The best flashlight for personal defence?

[Adriano]

Hi, I'm sorry but I am inexperienced and I'd like to know the best flashlight for personal defence.
I have just tought to Surefire M2 combactlight, it has 120 lumen. Do you think it is sufficient? There is another Surefire with 200 lumens, it is Surefire C3. It has a higher length but I don't like it because it is bigger.
Do you think Surefire M2 will be sufficient to blind temporarily eyes?
thanks for some info

 

[leukos]

6 D Maglite!!!!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif Makes a great club!

Just kidding. Manufacturers claims of a flashlight being used for self defense appear to be more marketing hype than real users' experience.

Not to say you couldn't stun someone for a split second if the conditions were just right, but there are many more effective tools and techniques for self defense.

High quality lights like Surefire are excellent for law enforcement, security, and military applications. These lights should be seen as best suited for these purposes (as well as for the occasional flashaholic /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

 

[kongfuchicken]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin07.gif

Seriously, don't rely on a flashlight for self defense or, in fact, on anything else but providing some light...

 

[Adriano]

Thanks for your reply.
I will travel in the night in the african rainforest and when in the night I will meet a dangerous animal I think a flashlight will be a good defense.
For defending myself by criminals in the night what tools and techniques do you know, please?
thanks

 

[JohnK]

Attach the Surefire to a Glock pistol.

 

[Malpaso]

[ QUOTE ]
Adriano said:
Thanks for your reply.
I will travel in the night in the african rainforest and when in the night I will meet a dangerous animal I think a flashlight will be a good defense.
For defending myself by criminals in the night what tools and techniques do you know, please?
thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Africa. 375 H&H comes to mind, for both 2 and 4 legged predators.

 

[Adriano]

[ QUOTE ]
JohnK said:
Attach the Surefire to a Glock pistol.

[/ QUOTE ]

eheheheeh, this is a very easy and children's reply.
I have subcribed this forum for some interesting reply.

 

[CroMAGnet]

TigerLight with peppah! hold the salt /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

tigerlight.net

I recommend researching the threads about the recent issues with Meridian Tactical before buying from them though.

 

[greenLED]

[ QUOTE ]
Adriano said:
I will travel in the night in the african rainforest and when in the night I will meet a dangerous animal I think a flashlight will be a good defense.
For defending myself by criminals in the night what tools and techniques do you know, please?
thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Adriano, sorry to break the news, but if you're attacked by a large predator (I'm thinking lion, hiena, leopard), the chances of surviving the attack are slim, no matter what light you have in your hands. You're safer staying inside a car and traveling that way if you can help it. Maybe if you provided more details as to where exactly you'll be traveling, the form of travel (foot, car, etc.) and what type of animals you might encounter, we could provide better advise. A light may help you spot the animals, but pepper spray may work better from a defensive perspective, depending on the circumstances;

As far as defending yourself from criminals using a light... well, that's another myth IMO. Unless you are trained (and consistenly practice self-defense techniques) having a flashlight in your hands won't help you much. In most cases a victim will freeze upon a confrontation, period. Whether you're carrying a big flashlight or a knife, it can be then used *against* you! I won't say much more as this has been discussed in other threads already and other members are more experienced (and you may have the training, I don't know).

 

[Cornkid]

Welll. I would consider the E2D as a good defence light... if you were ever in the need for it. It has the strong, sharp bezel, and the 60 lumens arent that bad for stunning someone.

You should look into it..

-tom

 

[deranged_coder]

[ QUOTE ]
Adriano said:
[ QUOTE ]
JohnK said:
Attach the Surefire to a Glock pistol.

[/ QUOTE ]

eheheheeh, this is a very easy and children's reply.
I have subcribed this forum for some interesting reply.

[/ QUOTE ]
Personally, I thought JohnK's reply was quite valid. In any sort of defense situation I think a firearm will do better as a defensive tool or as a deterrent than a flashlight would.

Not that a flashlight cannot be used as a defensive tool. If your opponent has dark adapted vision then shining a bright light directly at their eyes may be enough to briefly stun and/or temporarily blind them and give you the extra second or two needed for you to escape the situation. As a close quarters weapon, a small flashlight could possibly be used as a kubotan, a larger flashlight as a club.

However, all of the above require proper training and practice. This is not the sort of stuff you can learn just by going to a website or reading a book.

 

[leukos]

[ QUOTE ]
Adriano said:
Thanks for your reply.
I will travel in the night in the african rainforest and when in the night I will meet a dangerous animal I think a flashlight will be a good defense.

[/ QUOTE ]

To be fair, I have read a few posts here where people have successfully stopped a charging, barking dog at night with a high powered light. I'm not sure how various animals (let alone African predators) would respond to a bright light. It may work as a first line of defense in a safari such as you describe it, but definitely have multiple people with you with some firepower to back you up!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/xyxgun.gif
If you come back in one piece, please tell us about your experiences! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[wasBlinded]

I think there is a little piece on the Surefire website about a guide using a bright little light to repel a pack of hyenas. Would hate to have to depend on it, though.

 

[TORCH_BOY]

6 D cell Mag loaded with nimh batteries for extra weight

 

[greenLED]

I know from experience that *one* hyena will stay put if you shine a light on its eyes. (it was actually pretty cool, it kept ducking under a log and peeking over it after a couple of seconds to check us out...).

Disclaimer: I am not the guide wasBlinded is referring to, and I wouldn't take a sample size of 1 hyena as representative of the reaction of all hyenas. That, and I was inside a "protected" setting so I did not fear for my safety or that of my companions. This protection may have affected the behavior of this particular hyena I'm talking about. Same *might* apply to the SF story (assuming it's true, tourist guides are famous for "dressing up" their stories).

 

[beezaur]

I use a flashlight routinely to run off groups of coyotes (3-10 animals).

Most predators put a lot of effort into an attack. You tend to only hear about the sudden, unexpected violence, but really a lot goes into it for them.

They wait and watch, carefully gage your behavior, your smell things like that. If you manage to get them with a light before the decision has been made, I think flashlights are reasonably effective.

Some animals are too stupid or agressive to deal with except by force. Then you need a real weapon.

However I do think that you can get a lot of defence from just a light. Don't forget that some itty-bitty women have beaten off full-grown bears with cookware and the like.

Scott

 

[enLIGHTenment]

[ QUOTE ]
Adriano said:
I will travel in the night in the african rainforest and when in the night I will meet a dangerous animal I think a flashlight will be a good defense.

[/ QUOTE ]

Why would you think that? If you're travelling in rural Africa, what you need is a good light to go on your AK-74 or AK-M. Lights alone don't cut it with lions or such charming two-legged predators as the LRA.

 

[BC0311]

[ QUOTE ]
Adriano said:
Thanks for your reply.
I will travel in the night in the african rainforest and when in the night I will meet a dangerous animal I think a flashlight will be a good defense.
For defending myself by criminals in the night what tools and techniques do you know, please?
thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

Where in Africa would you travel at night and how much experience do you have in African or any jungle?

What African wild animals are you seeking to defend against?

 

[Fat_Tony]

wasBlinded, I read that story on Surefire's website, too. Personally, I think the most important thing to take away from that story is that the light that the guide used was a dedicated weapon light, which was attached to his 12 guage. It's nice and comforting to have a really bright light when facing dangerous animals. It's even better to back that light up with something more substantial, IMHO.

 

[jtivat]

I think the M2 is a great light for your purpose. I would and do chose the G2z over it as I like its weight and feel better but the light output is the same.