I'm considering a tactical light for my Glock 19. The Surefire is about $250 and the Streamlight is less than half that. Is the Surefire really that much better -- or is the Streamlight "good enough"?
Anyone compare both brands?
Tactical lights - Surefire vs. Streamlight
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WarHawk-AVG
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I saw the video "Night Masters" will Bill Wilson and Ken Hackathorn
They say and both agree the pistol mounted lights are the BEST in home defense as it allows one handed light/pistol operation
They seemed to agree that Surefire is very very good (but pricey)
They say and both agree the pistol mounted lights are the BEST in home defense as it allows one handed light/pistol operation
They seemed to agree that Surefire is very very good (but pricey)
A sheepdog says "I will lead the way. I will set the highest standards. ...Your mission is to man the ramparts in this dark and desperate hour with honor and courage." - Lt. Col. Grossman
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
Yep, but ask Hackathorn and Wilson off camera what gun they'd use to defend their homes given a choice, and I'm betting it won't be a pistol, regardless of accessories.
The main drawback of a mounted light is the loss of carryability; it's a big, bulky addition to a small gun. I haven't even bothered looking into lights for my handguns for that reason; when I'm carrying one, the light won't be on it, and when I'm home and the extra bulk doesn't matter, I won't be using a handgun. Slap a $15 LED light from CDNN on a 12ga, and it won't matter that it's only around 50 lumens. I like my Surefire, I liked the Streamlight I used to carry, and I wouldn't mind buying more of their products, but I'd rather send a $100 shotgun with $15 light to the evidence locker than a $300 pistol with a $200 light.
The main drawback of a mounted light is the loss of carryability; it's a big, bulky addition to a small gun. I haven't even bothered looking into lights for my handguns for that reason; when I'm carrying one, the light won't be on it, and when I'm home and the extra bulk doesn't matter, I won't be using a handgun. Slap a $15 LED light from CDNN on a 12ga, and it won't matter that it's only around 50 lumens. I like my Surefire, I liked the Streamlight I used to carry, and I wouldn't mind buying more of their products, but I'd rather send a $100 shotgun with $15 light to the evidence locker than a $300 pistol with a $200 light.
Both are good. Only difference I can see is size, efficiency, and preference.
I have X200, and played around with the TLR-2
The X200 being smaller and maybe a bit more efficient in terms of lighting because of the way the lens is made (X200A)
The TLR-1 I think is just as good, but the only drawback I can see is the lack of pressure switch (that I know off) On the X200, you can push the toggle switch on either side and turn the light on, thus giving you the momentary on/off advantage.
Surefire has since discontinued the X200 and came out with the X300. Construction seems to be the same, but suppose to be twice as bright at 120 lumens.
Bottom line is if you're using it at home, then the TLR-1 is great. It is cheaper, and can still blind the crap out of the bad guy. Only think is you have to practice on/off function with the TLR-1 vs. Surefire's on/off/constant on switch.
The X200/300 are great light as well, but comes with a premium. Only advantage I see is the switch.
I have X200, and played around with the TLR-2
The X200 being smaller and maybe a bit more efficient in terms of lighting because of the way the lens is made (X200A)
The TLR-1 I think is just as good, but the only drawback I can see is the lack of pressure switch (that I know off) On the X200, you can push the toggle switch on either side and turn the light on, thus giving you the momentary on/off advantage.
Surefire has since discontinued the X200 and came out with the X300. Construction seems to be the same, but suppose to be twice as bright at 120 lumens.
Bottom line is if you're using it at home, then the TLR-1 is great. It is cheaper, and can still blind the crap out of the bad guy. Only think is you have to practice on/off function with the TLR-1 vs. Surefire's on/off/constant on switch.
The X200/300 are great light as well, but comes with a premium. Only advantage I see is the switch.
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G.C.Montgomery
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I want to throw the caveat out that a DO NOT recommend the use of a light mounted on your pistol UNLESS it is supplemented by a hand-held light. The reason for this is the light you use for searching should NOT be the light attached to your gun! The light on the gun is ONLY for target confirmation/identification at the moment it is necessary to point/fire a weapon at a threat.
Having said that, both Surefire and Streamlight make high quality products. It used to be that Streamlight ran a little cheaper than Surefire. There are people who believe there is nothing better than Surefire. That MIGHT be the case and is subject to debate. What cannot be denied however is that there are others who make products that are at least as good as far as the basic functionality of the light is concerned. Try them both, decide for yourself.
If the gun will spend time in a holster with the light attached, then you need to look at the light for which your chosen holster maker has tooled up. Other than that, things like availability of a mount for your gun as well as available switch gear should also be considered. Bottom line is, I'm not giving you a recommendation so much as I'm giving you thought to help you with making your own choice.
Having said that, both Surefire and Streamlight make high quality products. It used to be that Streamlight ran a little cheaper than Surefire. There are people who believe there is nothing better than Surefire. That MIGHT be the case and is subject to debate. What cannot be denied however is that there are others who make products that are at least as good as far as the basic functionality of the light is concerned. Try them both, decide for yourself.
