Hunting & Fishing FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

[TOP PREDATOR]

i was using the usual gun mounted spotlight, which is kinda heavy and cumbersome. i tried the handheld stuff also. then i thought about just using a decent flashlight.

I got that Maglite LED last night. It is SUPER bright, very "white" and
very illuminating at distance. Absolutely blow away a standard Maglite
bulb. From the website On flashlights, http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews_index/reviews_by_mfgrs.htm there is a
rundown of lumens projected by the LED through a 2cell, 3cell, and
4cell, with the 3cell coming the brightest as the LED more efficiently
uses the power supplied with the 3cell. Nice thing too about the LEDs
is that even as battery power goes down, the amount of brightness
doesn't dwindle as much, and it uses less power to operate. This equals
having a light that stays brighter longer, that uses less power
(increases battery life), and stays almost as bright with older
batteries as new ones.

At 150 yards side by side with my 4 cell and 5 cell with regular bulbs,
the 3 cell LED is so much brighter and focusable, that

Being a 3 cell, so it's lighter and smaller than the traditional
spotlights we carry. The red filter really tones it down to the point
where it's defeating the purpose of target identification at night,
however the blue filter works well out to 150 yards (at least that's the
maximum distance I had to work with for the test).

I tried putting colored saran wrap over the clear lens, however it has
to be applied in a smooth fashion or the light beam gets distorted. I
also "sharpied" a clear lens with orange, it's ok, but not up to the
blue filter standards.

At 150 yards side by side with my 4 cell and 5 cell with regular bulbs,
the 3 cell LED is so much brighter and focusable, that I am going to get
the LED bulb upgrade for all my Maglites, as the improvement they make
are quite justified. May even "sharpie" one LED bulb to see the impact
it would make on having the color and the amount of light projection
given.

 

[DieselKinevel]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

don't know if you are asking a question or not but one of the less expensive surefire's (6p or g2) with a colored lens would work well. I have both the 6p and the g2 and both are very bright.

-Z

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

cool forum name...

not a question, but just sharing. the maglite, and the accessory kit, along with a belt loop = $37.00

 

[skinney_7]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

will have to look into the new LED mag.

 

[DieselKinevel]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TOP PREDATOR</div><div class="ubbcode-body">cool forum name...

not a question, but just sharing. the maglite, and the accessory kit, along with a belt loop = $37.00
</div></div>

roger that

Have you tried it out yet? I would like to know how easy/difficult it is to use while shooting. I usually hunt w/ a buddy so I really don't have to worry about doing everything myself.

Good hunting!

-Z

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

generally, i'll use a primary light (which this will be) just to catch the silhoutte or eyes glowing and confirm that it's legal game (scan). then i'll put down the primary, look through the optics, and use the weapon mounted flashlight (shot).

obviously the weapon mouted isn't as bright as the primary, just enough light to put crosshairs on it.

more convienant with a buddy, but sometimes he's not around or willing.

 

[50calibercruiser]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

About a year ago I did some filming for a guy who is sponsored by BSA. We went to a high fence hog outfit to shoot a commercial for this thing
http://www.lasergenetics.com/
What you see in their ad with the coyote looks C.G. But it is very, very close to what I saw and filmed. Also the hogs were oblivious to it.

I ordered one for a buddy, but I'm not sure I would have without my discount. But like all technology the price will come down. You can find them now for $299

 

[460mag]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

Browning has a little 210 lumen light out that ia a SMALL flashlight and 64.00 bucks at gander mountain, that bad boy coupled with an illuminated reticle is the cats meow! It oughta be illegal!!!!

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

i seen that lasergenic thing on another site, pretty cool. but $299.00 and i'm cheap. plus the whole bsa thing gets me a little nervous, i've been burned by their optics before. i don't know if it's ultimately made by bsa.

 

[50calibercruiser]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

Laser Genetics is wholly owned by BSA, but a different company. Gamo is the parent company I believe. They also own Kahles.

BSA does equal Crap O' La though.

 

[Spazz.]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I have a pair of Maglites. One is a 4D with a standard bulb. The other is one I carry with me that's a 2AA with an LED. When I hear noises outside (coyotes, thumps, etc), I find myself grabbing the little one with the LED because it's more reliably bright. If I have newer batteries in my big one, it definitely lights up the area better, but they tend to run down faster and it's therefore less reliable in a situation where I may <span style="font-style: italic">need</span> good light. I'm planning on picking up an LED upgrade for my big one soon.

I keep kicking myself because I saw while Christmas shopping in Lowe's, they had 2D LED Maglites for $19.99. I really considered picking up a couple, but I was in a hurry. I could have even had a pretty blue one

 

[killahog]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I use a Optronics gun mounted light with the red Lens for coyote hunting at night.

