What is the brightest pistol mounted flashlight? Other questions

[Tayous1]

This is my first post here at this site. I'm about to get a PD job and I was looking for a few flashlights that would be better then the old 6-C cell Maglight I have. Would like them all to be LED and rugged! Also places that have them for sale.

I'm looking for three types of flashlights one is a pistol mounted light I would like to get the brightest one I can find or afford. Next I'm looking for a light to place on my duty belt I have a Surefire Z2 its bight but want something a lot brighter and mine is pre-LED. If this light could also do double duty and be able to mount or my rifle that would be great. Last one I just want a small flashlight something that you don't remember you have until you need it.

Thanks for the help guys your site came highly regarded by many members of AR15.com as the best site on the web to ask flashlight questions to.

 

[Lightraven]

I have the Surefire X-300, latest Streamlight TLR-2 (TLR-1 with laser) with a "C-4" LED, and the Viridian X5L (light with green laser).

I was a bit surprised that the TLR-2 seems brighter than the X-300. The central beam of the X-300 is a little brighter and more concentrated, but the overall beam of the TLR-2 is noticeably brighter. Both lights are much brighter than the Viridian. The green laser is much brighter than red, however.

I use the X-300 as a rapid attach handgun light because it slides on and locks in place instantly. I use the TLR-2 as a rifle light that I put on at the beginning of my shift. It clamps on, then the clamp is screwed tight with fingers, a coin or screwdriver. The X5L is on my personal rifle, since it didn't meet my on duty needs.

The X-300 has the Dev Group switch option for some handguns, which is popular. The paddle switches of TLR and X-300 are similar, but not identical. The TLR-2 turns on momentary by pushing the switch down on one side. The X-300 turns on momentary by pushing the switch forward. Each can lock on by pushing the switch down, on one side with the TLR and either side with the X-300.

I'd look at your holster options, switching preference and the method of attachment to make your buying decision.

 

[Cosmo7809]

Raven has you covered on the pistol light.


I'd say you get a Malkoff M60 dropin for your Z2. Preferred by many officers both on this forum and in my department.

As far a backup light maybe the surefire e1b(b for backup)




Be safe! and welcome to the CPF!

 

[nzgunnie]

What was the name of the Surefire pistol light that took 3 CR123s (side by side) and took M threads (yes... it could take a KT-4, but came with the M3 bezel). With an MN11 I'd bet that is the brightest.

Awesome looking light, wish I'd taken the opportunity to pick one up when DeFabricata was selling one in the CPFMP.

 

[Tayous1]

The TLR sound like it would be best for this pistol and the price is not that bad. I was looking at some of the Eagle Tac lights for my duty light they look nice and would make a nice rifle light also.

 

[Roger Sully]

Good thinking on the EagleTac. I am not a LEO but I have a few friends that picked up T100C2MkII and T20C2's for duty wear and after a few months I can tell you of approx 30 officers now sporting EagleTacs in 5 or 6 different departments here in NJ.

 

[Tayous1]

Good thinking on the EagleTac. I am not a LEO but I have a few friends that picked up T100C2MkII and T20C2's for duty wear and after a few months I can tell you of approx 30 officers now sporting EagleTacs in 5 or 6 different departments here in NJ.

Tell you the truth I was looking at them for the whole money part. I'm going to a department that sounds like I'm going to have to buy a lot of my own gear. So far it look like me spending about $400 just on my Sam brown with a baton and OC and a holster. That is with no vest that to me rates as #1!

From the reviews I read on this site made me glade if I did pick the Eagle Tac that I was not picking up trash! It's also nice to see a company put out something that is USA made that does not add $100+ because of its name! Like some other companies do!

 

[Solscud007]

What was the name of the Surefire pistol light that took 3 CR123s (side by side) and took M threads (yes... it could take a KT-4, but came with the M3 bezel). With an MN11 I'd bet that is the brightest.

Awesome looking light, wish I'd taken the opportunity to pick one up when DeFabricata was selling one in the CPFMP.

that would be the M111. You could throw on the Lumen factory M6 head with a P7 and fireout 500 lumens haha


in all honesty, the TLR1 is a great budget light and pumps enough light for close range indoor stuff. not a real thrower. But are you really going to try and engage at 100 yds with a pistol?

 

[Tayous1]

that would be the M111. You could throw on the Lumen factory M6 head with a P7 and fireout 500 lumens haha


in all honesty, the TLR1 is a great budget light and pumps enough light for close range indoor stuff. not a real thrower. But are you really going to try and engage at 100 yds with a pistol?

