Modern Flashlight for AR

[JohnnyEgo]

First disclaimer is that I thought about sticking this in the accessories forum, but it gets no traffic. However, if this gets moved, it won't break my heart.

Was looking at my pile of ARs this afternoon and contemplating onboard lighting. I realized that if 2003 ever called and wanted all their incandescent bulbs and ARMS mounts back, I wouldn't have anything left. Also, a lot of what I have strikes me as suffering from early 'aughts embiggening, when for some reason if you couldn't illuminate a target at 600 yards in the middle of the night with a 6 D-cell battery maglight the size of a truncheon zip-tied to your handguard, you were considered woefully unprepared. I kid slightly, but these two are typical of what I've got right now:
https://www.johnnyego.com/firearms/ars/morears/ar5.jpg
https://www.johnnyego.com/firearms/ars/morears/gsbr12.jpg

What I am interested in is a decent to excellent quality weapons mounted light with good ergonomics for mounting on a shorty AR (10.5" LMT MRP), and good illumination at essentially household-clearing distances. I have no real context for what good flashlights cost these days, so let's say a budget of $300 or less. What do you like?

[ray1970]

I?ve been dumbing down and also lowering the lumens on my lights.

By dumbing down, I mean the majority of my lights had at least a solid beam and a strobe and sometimes a low beam as well. Too much to probably deal with properly in a stressful situation I decided. I want one brightness and on or off. Well, momentary on or full on.

Also, I came to the realization that I live in a city. Honestly, the longest shot I would possibly ever have to take in the middle of the night is roughly 35 yards. I don?t really need anything that will light up a target at 200 yards. A focused, 1200 lumen light is just way too bright indoors and typically blinds me more than I can handle.

I?ve switched over to a simple Surefire G2. They?re cheap, work well, I think it?s rated at 600 lumens which is plenty for my urban uses. The beam is a little less focused into one spot and seems to light up a wider area in the back yard.

The best part is I picked up several of them on sale recently for less than $60. They?re not a dedicated weapon light right out of the box but a standard, 1? scope ring will attach you right to a typical rail.

I?ll toss a picture of one of mine up soon.

[Fromk]

First, there are a LOT of options out there. Good ones. On my 10.5 pistol I have a Streamlight TLR-1HL at 12 o'clock position with their rifle mounting kit. It's $158 on Amazon right now. It's low enough that my optic can see over it. It's plenty bright.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00L4EHZYU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I also have this rechargeable one on my wish list. I think Streamlights are an excellent option in the $100-$200 range.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TBBMYND/?coliid=I30WXM01G17SUF&colid=1CZTU7YUQGP19&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

If I was going up from $200 it's Surefire all day and there are ton of models in all sizes and mounting options. I'd strongly consider a rechargeable one no matter what you go for these days. I have saved so much money and hassle not being tied to CR123's.

[ray1970]

Ugh. Tapatalk is screwing me and I can?t get pictures up.

[00tec]

I've had good luck with Olights. Some may not like em, since they're Chinese, but they work.

I dont have this model, but was looking at buying it it recently. Will probably get one for my shotgun.


https://www.olightstore.com/odin-black.html

[ray1970]

Also, here is a cool recent video if you get bored.

Video: AR lights Reviewed at 200 Yds.
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?share_fid=56497&share_tid=180875&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ear-15%2Eco%2Fshowthread%2Ephp%3Ft%3D180875&share_type=t&link_source=app

[Wulf202]

I'm for the tlr series myself. Options are available but they're compatible on pistol and rifles. All the buttons work the same across the board

[kwando]

I mainly have Surefires with pressure pads, they are like the standard. But all mine are the older models that are still LED and like 200-250 lumens. The newer DF (dual fuel) versions are like 1000+ lumens, and I believe pros are 1500. $200-$260

Another option is the stream light Protac HLX. Uses the Surefire mounts, so finding key mod or mlok is easy. They do have their own pressure pad though. One company makes a kit to convert the tail cap to Surefire plug but they are always OOS. Cheap at $125-150

Then you have mod light. I’ve never seen one in person but it apparently blows Surefire out of the water. No first hand experience, they are $300-500 per light.