 

[leagle2]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

There was a recent thread here about the lasergenetics products. There is a real problem with them operating at all in cold weather. Apparently, from some of the guys comments, this "problem" is well known to the company but not well advertised. CS comments were basicly "Sorry, it doesn't work in the cold."

 

[brian64x]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I use this:
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/se4w3c.shtml

And at $21 you'd be hard pressed to find a better alternative. Works well @150yds.

 

[81STFACP]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Brian W</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use this:
http://www.rayovac.com/flashlight/se4w3c.shtml

And at $21 you'd be hard pressed to find a better alternative. Works well @150yds. </div></div>

Brian,

Can you focus the beam on this one?

 

[brian64x]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I don't remember if you can or not. If you can I have never messed with it. It is perfect for up close and at distance...for $21 that is...

 

[tansinator]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

Fenix TK10, great light

 

[Hateca]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I use a Lightforce light and is way lighter the most flashlights including Surefire size lights.

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

the one i have on the rifle itself, http://www.duracell.com/en-US/product/daylite-3aaa.jspx pretty bright out to 65/75 yards. its mounted on a rail using a 30 mm scope ring. it has a focusable beam, and is like $20 at walmart.

i just was looking for something compact, light and mobile but powerfull enough to get past 100 yards, which is where the i thought the LED maglite would come into play, and so far has and is quickly deployable.

i've used the regular gunmounted varmint lights, they (for me at least) are a little bulky, heavy (battery), and the remote cord always seems not to be where you want it when you need it (caught in branches, brush, etc.)

 

[SmokeRolls]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I guess I'm a surefire man on this.. Yep, their not cheap but dang they work. For night hunting I use all surefire. LED X-300's with and without pressure switches,good for aprox 175 yards clearly, M-900 grip light(Non-LED)Good for aprox 200 yards clearly, M-3 combat with (Non-LED)Turbo-Head and pressure switch with a red filter.. Flip the filter to the side for 250 lumen of brilliant focused light. I have found that with red filter I can illuminate a coyotes eyes at about 400 yards but body shape is a no go. When filter is flipped out of the way the white light illuminates the shape,color, and outline of the coyote pretty good at 300 but boy you better be quick, they hate that white light. At 200 yards its perfectly illuminated and at 100 yards, it's like daylight in a 30 yard circle around the coyote. I'll go take some photos of my setup and post it later. All my yardages are pre-measured behind my house.. I have goats on my farm and so I have to be watchful. We have a large group of coyotes that seem to gather around 2000 yards from my house deep in the woods.. Sometimes we don't hear them for a while and sometimes they sound like they are having their own woodstock convention in our valley. Plus, having a good quality scope with really good glass helps to see even clearer at night when used with good quality light...SmokeRolls

[/IMG]

 

[SmokeRolls]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

Pics added....SmokeRolls

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I bought a cheap ( $65 ) 6P surefire in town, added the red filter for another 20 bucks. Best light I ever owned, wife saw it an now she has one too. Can light up eyes at 200 with the filter, but use the white, and like the other fella said, be ready to shoot, they are gone.

Have shot the weapons mount SF also, pretty good kit, but pricey.

 

[Twisted]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

I run a dethray on my bedside rifle. It started life as a 3C maglite. A friend turns it down some where the rings are so standard 30mm rings fit and then does some work to the inside. Uses some oooh ahhh LED conversion, a P7 or something like that, machined in heatsinks, etc. etc. I want to say its just shy of 300 lumens. Its pretty damn bright. I will often mount on the side a G2 with LED conversion and blue filter to fill in. Actually works pretty slick as the suppressor blocks the beam just right to not illuminate fog and such but lets plenty of light fill in to see. Kinda odd but it works well.

 

[SmokeRolls]

Re: FLASHLIGHT FOR NIGHT CRITTERS

Twisted: 300 lumen is nothing to snivel at. I like creativity. Whatever works... I thought about mounting a million candlepower 12 volt spotter to my rifle and just using it in close proximity to the truck due to power demands. I have a cheap million power light that burns the night up.. I can see clearly at around 600 yards + depending on the night and the haze.. The glass or plastic isn't great but the dang thing destroys darkness.. In a perfect world, I would own a Shurefire Hellfighter (I beleive its 3,000 lumen) You might as well call it a light saber...Able to cut thru anything... But price tag goes with it. I have heard that it's just under $4,000 and only available to military and LE. But cannot confirm at this time...It doesnt matter, I could not afford it anyway....SmokeRolls