If the gun will spend time in a holster with the light attached, then you need to look at the light for which your chosen holster maker has tooled up. Other than that, things like availability of a mount for your gun as well as available switch gear should also be considered. Bottom line is, I'm not giving you a recommendation so much as I'm giving you thought to help you with making your own choice.
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Handgun lights are good for dedicated home-defense guns. But otherwise a separate flashlight is probably in order.
I've got one of the older Surefire Nitrolon weaponlights. Surefire makes a good light. But I've heard that the TLR-1 is good as well.
I've got one of the older Surefire Nitrolon weaponlights. Surefire makes a good light. But I've heard that the TLR-1 is good as well.
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Venture over to the Beretta forum. Someone who’s really into lights did a side by side test of several different ones. Pretty good testing if you ask me.
http://www.berettaforum.net/vb/showthre ... flashlight
http://www.berettaforum.net/vb/showthre ... flashlight
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Forgot to mention my favorite solution; look into the "home automation" systems like X10. Nothing beats backlighting the intruder, making him look for a target in the opposite direction. If you really wanted to get creative, I've seen a couple of the "decorative spotlight" fixtrues that could handle a 150W bulb.
I've thought about doing something similar near the front door with a pair of 500W halogens. Even Surefire can't make a pocket light to compare with a couple of those firing up.
I've thought about doing something similar near the front door with a pair of 500W halogens. Even Surefire can't make a pocket light to compare with a couple of those firing up.
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WarHawk-AVG
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Well in the video..they said you use the light to identify the target...click on..identify...click off...MOVE
They also said if you shoot someone in the dark without a flashlight the DA will eat you alive and you will go to jail
There were 6 different carry methods they displayed...they agreed the light mounted one was best for a static placed weapon that will be used in a home defense situation, not on a conceal weapon, they have many small lights that are not bulky, my brother has one for his XD that looks like its part of the pistol
They also said if you shoot someone in the dark without a flashlight the DA will eat you alive and you will go to jail
There were 6 different carry methods they displayed...they agreed the light mounted one was best for a static placed weapon that will be used in a home defense situation, not on a conceal weapon, they have many small lights that are not bulky, my brother has one for his XD that looks like its part of the pistol
A sheepdog says "I will lead the way. I will set the highest standards. ...Your mission is to man the ramparts in this dark and desperate hour with honor and courage." - Lt. Col. Grossman
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
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anygunanywhere
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The part about moving makes sense.Molon_labe wrote:Well in the video..they said you use the light to identify the target...click on..identify...click off...MOVE
They also said if you shoot someone in the dark without a flashlight the DA will eat you alive and you will go to jail.
The part about going to jail does not.
Under what justification would you go to jail for shooting someone in the dark without a flashlight? What law in Texas would a person be prosecuted under? Just curious.
Thanks!
Anygun
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I think the point is that if you shoot in the dark without verifying your target, and it turns out to be a bad shoot (you hit your visiting mother-in-law, or the perennially drunken neighbor who's always getting houses mixed up), the "it was an accident; I couldn't see who it was because it was dark" excuse ain't gonna hold water.anygunanywhere wrote:Under what justification would you go to jail for shooting someone in the dark without a flashlight?
But you're correct in that I don't believe there is any specific mention in the PC about use of lights at night. If a career violent felon, brandishing a gun, smashes through your patio plate glass window at 3:00 a.m. and you shoot him in your living room in complete darkness, that won't do anything to negate the legality of the shoot. The flashlight, though, is a good thing to make sure it really isn't that drunken neighbor who tripped on your water hose, fell through the window, and is actually holding the steel brush you use on your barbeque pit, not a gun.
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WarHawk-AVG
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In the video they had a great explanation as to why you identify your target before you shoot
In the video I believe hackathorn says if you see the muzzle flash of a pistol and a report you pretty much know you are in IMMEDIATE danger right...well in the video downrange is the "badguy" what you DIDN'T know is he had a hostage in the normal badguy hold..if you hadn't identified your target and just unloaded at the "figure" in the dark...your situation just went from bad to worse
Moral of the story:If you have a pistol beside your bed, have a flashlight...any time you must defend yourself KNOW what you are shooting at
In the video I believe hackathorn says if you see the muzzle flash of a pistol and a report you pretty much know you are in IMMEDIATE danger right...well in the video downrange is the "badguy" what you DIDN'T know is he had a hostage in the normal badguy hold..if you hadn't identified your target and just unloaded at the "figure" in the dark...your situation just went from bad to worse
Moral of the story:If you have a pistol beside your bed, have a flashlight...any time you must defend yourself KNOW what you are shooting at
A sheepdog says "I will lead the way. I will set the highest standards. ...Your mission is to man the ramparts in this dark and desperate hour with honor and courage." - Lt. Col. Grossman
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
‘All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’ - Edmond Burke
FYI -- I ended up ordering the Surefire X300 from eBay. I'll let y'all know how it works once it comes in...
ETA: I meant to add, I ended up going with the Surefire just based on construction -- from what I observed and what I read online, it seems to be made much better and is reportedly much more rugged and reliable...
ETA: I meant to add, I ended up going with the Surefire just based on construction -- from what I observed and what I read online, it seems to be made much better and is reportedly much more rugged and reliable...