Sidearms & Scatterguns What Flashlight?

[deltawiskey]

I'm looking for some flashlight suggestions.
General use, nightstand, hunting pack, vehicle, in the yard with the dog (I live in the country).
I'm thinking 8" or less, CR123 and or rechargeable.
Multiple illumination levels so it can be daylight bright or dim enough to read a map.
Thank you,
DW

 

[pmclaine]

Surefire never lets me down.

 

[missed]

I really love Surefire but CR123 rechargeables are a pain in the ass, finding good ones is tough.

18650 and The larger 21850 batteries you can get good quality safe NCR, Panasonic..... Japan and Korean batteries.

But my 18650 rechargable Olights have been pretty damn good.

I have a few different Olights the M2R baton (which takes a 21850 battery, the smaller 18650 baton, the original baton which they actually replaced after I owned it 5 years. It was nearly worn through on the body where my knife rubbed it in my pocket. Plus two of there large lights.

 

[tag2601]

surefire or streamlight at the top.

lots of chinesium that are crap shoots.

 

[deltawiskey]

Surefire never lets me down.

Any particular model? Do you use the rechargeable battery or the CR123?

 

[deltawiskey]

surefire or streamlight at the top.

lots of chinesium that are crap shoots.

Yeah, definitely not interested in chinesium!
DW

 

[nikonNUT]

I’m thinking it’s Chinesium but I really like my Fenix PD40R. Compact, rechargeable (I got an extra battery and charger that doubles as a power bank) , and bright enough to cause brain damage. 3000 lumen on turbo mode. All I know is everything I’ve ordered came from down the road in Monticello, Arkansas.

 

[Crankie]

Surefire.

 

[deltawiskey]

I kinda like the looks of the Surefire Fury IntelliBeam.....
DW

 

[pmclaine]

Any particular model? Do you use the rechargeable battery or the CR123?

I have an incandescent A2 Aviator (red and white light) on my belt for 16 or so years. Ever since responding to an event and realizing white light and night blindness sucked from the issue Maglight. Wish it had LEDs but works fine for my needs. CR123

Boss gave a group of us nitrolon 6P that rides in my backpack and always seems to work. CR123

Some sort of 952Vampire weapon light on my rifle that takes two Cr123s

I bought my latest X300B for a pistol because the Olight I bought originally just struck me as cheap and I sent it back. I wanted a light that did not extend beyond the bore of the pistol but I just couldnt get over the chinesium. Think I have 3 300Bs in all. CR123

I buy boxes of Surefire CR123s and they seem to last awhile.

 

[MK20]

Streamlight makes a 300 lumen that takes a AA or a 123. The adaptor is built into the light. It is about 40 bucks. I love them.

 

[LawnMM]

Modlite with an OKW head will run circles around anything else out there but it's one level on or off

They do have a dual fuel version that runs on 18650s/CR123s

Not cheap but it's the brightest handheld light on the planet.

 

[Crews]

I have a Surefire Backup MV. It’s a single CR123. Tiny enough to have in your pocket no matter what. Comes on bright 1st click every time, second click gives you a much dimmer general light for every day tasks. In my opinion, it’s the perfect EDC decent at all trades kind of light.

oh, and I’ll never trust a Streamlight just to save a few bucks again. I just don’t think they’re as durable.

 

[Morgan3]

For what you are looking for, I would never consider a light that wasn’t compatible with rechargeable cells like 18650’s. the majority of today’s 18650 lights will also take cr123’s but 18650’s are way more efficient, much brighter and cost a lot less to fuel.
I have quite a few modlight, CD reins and surefire weapon lights and they are either off or full power sun mode.
I generally shun Chinesium products but with Handheld lights and headlamps it’s not same. Companys like nitecore and olight make incredible lights that are crazy bright and extremely versatile.
I love surefire weapon lights but watched as nitecore developed lights that blew surefire away because they spent years clinging to cr123 based lights when 18650’s were a much better power source.
I would tell you to check out nitecore’s mh12s, which is now able to use cr123, 18650, or the even more powerful 21700 battery.
i’ll also say that ALL my weaponlights are USA made, and will probably always be that way, but I’ve also broken 2 (they were replaced and fixed very quickly in both instances) but have never had a nitecore light fail on me and I’ve got about 10. This includes a headlamp that took a whipper off an overhead crane girder to a concrete floor about 40 feet below. Some dinged up aluminum cooling fins and scratches was all it had.

