I find it hard to believe there aren’t any threads on this but I did a search on “TLR-1” and “Streamlight” and returned no results.
Anybody using this?
It gets rave reviews on Amazon but then again those customers probably don’t run it hard in training classes.
I seem to remember either reading or hearing that Streamlights of a few years ago had switch issues, but don’t quote me on that.
Can someone chime in with their experiences on using this as a carbine light?
I’ve had one on a pistol for years. Been through lots of classes and range trips. Still works fine. They’re decent lights.
I’ve had one for years too. I use it one both my pistols and SBRs. I like the QD aspect because I don’t need or want a permanently-mounted weapon light. It has a couple of thousand rounds through it, 9mm and .223/5.56, and works well. Very reliable. I can’t compare it to a $UREFIRE because I’d never spend that much on a weapon light YMMV. The TLR-1 is certainly a cost-efficient light option IMHO and one that I wouldn’t hesitate to buy again if I ever needed more than one light (I do have a TLR-3 that I use occasionally on my PPS carry gun).
I use them on all my HD/SD guns and keep one in my glove box at all times. They are very reliable and durable for the price.
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I use them as well. They mount up great in front of the front sight…infact the DD front sight is made to work with this set up. Function is great and they are built really well. Very easy to take on and off!!
I’ve had one on my duty gun and work rifle for a couple years. 300 lumens does a fine job I find. The light is durable. I had no light related malfunctions on a Gen 3 G23 and none as of yet on a Gen 4 G22. For a hundred bucks or so it’s a really nice product.
I run a tlr1 on my glock 23 and a tlr1-hp on my Daniels Defense. Love them both. A whole lot of light that is easy to use. My next buy will be a tlr1-hl
I’ve had one on two pistols and a carbine for a couple years and used and abused them pretty hard through multiple classes etc. They have never failed and give off good light. Many other guys I shoot with run them hard too, and they’ve never had any issues.
In my opinion, they are a really good option for a weapon mounted light that is reliable and won’t break the bank
Yes, I have several as well… 1s and 2s… both GTG… I like the bighead units and the green “game” bighead is on my yote carbine. I have a couple of the newer 630’s as well… Wicked bright lights
Over the years I have had a TLR1, TLR1S, and TLR2S. No real issues to speak of, unlike some other Streamlight models I have used, and for the money they are both competitive and great options and yes, their QD mounting system if a bonus for some set ups over Surefire’s make no mistake about that. Ran them on handguns and rifles without issue in the time I owned them. That said, the TLR1 and TLR2 were both sold, the TLR1s was traded for a rifle. My only really complaints, and they are minor, about the lights, was the switch wasn’t perfectly ambi. On the left side(one a handgun) you had to push down to momentary, while on the right side you had to push up. Not a huge issue, but shooting left handed it made things a little harder than needed since if you thought to push down the light was going to be constant on. Also, on the TLR2s when running that I did have the little switch lever get knocked from whatever setting I was running it to laser only a few times. Not a big deal, but a little disconcerting. I also didn’t find the strobe feature to be the most useful for myself, though I know others who love it. My last gripe was the sliver ring around the bezel. Never understood the reason that was there and always ran a length of electrical tape around it because it annoyed me. I know that is minor as hell, but for a tactical light why put something reflective there?
Anyway, have since gone to X300Us for my handgun lights, and generally run Scouts. Yes, they cost more. But the cost if worth it to me for the features they offer, especially in regards to the X300’s activation system, being to me, more intuitive. Press forward for momentary, up or down for constant. Not saying I won’t own a TLR series light, I likely will and often check the ads when people post them for sale. If one were to pop up priced right I would buy it in a second.
Other than that I do think the TLR series is a great light and definitely an option that I consider for a handgun, or even long gun light.
My department has been running them since pretty much the moment the Gen 4 Glocks came out. Of the approximately 30 guys (who break everything) using them the only one that has gone down was shot on the lens with a simunition round. I like my TLR-1 a lot for my handgun and I like the way the switch works because I find it very easy to activate with my support side thumb when using a thumbs forward grip. I had a TLR-1HL at 12 o’clock on my carbine for a while. It was very bright and had a pretty impressive throw but I couldn’t get past it cutting into the sight picture so I sold it. I haven’t had a Surefire X300 but they’re apparently not as tall and therefore probably a little better suited for that 12 o’clock set up.
Never had a single problem with my TLR-1S or TLR-2G.
I run TLR-1 HLs on all of my “tactical” handguns. No issues at all. Never cared fro them on carbines though.
Used the same TLR-1 on personal guns and a work gun for about four years, mounted to the 3 o’clock and activated via my thumb on top of the rail. It’s been dropped on, banged up, full of scratches etc. Still functions perfectly, and a good choice for a fairly minimalist, inexpensive, and rugged light option for a duty-type weapon. With that said, on my personal rifle I have really liked some of the newer minimalist light designs such as the Rosch SL-1 and the scout lights Arisaka defense is putting out.
Have one that stays on my VP9 (uses the 90two insert). After a few years there’s minor wear on the mount and around the outside edge of the lens, but I’ve had no issues whatsoever with it. Fouling just wipes off, whether on the lens or the body. Output is perfect for me, neither too bright or too dim, and battery life is such that I go about 8 months between swaps. Though I’ve thought about selling it in favor of an Inforce APL, I honestly haven’t been able to justify the change - I like the TLR-1 a lot.
Can’t say I’d buy another because… well, I won’t actually ever need to. 
I think there are better choices for a carbine light due the profile/mounting and switch options, but I think that may boil down to personal preference. With that said I run a X300U on a rifle, and it does the job. If I was doing another light setup and wanted to spend the money, which I don’t it would not be a TLR or X300 on the rifle though.
I originally considered the TLR because of cost but lack of switch options is why I chose the X300, I hope this helps.
Love em on handguns. But I prefer the Inforce HSP WML on my carbines. As mentioned above the activation of the TLR series is not ideal for me personally on a carbine.
I’ve noticed that about the fouling too. I see threads all the time about putting vasaline on the lens or using a pencil eraser to get fouling off of a light but I’ve never had any trouble just using a couple of wipes with dry cloth on my TLR-1. I figured maybe the trouble mostly applied to those running their lights close to the muzzle on rifles because at 12 o’clock on a 13" rail I never had to clean my light and on my pistol I just use a rag.
