Looking for pistol mounted light

[alphasigmookie]

I'm looking for an LED to mount on my M&P9. I'm not overly impressed with the various streamlight offerings and don't need a laser. The ideal would be a single CR123A driven 100-200 lumen LED. Everything I seem to find is either CR2 (I'd prefer no to have to stock another type of battery) or 2x cr123a (which is too big for a pistol IMHO). Does such a unicorn exist?

Thanks!

 

[Lobstradomus]

I've never really thought the TLR or X300 series were too big for a double stack pistol but that's just me. I think the only light that fits your needs is the Inforce APL -200 lumens for ~1.5 hours off a single CR123.

 

[alphasigmookie]

Thanks, that will probably work, but still a bit high on the price range. There are lots of relatively small CR2 lights. Seems like it should be easy enough to build using the more common cr123a which is only slightly larger with generally higher capacity. I wonder why so few companies do? I guess pistol lights are just too small a market....

 

[Lobstradomus]

I think most people are satisfied with the size/output/runtime of the double CR123 lights out now and with the dominance of the Surefire X series and the Streamlight TL-R series for pistol lights there isn't a whole lot of market share left open. The Inforce APL is only maybe a quarter inch thinner than the Streamlight/Surefire lights and it is still wider than most pistol slides and even some grips.

 

[bigtime]

One of my friends has used the Streamlight TLR-1 for a couple years and loves it. If you have the full size M&P the light will stick out a little bit past the muzzle.

 

[M3likechips]

Surefire X300 has 170

 

[alphasigmookie]

One of my friends has used the Streamlight TLR-1 for a couple years and loves it. If you have the full size M&P the light will stick out a little bit past the muzzle.

Yeah that's the issue I was trying to avoid. Not the end of the world, just odd there aren't more single cr123a lights. Both the trl-1 and x300 stick out beyond the muzzle of most pistols.

 

[appliancejunk]

Uses 1 CR2.
http://www.crimsontrace.com/products/type/lightguard/01-7060

There are lots of relatively small CR2 lights. Seems like it should be easy enough to build using the more common cr123a which is only slightly larger with generally higher capacity.

Not the end of the world, just odd there aren't more single cr123a lights. Both the trl-1 and x300 stick out beyond the muzzle of most pistols.

I wonder if they go with the CR2 to keep it from sticking past the muzzle.

Never used one, but i would image the part of the light that stuck past the muzzle would get crap on it from firing the pistol, maybe not.

 

[SoCalDep]

I have fired tens of thousands of rounds (probably around 10k through one and around 30-40k through the other) through two Surefire X300s. I own an X300U, TLR-2 and TLR-3 though I haven't fired nearly as many rounds through those two lights. Each year I see hundreds if not thousands of deputies and recruits pass through our training with Surefire X300, X300U, X400, or Streamlight weaponlights. Yes, crap will get on the lens, but there are a couple easy fixes. Number one, clean frequently with a pink eraser. Option two is to dab a little bit of Froglube or SEAL1 paste on the lens (non-petroleum based) prior to shooting. Then wipe it off and re-apply.

When it comes to weaponlights it is all about what you want to do with the light. The duty-sized weaponlights such as the X300, TLR-1, etc. balance run-time, output, manipulation, and size. Two batteries offer higher voltage, more capacity, and consistent footprint so accessories such as the contour switches and Surefire DG switches will interchange along the line.

Most compact weaponlights aren't truly compact, or don't function correctly for what a compact pistol should do... carry concealed. I have followed and worked with these lights since the old Insight X2 and am currently trying to obtain some different options for testing.

I would prefer to get some more information before I try to give you a detailed suggestion of a light. Do you carry the pistol? Is it concealed or duty use? Is it for home defense? Do you shoot with a "thumbs-forward" grip? Would you want or be willing to use pressure switches or do you want the switching to be self-contained in the unit? At what ranges do you want to be effective? What is your budget?

 

[scsmith]

Yeah that's the issue I was trying to avoid. Not the end of the world, just odd there aren't more single cr123a lights. Both the trl-1 and x300 stick out beyond the muzzle of most pistols.

