[Red Dawg]

We've had some basic discussion about just about everything but tactical flashlights. What are some of the best and brightest for the money? How many of you guys and gals carry a tactical light?

 

[RoadGlider]

I've just begun looking into the tactical flashlight as well and would be interested in what the members have to say.

 

[deadeyedick]

I'm partial to SureFire products, and I carry one of these (an E2D Executive Defender) at all times...

I find myself using it far more often than I had initially anticipated, so now I wish I had the LED version...twice the lumens and longer run time. But you can find something in the SureFire product line to fill every conceivable tactical niche (except maybe a Bat Signal).

 

[driver]

For $30 it's hard to beat this flashlight. Sure, you cannot stab someone in the face with it like the surefire. It uses a xenon bulb and takes two lithium batteries just like the surefire. You can dunk it in saltwater all day long and go home and rinse it off and its perfectly fine. I bought mine at walmart a few years ago.

One important thing to note is that these lights (the xenon ones like this and the surefire) eat batteries alive, so if you use it extensively make sure you keep backup batteries near by. It sucks when you cannot use your awesome flashlight b/c the batteries are dead.

For $90 you can always have one in your house, one in your car, and one on your person at all times. 1 surefire flashlight probably cost that much, and I know I do not hardly ever carry mine, but there is always one in the house and one in the car.

 

[OrlandoDriver]

I went to Sams and Purchased a set of 2 for $28.00 got 2 for the price gave one to the wife puts out 60 lumens works pretty good also.I also have one on my 24/7 9mm light/laser i got for $60.00 puts out 135 lumens. I don't mind buying name brands bu some of these brands are way to exspensive.

 

[deadeyedick]

If you don't carry a SureFire you don't get to be in the TactiKewl Kids club. :rolf

 

[OrlandoDriver]

If you don't carry a SureFire you don't get to be in the TactiKewl Kids club. :rolf

lol :rolf
now thats funny:rolf

 

[capngeo]

I bought a 3 watt LED at Homer D for $30.. uses regular batteries, and fits perfectly in a 1" scope ring!

 

[RWBShooter]

I bought a cheap one at (of all places) Publix for $10. It's a 14 LED model and is small enough that I put it on my keyring. (I'll have it in my pocket anytime I leave the house.) Uses 3 AAA batteries. It's bright enough to light to the corners of my backyard and would seriously disrupt a BGs night vision if it hit him in the face at night or in a darkened room.

- Str8Shooter

 

[brownie]

I have two Surefire 6P's [ one at the back door and one in the tack room at the corral ], a surefire E2d for the search and rescue pack, a surefire g2 for the truck sitting in the door pocket, a surefire Z2 and surefire E1L LED in the bedroom.:rolf

The E1L also goes with me while I'm out and about most of the time. Three cases of batteries in the house, a case of batteries in the truck and a case of batteries in the search pack.

I like the idea of "let there be light"

Am I in the "club" deadeyedick:thumsup

Brownie

 

[FL2011]

I keep a Fenix L2D in the car or at home with me. Great light, multiple levels, strobe, and very bright.

In my backpack and if I'm just walking around I'll carry just some ~3" long energizer LED that runs on a single AA. Not exactly sure how bright, just one level but it was a momentary on/off push button on tailcap. Found it at target probably for $20 or less and I basically just got it to keep something handy.

Actually thinking about getting a NiteCore (EX10 I think). Very small but has a lot of features/light levels.

 

[SingleStack45]

For $30 it's hard to beat this flashlight. Sure, you cannot stab someone in the face with it like the surefire. It uses a xenon bulb and takes two lithium batteries just like the surefire. You can dunk it in saltwater all day long and go home and rinse it off and its perfectly fine. I bought mine at walmart a few years ago.

One important thing to note is that these lights (the xenon ones like this and the surefire) eat batteries alive, so if you use it extensively make sure you keep backup batteries near by. It sucks when you cannot use your awesome flashlight b/c the batteries are dead.

For $90 you can always have one in your house, one in your car, and one on your person at all times. 1 surefire flashlight probably cost that much, and I know I do not hardly ever carry mine, but there is always one in the house and one in the car.

I have one of those at my bedside...since someone stole my Surefire 6P at a campout. It's been a very good light...the beam is not quite as focused as the 6P/G2 lights...but just as bright.

My daily carry is this light from Rayovac...takes AA batteries and is 80 lumens...I even gave one to my wife.....wish I'd kept that one...

 

[MamaBear]

Am I in the "club" deadeyedick:Brownie

Well, I'm not deadeye but based on that stock pile of yours I'd say you are in the running for president of the club.

I'm good to find any working flashlight in the house at all. I can't even keep night lights from burning out on me. I guess I need to quit depending on the streetlight outside to illuminate my house at night.

It looks like I need to research good flashlights now. Being on this little forum is getting expensive. I need to quit looking at all of your stuff and be content with my stuff.


MamaBear

We watch this silly little kids Christmas dvd each year as a tradition. In it there is a dialogue between kids and parents that goes something like this:

"Billy has more toys than me."

"Who is Billy?"

"I don't know but he has more toys than me."

 

[brownie]

I've got a high intensity flashlight within easy reach from the bed, the kitchen back door, the truck door, the corral tack room and a few extras around just in case I need one.

Lights out here in a storm; bump in the night, etc, I'm not "looking" for a flashlight, there's one right there.

My wife never had a flashlight that was worth a damn when I needed it, I took care of that situation a long time ago Mamabear:rolf

Brownie

 

[OLDJEEP813]

I got a Coleman max from Walmart for 20 bucks. 110 lumens in white mode has a red mode for night vision and a blue mode for following a blood trail(lights are meant for hunting). There is another version that has green instead of blue for reading maps and charts at night.

 

[capngeo]

Tactical Flashlight?

Thinking about the new Leatherman Serac-S3

Anyone have one?

 

[mrengles]

Our boys in the Army use surefire. A friend of my in the Army Rangers suggested one of their lights for my H&K USP.

http://www.surefire.com/

They will put out more them 120 lumens.

 

[mercop]

How many lumens do you need? The vast majority of Surefires being used by police are 60 lumens since it is the most common. It is also the most common on SF weapon lights. I have never had any problems with that being too little light for doing car stops, building searches or walk up stops.

Off duty before and retired now I prefer the Surefire L2 since it is Kubaton size and you can use the first stage 15 Lumen LED for common tasks but under stress you can push all the way and get 100 Lumen.

http://www.surefire.com/L2-LumaMax

We have a few new Novatecs that are enroute for T&E, Novatec said it will become my new light, we'll see.

I am not a fan of dedicated lights on pistols since from what I have seen it leads to two major issues-
Using it as a gun attached to a light and not a light attached to a gun.
Failure of those carrying to carry a back up light.

YMMV

 

[Paladin]

I saw the Surefires at my local Lowes home improvement store.

But I carry this in the SUV - http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414269 and this in my rear pocket - http://www.dorcy.com/products.aspx?p=414297

 

[capngeo]

Surefire is BIG $$ these are $49 on fleaBay