Fresh question... ;) What light?

Noah Metzger

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Nov 26, 2008
Messages
1
Location
Florida
As much as I've used them over my lifetime, this is the first time I've actually asked myself... what's out there beyond what "Walmart" carries? The Surefires are great for handhelds but I need a spotlight for "varmint" situations... out to 1000 yds(dc plug in) with as much field of view as possible. We remove feral hogs for ranchers in FL and a high power spotlight is invaluable for "spotting" game at maximum distance.

Secondly, an efficient headlamp recommendation would also be greatly appreciated.. we have our "using" models, but I'd love to hear what else might be available.


Thankyou, Noah

0) What Region/Country/State will the light be purchased in?

I am in North America. More precisely I am in Florida.

1) Price Range: An easy question, but you may change your mind after answering the rest! :)

I have no limit!

2) Format:

I want a flashlight.
I want a headlamp.
I want a portable spotlight.

3) Length:

I don't care.

4) Width:

I don't care.

5) What batteries do you want to use? Alkaline batteries are easier to find and less expensive but don't pack as much stored energy and are don't work well in cold temperatures. Lithium batteries have long shelf life (10+ years, great for stored emergency lights) and are not as affected by cold but must be kept dry and are more expensive. Rechargeable start expensive, but if used frequently pay off quickly.

whatever works best.

6) How much light do you want? Sometimes you can have too much light (trying to read up close up with a 100 lumen light is impossible).

-hunting situations, distance/fetch predominantly... field of view secondary.

7) Throw vs Flood: Which do you prefer, lights that flood an area with a wide beam, or lights that "throw" with a tightly focused beam? Place an "X" on the line below.

Throw (distance)------x----------------|----------------------Flood/close-up

8) Runtime: Not over-inflated manufacturer runtime claims (like some LED lights). but usable brightness measured from first activation to 50% with new batteries.

20 min. (I want the brightest light for brief periods, as long as I can bring a replacement battery and/or direct cable for continued use)

9) Durability: Generally the old phrase "you get what you pay for" is very accurate for flashlights.

Critical (Police, Fire, Search & Rescue, Self-defense, Survival.)

8) Switch Type:

Momentary with locking capability

9) Switch Location:

I don't care.

10) Operational Modes: Check all that apply.

A simple on-off is fine for me.

11) Is it important whether the body is metal or plastic/composite?

I don't care.

12) Special Needs: Is there anything else you want or need that hasn't been mentioned? Circle any below or write in your own comment(s).

__x__Red (night vision preserving) filter
__x__Waterproof – how deep: _water "resistant" at the least.
 
first, :welcome:

second, NO LIMIT?? sigh, wish i had those resources.

third, i think you may be looking for a HID/Spotlight instead of a handheld, dont think any handhelds can hit the range that you're looking for. It might pay to mosey on over to the HID/Spotlight forum. Think there are more possibilities over there, esp for something that can run on 12v DC.

i can't leave without contributing SOMETHING, consider getting the Dereelight DBS v2 as a backup hand held thrower. their site is HERE shipping is free too if i am not wrong.

For a budget thrower, consider the Aurora Wf-600 which i own and is pretty ok, but i havent subjected it to any hard knocks etc. Runs on 18650s or 2xRCR123s (3.6/3.7 volts work fine).

1000 yards, phew, please post here and let us know what you got man.
 
For spotlight, look at the HIDs. A good place to start might be the N30 or the Mega Illuminator.

For flashlight, you'll have to be more specific. A good place to start might be the Fenix, Jetbeam, Nitecore, Olight, and Eagletac lights.

Headlamp, would you like more floody or more spot?

:welcome:
 
So you want a high power spotlight, a handheld flashlight, and a headlight.

Spotlight: 35 watt Power on Board H.I.D. spotlight from Sam's Club
It's very bright and can be found at a reasonable price, sometimes at auction on Sam's Club website. I've bought them as cheap as $14 at auction.

Handheld flashlight: Fenix L2D Q5
It takes alkalines, lithiums, and rechargeables. It has settings from about 10 lumens up to 180 lumens. It takes 2AAs. If you don't like the size and want something smaller, you can change it with an L1D (1AA) or P2D (1 123A) body tube later on. Costs around $60

Headlight: 50 lumen Princeton Tec EOS headlight
This headlight has just been updated to a Luxeon Rebel l.e.d. and the beam now has more floodlight with about the same throw. It's 3 times brighter and more efficient than the original. It takes 3AAA batteries and weighs under 4 oz. It's 50 lumens on high, 20 on medium, and 5 on low. It's regulated for non-dimming output. It's water resistant. It can take alkalines, lithiums, or rechargeable batteries. Costs around $40
 
HIDs or really high power incan spotlights are probably what you are looking for. The HIDs are nice because you can get respectable runtime (over an hour) out of less than respectable batteries. (most of the cheaper units, like the Power On Board use a pretty standard 12V 7AH lead acid battery).

I just stepped outside and test my old amontech illuminator, which is similar to a power on board, at 500 yards. At that range, it will work, I'm not too sure about 1000 yards, I don't know anywhere around here where I could even test that range without disturbing the peace. I think it would touch 1000 yards and noticeably light it up, I'm just not sure if the level of illumination would be high enough to really work for you or not... The other issue is, at 1000 yards, you aren't going to be picking out small game with the naked eye very easily, that's over half a mile.


Eric
 
I tested my Power on Board H.I.D. spotlight by shining it at the Sierra Nevada mountains from a campground in Independence,CA while nobody was looking. Someone on one of the mountain tops shined a light back at me. Looked like a Petzl Myo XP from the bright, bluish beam. The mountain top was probably ten miles away, somewhere around the Rae Lakes area. I think it's bright enough. By the way, I did inform the rangers on my way home. I thought it was weird for people hiking in the snow, on a mountain top at around 8:30. It gets cold up there at night.
 
Really not a useful response here, but if you scrounge around the forums, you'll find a guy that bought the searchlight off a tank (Ebay, I think?) arnd runs it with a couple of car batteries. I think he's the guy that makes the moon glow.

:welcome:
 
You should check out the zebralight website for their awesome headlamp/flashlights. They start at a very low low so that they won't blind you the moment you turn them on. Don't know about the other stuff. There are so many good flashlights out there right now. I have had good experience with Fenix myself. If you plan on using your lights a lot then lithiums and rechargeable lithiums make sense, AA's and low discharge rechargeable AA's are better for people who use their lights occasionally.
 
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