I was reading up on how the red weaponlight beam cover filter helps preserve night vision and hide you better from game and whatnot.
Doesn’t this somewhat defeat one of the primary purposes of the weaponlight?
Arguably, for hunting the red filter would be desirable since you don’t want to spook the game before making the shot.
But isn’t the point of a weaponlight in a defensive situation at least partly to “spook” the game, so to speak?
Doesn’t the intimidation factor of a bright white light suddenly shining on the perp represent a more valuable tactical advantage than whatever benefit might be derived from filtering the light for your own night vision?
Or am I looking at this the wrong way?
Is that bright white light simply an easy aiming point for an armed perp with bad intent?
Thoughts?
I use a red filter when spotting coyotes and it does cut down on how alarmed they get. That said, the light is not invisible, and can make identification at distance difficult. In a dynamic human encounter, the benifits are greatly reduced. The other person can still see the shiny red beam and sight in on it. You will have a harder time seeing a dark gun or knife, and the red isnt blinding. Forget your night vision that you have, hit them with a bright white light, and overpower your advosary with speed of action. I can see very few scenarios where the red would be better
DaFunk
The purpose of a light in a gunfight is to identify/blind the target.
If you use a red filter, identification is more difficult and the blinding effect is greatly reduced.
My limited (aka someone smart may come over rule this) night time room clearing training you white light was never ON long enough to hurt your night vision. We would strobe it quickly once to bounce off a wall or at a target to ID/Blind them. The bounce back of light never seemed bad enough to hurt my night vision in these cases.
Now if you are walking around with your weapon light on 100% of the time in a defensive/room clearing situation you are asking to be blind and get shot.
Actually the red filter is used for light discipline for troops, whether they are in FTX or Combat. The red filter allows them to read maps, or find items that may have shifted in transit. Hell we used it for moving vehicle when knee deep in the mud in Hohenfels or Grafenwoehr. There are many uses. They are not used for target I.D. It can also be used by L.E. to identify door knobs, or items that may be in their path.
Actually the red filter is used for light discipline for troops, whether they are in FTX or Combat. The red filter allows them to read maps, or find items that may have shifted in transit. Hell we used it for moving vehicle when knee deep in the mud in Hohenfels or Grafenwoehr. There are many uses. They are not used for target I.D. It can also be used by L.E. to identify door knobs, or items that may be in their path.
We use IR filters when we are moving under night vision with very low illumination. Helps when trying to negotiate obstacles that otherwise can’t be seen very well.
A red filter could be used for similar purposes, if you don’t have access to night vision.
What benefit does the blue filters have?
Doesn’t the attachment to the light have a flip over cover? If you need white light just flip it over and there ya go.
In emergency medical situations, a blue filter allows you to identify blood a lot easier than a red filter.
I use a Surefire FM34 on my light because it lets me ‘diffuse’ the light for indoor use if needed (because 200 lumens off a white wall at 10 ft. will screw with your night vision for sure), but still open it up for that sharper beam outdoors when needed.
oops thought the thread was about something different