No way that why I need a light for the rifle. I'm thinking of the Eagle Tac light T100C2 MKll for that job. Just now need to find a small back up light the Zebralight look like they might do the job?!

 

[Roger Sully]

SureFire E1B for a backup..:twothumbs

 

[Solscud007]

Back on target people. The OP was interested in pistol-MOUNTED lights. E1B is not pistol mounted.

However you could jerry-rig a viking tactics mount to a railed pistol.

Anyway, for mounted pistol lights again I recommend the TLR1 C4. or you could go the route of the G&P that can use P60 dropins and possibly use a Malkoff M60 or better yet a Malkoff MCE at 500 lumens.

Does size matter? The M111 pistol light is a TANK!!! but with the Lumen Factory turbo head, you can definately identify long range threats and blind them haha.


Here is an example with my M111 and KT4 from my M6.

 

[Tayous1]

Back on target people. The OP was interested in pistol-MOUNTED lights. E1B is not pistol mounted.

However you could jerry-rig a viking tactics mount to a railed pistol.

Anyway, for mounted pistol lights again I recommend the TLR1 C4. or you could go the route of the G&P that can use P60 dropins and possibly use a Malkoff M60 or better yet a Malkoff MCE at 500 lumens.

Does size matter? The M111 pistol light is a TANK!!! but with the Lumen Factory turbo head, you can definately identify long range threats and blind them haha.


Here is an example with my M111 and KT4 from my M6.

Love to find a holster that fits that!!

 

[Roger Sully]

Back on target people. The OP was interested in pistol-MOUNTED lights. E1B is not pistol mounted.

No way that why I need a light for the rifle. I'm thinking of the Eagle Tac light T100C2 MKll for that job. Just now need to find a small back up light the Zebralight look like they might do the job?!

I was actually just following up on this post by the OP.

 

[Solscud007]

Love to find a holster that fits that!!

Dump pouches work wonders. Haha j/k yeah not exactly portable. But it is a viable option. I ordered the Seraph M series led head. The M111 will be the brightest pistol light, by definition.


I suppose you could pistol mount a Hellfighte but then that is stretching it a bit.

 

[Cosmo7809]

Back on target people. The OP was interested in pistol-MOUNTED lights. E1B is not pistol mounted.

Last one I just want a small flashlight something that you don't remember you have until you need it.

 

[Solscud007]

oops. I only read the part about pistol mounted lights.

 

[Tayous1]

Thanks for the help! I'm going to go for a Eagle Tac light for a main and rifle! As for my backup the zebralight sounds like a good one will not be spending $140 on a surefire that gets 80 lm! When I can get 190 lm out of a $89 zebra?


Not really a surefire fan you pay for the name more then the flashlight! Like many other things! No flame!:thumbsup:

 

[Kestrel]

Next I'm looking for a light to place on my duty belt I have a Surefire Z2 its bight but want something a lot brighter and mine is pre-LED.

I'd say you get a Malkoff M60 dropin for your Z2. Preferred by many officers both on this forum and in my department.

+1 on the M60 LED drop-in for your Z2, one of the finest upgrades for your current light, this will bring the good Z2 host up to top-of-the-line performance. After trying a number of SureFires my three 'users' are the SureFire 6P, G3, and C3, all with a M60 LED drop-in. :thumbsup:

 

[Solscud007]

Thanks for the help! I'm going to go for a Eagle Tac light for a main and rifle! As for my backup the zebralight sounds like a good one will not be spending $140 on a surefire that gets 80 lm! When I can get 190 lm out of a $89 zebra?


Not really a surefire fan you pay for the name more then the flashlight! Like many other things! No flame!:thumbsup:

to each their own. I have learned, thanks to this website, that lumen rating is not always true. So dont go judging by numbers. Its like cars and their HP ratings.

For example, my coleman 3xAAA light that pumps out 115 lumens. But when compared to my Rogue Icon light (designed by Paul Kim and built by Surefire) its mere 50 lumens looks brighter than the coleman to the naked eye.

Surefire may not be the most powerful out of the flashlight world but the quality and customer service is what I stand behind.

Also with malkoff and other after market parts, surefires can be the brightest of the bunch.

 

[Roger Sully]

As for my backup the zebralight sounds like a good one will not be spending $140 on a surefire that gets 80 lm!

I just picked one up on the marketplace for under $100 and the 80 lumen outout does seem a LOT brighter than you would expect.