 

[missed]

I have always wanted a couple of these also.

HDS Systems: EDC Tactical Flashlights - EDC Tactical flashlights provide a pure momentary interface for "flash and dash" techniques

EDC Tactical flashlights provide a pure momentary interface for

www.hdssystems.com

One of the tactical and an executive.

 

[4thandbleek]

Right now I have a lux-Pro LP 830. Small, bright, aluminum with a nice rubber grip. Simple AAA batteries. Two for 16 bucks on Amazon, A flashlight is something I’m not spending a lot of money on.

 

[huntnh]

Olight has some good offerings I own a few and have been happy with there performance

 

[deltawiskey]

For what you are looking for, I would never consider a light that wasn’t compatible with rechargeable cells like 18650’s. the majority of today’s 18650 lights will also take cr123’s but 18650’s are way more efficient, much brighter and cost a lot less to fuel.
I have quite a few modlight, CD reins and surefire weapon lights and they are either off or full power sun mode.
I generally shun Chinesium products but with Handheld lights and headlamps it’s not same. Companys like nitecore and olight make incredible lights that are crazy bright and extremely versatile.
I love surefire weapon lights but watched as nitecore developed lights that blew surefire away because they spent years clinging to cr123 based lights when 18650’s were a much better power source.
I would tell you to check out nitecore’s mh12s, which is now able to use cr123, 18650, or the even more powerful 21700 battery.
i’ll also say that ALL my weaponlights are USA made, and will probably always be that way, but I’ve also broken 2 (they were replaced and fixed very quickly in both instances) but have never had a nitecore light fail on me and I’ve got about 10. This includes a headlamp that took a whipper off an overhead crane girder to a concrete floor about 40 feet below. Some dinged up aluminum cooling fins and scratches was all it had.

I like the looks of that nitecore mh12s!
Thanks,
DW

 

[InTuneGP]

I'm going to drop a vote for Wurkkos, they're a great choice for people who haven't taken the dive into the world of high end flashlights. The FC12 is an 18650 light (included) with on board USB-C charging or the option to run 2 CR123s, IPX-8 water resistant, and a ramping mode which has become a favorite of mine. Push and hold the button and it will get brighter and brighter until max, stopping when you release. Release and press again to dim until minimum.

Wurkkos FC12 Amazon


edit: The recommendations being made in this thread would be like if he asked what bolt gun to get and had a thread full of people telling him it should be between Savage and Mossberg.

 

[Morgan3]

I like the looks of that nitecore mh12s!
Thanks,
DW

Yeah, I have a couple that predate this model and can’t take the new 21 series batteries and they have been my favorite lights.
My thinking has always been if it’s not weapon mounted, instead of paying 250 - 350 per light I can buy 3 or 4 of these for truck, go bag, nightstand, etc. for the same money.
edit: I generally don’t buy lights/ knives etc on Amazon because of counterfeiting issues. Also nitecorestore.com and olightstore.com are physical US based distributors that carry any spare parts you need. I have gotten o ring replacement kits from them for some older lights but haven’t needed them.

 

[White Death]

Highly recommend
Streamlight Protac HL 5-x
Bigger than 8" but bright as shit. Comes with usb recharging cord. 3500 lumens max power

 

[E. Bryant]

Lights are kinda like screwdrivers - usually it takes more than one to properly round out a toolkit.

Surefire would be my #1 choice for a no-shit works-every-damn-time light. They are expensive and not particularly feature-rich, but they work. That said, Streamlight products have always treated me well and for considerably less money.

