I’m sure if my question was: “What light should I put on my AR?” I’d get a million and one opinions.
Instead, I’d like you guys to educate me via your experience (either good or bad) so that I can decide.
So: what types of features should I be looking for in a good weapon light? Pressure switch or no? Suggestions as to good companies/good models? What are the practical considerations with other furniture on the rifle?
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[li]I’d be putting this on a Colt 6940.
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[li]I not a fan of vertical foregrips with integrated lights but I’m open to being converted.
[/li]AND
[li]Money isn’t really a huge consideration.
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Invest in a quality U.S. Made light, like those made by Surefire, Elzetta, Insight, or Inova.
You will get many recommendation for chinese lights (Fenix, JetBeam, O-Light, etc.) but the devil is in the details. If you compare the materials and construction, quality U.S. lights are worth the money.
I put a Surefire X300 on my 6940 right in front of the front sight. The sight blocks about 20% of the light, however, its still ample light and no issues with reflection and the best place to put one IMHO. I asked a similar question about the X300 specifically and many folks run this light at 12:00.
People like to say this, but I’ve never seen, heard, or read anything to back this up. The LED electronics generally come from the same (usually foreign) source, so that can’t be the issue. A lot of statements like sonrider657’s could be avoided if people understood that we live in a globalized economy where a lot of the parts competing companies use come from the same source. And aluminum tubes are pretty hard to screw up, so that isn’t it either. (This is a great example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WvhJWE3_Oc )
I will concede one minor problem with “foreign” lights. The concern about manufacturer warranties that is often brought up is valid. However, it is irrelevant if you are buying from a reputalbe AMERICAN distributor who backs up the product (as most of them do.) Not to mention customer service is rarely needed for quality LED lights anyway.
So is there a real disadvantage? I don’t know. This isn’t like “the chart” for ARs where there are widely accepted, clear cut, obvious differences in quality. Mostly I just see posts telling people to stick with what is familiar, insinuate the “other stuff” sucks, and not provide any supporting information.
I purchased Streamlight C4 LED TLR-1’s for my 2 M-4’s. They serve their purpose very well, no pressure switch, lifetime warranty and less than $100 each.
I agree on the Streamlight TLR-1. As long as you get a newer version with the C4 LED, it is hard to find a better value. I like it because it is bright, compact, rugged, has easy to use switches, and is reasonably priced. The Surefire X300 is a fine light, but it offers NO significant advantages over the Streamlight and is twice the price.
I like SureFire (own three: G2, U2, and E1e). Top notch quality, brightness, and battery life. They have a flawless beam with good throw and dispersion.
I currently have my G2 mounted on my AR, using one of Gear Sectors mounts, mainly because I use my U2 more often as an “everyday” light and so the G2 was available to mount.
The G2 probably isn’t the best light to mount.
I would recommend any of their “tactical” lights, models starting with an “M”. The lamps are isolated from the body reducing the amount of recoil that gets transmitted to the lamp assembly. This will greatly increase the life of the lamp, both incandescent bulbs and the expensive circuitry in LED assemblies.
Incandescent has greater output (upwards of 200 lumens) and you have the option to attach a TurboHead, which creates a more focused, further traveling beam. Battery life suffers here and CR123’s are expensive.
LEDs are more durable and offers better battery life. LED’s have also improved greatly and don’t have that terrible blue hue that they used to. I prefer LED’s nearly pure white light to incandescent’s warmer red hued light.
Surefire, Insight are the standard in LE and Mil circles for a reason. Excellent quality, modular body types (surefire) and of course excellent performance. Combine those products with a mount from Daniel Defense,VTAC, Vltor etc and you are good to go.
I run a Streamlight TLR2 on my patrol rifle at 6 O’clock. I wanted to do the 12 O’clock mount but the light is too high and won’t let me see the front sight. I picked the visible laser for intimidation purposes. I train very little with the visible laser but I think it does have a purpose. Remember that weapon lights are used for target identification and to temporarily blind/distract an adversary. They are not intended to be a search light. I would recommend a durable, light, sturdy and bright light. In that order. A TLR1, X300, G2L or a scout light are good examples.
Mount it to the barrel on a Hahn-type mount (I’m using a $6.- UTG mount that’s working fine). There’s plenty of space below the sightline to fit a TLR-1 or X300…
I’m not a fan of putting anything on the barrel itself. In my case a TLR1 or X300 will work but the laser module on the TLR2 makes it a bit taller. Even my M3 works but an M6 doesn’t.
I agree, I don’t want anything attached to the barrel. Especially if I’ve gone to the trouble of putting on a free float handguard.
That being said, I wouldn’t hesitate if that was the best option for the particular carbine, but there are loads of alternatives if you have the rail space.
I have an Olight M-20 on my AR. It works, throws good light and was not real expensive. I own several Nitecore and 4Sevens lights. They all perform just fine.
Check out Candlepower Forums and read up on all that’s available and don’t let anyone tell you that one light is better than another. You need to make the decision yourself after reading the Pros and Cons of each.
