I’m putting together a AR pistol build that I’m trying to keep as streamlined of a package as I can. Basically trying to keep the bulk down.
I like the look and feel of the Inforce WML lights. Gen2 specifically. It’s going on a MRP railed upper so it’s nice and tight on there.
Are they serious use lights light the Surefire scouts? I mounted up a M300 and it was definitely bulkier. It sits a good half inch or more wider. I also through on a x300u and while it was better than the scout, doesn’t compare to the Inforce.
I’ve haven’t read much in the way of Inforce having problems but the polymer body sitting just behind the muzzle device concerns me a bit.
I have had 3 to include the latest model and they have all had flickering and power issues. People say they work, just not for me.
I have several Surefire X300 and X300U’s with no issues even after lots of bashing around. I also have a few Streamlight TLR’s that keep working as well.
The TLR-7 has a great form factor with 500 lumen output and I am going to try one out on a lightweight AR.
I had one but it wasn’t the latest gen, I think it was a gen 1.5 kind of deal. It was ok but I didn’t trust the durability and reliability compared to my Scouts and the performance definitely wasn’t the same. Obviously far cheaper though.
I’m sure I’d see it if I did a lot of low light stuff, but initial impressions between the 500 lumen M300C and the DF hasn’t given me the impression that the latter is anything that provides a ton of additional capability. I like it a lot, but it doesn’t make me feel like the M300C needs to be replaced, especially since the gun it is on is supposed to be kind of light weight. Depending on the specifics of your pistol, the Arisaka 300 series may be worth a look. Its not a tremendous difference but one of their bodies with an inline mount looks like it is a pretty efficient use of space.
It wouldn’t necessarily be replacing the M300. I would just take that off of a larger rifle and put it on the 10.5. I’d put the DF on the larger rifle where I used to have a M600u on it.
I’ll have to do some research. I have a bunch of 18650 batteries but I’m not sure they’d work in the surefire. I like the idea of rechargeable but I only really change out batteries once a year if they dont die in the mean time so it may be irrelevant to me to begin with.
I have a WMLx gen 2 that I’m running on a BCM 11.5 SBR. I went with the bigger WML because I wanted one with more lumen output than my TLR-1 HL. For the record, the TLR-1 HL is tough to beat, even today. It’s tough, cheap as hell and puts out 630 lumens. You just have to be ok with the switch that comes on it. The WML survived a week long class with no issues. I knocked it fully off the rifle a couple times when going through doorways and it didn’t affect function one bit. So for my purposes, I’ve been very happy with it.
I have a couple, no problems, despite use in the rain. However, I do not trust them to take a beating, and I have no real evidence to support that. I like them, but they just don’t have that beefy feeling. They are on most of my home d guns, because joint injuries make it hard for me to activate tailcaps on many other lights without a vert grip, which I hate.
I had the same experience. I really wanted to like the inforce, i tried. But after many discoveries of dead lights, even though they had not been used in 3-4 weeks. Flickering issues, and have one just flat out fail, I’m back to surefire.
I have been doing some informal testing with my takeoff Inforce sitting on my workbench. I tested it daily and after a couple weeks with a new battery it started flickering before coming on. I tested the battery and it was at 60% on my ZTS tester. After putting in a new battery but leaving the head locked out, I would screw it down and test every couple of days for a few weeks and then return to lockout with no issue. So basically, there is not only a significant parasitic power drain, but a 60% battery isn’t enough to get it to power on correctly the first try. This matches my experience with 2 different mounted Inforces over the years. This is not preferred function for a serious tool that needs to be ready 24/7.
My many X300s and TLRs all keep lighting up on the first try, albeit lower output, at even 0% battery power on the ZTS tester. This is how a battery powered duty light should work.
Great form factor and ergos, likely bad circuit design…
My WML’s do not seem to have the battery drain issue, and I never lock out the heads. Perhaps quality is inconsistent, or there has been silent generational changes.
I did have flickering issues and later a dead light from a older handheld Inforce light that I put in a weapon mount. Too bad; it was bright as $&@+, and had good battery life.
I bought the first generation haley strategic edition WML with high hopes. I should have returned it but kept it for some reason, from day 1 I had flickering issues and as a result I never did trust it to turn on when I wanted it to. Surefire and Streamlight for me.
There is a reason Surefire is the pricier one and the most trusted. I’ve used Surefires in two different combat deployments and I’ve never had problems with them. They can take a beating to say the least and still work like a charm. I’ve had the Inforce before and they are just garbage and won’t ever go on any of my AR’s.
I really like the lockout feature/bar on the WMLs. The brief time I had 3 of them they worked okay with no issues but nothing hard. Decided the bodies weren’t to my liking.
That said, I would stick with SF for a duty/heavy use rifle.
For a budget/home defense (short range indoor) gun that won’t be banged around much, I like the TLR-1 HL a lot.
I’ve had 3 INFORCE weapon mountable lights fail. Numerous attempts to reach CS failed. This could be the first bad product review I’ve ever openly shared. FWIW.
I work in LE and I will NEVER use any INFORCE product for work.
Buy surefire or stream light and go with the impact weapon components for mounting options. Your wallet will hate you but you will love your rifle.