Glock 23 and M3

[RaginCajun]

I have a Glock 23 (Gen 3 with accessory rails) and I want to put a tactical light on it. What type of switch does the M3 have and where exactly is the switch located? I have been unable to tell by the pictures that I have seen.

Thanks,
Paul

 

[Josh]

There are 2 types of switches, one is the pressure switch or also refered to as a tape switch.The other is called a shutle switch, this is located on the light for use with a finger. Surefire.com Go check out the weapon lights in their site and look for the M111,P111C and M111C these will fit your Glock. good luck.

 

[RaginCajun]

Thanks for the quick reply. I have edited my original post. I have been looking at the Streamlight M3. The Surefire is awesome, but I am not sure it is worth the difference in price.

Paul

 

[Stingray]

If you go to 186thousand.com there is some discussion of Streamlight/ITI M3 etc. vs. Surefire weapon lights. You can also check out glocktalk.com. I did a lot of research, asked a lot of questions of knowledgable people, and decided to order a Surefire P115C for my HK USP. YMMV. It should be here in a few weeks. I'll post a mini-review on it once I try it out for several hundred rounds.

BTW, I ordered it from Strategos. They even beat Botach's price on it after factoring in shipping!

 

[RaginCajun]

Thanks, Stingray
Lots of great info there.

Paul

 

[Josh]

Oh the M3 by ITI

my bad. I see M3 and my brain says SUREFIRE!!!

 

[Stingray]

Some people have been able to successfully use some Surefire nitrolon weapon lights on the Glock rails directly without needing the proprientary rails. I think there was a thread about that at glocktalk.com

 

[RaginCajun]

That would suck if I had to use an extra set of rails. I thought that is what the built-in Glock rails are for. As far as I can tell, SF lights are the only ones causing any problems with Glocks. That may influence my decision a lot.

Paul

 

[tkl]

Originally posted by RaginCajun:
That would suck if I had to use an extra set of rails. I thought that is what the built-in Glock rails are for. As far as I can tell, SF lights are the only ones causing any problems with Glocks. That may influence my decision a lot.

Paul

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">this is true, and why i use sl's m3. sf's pistol lights are too heavy and bulky, don't waste your cash.

sf makes some great things, rechargables and pistol lights are not two of them.

 

[GeoffChan]

Originally posted by Josh:
Oh the M3 by ITI

my bad. I see M3 and my brain says SUREFIRE!!!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Josh, you're not the only one

geoff

 

[yclo]

Originally posted by Geoffchan:
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by Josh:
Oh the M3 by ITI

my bad. I see M3 and my brain says SUREFIRE!!!

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Josh, you're not the only one

geoff</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">You're not the only two.

-YC

 

[Stingray]

Originally posted by RaginCajun:
That would suck if I had to use an extra set of rails. I thought that is what the built-in Glock rails are for. As far as I can tell, SF lights are the only ones causing any problems with Glocks. That may influence my decision a lot.

Paul

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Some of the Glocks had a problem with the slide speed actually increasing due to the light (M3) being mounted on the rails. This caused the slide to fail to stay open after the last round, thus delaying the reloading process. Some others (a small percent) had jams.

On HK's, the ITI UTL light would fall off of the rails every once in a while due to recoil and the way it mounts to the rails. One of the Surefire lights is able to mount directly to the Glock rails, same as the M3. Surefire came up with their proprietary rails that attach to the trigger guard to insure 100% non-interference with the reliability of the gun. I chose Surefire for my HK because there is no streamlight M? version for my gun. There is only an ITI UTL light, bigger and bulkier then the M3, and $250 plus another $50 for the remote pressure switch. Or, there is a GG&G adapter that attaches to the HK rails and then allows the M3 to mount to it. The adapter is around $70, the M3 is around $95, and the remote switch is around $45. The Surefire came out cheaper for me, $170 with rails and remote, and it is a much more robust light with the Surefire warranty.

Drop an email to Ken Good at Strategos and get the opinion of a Navy Seal/Tactical Instructor with extensive low light engagement experience. Then go to the local gun store and check them both out actually mounted on a gun. Decide for yourself.

If I had a Glock and wasn't going to actually do a lot of shooting with the light on, I might be tempted to get the M3. If you're going to shoot the gun alot with the light attached, I'd go for the Surefire.

 

[RaginCajun]

I have no intention of shooting it a lot. Some testing for relaibility at the range along with occasional training exercises. Most of the time it will be resting on my nightstand. Hopefully, I will never have to use it in a defensive situation.

Paul

 

[Stingray]

If it's a dedicated home defense gun, I'd go with the Surefire. If it's also a carry gun, and you plan to take the light on and off alot, then the M3 makes more sense. There have been failures with the contacts inside the M3 on guns that are shot alot with the light on.

It's a tough call, I just went thru this decision process myself so I know your dilemma. I hate the fact that I have to mount different rails on my gun. But, I also want it to be 100% reliable and I want to practice enough with the light so I know that I, and it, are reliable. Yet it's the practice which wears out the M3. So, I was afraid I wouldn't trust it when and if the time came.

I will be glad when all the gun manufacturers finally settle on a common rail, like a picatinny rail, so everyone can make lights that work on all the guns and we can have better choices.

 

[Stingray]

Botach has the M3 on sale for $90 and the remote for $35. If you're going with that light instead of Surefire, now's a good time. They also have the holster that fits the Glock with the light mounted on sale. Just got the e-mail flyer. hth

Steve

 

[tkl]

actually, i should have said if you plan on shooting the pistol alot with the light, the sf will probably hold up better but will increase the likelyhood of short stroke jams. if not, get the M3 which will be less likely to cause such jams.

or better yet, wait for the strategos line! get a handheld for now.

 

[RaginCajun]

Unfortunately, I do not trust Botach with an order like that. They always claim to have a product in stock, but whenever I place an order it is backordered. GlockTalk is filled with horror stories about them. I would rather pay more money elsewhere.

Paul

Originally posted by Stingray:
Botach has the M3 on sale for $90 and the remote for $35. If you're going with that light instead of Surefire, now's a good time. They also have the holster that fits the Glock with the light mounted on sale. Just got the e-mail flyer. hth

Steve

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">

 

[Stingray]

tkl, what's this about short stroke jams with Surefires? I haven't heard about that yet. What's the scoop? I have a Surefire on order.

It will be awhile before Strategos has handgun mounted lights. When they come out, if they're better, I'll sell my Surefire and get one.

RaginCajun...just passing along the sale info, I seem to be on their mailing list...not necessarily recommending them in general, I've had my problems there too.

Steve

 

[tkl]

stingray, the more weight you put on the front of your pistol the more likely it will jam. sf's pistol lights weigh more than the streamlight. so, in theory..........

however, defensive ammo, good stance and grip will sufficiently reduce the probability.

i've handled the sf pistol lights and they seem huge and heavy. just didn't care for them. i've seen them blamed more times than sl for jams. for whatever that's worth.

while testing my M3 on my Glock 23 i couldn't get it to jam. i held the pistol as loosely as i could, the pistol almost flew out of my hand, but no jam. on the other hand, my brother could get it to jam with no light using full power ammo. he grips the pistol poorly, it happens to him occasionaly.

whatever you do, test thoroughly and your mileage may vary.

 

[Stingray]

Thanks tkl, the Surefire rails mount to the trigger guard, so hopefully the weight will be more centered so to speak, and have less effect, who knows?

I'll run 500 or 1000 rounds thru it and report back the results I get.