire M500A modded with a Cree XRE at 1500 ma. and also in another mount on the same gun a Tiablo A9 modded direct drive with an XRE cree and an 18650 Li-Ion.


I have single cell XPG Cree lights that push 300 out the front, and although the head gets warm quick, it's a damn good light that lest you see what you're looking at, while blinding what you're looking at, if you get my gest.

[DJ60]

Love the 200 lumen LED forend light on my home defense 870. They call it a "weaponlight" because it really is part of the weapon and is that important. I wouldn't skimp here. Nothing like a little flash blindness to disorient an invader. May even save both your lives.

[Beckman]

Originally posted by Right Side Up
... I've got a Surefire M500A modded with a Cree XRE at 1500 ma. ...

Could you please provide further details on this mod?

Who did the mod? If you did it, what parts did you use, etc.?

Thanks.