Need some help on buying a low-end flashlight...

JKR

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Feb 18, 2006
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Hello,

I am new to the forums but have been doing a little research on purchasing a low-end flashlight for an upcoming 24 hr paintball scenario game. I want something brighter than my current Brinkman Rebel to keep me from tripping over something and breaking a leg in the woods next weekend.

Specifically, I am looking for something readily available in my area, not something that I would order. I have been doing a little looking around, and the two that caught my eye today were the 1W 3AAA Dorcy Metal Gear at Walmart and the 1.25 W 3AAA Coast V2 available at Lowes (and at about twice the price).

There are a few things I am looking for in whatever light I pick up:

- fairly good water resistance, if not totally waterproof.
- shock resistance
- decent battery life
- a good beam out to about 20-25 yds
- a tactical look

Also, one thing I am needing in this light that is a bit weird is that a portion of the body of the light to be 1" in diameter. This is so that I can mount it to my paintgun's sight rail using a scope mounting ring. The Brinkman Rebel I have now is the PERFECT size for this application but fairly dim. The Dorcy looks like it would work as a section of it is smaller but I am not sure if the Coast would work or not.

So, with the above criteria, what should I consider? The Element at Sam's isn't something I have looked at yet. Would it work well for the above needs?

Thanks,
JKR
 

Tremendo

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Maybe Brinkmann Maxfire XL? About $18 at Walmart / Target or one of those places. Xenon bulb, pretty bright, pretty tough. Runs on 2 x CR123's (included). Probably about an hour of bright to very bright then a short time of weakening light.
 

scott.cr

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Good visibility at 25 yards is a pretty tall order for any light. Personally I wouldn't go with an LED-based light for outdoors use, as your targets tend to get a lot further away than you might think. I did an Airsoft game once, in a parking lot (it was strictly for Airsoft use), and the only place my old CR123 Twin Task was any good for was inside the "kill house." Out in the lot I couldn't see squat, but the bad guys sure as heck could see me, because whenever I lit that thing up I'd be pelted with about 10,000 6mm BBs.
 

Flying Turtle

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Just went and measured my Dorcy Metal Gear. It seems to be a bit over one inch (maybe 1 1/16") diameter at the smallest point, under the clip. I think it would be bright enough at 25 yards. Pretty decent battery life, too.

Geoff
 

JKR

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Thanks for the advice so far.

I wanted to steer clear of anything not using AA or AAA batteries for this particular light. AA and AAA batteries are so easy to find and are much cheaper than the C123 batteries.

I also wanted to stick with LED since battery life is so much better. I looked at the Brinkman Maxfire at Walmart today but want longer than 1 hr battery life even if the Maxfire did use AA or AAA batteries.

With chrono speeds of 250 fps at night and the relative proximity needed for engagement at night, I felt 25 yards for target acquisition would be sufficient. I am not expecting miracles from a LED light at 25 yards, just much better than my Brinkman Rebel. It is a pretty good light (especially the battery life!) but just not enough lumens for this need.

Thanks for the measurement Flying Turtle! I might be able to use the Dorcy Metal Gear if I don't tighten the ring down all the way.

I read the review of the Dorcy Metal Gear prior to my first post and it does seem to be a pretty good value. The Coast V2 looked decent enough but from what I could take from my searches, Coast lights aren't a great choice it would seem, at least not in this price range ($20-$45).

Thanks, JKR
 

joema

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I've had a Metal Gear -- it's a pretty good light but I wouldn't recommend it for your purpose.

Something like the Brinkmann Maxfire LX may better match your needs. It's much brighter than the Metal Gear, relatively inexpensive, and often locally available at Target, Wal-Mart, etc. Not sure about the diameter, but I think you can remove the rubber boot.

http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/brinkmann_maxfirelx.htm

Although you said no orders, http://www.brightguy.com/ ships *very* fast. I've gotten items in about two days, and that wasn't using expedited shipping.

A Streamlight Scorpion or Surefire U2 are small, very powerful and relatively inexpensive. You could likely have one in two days from Brightguy.com.

Edit: I meant Surefire G2, above.
 
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Coop

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joema said:
... or Surefire U2 are small, very powerful and relatively inexpensive. You could likely have one in two days from Brightguy.com.


WTF!?!? :huh:

I really don't want to know what an expensive light is to you !! :lolsign:


But you could also take a look at the Streamlight 4AA Luxeon ProPolymer:

With it's deep parabolic reflector, the Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Luxeon flashlight produces long range brilliance that rivals the performance of a standard xenon flashlight.

The Streamlight 4AA Luxeon ProPolymer is a high performance 4AA flashlight. The 4AA Luxeon LED flashlight features a body constructed of a Polymer Engineering resin that is virtually indestructible, shock resistant, non-conductive and lightweight. The Streamlight 4AA Luxeon is "O" ring sealed for water resistance, and its shape has been ergonomically optimized for maximum handling comfort.

