Professional flashlight questions?

[look 171]

Looking to buy a few Streamlight rechargerable flashlights. Any of you try their LED rechargerables? I know they are not as bright, but it is a heck of a lot better then a 3 battery regular MAG Light. I need to see across an attic or have more then good ligting in the craw space. I have their regular rechargerable flash lights cops use. It is a great tool. I am thinking about a few for my crew. What do you think of their LEDs?

Jeff

[nota]

for bright and rechargeable the tool pack units are good
the one that come with the drills or saws and use the same battery packs
all the majors make them

for cheap and quick I like the shake type LED little ones

[Bill Douglas]

After reading the Mall Ninja thread I think you should buy the one that makes the best weapon. Maybe a really big Mag light.

[vash]

ooooooo..!!!

my 911 is a hobby, flashlights are an obsession. hahah.

you need a "vanilla" streamlight, poly stinger. i have had one for maybe 12 years. the same one. i have had to change a battery ONCE. i bought it for almost the exact use you needed it for. TEXDOT got the job of renovating downtown EL PASO, TX. running heavy equipment down the streets was questionable for the antique basements under 90% of the buildings. so they sent the summer intern down there to photograph and document any pre-existing damage, ME. imagine pretty much every building abandoned the use of the basements. i had to crawl into hidden doors, and some trapdoors. one was even a bookcase hidden door. none had electricity. the feeble torch they gave me to use was downright pathetic. i bought the poly. it was like bringing the sun with me. i shoot a 8 foot bright circle at 140 feet. (my backyard section) it is awesome. battery charge lasts 1 hour, i changed my truck starter in the dark with it. the LED is good if you need to read the occasional plan sheet. light is more dispersed. battery life better. for distance you need the regular poly.

[Don Plumley]

http://www.surefire.com/

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

After reading the Mall Ninja thread I think you should buy the one that makes the best weapon. Maybe a really big Mag light.

NO! Mall Ninja says light sabre - great illumination AND can be used for taking down violent shoplifters. That would save wasting bullets shooting them in the back of the knee.

[RoninLB]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

http://www.surefire.com/

why are they so expensive?

are they worth it?

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

why are they so expensive?

are they worth it?

I don't have one but have a gadget-centric friend that does.

They are made for military/tactical use (like for mall cops). You see them attached to firearms. The light beam on some are so strong that they temporarily disable/disorient.

Their basic versions are really, really, really nice flashlights.

[nostatic]

There is a whole flashlight subculture, and the arguments are similar to Ford vs. Chevy, Glock vs. HK, etc. You can spend crazy money on them.

http://www.flashlight-forums.com/

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/

I have an old school Maglite (the 4 D battery version) for around the house. The newer tech is pretty cool though - LED lights with multiple power settings, xenon bulbs with high power that will disable someone if you shine it in their eyes, etc. There are the cheap Chinese versions, the more expensive Chinese versions, and the really expensive versions (probably made in China too). Crazy...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

why are they so expensive?

are they worth it?

You & John already have great little tent lights, IMHO...

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by RoninLB

why are they so expensive?

are they worth it?

I don't think so.

I also think putting a flashlight on a firearm is extremely stupid, but that's just me.

I have a 4 D cell Maglight LED. It's extremely bright and the batteries last for a long time with the LED bulb. SUPER bright, and will easily blind someone temporarilly.

It's also really good for a self defense tool, something that holds much value for a repossessor. Even better, it's an obvious deterrant. No one wants to get smacked upside the head with a bigass metal flashlight.

A tiny little sure fire isn't going to intimidate anyone, is worthless as a head knocker, lacks a focusable beam, so has very short range. They're also very expensive, as are the batteries they use, and they go through them FAST. Their one real upside is that they're extremely compact.

[CurtEgerer]

Originally Posted by look 171

Looking to buy a few Streamlight rechargerable flashlights. Any of you try their LED rechargerables? I know they are not as bright, but it is a heck of a lot better then a 3 battery regular MAG Light. I need to see across an attic or have more then good ligting in the craw space. I have their regular rechargerable flash lights cops use. It is a great tool. I am thinking about a few for my crew. What do you think of their LEDs?

Jeff

Streamlight is about 2 years behind the curve on LEDs. Maglight is even further back. Don't even consider an LED from them or any LED available locally at Home Defect or WalMart - they are a joke.