Unless the manufacturer oriented the battery perpendicular to the bore axis rather than parallel to it a single CR123 light isn't going to be any shorter. Sure, a pistol light that's barely longer than the CR123 itself could be made, but there wouldn't be room for a proper switch, much less a reflector to focus the light in any usable way. If you view the CT Lightguard manual you'll see that it's single CR-2 sits in front of the trigger guard, nearly vertical, and roughly parallel to the bore axis. If a manufacturer were to run a single CR123 in that orientation it would stick down below the trigger guard. If a single CR123 was run sideways, parallel to the rail slots, it would be just as wide as (if not wider than) current side by side dual CR-123 lights. It would allow the reflector assembly to be moved closer to the muzzle, but would do so at the cost of reduced run time for the same output. There's just too much given up with single cell pistol lights for what can be gained.

Last, you have to look at holsters. The SF X series and the SL TLR-1/2 series (and the dual battery Insight M series with almost identical dimensions to the TLR-1/2 series) are the most widely available pistol lights. Even so, you'll find light bearing holsters compatible with them only when mounted on pistols that have huge numbers in use by Mil and LE, like Glocks, 1911s, SIG P-Series, S&W M&Ps, and a few for HK and CZ. You'll notice that the Crossbreed and Galco holsters shown in the lightguard's related products section are marked with the CTC logo. Unless a manufacturer is willing to commission holsters, you're going to be stuck going the custom route on any light/pistol combo that isn't in extremely widespread use. A pistol without a holster is of rather limited utility.

 

[samsigsauer]

I am planning to get a Streamlight TLR-1...I already have a Surefire X200. For the money Streamlight Weapon mounted light is better than Surefire cost wise. I have not really seen single cell weapon mounted lights. You can get into a Streamlight at about 1/3 the cost.

 

[alphasigmookie]

I would prefer to get some more information before I try to give you a detailed suggestion of a light. Do you carry the pistol? Is it concealed or duty use? Is it for home defense? Do you shoot with a "thumbs-forward" grip? Would you want or be willing to use pressure switches or do you want the switching to be self-contained in the unit? At what ranges do you want to be effective? What is your budget?

Mostly for HD use at across the room distances, not as a duty weapon or ccw, but wouldn't mind something that wouldn't be ridiculous on my walther pps (probably impossible). Shoot thumbs forward.

Would rather not spend much more than $100 or so, but looks like I may have to spend a bit more. I've got an eagletac on my AR that works great and was only like $50, but doesn't seem like there are similar inexpensive but still highly effective lights for pistols. Sounding like the TRS-1 might be my best option. None of these 2x cr123a lights can take 18650 cells can they?

 

[scsmith]

18650s would make the light even longer. However, after reading this thread on ArfCom I just put a pair of freshly charged Xtar protected 16340 (AKA RCR123) batteries in my TLR-1. The battery door was a PITA to get closed, but once I got it locked down the light fired up just fine. As infrequently as I use a pistol light though, I'll keep standard primaries in it. The primaries aren't subject to self discharge like the rechargeable cells are. In a weapon light, I'll pay a few extra $ to change the standard CR123 batteries annually for reliability, over saving a couple $ over the life of light and running 16340s/RCR123s at the cost of reliability. YMMV.

ETA: I just took the 16340s out, and put the SL CR123s back in my TLR. The button top on one of the 16340s is now pushed in nearly flush with the top of the cell. I'm not putting 16340s in there again, and that cell is off to be recycled tomorrow.

 

[alphasigmookie]

18650s would make the light even longer.

18650's aren't more than a few mm different than 2x cr123a. 1 cr123a vs 2 would cut over an inch in length, but admittedly also cut battery life in half.

 

[scsmith]

18650's aren't more than a few mm different than 2x cr123a. 1 cr123a vs 2 would cut over an inch in length, but admittedly also cut battery life in half.

Yes, but the CR123s are arranged side by side in pistol lights, not front to back.

 

[praharin]

18650's aren't more than a few mm different than 2x cr123a. 1 cr123a vs 2 would cut over an inch in length, but admittedly also cut battery life in half.

It's already been said, but:

The 18650 is roughly twice as tall as 2 CR123s side by side, no?

This setup is roughly identical in all the popular pistol lights today from Insight, Steamlight and Surefire. Except probably the TRL3 and it's kin.