Specifically lights to mount on the forearm of a carbine. Looking for something bright, tough, and reliable. Are the Inforce ones any good? Or should I go with something from Streamlight? Or are there other/better options?
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Specifically lights to mount on the forearm of a carbine. Looking for something bright, tough, and reliable. Are the Inforce ones any good? Or should I go with something from Streamlight? Or are there other/better options?
I'm awaiting the responses, what ever the choice it needs to have pressure switch. My shot guns have sure fire fore ends. For the purpose they serve great. On a rifle / carbine i'd like a removable unit as IMO it doesn't need to be attached 24/7
I have been very happy with my nitecore p12 which I found for a great price on eBay.
Inforce or TLR1 @ 12 o'clock
The WML on the offset Thorntail mount is very ergonomic.
Anything surefire or stream light. I've been using a gear sector mount with a surefire 6px and also a stream light HL600 in a Vikings tactics off set mount. Both are very nice lights and mounts are both solid.
I run Surefire or streamlight. Interested in the Inforce though. Found this informational.....
http://youtu.be/V78tH6aVpuM
The surefire fury and a VTAC mount will give you 500 lumens with good throw and decent spread for under $150.
I'm an advocate of single output lights on a rifle. If you need it on you need it on. You don't need to be clicking through 15 different "tactical modes" to get the throw you want.
Streamlight in QD mount that quickly transfers from one gun to another. (Have short rail sections in place on three rifles and my shotgun). This one is probably brighter than needed, it's 600 lumens on high, but it's so bright I don't need bullets.
http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p...pscd91b6c8.jpg
I have a TLR-1 on a G17 that seems to be plenty bright enough.
I primarily use the Streamlights on long guns. They have a bunch of different intensities and focuses.
The TLR-1 is 300 lumens and is pretty decent (bright) for indoors. I have one of these and a prior version that had a lower output. Outdoors, plan on maybe 40 yards for fast target ID. You can stretch to 100 if speed and best ID is not essential.
The TLR-1HP is 200 lumens, but the beam is focused and I can shoot out to 200 yards on most targets with speed and optimum ID capability. 300+ on targets that have light colors or are reflective is not a problem, but I would not rely on positive ID past that distance. It casts a pretty decent soft glow indoors, but that beam, across room distances is about a foot. This is what I use on my AR when I shoot the night matches, but I have to be able to see a target out to 200 yards right now. The focused beam allows you to look off to the side indoors. I keep the beam at the intersection of the ground/floor and walls if I use it indoors.
The TLR-HL is 600 lumens. It is bright. It is great on a pistol or shotgun outdoors, and a lot of guys use them. For rifle, it does not have enough beam focus out past about 60 yards or so, partly becasue you are dumping so much light up close. Indoors, it is too bright for me.
Not a fan of the "s" versions, and I ended up with one I keep meaning to sell off. I like the toggle they use, and for me it is one of the best. When I shoot and work the night matches, it seems that the people who run the TLR-1 units have less issues than most of the other brands. You can pretty much bet money on the fact that the guys that place at the top of these matches are running Streamlight, Surefire and Crimson Trace.
I have an Inforce, and it is okay, just not enough lumens for an AR and the pressure switch needs some firm pressure.
I built a couple guns with the Unity Tactical Fusion Warrior front sight/VTAC base/ring light mount with a Surefire Fury and have to say that is the slickest setup that I've come across yet. It gets the light up nice & high, around 1:00/11:00 depending on the side, and it weighs less than half of what a DD front sight/Haley Thorntail mount does. For reference, the Unity setup on a Troy Alpha rail clocks in at 1.75oz and the DD/Haley combo weighs in at 4.10oz on my digital kitchen scale. On top of that, the Thorntail mount holds the light farther out to the side & lower than the Unity mount because you have to run it on a side rail in order to clear a front sight unless you want to mount the front sight behind the light mount & give up some sight radius.
I've used the TLR @ 12:00 and various other setups over the years, but the Unity/Fury combo is the best one I've seen yet. The setup above is about $160 plus whatever the light is going for these days, which is more than a TLR/DD front sight combo but, for me, it works the most bestest.
I don't have an issue with the 500+ lumen lights indoors, even in some of the small apartments that I've had the pleasure of searching at night. In those cases, it was with a 500 lumen SF X300U on my pistol or the 750 lumen SF Lawman handheld. Your eyes may vary.
Whatever light you choose remember the ideal locations are 12' o clock or 6' I clock as far forward as possible to cut down on barrel shadow. Also try to keep a bit of clearance from your muzzle so you don't have to breakout the toothpaste and Q-Tips for the lens every range trip.
I using a p2x fury(1000 lumen) in a rousch slm1 mount
probably as good as it gets for rifle light/mount/site
http://jerkingthetrigger.com/wp-cont...rks-SLM1-1.jpg
Roger if you want to see them in person I work in the springs I can bring the rifle with me
http://roschworks.com
sorry posting from my ipotato
I figured I would add one more low cost option that has been quite reliable for more than 10 yrs.
Get a basic Surefire tactical light (Surefire G2X Tactical - 300 lumen) and mount it on the rifle foreend using a picatinny rail and 1" weaver scope ring with thumb screws.
Total Cost $56 = $50 Flashlight + $6 Weaver Ring
Use fingers to install for quick removal or use a coin/screw driver for more secure install.
My HD rifle has a Surefire M300B Scout that is awesome, but I keep 2 of the above setups to go between my other rifles if I want a weapon light.
I should add, using the simple configuration above, I had 3 Stream Lights fail about 5 years ago when I started replacing my incandescent Surefires. I really like Stream Lights but their basic tactical flashlight didn't seem to handle the recoil well.
I really do love the convenience of modern LED lights. I just retired my last incandescent Surefire; Standard Bulb 60 lumens, Special High Intensity Xenon ~90 lumens and 15 MINUTES runtime on 2 C123 batteries. Will not miss replacing batteries all the time.
I got the newer inforce with the switch so the button is momentary only. I like it so far, but haven't got to run with it yet.