[Hummer]

First disclaimer is that I thought about sticking this in the accessories forum, but it gets no traffic. However, if this gets moved, it won't break my heart.

Was looking at my pile of ARs this afternoon and contemplating onboard lighting. I realized that if 2003 ever called and wanted all their incandescent bulbs and ARMS mounts back, I wouldn't have anything left. Also, a lot of what I have strikes me as suffering from early 'aughts embiggening, when for some reason if you couldn't illuminate a target at 600 yards in the middle of the night with a 6 D-cell battery maglight the size of a truncheon zip-tied to your handguard, you were considered woefully unprepared. I kid slightly, but these two are typical of what I've got right now:
https://www.johnnyego.com/firearms/ars/morears/ar5.jpg
https://www.johnnyego.com/firearms/ars/morears/gsbr12.jpg

What I am interested in is a decent to excellent quality weapons mounted light with good ergonomics for mounting on a shorty AR (10.5" LMT MRP), and good illumination at essentially household-clearing distances. I have no real context for what good flashlights cost these days, so let's say a budget of $300 or less. What do you like?




Those are awesome outfits but yes, it's time to move to better lighting and you can reduce the weight. I'm certainly no expert but would encourage anyone to get the brightest and most reliable light you can. For me that means Surefire and I think they're far better than the China made brands that so often fail from bad switches and weak connections.

I recently bought a second Surefire M600DF Ultra Scout 1500 Lumen Weapon Light. It's a "dual fuel", meaning it can work with CR123 batteries or the included rechargeable 18650 battery. The 18650 recharges from a USB to a USB micro on the battery itself. I've replaced my two 500 lumen Surefire Fury lights with the 1500 Lumen Surefire Scout M600DF on my AR's. They are outstanding. This light with the Firedot reticle allows me to pinpoint targets in the forest at night at nearly the distance I can see in daylight. Brighter is better indoors and outdoors.

The Scout includes a thumbscrew Picatinny mount. I used keymod offset mounts for my rifles. I might move to a pressure pad for the rifle that has a verticle foregrip.




https://www.ar-15.co/attachment.php?attachmentid=84514&stc=1

84597

[brutal]

I have several older Surefire LED (some LED/IR) lights scattered on different platforms and they've never let me down, but I'm no tier0 operator.

[JohnnyEgo]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I ended up ordering a Surefire Mini Scout Pro and a tail cap. I liked that it was small, 500 lumens seems plenty bright for inside my house, and I think it can use my old tape switches. Also, in considering Ray's advice on the G2 and googling it, I discovered Malkoff replacement heads for my incandescent G2 and E2. Sadly nothing for my Aviator, though. But I am pleased to be able to get some new life out of these old dogs. I don't plan on replacing any of my old Surefires that are happily mounted and doing fine, though perhaps I will get them some LED heads if I can find them. Just wanted something newer and smaller for my shorty LMT.

[funkymonkey1111]

Thank you all for your thoughts. I ended up ordering a Surefire Mini Scout Pro and a tail cap. I liked that it was small, 500 lumens seems plenty bright for inside my house, and I think it can use my old tape switches. Also, in considering Ray's advice on the G2 and googling it, I discovered Malkoff replacement heads for my incandescent G2 and E2. Sadly nothing for my Aviator, though. But I am pleased to be able to get some new life out of these old dogs. I don't plan on replacing any of my old Surefires that are happily mounted and doing fine, though perhaps I will get them some LED heads if I can find them. Just wanted something newer and smaller for my shorty LMT.

you might call malkoff and see if they can rig up something--you never know.

i've used malkoff stuff for years--it's great