Looking at the Streamlight TLR series and was wondering what is the advantages of strobe vs non-strobe?
I want to mount light to my HD shotgun via a 1913 picatinny rail.
Besides the disorienting effect of a strobe, it tends to disguise your location more than a solid beam coming from your firearm. The price difference is negligible, so given the choice I would opt for the strobe version. You may never need it or use it, but it is an option that may work in certain situations.
Read the thread about strobes being gimmicks or not. The general consensus is that it’s a gimmick outside of some very narrow circumstances, an as a self defense weapon mounted light it’s not a feature worth having.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the strobe version a little brighter? Or, are both the same brightness now?
I just bought another of the strobe version, because I thought it was brighter than the non-strobe, and turned off the strobe.
I think having a strobe mode is gimmicky, especially if you’re forced to cycle through it to turn the light on/off. I much rather have a tailcap button with momentary on and off only as I can strobe voluntarily if I have to.
I was on the strobe bandwagon at first. After getting time with one (and still having one issued to me) I no longer see the need in one for 99% of the time that illumination is needed.
Emphasis mine. I think that’s the rub. Not so much good/bad, but “is it worth an extra control feature you need to futz with under stress?” I don’t think so, but I also think that describing it as a “gimmick” is a bridge too far.
RE: brighter in pulse mode…shouldn’t be, that’s more of an interpretive effect in your head.
Lasers in repetitive-pulse mode = totally different story, but we’re not talking lasers.
What were your thought on its ability to help mask your precise position in a CQB or in clearing scenarios.
My understanding is that Southnarc does a demo that is pretty impressive.
I have always thought they were a bit gimmicky, but I’m starting to hear a few positive points about them that make sense in certain roles.
My opinion: strobe sucks. Especially true on multi-mode lights. If you’ve ever had to use short bursts of light to illuminate areas or keep your on times short and move so you aren’t a lighthouse (light discipline), you invariably cycle in the multimode features and inadvertently activate alternative modes. I’m hating the multimode “tactical” lights now. Surefire 618 still works swell on my 870.
My take on things was that a handheld strobe with simple activation (no double taps and BS) was really effective for hunting. I didn’t believe it until I saw it, but SouthNarc showed a pretty good way to use it to mask location while hunting:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgZzVjhodrk
On a weaponlight, I have no desire for it, and I think the Streamlight “double tap to strobe” activation is awful. I dropped my Streamlight PT1L in favor of a 4Sevens Quark because of the switching difference alone. Trying to double tap it every time I wanted to flashbulb an area while searching was a complete PITA.
The TLR-1s IS brighter than the non “S” version in regular output, they use different lamps in them. The trouble is that a number of people have had problems with repeated recoil simulating some “lock out” procedure for enabling or disabling the strobe (something about doing something 10x in a row to program it somehow). A search here should turn up mention of that issue.
For that reason alone, I’d NOT get the TLR-1s, even though it’s brighter.
In a hand held, with straight forward access to the strobe, I’m a fan. On a WML or with crappy access to it, I think it’s next to useless.
When working inside of a structure in a slow, deliberate style clear I use short bursts of light at random heights and various light techniques (neck index, modified FBI, etc). If I feel the need to strobe the light; this is easily accomplished by rapid depressing and releasing of the activation switch.
When trying to look through auto glass the strobe did nothing to help me clear the interior of a vehicle one night when I was chasing someone
What’s the context of that? What is supposed to be/is happening? I watched it on my iPhone while on surveillance so maybe I missed something
Showing a searching technique to move through a structure.
First run was more traditional, predictable light use. Second was entering while creating some misdirection with the strobe.
I have played with and really didn’t like it. I prefer instant on flashes of light only when needed.
As far as disorienting an opponent, I don’t see any advantage over a bright solid light.
Once you encounter them, you are either shooting them or controlling them. Why add another element that could be disorienting to both of you?
Were you able to mimic the results by just pulsing a light or was a strobe actually NEEDED to accomplish the desired misdirection ?
so was that supposed to show that the strobe is better?
I just took a “Night Fighter” class and this is what I took from it. The strobe is good to have in a handheld light for searching. If your hiding in the corner of a room, its harder to tell how many people are coming and where they are in relation to the room…when done right. A constant on light gives up location, as you can see the shadow line get bigger as it comes closer to the door. As far as for a weapon mounted light, get the brightest one you can find. Its amazing how 100 + lumen’s will blind the crap out of you. Just remember to keep the light in the bad guys eyes…and remember they might shoot at the light:eek:
Simpler = better for me. That means no strobe. Simple Surefire with pressure pad to momentarily activate.
I cant get a non strobe to have the same effect, personally.
You are buying some reaction time, is all. One student in this class got lit the hell up using an x300 while I had trouble picking up guys who entered while using the strobe, and I had better success against them using the strobe than not.