For comparison, a Streamlight Stinger is something like 125 Lumens. Even the most basic Cree-engined LED is 200 Lumens these days - twice as bright. I use a 280 lumen LumaHunter every day and it needs to be charged maybe every 2 months. It will shine 1/4 mile and is smaller than a Stinger. Battery Junction is an excellent store to deal with. It would be very difficult to beat their current deal on the 700 lumen Olight for $140.

http://www.batteryjunction.com/olight-m30-triton.html

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by roninlb

why are they so expensive?

Are they worth it?

yes

I use the Sure Fire every day. Since Lasik, I've found that while I have 20/20 vision, it takes more light and a bit of time to focus....kind of like NOSTATIC's sex life...%^B....

For normal life. On the end of a gun, nope...ya just illuminate yer ass to get terminated by the bad guy....

If you asbolutely need light, laser spotting...use an instant on feature, get some Russian surplus IR goggles.... but be freaking quiet when you defend your home....

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by mikez

on the end of a gun, nope...ya just illuminate yer ass to get terminated by the bad guy....

If you asbolutely need light, laser spotting...use an instant on feature, get some russian surplus ir goggles....

+10000000000

[Hugh R]

I have two surefires. One takes 1 lithium 123 battery the other takes three. The single one is brighter than a 4 D cell Mag light with Krypton bulb. The one that takes 3 of the batteries is WAY WAY brighter. When you need a new bulb, you have to buy an insanely expensive bulb/reflector unit.

[Joe Bob]

They also don't have the brown spots/bad illumiation areas that Mags have...important for close in work for old fuchers like me......

The 123 A batteries on first look are expensive, bought in bulk on sale not so...the have a long shelf life. They bend you over at the local stores as they are used in cameras and alarm systems...

I did a lot research on these for my agency. We bought twenty of them and a schitzzlepot of batteries.....look around, there are deals to be had.

[Hugh R]

Check out this site. They sell the 123 lithium batteries 20 for $25. Nice flashlights too.

http://www.botachtactical.com

[look 171]

How did it get to guns and cracking someone over the head? All I wanted to do was to see into someone's attic or crawspace. Thanks for the info BTW. I have a bunch of the little Surefire non rechargeable flashlignts. The non LEDs, I absolutely love them. Out perform the standard 3D mag lights anyday of the week. Bad things is that they kill batteries real quick and they are not cheap. Workmen, they don't really save because it isn't their money. Still, its cheaper to have them craw across the way to check out something vs just shine a quick light at it.

[Joe Bob]

Originally Posted by look 171

How did it get to guns and cracking someone over the head? All I wanted to do was to see into someone's attic or crawspace. Thanks for the info BTW. I have a bunch of the little Surefire non rechargeable flashlignts. The non LEDs, I absolutely love them. Out perform the standard 3D mag lights anyday of the week. Bad things is that they kill batteries real quick and they are not cheap. Workmen, they don't really save because it isn't their money. Still, its cheaper to have them craw across the way to check out something vs just shine a quick light at it.

Because they were originally sold as tactical spotlights.....

[look 171]

Originally Posted by vash

ooooooo..!!!

my 911 is a hobby, flashlights are an obsession. hahah.

you need a "vanilla" streamlight, poly stinger. i have had one for maybe 12 years. the same one. i have had to change a battery ONCE. i bought it for almost the exact use you needed it for. TEXDOT got the job of renovating downtown EL PASO, TX. running heavy equipment down the streets was questionable for the antique basements under 90% of the buildings. so they sent the summer intern down there to photograph and document any pre-existing damage, ME. imagine pretty much every building abandoned the use of the basements. i had to crawl into hidden doors, and some trapdoors. one was even a bookcase hidden door. none had electricity. the feeble torch they gave me to use was downright pathetic. i bought the poly. it was like bringing the sun with me. i shoot a 8 foot bright circle at 140 feet. (my backyard section) it is awesome. battery charge lasts 1 hour, i changed my truck starter in the dark with it. the LED is good if you need to read the occasional plan sheet. light is more dispersed. battery life better. for distance you need the regular poly.

Wow, you sound like you're about to cum. Good I knew there's a sick bastard out there that know or play with a real tool. Its a tool, not a flash light. I have a Streamlight Scorpion I think. This thing is the "Sun". I love it but a bit too big to fit in the pocket while talking to clients hanging around their house or construction site. I was hoping LED technology is better and brighter by now. I like to buy 6 of them and give it to 3 of my guys. They have been very good boys, and the rest in my own vehicles and one in my wife's van so the kids can kill the bettery. Thanks again. If you have any suggestions please don't hold back. Flash lights are really a boy thing.

Jeff