I have a couple Fenix AA and AAA lights that get used on a regular basis for household and camping tasks, and they have proven to be useful and durable. I like the ability to run a rechargeable lithium or NiMH AA, and then drop in an alkaline cell if the rechargeable cell dies unexpectedly. Having a range of intensity settings and modes available via tailcap clicks and bezel rotation takes a bit of familiarization. (Oh, you wanted 5 lumens? Here's a full blast of SOS blinking instead!)

Coast's 2AAA inspection light kicks ass for shop use. It's not much light, but it's focused into this small spot with sharp cutoff that is ideal for illuminating the socket I just dropped into the engine bay without glarinh off all the parts I'm trying to look past. It also works well for typical household medical procedures on the kids - checking sore throats, pulling teeth, etc. Coast also make a decent inexpensive single-AA light with adjustable focus; it's a good option for stashing in a few drawers around the house, and I won't cry if the kids leave one in the treehouse for a few months.

The light that may have the most hours on it over the past several years is this stupid little Energizer clip lamp that offers a dim red beam with the first click and a slightly brighter white beam with the second. It's what I grab when making sure that the kids are in bed and the doors are locked. 1000 lumens of pure white fury looks great on paper but isn't quite so useful for most daily chores, but a few lumens of red is often just perfect.

 

[clcustom1911]

I have an incandescent A2 Aviator (red and white light) on my belt for 16 or so years. Ever since responding to an event and realizing white light and night blindness sucked from the issue Maglight. Wish it had LEDs but works fine for my needs. CR123

Boss gave a group of us nitrolon 6P that rides in my backpack and always seems to work. CR123

Some sort of 952Vampire weapon light on my rifle that takes two Cr123s

I bought my latest X300B for a pistol because the Olight I bought originally just struck me as cheap and I sent it back. I wanted a light that did not extend beyond the bore of the pistol but I just couldnt get over the chinesium. Think I have 3 300Bs in all. CR123

I buy boxes of Surefire CR123s and they seem to last awhile.

G2Z nitrolon
G2Z
6P
M900
M952Vamp
X300U

I've used streamlights, insight, and a few others. Keep coming back to Surefire after all these years.

 

[deltawiskey]

I think I'm going to go ahead and get a couple of Surefire and also a couple of the suggested cheaper lights.
I appreciate all the suggestions, I will be researching flashlights the rest of the week : )
DW

 

[Morgan3]

If you’re dead set on a light that won’t be weaponlight and you’re after top notch quality, machining, USA made, and attention to detail along with a Surefire style price tag, check out the Prometheus lights from darksucks.com.
They are more along the Mercedes type in the handheld light world.

 

[1911hombre]

Streamlight Macrostream USB is my everyday go-to.

 

[InTuneGP]

Modlite with an OKW head will run circles around anything else out there but it's one level on or off

They do have a dual fuel version that runs on 18650s/CR123s

Not cheap but it's the brightest handheld light on the planet.

Not even close, there are AA pocket lights that almost match that lumen output. That thing is hugely overpriced while offering nothing special, plus it's a thrower which are generally a poor choice for anything besides spotlighting.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

I’ve been really happy with the surefire E2D model. I have a few of them and just gave my girlfriend one too. Not too big to toss in your pocket, but has a ton of output. Battery life is great and it has a low power mode for doing close tasks where the battery lasts forever and also doesn’t blind you up close. Comes with the nice clicky tailcap so no need to upgrade that. It’s not a baton like a big maglite, but you can skull fuck the shit out of someone with the defender bezel if you need to.

 

[InTuneGP]

Surefire lights use old emitters with poor color rendition, take powerful but expensive and disposable batteries, tend to have conservative output for their class, and try to make up for it with their excellent warranty and customer service. They are also built in the US (from internationally manufactured parts). As far as the flashlight itself, you are paying for a name.

