Cheaper Alternative to E2D LED?

[vtxrecruiter]

After posting my D3 rebuild question and getting great advice, I started thinking about modernizing my 556 SBR to the current "New Hotness" in the gun world. Most of the high speed operators are going with a Larue dual E2D LED mount. It gives some serious advantages: TOTAL redundancy, INSTANT back up in case of failure or dead battery, and light weight compared to forend lights. (Actually a lot of us are not big on the light forends, as I and many others hate the "cool guy" grip)

SOOOO:
What is a good comparable alternative to the Surefire E2D LED in size and weight and reliability without bankrupting a poor soldier?????

I had thought about dual Fenix PD 30's but I like the rear "safety" ring on the SF that helps prevent accidental activation....

Any suggestions would be cool and appreciated...

 

[hk dave]

Fenix Tk11? They can be had for like $50.

Or if you want to go super cheap...

Romisen RC-A5-Q5?

 

[vtxrecruiter]

I have a Tk-11 now on my SBR, I just thought that 2 would get bulky, so I was thinking SLIM like the PD 20 or PD 30 or similar SUB 1" body lights....

 

[wingnut86]

EagleTac P100C2 or P20C2.

A protective tailcap is available for the P20...

 

[Mik]

PD30 also has too many settings IMO that could get set incorrectly by accident in your application. It's beam is not as much of a thrower as the E2D either. You don't need a flood on a rifle, so the E2D beam seems like it would be better.

I have some 2x cr123a Romisen 1 mode lights at home (slightly under $20) that have ok throw on them, but a smaller hot spot than the E2D. They don't have as nice of a button as the E2D and I also don't know if they would take the abuse that they will see by hanging onto the end of a rifle.

If you are military or LE and use this as your duty rifle, it's just not worth it to save some money. Go with the E2Ds.

I don't attach lights to guns, but realistically, how likely is a good quality LED flashlight to fail in this application?

 

[vtxrecruiter]

I have never seen an E2D fail. 5.56 doesn't have enough recoil to harm a solid state device like an LED light. You are right about multi-mode lights, they are too easy to get in the wrong mode. Are the Romisen lights slim, and are they good quality??? The only time I have seen a light die on a rifle was one that got whacked into a door frame hard enough to kill the incandescent bulb (Surefire AR-15 handguard light). The knocking around OFF the rifle is harder on the light than the pipsqueek 5.56 recoil.
I will look into the Romisen lights, but maybe just start saving for 2 E2D's....

 

[Mik]

I can measure my Romisen light tonight if you want, but I can tell you it's close to the E2D in thickness (just a little shorter).

The muzzle blast is the concern IMO, not so much the recoil. I guess it depends how close to the muzzle you are placing it, and what sort of brake you are using. If you are directing gasses backwards and towards the flashlight, I would think of that as abusive!

I sent a picture of both next to eachother and important dimensions via pm.

 

[vtxrecruiter]

If you could measure your Romisen, that would be great! I am going to mount well behind the muzzle, I run a Vortex flash hider most of the time, so there is no blast coming back, and I also sometimes run my Gemtech Pirhana silencer on this rifle ( I just hate cleaning after using it ) and again there is no worry of blast.