Best flashlight for AR?

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djmay71

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Yeah, yeah, yeah, "Flashlight on a range toy- what are you, a tactifool?"

Anyways, I'm looking to get a proper weaponlight on my NEA rather than having the scope ring with the Schrade flashlight on the side.
My budget is a max of $500, and it'd be a bonus if it included a laser.
 
What distance are you expecting to illuminate? Are you concerned more with performance, runtime, weight or a combination of the the three?

TDC
 
TDC said:
What distance are you expecting to illuminate? Are you concerned more with performance, runtime, weight or a combination of the the three?

TDC
Click to expand...

Combination.

I found the Inforce Weapon Light @ OST. Does anybody have any experience with it, and how does it stack up to the Streamlight?

BTW- I found the Streamlight @ Questar
 
I have a surefire light-laser combo and it is pretty great. Might be a bit over your budget. I am thinking it was over 500 once tax was paid. Works great though. I have it attached to my FNAR for hunting; the light is great to have if you are coming back after dark or heading out in the early morning. I have the laser calibrated for making 50+- yard shots which I would have an issue doing fast with my optics.
 
If you are looking at it for a PDW then you want strobe, so in the StreamLights that is the S models (TLR-2S etc).
Amazon.ca was the cheapest place to get the TLR-2 (non-S), don't know if they still are.
I have a few laser lights and accessories such as IR, NV, and I am now looking at separate light and laser instead of combos, reasons being:
- the combo units are usually bigger/bulkier to fit both features into the one package.
- if you go with a more compact package, usually that means the battery is more rare and smaller, so less light output and way less light on-time.
- the light eats a lot of power, when the light goes out from a dead battery, so does the laser.
- additional fidgety controls to toggle between the various light and laser modes.
- you are stuck with fewer choices (ie. afaik still no SureFire or StreamLight with green laser).
 
deegee said:
If you are looking at it for a PDW then you want strobe, so in the StreamLights that is the S models (TLR-2S etc).
Amazon.ca was the cheapest place to get the TLR-2 (non-S), don't know if they still are.
I have a few laser lights and accessories such as IR, NV, and I am now looking at separate light and laser instead of combos, reasons being:
- the combo units are usually bigger/bulkier to fit both features into the one package.
- if you go with a more compact package, usually that means the battery is more rare and smaller, so less light output and way less light on-time.
- the light eats a lot of power, when the light goes out from a dead battery, so does the laser.
- additional fidgety controls to toggle between the various light and laser modes.
- you are stuck with fewer choices (ie. afaik still no SureFire or StreamLight with green laser).
Click to expand...

What are you using for a laser setup then?
 
Here's a pic of a Viking Mount:
viking_helmetcat.jpg
 
djmay71 said:
What are you using for a laser setup then?
Click to expand...

For lasers I currently have only combos. I typically use my combos in laser mode only and use a separate light. I tend to think of the laser as a primary/secondary targeting system, whereas the light is something only used during dark and for intermittent triggering. Running combo units in a method like this can be difficult because of all of the fiddling with multiple tiny switches or mode flips.

I haven't decided on what final setups I am going to run, it will vary with the rifle. I'm going to pick up a few plain lasers and see what I like best.
Crimson Trace (eg. CMR201) and Lasermax Uni Micro/Uni Rifle are a couple of small lasers I have been looking at, but I want to see what their ergonomics are like when used on a rifle before I could recommend them.

A lot of it will be personal taste, where you plan on mounting it, and what you are using it for.
 
Don't know why you need or want a laser.

If you are going for a lightweight build and have money to spend, Surefire mini Scout in S&S offset mount.

If you don't care about weight or want some extra throw get the fullsized Scout in manufacturer of your choice offset mount.

The most economical choice is a G2 or G2 LED in an offset mount.

If this is for a build down the road pick up one of the new 500 lumen handheld SF Fury's and mount it. Can't beat that price for so much illumination.

There's no reason to spend $500 unless you want a dual LED/IR head.
 
Most tested and economical way:
Surefire 6P with clicky tail cap, or G2 with metal head and clicky tail cap. VTAC mount or Vltor. Upgrade P60 to Cree LED, you have many options to choose with this, DX cheapies or the tested Malkoff and many more. I recommend a 11 or 1 oclock position.

Or go big:
Get a dedicated Surefire weapon light, like the 660 Classic or Millennium or the Scout series. I recommend the Millennium and the Classic series as they are P60 compatible for upgradability. You can run it via clicky or a tape switch.

Or you can go affrordable:
Get a Fenix or 4Sevens, they are both very good and quite tested, make sure you use a trusted mount of your choice and you are good to go. Same advice as to mount it in the 11 or 1 oclock position.

Im not a big fan of pistol weapon lights on long guns, but you are free to run one if it works for you. The reason is they do not sit forward enough and will cause shadow issues.

Like all things that involves glass and mounts, you get what you pay for. So dont cheap out.
 
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Big_Red said:
Don't know why you need or want a laser.
Click to expand...

Probably just want, not need. :)


Not in response to your post, just a general comment:

For most people even a light is not necessary.
I always find myself having to pull them off when I go to some target shoots, usually because they interfere with the bag or sled on the table/bench.
I have the lasers sighted in for close quarters, but they are mostly just there for looks and fun, same with the lights and IR (I don't night shoot much). It's good to know they are there if I ever did need them though.
 
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