Significantly cheaper lights are available with typically double the output in a tint like sunlight (high CRI), use the best studied and most widely manufactured rechargeable lithium batteries in the world (some with six times as much energy as a AA), and a lot of people are really into a form factor SureFire avoids, the right-angle light (doubles as a headlamp, freeing your hands).

Surefire lights are very well manufactured, durable, and the certainty and good vibes you get from buying American are worth something, but it’s up to you whether they’re worth the considerable premium they require. There are literally TONS of smaller, brighter, cheaper lights that are just as good if not better build quality. You just have to look beyond the name you know.

 

[Crews]

Surefire lights use old emitters with poor color rendition, take powerful but expensive and disposable batteries, tend to have conservative output for their class, and try to make up for it with their excellent warranty and customer service. They are also built in the US (from internationally manufactured parts). As far as the flashlight itself, you are paying for a name.

Significantly cheaper lights are available with typically double the output in a tint like sunlight (high CRI), use the best studied and most widely manufactured rechargeable lithium batteries in the world (some with six times as much energy as a AA), and a lot of people are really into a form factor SureFire avoids, the right-angle light (doubles as a headlamp, freeing your hands).

Surefire lights are very well manufactured, durable, and the certainty and good vibes you get from buying American are worth something, but it’s up to you whether they’re worth the considerable premium they require. There are literally TONS of smaller, brighter, cheaper lights that are just as good if not better build quality. You just have to look beyond the name you know.

Okay, I’m sold…. You sound pretty competent. What mfg’s are on the short list?

 

[Clayman]

For your purposes the Surefire Fury intellibeam without a doubt.

Auto adjusts from 15 to 1500 lumens & 25k candela
Double click for full power no adjustment
18650 rechargeable battery (included) but is still cr123 capable if you want.
5.6"
6.5 oz

 

[InTuneGP]

Okay, I’m sold…. You sound pretty competent. What mfg’s are on the short list?

My favorites lately have been Reylight, Lumintop, Emisar, Wurkkos, Sofirn, and Thrunite. Neal's Gadgets and Illumn are good places to shop. If anyone is interested these are some great resources:

/r/flashlight wiki
Arbitrary list of popular lights (for flashlight nerds by flashlight nerds)

 

[Clayman]

powerful but expensive and disposable batteries

Surefire has been doing their dual fuel stuff for a while now. Most df come with rechargeable 18650 included.

 

[InTuneGP]

Surefire has been doing their dual fuel stuff for a while now. Most df come with rechargeable 18650 included.

That's a step in the right direction at least. While external chargers are better for the long term life of the battery, on board charging is tits.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

My favorites lately have been Reylight, Lumintop, Emisar, Wurkkos, Sofirn, and Thrunite. Neal's Gadgets and Illumn are good places to shop. If anyone is interested these are some great resources:

/r/flashlight wiki
Arbitrary list of popular lights (for flashlight nerds by flashlight nerds)

So you really think that chinesium bargain bin crap is really better than Surefire? LOL

Justasgooder's are hilarious sometimes.

 

[InTuneGP]

So you really think that chinesium bargain bin crap is really better than Surefire? LOL

Justasgooder's are hilarious sometimes.

The lights I posted are cheaper, brighter, made with better materials and better components, and in general are more usable than any hunk of junk that's ever rolled out of the Surefire factory. You must have walked uphill both ways barefoot in the snow to pick up your short bus.

i'Ve nEvEr HeArD oF tHaT sO iT mUsT bE bAd

Bragging about your Surefire to high-end flashlight enthusiasts would be like bragging about your Savage to the PRS crew. You are the guy arguing why his Savage is just as good.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

The lights I posted are cheaper, brighter, made with better materials and better components, and in general are more usable than any hunk of junk that's ever rolled out of the Surefire factory. You must have walked uphill both ways barefoot in the snow to pick up your short bus.

i'Ve nEvEr HeArD oF tHaT sO iT mUsT bE bAd

Bragging about your Surefire to high-end flashlight enthusiasts would be like bragging about your Savage to the PRS crew. You are the guy arguing why his Savage is just as good.

