Weapon-mounted light for airsoft

[JDM_JOE]

Hey guys, I am in the market for my first good quality flash light. What is a good Weapon light for airsoft? I didn't think flashlights would help too much but when I faced someone with a really nice one it was really hard to go against him. I am looking for something that will definetly make the person on the other end not want to look at the light. I am new to the forums and not sure what kind of flashlight I am looking for so I figured I would just describe what I want and see peoples opinions. Thanks

 

[Size15's]

Welcome to CPF :welcome:
I created a new thread for your question [that you asked in the WeaponLights Collection thread] as I hope this will help the rest of the community see it and offer you advice.

Al

 

[LightCannon]

My friend recently asked me the same question.

What do you plan on doing with the light? Is it going to be handheld and used with a pistol, or mounted on a rifle? Do you plan on running it on commonly available batteries (AA, and, to a lesser extent, CR123A) or would you be willing to shell out extra for a charger and rechargeable Li-Ion batteries? Around how much money are you willing to shell out to get this light? Please specify your needs so we can better help you.


I will assume you want something quite throwy, to pick people off at a distance, unless you state otherwise.

 

[Chrontius]

Does anyone remember the cheap $40 weaponlight that takes Malkoff modules? I'm about ready to pick one up, but I can't find them or remember the make/model.

Reason I ask is that would fit Joe's needs pretty darn well, if he's after a CQB light for a pistol. Won't break the bank, either.

 

[neal71]

The Leapers UTG LT-ZL337 is really a good solid light, it comes with a EDC body, and a weapon mount body. Also nice long remote. Get it at cheaperthandirt.com for around $50.

 

[Solscud007]

Ok as one of the few long time airsofters on this board, I think I can answer your question. (I have been playing airsoft since 1998)

First of all is budget.

Ideally I would say "Buy Surefire" but not every one is willing to plop down hundreds of dollars.

However if you hunt, you can find a scoutlight or Millenium weaponlight for a decent price in the market place. There was a M952 for like $150 and a scoutlight for similar money. (albeit it is an incandescent)

Here is a video of me in an indoor warehouse I designed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaT4IbPE6go

I used two lights. A surefire M952 weaponlight and a Blackhawk Gladius. (the gladius is the one that does the tactical strobe)

I recommend surefire for a very good reason, if it is good enough for a firearm and the military, it is good enough for airsoft. Also if you watch the video closely there is a moment a guy pops out and shoots at my Surefire. His bb hits my surefire lens and shatters it. No big deal, i call surefire and they sent me a new one free of charge. SF has great customer service. Many other companies do not. so if you want an investment, then invest in Surefire.

For the budget airsofter i recommend the budget firearm weaponlight which is of the following:

surefire G2L (you want the metal bezel)
Malkoff M60
some flashlight mount, there are a ton of inexpensive ones. I would recommend Viking Tactics.

And you are done. This simple setup will cost you about $120 but will crank out a very powerful amount of light. Also you might want to look into rechargable CR123s. These lights eatup batteries.


Depending on your weapon of choice, a remote tape switch may be required.

This also assuming you have weaver rails to mount the light to your weapon.

Hope that helps. If you have any more questions, feel free to PM me.

 

[TRDmatrix]

I had a solarforce L2 with a cree Q5 mounted on my M4 for airsofting for a while. I bought it on ebay and the seller was selling it with the tapeswitch and a railmount; the perfect setup and it was cheap (something around $45)

 

[Mjolnir]

I'm thinking that something with an optic (like a Malkoff module) might be more BB resistant than something with a reflector and a lens. Since the optic is made out of solid plastic, it might not be damaged by a direct BB hit as a lens and reflector would be. You really don't want a bb shattering your lens, scratching up your reflector, and likely dislodging the LED. An M60 module in a P60 host with a lens in front of the optic might sustain a direct hit. The lens might shatter, but it shouldn't hurt the LED. The optic might get dislodged or scratched, but they are not very expensive and I believe they are fairly easy to replace.

Something like a Solarforce L2 with a pressure switch tailcap and a Malkoff M60 module would work well. The L2 should be sufficiently durable for airsoft purposes, and can take a rechargeable 18650 battery, which is more cost effective in the long run. An m60 module would work well with 1 18650 and would dim towards the end of the battery life, but the same battery with an M30 module would not. M30's can't run off of 2 CR123s, however.

 

[Egsise]

Here is a good example at 19 secs into the video a guy pops out and shoots at the only thing he can see, my Surefire M952 with P91. Granted I have a weapon mounted light and I was lucky he didnt use full auto and only shot out the lens of my M952. I was not hit. (surefire sent me a new head after this)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUj_lS8Ljec&feature=channel_page

CS:Snowcastle :santa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYF45J2HlZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHNz-GKNNOU

Theres a Fenix TK11 R2 under the barrel, we did a test with Fenix TK20.... 330fps/100ms(measured) 0.2g plastic BB point blank range to the glass, not a scratch.

 

[Solscud007]

CS:Snowcastle :santa:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYF45J2HlZ4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHNz-GKNNOU

Theres a Fenix TK11 R2 under the barrel, we did a test with Fenix TK20.... 330fps/100ms(measured) 0.2g plastic BB point blank range to the glass, not a scratch.

wow cool place. Did you guys really carve that out of snow?!!!! It looked like someone was shooting tracer rounds? Why not just use a red dot? then they cant see where you are shooting from. I will need to watch the whole video but so far looks like a LOT of fun.

 

[jamesmtl514]

my setup, ( for paintball, but kinda the same thing.)
Surefire E2DLED ~200$
Surefire M78 picatinny rail clip ~60$
Surefire pressure switch ~100$
TOTAL: 360$

 

[Egsise]

wow cool place. Did you guys really carve that out of snow?!!!! It looked like someone was shooting tracer rounds? Why not just use a red dot? then they cant see where you are shooting from. I will need to watch the whole video but so far looks like a LOT of fun.

Thats the Kemi snowcastle http://www.snowcastle.net/en/gallery/outdoor/
Several airsoft teams had the chance to play there when it was closed from public last spring.
Those are not tracer rounds, just normal BB's, it's the TK11 R2 under the barrel making that effect....
He was just showing off in the last minutes of their game, using flashlight and blowback...

 

[nzgunnie]

I have a Surefire M961 that I picked up on the CPFMP for about $110.

Last time I looked there's a second hand one for sale at the moment for not much more.

This light will blow you (and everyone else) away.

 

[defloyd77]

my setup, ( for paintball, but kinda the same thing.)
Surefire E2DLED ~200$
Surefire M78 picatinny rail clip ~60$
Surefire pressure switch ~100$
TOTAL: 360$

WHOA! Dang that's a nice setup you got there.

 

[SoDak]

WHOA! Dang that's a nice setup you got there.

I was gonna say the same thing. I think you've spent more on that one light than I did putting several lights on some of my guns. Of course me using 6P/G2 in either LED or incan has something to do with it.

 

[Egsise]

Yeah wow, Fenix TK11 R2+pressure switch+1"mount costs like a 150$...
And if the TK11 is as durable as the TK20 there's no need to worry about BB's hitting the lens...