Years ago, I was involved in my agency’s flashlight comparison test and evaluations. In several different situations, numerous lights were tested. Each light was assigned a number, so the viewers could pick without bias. I ran the lights, so I knew which was on, but they were all new to me and I didn’t have a preference.
Unanimously, the Streamlight ProTac Rail Light 1 won, overall. It did not win every situation with every observer. We found that lights much brighter than 600 lumens was too bright for clearing houses (reflection of bright light on white walls or God forbid a mirror). Less than 500 lumens lost too much beyond 200 yards. Inside 200 yards, 300ish lumens is about perfect. The beam was of particular importance. Too wide, just made indirect light everywhere-good for movement detection, but bad for seeing objects, such as if the person was holding a weapon or a phone. If the beam is too narrow, you lose peripheral vision as the light forces tunnel vision. The Streamlight ProTac RL1 had the best balance, out of the lights we tested. This was a lot of what set it ahead of the others. The TenTap is really cool, as well.
My light has been through some shooting classes and a week long SWAT course where it got banged around and hasn’t caused any issues. I am a believer in it enough it’s what I put on my personal rifles.
https://www.streamlight.com/en/products/detail/index/protac-rail-mount-1
People like to go super bright. I prefer to keep my natural night vision as intact as possible.
This was my work rifle, before I turned it in.
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