Innexpensive Flashlight Help

[Adiventure]

I just started playing a game called airsoft a few months ago, and having played my first close quarters night game I was amazed at the effectiveness of others surefire flashlights. Being a broke, jobless teenager I really cant afford to get a big name light, but I had read some on modding, or building ones own. I Guess I am really just looking to explore the range of inexpensive flashlights (homemade or store bought). Sorry, this is quite possibly the first time that I have gone to a forum, not only having no idea what people there were talking about, but not even knowing how stupid my question is. I cant see needing much range at all, (airsoft bbs don't go that far, and when your out of close quarters the light is just a bright "hit me" sign), but I do need it to be blinding in that range. I know I'm not going to get anything perfect, but I was told you guys were the people to ask.

 

[sawlight]

The WalMart Sportsmans extreme 2aa LED for around $18 might be right up you're alley! It has a momentary tail switch for "suprise", common batteries, easy to find, and cheap batteries! The runtime isn't the best, but it's a nice beam and a decent compromise for the money.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

Solarforce L2 of choice on Ebay is another option.

Welcome to CPF!:welcome:

 

[Snow]

You could get a Surefire G2 for about $30. You might also try to track down a Fenix P1 with a Cree. I believe it has about 90 lumens in a nice flood pattern. It's twistie, though, so you won't be able to turn it on and off quickly.

 

[LightJaguar]

Check out the Dealextreme lights. For some weird, unexplained blasphemy a Romisen RC-G2 has become my EDC. I got it from DX just to see what all the noise was about and ever since I laid my paws on it it has not left my side. Keep in mind that this particular light only cost me about $10. I have Surefires and other lights that are 10 and 20 times more expensive. Not the brightest light out there but if were to lose it would not be painful at all.

 

[yellow]

on a budget (but regular use):
Dealextreme!

not the cheapest, but a bit "higher" priced light (over 15,--) that also looks good in the pics
(skip everything that looks weird at the pics. (exposed edges, cheap looking threads, cheap looking finish, ...)
powered by 2 CR123a or better one 18650 Li-Ion cell ("protected" version!),
li-ion multicell charger

great system and kicks astoundingly "better" flashlights (when they still are halogen and the same size)
... if You happen to enjoy lights, then - in the future - will like lights with better machining and production quality.
For now the DX-version offers a great price/light ratio

 

[warlord]

Since you're on a tight budget I would suggest:

The LED Ultrafire 501B $15
-or-
The incand SuperFire Flashlight 9V $9

Both are upgradeable with dropins and are compatible with pressure switches and the gun mounts sold at DX. I would pick whichever flashlight you prefer and upgrade when you have the $$$. Don't forget you probably need to buy the correct batteries and a charger, too.

These are affordable batteries and chargers that I have used:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4151
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.8683

 

[Adiventure]

It seems the Cree brand is the way to go, but I have a couple of questions regarding their lights. For one, incandescent or led? I know the difference, but not the benefits of each. I figure my max price is about 30$, over which it becomes a sizable dent in my resources, under which I can usually find a way to get.

 

[LukeA]

It seems the Cree brand is the way to go, but I have a couple of questions regarding their lights. For one, incandescent or led? I know the difference, but not the benefits of each. I figure my max price is about 30$, over which it becomes a sizable dent in my resources, under which I can usually find a way to get.

Cree isn't a brand, it's a particular LED manufacturer.

 

[Juggernaut]

How about this Super fire 14V with pressure switch made for air soft, it will easily burn smoking holes through paper:devil:. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.976 less then $20. Make sure to buy Cr123a batteries online for cheap, instead of in the stores for many times more money then they cost:shakehead.

:welcome:Quick leave why you have any money remaining

 

[HKJ]

For one, incandescent or led? I know the difference, but not the benefits of each.

A short list of differences:

Incandescent: Best color rendering

Led: More light for less power, i.e. the batteries last longer.

Led: Output can be adjusted, without efficiency or color problems.

Led: Bulb last for lifetime

 

[warlord]

How about this Super fire 14V with pressure switch made for air soft

I've suggested this before but if you ever want to use it as a regular flashlight you're SOL. It only comes with the remote pressure (momentary switch). Also because it's a 4x CR123 form it's not a easily upgradeable. But if you like it for what it is and don't think you'll need to upgrade it's a great light for airsoft.

Doc has a good video showing Cree (fenix) vs a Surefire 6P incan if you want to get a feel for about how bright the Cree LED's are.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isfu...07/05/fenix-cree-flashlights-vs-surefire.html

 

[Brigadier]

The WalMart Sportsmans extreme 2aa LED for around $18 might be right up you're alley! It has a momentary tail switch for "suprise", common batteries, easy to find, and cheap batteries! The runtime isn't the best, but it's a nice beam and a decent compromise for the money.

+1 and :welcome:

 

[kramer5150]

Since you're on a tight budget I would suggest:

The incand SuperFire Flashlight 9V $9

Both are upgradeable with dropins and are compatible with pressure switches and the gun mounts sold at DX. I would pick whichever flashlight you prefer and upgrade when you have the $$$. Don't forget you probably need to buy the correct batteries and a charger, too.

I just placed an order for this light. Its OEM Xenon bulb can accept 2xRCR123 cells, so that IMHO makes it more flexible straight out of the box. I intend to use it with a 6090 drop in and RCR123 cells. The 6090 will throw out a healthy beam of light at least 100 yards, and is easily bright enough to blind someone whos' eyes are dilated at night.

The sportsman extreme (mentioned above) is about 70 Lumens and has a very nice floody beam projection beyond ~20 yards. Its a really nice light IMHO, considering it runs just fine off standard Alkalines. Although, I am not sure if its beam is focused tight enough to blind someone when used as a tactical tool.

 

[Adiventure]

How does the SuperFire 9v compare to http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7246 http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.7418 and http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1315 ? One of my major problems is that I don't know enough to comparison shop very well >.< Also what are the upgrade options? Or what would I look for to see that an upgrade was compatible? I am considering the airsoft one also, but I would probably get that in addition to another light. What (including the airsoft one) would be the brightest at short (couple of feet, 30 max) range?

 

[kosPap]

+1 on the superfire 501 and accessories. I just made a set up like this (mine is a one cell version) for my Glock Airsoft.

Regarding the various other Dx choices...the Wf-400 will certainly will not accept a tape switch, the Romisen one maybe will.

Regardless what buy plenty of tape switched, they are rather fragile...

 

[yjz_660]

Surefire is good really, I presonally recommend LED surefire lights.