You sound poor.

 

[InTuneGP]

You sound poor.

Rather sound poor than be stupid!

 

[cattleman99]

Check out the Badger BX-1500. 1500 lumens with 5 brightness levels. I use them all the time. USB rechargeable. Veteran owned company. Really can't go wrong with it. It's too large to fit in your pocket, but the perfect size for pack or to put on your belt. We sell a lot of them as they are fantastic lights.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Rather sound poor than be stupid!

I’d say that you’re doing a pretty remarkable job at both.

 

[InTuneGP]

I’d say that you’re doing a pretty remarkable job at both.

Well since you're so smart why don't you jump down off your pile of money and tell me what is better about Surefire? They're brighter? Wait, no they're not. They're better made? Aluminum tubes are aluminum tubes. At least other companies use brass, copper, titanium, etc. Battery life? Nope. Output vs. size? Nope. You can spend your money on dog shit for all I care but that won't make me interested in it.

Surefire literally loses in every category except made in murica, and they're paying minimum wage laborers to assemble overseas parts. If you'd like to provide a counter argument to dig yourself out of the hole you're in I'd be highly interested in reading about what makes Surefire so great. If you just like calling people poor and stupid when they prove you wrong you can keep doing that too.

 

[D̷e̷v̷i̷l̷D̷o̷c̷A̷Z̷]

Been torture testing 4 olites

-3 warrior minis.
-1 mini baton

if you wanted to test drive an olite get the warrior mini.

it’s bright as fuck, runs on 3500mA rechargeable.

I’ve got all the major brands. Buddy told me about olite. I didn’t want to believe. So I carried 2 for a long time. My work has me on the road, working in rooms w zero windows and this light hasn’t let me down. Not once.

I’ve disrespected the snot out of these because I WANT to break it and tell people it’s crap, but sadly they still work, I’m doing my part.

my new coast has shit the bed. I’ve changed out 4- CR123’s due to sitting in the heat (it’s AZ heat so you know it’s real) this little fuck light won’t give up. 1 Streamlight, 1 Feenix, several Surefire. I’m a light snob.

keep 1 in the safe, 1 in the truck, 1 in the bag and 1 in my pocket. Rotate so they all get abused.

if $100 doesn’t move the needle, look into this unit: https://m.olightstore.com/warrior-mn2.html

I don’t see you being disappointed.

Joe Biden was made in the USA so not everything made here is worth the trouble.

 

[Kamerad]

Streamlight makes a 300 lumen that takes a AA or a 123. The adaptor is built into the light. It is about 40 bucks. I love them.

Protac 1L-1AA. I have a bunch of them, they are excellent lights. Very durable, compact, versatile. They’ve been through the washer several times, and keep on truckin. EDC light, adaptable to be a rifle mounted light.

With the AA battery, it’s more useful for basic tasks, as it’s a more moderate brightness @ 40 lumens. With the CR123A, it makes a good defensive light @350 lumens that isn’t so damn bright that it’s useless for anything else.

$45 at MidwayUSA

$39 at Battery Junction

 

[Missalot]

I've been carrying a Fenix PD 22 UE, a single 123 battery regulated torch with 3 power settings, daily for 5 years and it seems like I use it at least once everyday. Saturday I left it in my pocket and my wife washed it with my shorts. 'Hon, the washer was clanking and I can see your flashlight banging around in there.' It survived the washing just fine and is back in my pocket a little cleaner than it was. I've been a. Fenix fan for a long time and have had very good success with their offerings. They have a lifetime guarantee with a $5 handling fee.

 

[Clayman]

Well since you're so smart why don't you jump down off your pile of money and tell me what is better about Surefire? They're brighter? Wait, no they're not. They're better made? Aluminum tubes are aluminum tubes. At least other companies use brass, copper, titanium, etc. Battery life? Nope. Output vs. size? Nope. You can spend your money on dog shit for all I care but that won't make me interested in it.

