Best weapons light for the AR?

mjn · 03-07-2011, 05:51 PM

I already have the mount .. it is a forward undermount from Elzetta. I want a 2XCr123 light that has serious throw.. ya know.. light shit up good at 100 yds +. Plus be tough enough to handle the rigors of being on an AR.. I'm considering getting one of Elzetta's lights. They are reported to be tough as nails, and bright.

I could be wrong, but looking at the specs of the Surefire products, none of 'em have the kind of lumen output to do this without spending 300 bucks..

What lights do you guys have on yours? What do you like/dislike etc..

I've got a Fenix PD31 on my shotgun (304 lumens) and it is bright as hell.. but more throw would be great....

GixxerPete · 03-08-2011, 07:35 AM

I settled for 120 lumens and a Surefire G2 LED with Viking Tactics mount. They do have the new G2X at 200 lumens for about the same price though.

Brianaintright · 03-10-2011, 10:54 AM

LED's won't usually have that kind of throw. The SF 97X series might be a better bet and you can find them used for under $300. They have the large reflector to get more distance, not necessarily a brighter light, although some bulbs are up to 220 lumens.

nwcid · 03-10-2011, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianaintright

LED's won't usually have that kind of throw. The SF 97X series might be a better bet and you can find them used for under $300. They have the large reflector to get more distance, not necessarily a brighter light, although some bulbs are up to 220 lumens.

That is no longer true.

I have 3 9v SF lights, 2 with 225 lumen Turbo heads. Of course they were in the $300 range when I bought them. I got a Streamlight Polytach, Tactical Hand-Held Series - PolyTac® LED HP | Streamlight this fall for $40. It is just as bright if not brighter and throws almost as far.

I have a lot of money tied up in SF lights and they are great lights so I am embarrassed to say $40 light is better then ones I spent $$$ on. On top of that the LED runs for hours vs minutes and bulb life is WAY longer with the LED.

Brianaintright · 03-10-2011, 01:59 PM

I have some bright LED's as well but you get them in anything but open terrain and the light diffuses quickly or maybe just gets reflected back making it harder to see into the shadows. If that's changed, I'd like to see it in action, especially if the price is right. I also have several of the 9V lights, two with turbo heads and two with the 960 series head. Good lights but I don't use them much anymore as we've switched to NVG's and I went with a vampire.

I'm not opposed to other brands these days, I've seen a lot of really bright non SF lights, but do they hold up well to recoil and high round counts? The LED's should be fine but are the switches and in some case circuitry solid enough? How about water?

nwcid · 03-10-2011, 05:19 PM

All the new Streamlight C4 stuff is amazing. I was not a fan of any LED until these came out.

Streamlight is a solid company like Surefire.

mjn · 03-10-2011, 08:05 PM

I think I've made my decision.. I'm going to save up and get the right light the first time;

Elzetta Tactical Lighting Products FAQ

I'll probably buck up and snag the 260 lumen drop in as well. These suckers are proven tough as hell. The lumen measurement is "out the front" as opposed to rated at the emitter. 200 + bucks.. but hey... quality is never cheap..

Cody Jansen · 03-10-2011, 08:49 PM

4Sevens XM 18??

hot round · 03-15-2011, 08:25 PM

I thought that the flash supresser was to hide the light right? Won't a flash light show them where you are. big white target!

nwcid · 03-15-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hot round

I thought that the flash supresser was to hide the light right? Won't a flash light show them where you are. big white target!

Well it depends on the use.

IF you know there is ONLY enemy in front of you shoot away. Since I don't have that luxury I would sure like to be able to ID a target before I shoot...........

Gotama · 03-18-2011, 02:55 PM

4 sevens
Maelstrom X7 4Sevens.Com

03-07-2011, 05:51 PM	#1
mjn Rifleman Joined: Jan 2009 From: Tri-Cities, Wa Posts: 178	Best weapons light for the AR? I already have the mount .. it is a forward undermount from Elzetta. I want a 2XCr123 light that has serious throw.. ya know.. light shit up good at 100 yds +. Plus be tough enough to handle the rigors of being on an AR.. I'm considering getting one of Elzetta's lights. They are reported to be tough as nails, and bright. I could be wrong, but looking at the specs of the Surefire products, none of 'em have the kind of lumen output to do this without spending 300 bucks.. What lights do you guys have on yours? What do you like/dislike etc.. I've got a Fenix PD31 on my shotgun (304 lumens) and it is bright as hell.. but more throw would be great....

03-10-2011, 01:59 PM	#5
Brianaintright Rifleman Joined: Nov 2009 From: WA Posts: 179	I have some bright LED's as well but you get them in anything but open terrain and the light diffuses quickly or maybe just gets reflected back making it harder to see into the shadows. If that's changed, I'd like to see it in action, especially if the price is right. I also have several of the 9V lights, two with turbo heads and two with the 960 series head. Good lights but I don't use them much anymore as we've switched to NVG's and I went with a vampire. I'm not opposed to other brands these days, I've seen a lot of really bright non SF lights, but do they hold up well to recoil and high round counts? The LED's should be fine but are the switches and in some case circuitry solid enough? How about water? Last edited by Brianaintright; 03-10-2011 at 02:02 PM.

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03-08-2011, 07:35 AM	#2
GixxerPete Sharpshooter Joined: Jan 2009 From: Renton, WA Posts: 517	I settled for 120 lumens and a Surefire G2 LED with Viking Tactics mount. They do have the new G2X at 200 lumens for about the same price though.

03-10-2011, 10:54 AM	#3
Brianaintright Rifleman Joined: Nov 2009 From: WA Posts: 179	LED's won't usually have that kind of throw. The SF 97X series might be a better bet and you can find them used for under $300. They have the large reflector to get more distance, not necessarily a brighter light, although some bulbs are up to 220 lumens.

03-10-2011, 05:19 PM	#6
nwcid Rifleman Joined: Mar 2010 From: Spokane/Yakima WA Posts: 123	All the new Streamlight C4 stuff is amazing. I was not a fan of any LED until these came out. Streamlight is a solid company like Surefire.

03-10-2011, 08:05 PM	#7
mjn Rifleman Joined: Jan 2009 From: Tri-Cities, Wa Posts: 178	I think I've made my decision.. I'm going to save up and get the right light the first time; Elzetta Tactical Lighting Products FAQ I'll probably buck up and snag the 260 lumen drop in as well. These suckers are proven tough as hell. The lumen measurement is "out the front" as opposed to rated at the emitter. 200 + bucks.. but hey... quality is never cheap..

03-10-2011, 08:49 PM	#8
Cody Jansen Gunslinger Joined: Jan 2011 From: Oregon Posts: 17	4Sevens XM 18??

03-15-2011, 08:25 PM	#9
hot round Gunslinger Joined: Feb 2011 From: spokane Posts: 17	I thought that the flash supresser was to hide the light right? Won't a flash light show them where you are. big white target!

03-18-2011, 02:55 PM	#11
Gotama Gunslinger Joined: Feb 2011 From: wa Posts: 58	4 sevens Maelstrom X7 4Sevens.Com