Features of Streamlight ProPolymer 4AA Luxeon LED Flashlight:
- 1 watt Super High Flux Luxeon LED, 10,000 hour LED life
- deep reflector produces long range brilliance and smooth beam
- 3,500 peak beam candlepower, 40 Lumens
- push button tail switch for one-handed operation
- impact resistant polymer body
- unbreakable polycarbonate lens with scratch resistant coating
- "O" ring sealed, water resistant
- corrosion proof and non-conductive
- powered by 4AA alkaline batteries, included
- 4 hours at full intensity, 2 additional hours of declining light
- power regulated for maximum output throughout battery life
- assembled in USA
- "no excuses" limited lifetime warranty from Streamlight

also available from brightguy for just under $30... It uses AAs, pretty bright, decent throw, waterproof, good battery life and still a reasonably small package...
 

moontroll

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Jan 8, 2006
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I would also go for the Streamlight 4AA Poly Luxeon,It wont be the best looking one out there,but efective.After all isnt it all about winning,when the beam hits them they will be easy prey.:devil: thats not fair
 

Raven

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RiverRock 3aa is on sale at Target for less than ten bucks.

Do a search for some threads on it.
 

bikeg

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The Metal Gear is cheap, provides decent lighting, durable and very easy to upgrade/mod.
The Maxfire I have almomst bought a few times, dont know enough about them to say much.
 

zespectre

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Lost in NY
Here's my recommendation (others will gasp in shock). I would say go get a River Rock 2xAA light (not the 2xAAA light).

Now most of the time the tight "full moon" beam and little/no sidespill would be a disadvantage but for the scenario you describe you may really WANT the beam control. If you light yourself and your area up too much you are going to be inviting a lot of paint to fly in your direction.

Just my thought.
 

JKR

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Feb 18, 2006
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Been doing some more searching and reading on the boards here...

The Coast LED Lenser V2 Tactical Power Chip Flashlight available at my local Lowes ( http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=172892-13229-13229&lpage=none ) looks as though it should be a great light by the manufacturer's claims. However, I keep reading about the lack of waterproofing. Yet they claim it to be "shock proof, water resistant." Has Coast done anything to waterproof their lights lately?

The light I looked at when I stopped at Lowes looked as though it had a lens over the lights. I have noticed some mentioning a lack of a protective lens in Coast lights. This is true in my Coast three LED headlamp. Has Coast added a decent lens to this light that is comparable to other lens in lights at the same price point?

Also, the run time on that thing looks a little fishy to me. Heck, if the 1W bulb in the Dorcy Metal Gear is 50% after 4 hrs, how can this thing run for 50 hrs? Bogus claims?

Thanks,
JKR
 

Diesel_Bomber

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Hey Folks, great site you have here! :rock:

I EDC an SL PP 2AA Lux; lighting up someone at 75 feet will be no problem. Upon inquiry, Streamlight customer service informed me that while the Propoly is not dive rated, it is waterproof to a depth between 50 and 100 feet. I've dropped mine in puddles, once dropped it in a 15 foot deep swimming pool(lanyards are your friend), and use it in the rain constantly with no problems. It doesn't have a "tactical look," but I would consider that far secondary to how it performs. Good luck with whatever you choose, and happy hunting.

Cheers! :buddies:
 

Mundele

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Knoxville, TN
I second the advice on the Streamlight Propolymer. Great light. Maybe my favorite ever.

It's cross-section is oval. Might be an issue for your mount. (oval because there's a doublestack of AA's, side by side)

This light is great though. VERY well regulated.

--Matt
 

Tremendo

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Kingwood, TX
For the ones mentioned, I have the Maxfire, Dorcy Metal Gear & yesterday ordered my Streamlight PP 4AA Luxeon.

1) Dorcy Metal Gear - not bright enough, yes AAA's
2) Brinkmann Maxfire - Bright enough, not AA's, shorter runtime.
3) Streamlight PP Luxeon 4AA black - a little big, bright, good battery life & LED. BUT, you said available locally, and added LED & AA's after your 1st post. That's why I said the Maxfire. There's no perfect light to meet all needs, just get what works best and fills your needs the closest.
 

offroadcmpr

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CA
Are you using the light to walk around in the dark, so that you can see where you are going, or are you using it to light up people to shoot at them? That might change what you are looking for. I couldnt quite figure out what it is for from your post.

The lights mentioned here will be great to light some one up for a distance, but will be way to bright and give away your postion if you are just using to walk through the woods. Any of the lights here will kill your brinkman rebel. For a comparison, the rebel will put out a 2-3 lumens. Metal gear is the dimmist, and puts out around 25 lumens. The stream light will put out a little over 30 lumens. And the brinkman maxfire will put out over twice that off the streamlight, over 60 lumens.
 

mdocod

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the effect of the lenses on the 2xAA river rocks might be a welcome beam pattern- where you only want your light to focus on something, rather than spill all over the place and reveal yourself...

maybe try out the river rock or the dorcy mentioned above for now.. since you need something NOW-- but later, for future endeavors... consider a lithium powered light... they are incredably bright and compact, very tactical looking... digilight has some of the most impressive offerings... if you want to get into this flashlight "seriosly" then the U2 from surefire would be nice, too bad it's so expensive in comparison to other options.
 
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