BruiseLee
Enlightened
\"Accidental Discharges\" With Surefires?
I was comparing my G2 Surefire with my Streamlight 4AA Propolymer and Stinger XT. I got to thinking I like the way the Streamlights have their tail-cap switches recessed in the the body of the flashlight. The button switch for the SL 4AA, for example, is situated in a U-shaped valley. The sides of the valley are high enough so that even if you slammed the light down on a hard, flat surface, there is no way the light will trigger. At the same time, access to the switch is not significantly impaired.
On my Surefire, the only thing that is really preventing the light from going off while riding in my pocket is the high amount of "trigger pressure" needed to depress the switch. The button protrudes about 1/8" above the back of the tailcap. After thinking about this some, it's kind of like having a pistol with no trigger guard, only a very heavy trigger to keep it from going off. Sure, you can actuate the device very quickly, but is this a worthwhile design compromise for the average user?
I know that some of you are going to say, "Ya, but with most Surefires all you have to do is rotate the tailcap to the off position. Problem solved."
To that, I say I'd like to see someone draw the Surefire from their pocket, use two hands to rotate the tailcap in the proper direction, then switch their grip on the Surefire to acquire, aim, and then illuminate the bad guy who has charged them from 21 feet. Having to use two hands is unacceptible IMHO. You need that second hand free to draw your pepper spray, handgun, whatever. Not to mention that fractions of a second can make all the difference in a high intensity situation.
Which brings me back to my original question: have any of you ever had "accidental discharges" with you Surefires, or any other of your other lights? I seem to remember reading about one forum member who fell asleep, rolled over on his Surefire, and woke up when his light heated up. I think I remember another posting where another member's Surefire stayed on accidentally, melting his Lexan lens. Since the Streamlight Scorpion is deployed in the same way as most Surefires, but posesses a recessed tail-cap switch, has anyone ever experienced an unwanted activation with their Scorpion?
To me this is a major issue. Your tactical light is useless if the batteries have discharged, or your lamp assembly has blown, and you don't even know it!
Bruise
I was comparing my G2 Surefire with my Streamlight 4AA Propolymer and Stinger XT. I got to thinking I like the way the Streamlights have their tail-cap switches recessed in the the body of the flashlight. The button switch for the SL 4AA, for example, is situated in a U-shaped valley. The sides of the valley are high enough so that even if you slammed the light down on a hard, flat surface, there is no way the light will trigger. At the same time, access to the switch is not significantly impaired.
On my Surefire, the only thing that is really preventing the light from going off while riding in my pocket is the high amount of "trigger pressure" needed to depress the switch. The button protrudes about 1/8" above the back of the tailcap. After thinking about this some, it's kind of like having a pistol with no trigger guard, only a very heavy trigger to keep it from going off. Sure, you can actuate the device very quickly, but is this a worthwhile design compromise for the average user?
I know that some of you are going to say, "Ya, but with most Surefires all you have to do is rotate the tailcap to the off position. Problem solved."
To that, I say I'd like to see someone draw the Surefire from their pocket, use two hands to rotate the tailcap in the proper direction, then switch their grip on the Surefire to acquire, aim, and then illuminate the bad guy who has charged them from 21 feet. Having to use two hands is unacceptible IMHO. You need that second hand free to draw your pepper spray, handgun, whatever. Not to mention that fractions of a second can make all the difference in a high intensity situation.
Which brings me back to my original question: have any of you ever had "accidental discharges" with you Surefires, or any other of your other lights? I seem to remember reading about one forum member who fell asleep, rolled over on his Surefire, and woke up when his light heated up. I think I remember another posting where another member's Surefire stayed on accidentally, melting his Lexan lens. Since the Streamlight Scorpion is deployed in the same way as most Surefires, but posesses a recessed tail-cap switch, has anyone ever experienced an unwanted activation with their Scorpion?
To me this is a major issue. Your tactical light is useless if the batteries have discharged, or your lamp assembly has blown, and you don't even know it!
Bruise
