tactical flashlights
 

OK...I'm set for guns for now. Let's talk flashlights. I've got a trusty D-cell maglite along with a mini for the car. But what about some serious light for the subject. On the high end, this looks illuminating:

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/prrfnbr/949/sesent/00

http://www.surefire.com/surefire/con...black_full.jpg

Some like 'em...I don't. Nothing like strapping a light to your gun barrel to give a bad guy an easy target. Most handgun self defense use is point & shoot. I'm not really keen on gun gadgetry.

Those Surefire lights are great... they are very bright (much brighter than a 3xD cell maglite) and have very focused beams. They're good stuff.... and they can be expensive, too!

I found a similar low end light made by Dorcy. They make a lot of crappy little C and D cell plastic junk lights, but the one I found is called the Spyder. It's an aluminum cased unit that uses 2 lithium cells and a xenon bulb like the Surefires. The beam isn't as focused, but it is HELLA bright. Has the button on the end, so it can be useable in 'tactical' situations.. hehehe.

Paul, that is not a rail mounted light...its for hand use.

I have no rail on my Sigs, and no interest in a weapon-mounted light. My buddy who is in Iraq now is keen on these "serious" flashlights as he claims that the guys over there consider them as usable defensive devices...they are so bright they can stun an opponent.

They are definitely bright... you DO NOT want to look directly into the beam. Once you see how bright it is, you'll understand...

If you can get the drop on someone, and they don't suspect it, a quick shine in the peepers will definitely stun them!

I visited this forum recently.
These guys are nuts about all manner of lights.
.
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/

Can't get more tactical than these:

http://www.pelican.com/lights.html

god bless the web...

That's an amazing forum, eh?
Some on there think nothing of spending $2k on a hand held.
Truly "Flashaholics." :eek:

I have a SureFire Aviator in the nightstand. Bright little MoFo! Little keychain Streamlight is always with me. For other purposes I have used various flavors of Maglights and they have served well...

Surefire is a great light! I have used one in the military for years. There should be some reading available to you on tactical use of lights.
Two basic ones are "firefly" and "painting a line"

Firefly involves using very short pulses of light (tac lights have a push button on/off switch) in different locations so that the bad guy can't focus in on one location for your soft body parts.

Painting a line is using short strokes to illumnate a larger area. Again you should use different angles and locations for your light source.

I'm sure more high speed, low drag military folks might have more to say on the subject, but I really like the surefire lights.

Someone just posted about this type of thing over on ARFCOM... (my other home)... found a two pack of aluminum bodied lithium batteried flashlights for $20. That's for two of them.

He did a beam comparison... looks as bright as his Surefire G2, but not quite as focused.

The package is labeled Xenon Maximum (and says 'tactical grade' right below the lamp).

Doesn't look too shabby for $10 each. Would be good for the nightstand... one for the car... one for the other car... one for the pack... one for the bike... hehehe..

More info, please...a link, maybe?
Thanks Matt.

Looks to be one of these @ 12 bucks a pop. Nice.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8739817199

http://i13.ebayimg.com/01/i/05/bf/cb/5d_1_b.JPG

HA! my girlfriend just bought me the SUREFIRE executive defender for the holidays. side by side, it is just a tad brighter than my STINGER flashlight. the defender has the "ridged" bezel that you can use to jab a badguy in the ribs. i played with it and hurt myself. the thing is tiny, clenched in my fist, only the ridges poke out. it would be like punching someone with a roll of pennies in my fist, if i chose to do so. i have been hasseled by lots of homeless freaks lately when i am inspecting bridges, so the abilty to hit harder makes me feel better.
the batteries are supposed to have a 10 year shelf life, so get a box. surefire sells them for $1.25 ea. versus $9 at walmart.

i am gonna order the more energy effiecient lightbulb for it. on camping trips without homeless freaks, the 2.5 hours of burn time would be welcomed if i get lost after dark. with the bright bulb, 75 lumen, i only get to play the sun for 75 mins. todd, it would be a tough call between the rechargable aluminum stinger, or any surefire.

good week on the BBS! four of my favorite topics' kitchen supplies, knives, flashlights, guns.

oh, for home defense i plan on being in a dark room and having the badguy in the lit room. easy to shoot his ass that way.

btw, i played with one of those flashlight mounted firearms. a styeraug (?), and a MP5. very cool, very flashy, very hollywood. my bro's swat hardware.

todd, next order of business is to go and buy an ASP, you can mount a stinger to it, and beat some arse. careful, it is a weapon, dont get arrested.

Pretty scary that there is actually a "flashlight forum"!

I thought we where the only ones with too much free time!:D

Sam's Club sells the Cyclops Xenon Max 2-pack for around $25 - basically a Chinese-made SureFire.

I found this at Costco before Christmas.http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1135926862.jpg
This from Helds Discount Knives site. The Light comes from Coast in Portland, Oregon. They apparently import from China.
As bright as the $120 Surefire tactical for about $30, at Costco.
I like the use of 3 triple A's rather than the expensive 123 lithium cells.
Smaller than the Surefire too. 4-1/2" long.
Yes I dig high perfomance flashlights too.
They also supply a replacement LED for the big Mag Lites. Changes from the old yellowish light to a bright white, uses less power too.

Is that the V2 or the V6?

-Eff