Surefire literally loses in every category except made in murica, and they're paying minimum wage laborers to assemble overseas parts. If you'd like to provide a counter argument to dig yourself out of the hole you're in I'd be highly interested in reading about what makes Surefire so great. If you just like calling people poor and stupid when they prove you wrong you can keep doing that too.

Do you have any actual tests that are comparing these chinese specials vs American stuff? Actual lumen and candela rating, runtime, drop off, operating temperatures, beam comparisons at different distances/runtime, pid at ranges, durability, etc.

Give me 1 or 2 alternatives to the modlite, Cloud defense, surefire lights in the 5.5" ish range that operate on 18650. I'm aware of a Weltool but they aren't exactly cheap either. My first Weltool light head was also doa. Not exactly confidence inspiring. Killzone made it right but I've never had issues with any surefire or modlite.

 

[LawnMM]

Not even close, there are AA pocket lights that almost match that lumen output. That thing is hugely overpriced while offering nothing special, plus it's a thrower which are generally a poor choice for anything besides spotlighting.

Lumens aren't everything, sport. It's pushing 70,000 candela and it lights shit up out to 300yds.

You're obviously expounding upon something you've never laid your hands on so do us all a favor and go back to jerking off your Chinesium import shit lights.

Okay, I’m sold…. You sound pretty INcompetent. What mfg’s are on the short list?

He is.

 

[InTuneGP]

Do you have any actual tests that are comparing these chinese specials vs American stuff? Actual lumen and candela rating, runtime, drop off, operating temperatures, beam comparisons at different distances/runtime, pid at ranges, durability, etc.

Give me 1 or 2 alternatives to the modlite, Cloud defense, surefire lights in the 5.5" ish range that operate on 18650. I'm aware of a Weltool but they aren't exactly cheap either. My first Weltool light head was also doa. Not exactly confidence inspiring. Killzone made it right but I've never had issues with any surefire or modlite.

Rather than putting the burden of proof on me, can you provide any comparative test where Surefire wins? Surely that would be easier to find since they're so vastly superior. I literally posted a (better than anything else recommended) 18650 alternative earlier in this thread. Oh wait let me guess it must suck because you've never heard of it and it's sold on Amazon?

Lumens aren't everything, sport. It's pushing 70,000 candela and it lights shit up out to 300yds.

You're obviously expounding upon something you've never laid your hands on so do us all a favor and go back to jerking off your Chinesium import shit lights.

He is.

Ooh, you've heard of candela, I'm impressed. You still recommended a (nothing special) dedicated thrower for a general purpose light which shows your ignorance in general. Regarding the bold part, you ever look in the mirror? Still waiting on ANY bit of evidence that shows Surefire to be better than Maglite.


I'm gonna quit replying until anyone besides me uses facts and logic to engage in conversation. You smooth brains have fun sitting on your Surefires.

 

[LawnMM]

I'm gonna quit replying

Thank God

 

[Clayman]

Rather than putting the burden of proof on me, can you provide any comparative test where Surefire wins? Surely that would be easier to find since they're so vastly superior.

You are the one saying they are superior, I didn't make any claim one way or the other.

I can find tests showing the Surefire's, modlite, etc performance.

So that's why I'm asking you to back up your claims. And also asking comparable lights (size & 18650) that I can look up tests and reviews for.

 

[InTuneGP]

You are the one saying they are superior, I didn't make any claim one way or the other.

I can find tests showing the Surefire's, modlite, etc performance.

So that's why I'm asking you to back up your claims. And also asking comparable lights (size & 18650) that I can look up tests and reviews for.

Have you read the thread at all or just punching letters as fast as you can think of them? I have provided links to everything you're asking for already. Here are a few more. When I first joined this forum is was painfully obvious how much of the population are old, closed minded, and set in their ways. This thread is just another great example of that. There has literally not been a single piece of evidence provided to show Surefire lights are superior, and that is because they're not.

Flashlight Reviews

Flashlight Reviews