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Looking for a flashlight

Discussion in 'Guns & Hunting' started by USNROBERTS, Jul 7, 2010.

  1. Jul 9, 2010 at 6:51 AM
    #41
    dbarn

    dbarn Well-Known Member

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    I'm aware that more lumens are a good thing. And it probably all depends on what you wish to use your light for. But can't also help but wonder how the flash light is designed that is also important. When I am trying to see something up close, say out to 20 ft or so, having a bright light without regard to how tight the spot is or how focused the beam is not all that important.

    However, when I'm walking to my deer stand in complete darkness for a distance of 500-600 yds and I'm looking for my glow in the dark trail markers, I want a light that will focus it's beam for a longer distance and pick up these markers well before I get there. This is where Streamlight's design is what sold me, especially an LED design. It simply thows a tighter, and further beam at a greater distance. So depending on what you want to use your light for, do not let lumens be your only criteria.
     
  2. Jul 9, 2010 at 7:03 AM
    #42
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    I agree. The Fenix TK11, for example, has an adjustable output from 80 lumens, to 240. 80 lums gives a nice bright beam with alot of spill. Good for close, or indoors, while the high setting has a great throw for out side, and long distance.
     
  3. Jul 9, 2010 at 7:08 AM
    #43
    Zork

    Zork Well-Known Member

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    I vote Streamlight Strion FTW. Not the cheapest but the best. :cool:
     
  4. Jul 9, 2010 at 7:29 AM
    #44
    jm3280

    jm3280 Well-Known Member

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    Check out Fenex or Olight brands, nice little flashlights with high lumens.
     
  5. Jul 9, 2010 at 2:23 PM
    #45
    Packman73

    Packman73 ^^^^ 3%er ^^^^

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    I have a couple of Innova lights that I like. Check them out.
     
  6. Jul 9, 2010 at 2:27 PM
    #46
    Mush Mouse

    Mush Mouse Club Soda Not Seals

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    Maglight,at Walmart
     
  7. Jul 9, 2010 at 3:07 PM
    #47
    DevL

    DevL Well-Known Member

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    Some thoughts...

    The Surefire 6P LED is not going to do 10 hours at rated output. It gets dimmer over time. There are both brighter and longer lasting solutions for less money. My favorite Surefire is the X300 weapon light... noone else has push to front activation.

    For a compact rechargable I use a 2xAA Fenix with Eneloops AA batteries. Its good for 50 yards. Its cheap and easy to use.

    For long range and daily work use I use a Stinger DS HP (the new one with big reflector). Its no BS good for 200+ yards! At 100 yards it easily lights up anything, even in urban environments, where ambient light kills your effective range.

    For a 123 cell unit I wanted flanges for use with a pistol, ultra low low setting, 50-70 yard range on high, and a usable strobe for intermittent work. I use a Gladius with Seoul LED. Its not the most efficient or new light but it does the job well as my back up to my X300 for handgun and back up to my Stinger DS HP primary for utility/search work.

    Id worry less about lumens and worry more about range. All the lumens in the world wont help if you dont have a focused beam. You dont need a ton of lumens, you need to see what you are looking at.

    The side rubber cover for the side button on Stingers comes out pretty easy. 90% of the people at work have had this happen.

    Id get an E2D sized 2x123 over a P6 sized 2x123 if I went Surefire. No need for the extra bulk.
     
  8. Jul 10, 2010 at 4:38 AM
    #48
    dbarn

    dbarn Well-Known Member

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  9. Jul 10, 2010 at 8:19 AM
    #49
    Iram

    Iram Active Member

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    If you're looking cheap, check out the Icon Rogue series. The Rogue is a 50 lumen that runs of a AA, the Rogue II is a 100 lumen that runs off two AA. I picked up a Rogue for $20 and a Rogue II for $30. They are bright, but not as reliable as my surefire G2.

    I've dropped a Rogue II from about 5' onto thin carpet (office building), and when I picked it up it wouldn't turn on. The next day, the flashlight was working again with in intervention from me.
     
  10. Jul 10, 2010 at 8:30 AM
    #50
    unentered

    unentered Son of Baconator

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    I bought a 2 AA mini maglite and put the nite-ize led upgrade and iq switch upgrade on it, and it's been great. I've dunked it, dropped it, left it on, and it still shines. I also have a 3 AA led maglite, but I prefer the 2 cell, it's more portable and the light output is comparable if not better. I don't have experience with other flashlights, so I can't compare it to them. The only other lights I use are on my M4 and they use CR123s not AAs. I paid more than 9 bucks for the upgrades, and I had to buy them seperately, but here's a link for example.

    http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEYQ8wIwBg#
     
  11. Jul 11, 2010 at 1:30 PM
    #51
    DevL

    DevL Well-Known Member

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    I was using my G2 in te desert and felt grit in the tail cap. THen it worked intermittently for about 2 minues. Then it died. I wont ever use or reccomend a G2 again. I know they have been improved and most people dont have issue but Id rather use a Fenix than a G2.
     
  12. Jul 11, 2010 at 1:51 PM
    #52
    kd8awe

    kd8awe Well-Known Member

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    Go check out Brite-Strike. I have two of them. Bright enought to shine throught dark window tint. Works as a weapon. I looked at lights for a long time. This thing makes Surefire's look dim and I own a Surefire as well. You can also Tectical mount it. Get the Blue Dot.


    www.Brite-Strike.com

    The body is CNC machine milled from a single billet of high grade aerospace aluminum. The proprietary black anodized finish exceeds Mil Spec class two type III. The front crenelated strike crown is blunted and the rear crown is more aggressive for maximum effectiveness in applying pressure point control techniques.

    Max Output: up to 210 lumens / Lo-90 Lumens
    Runtime: Hi-(2.5 Hours) Lo-(4.5 Hours) Strobe-(3 Hours)
    • Battery: Two 123A Lithium (included)
    • Length: 5 inches
    • Ballistic Nylon Holster (included)
     
  13. Jul 11, 2010 at 1:58 PM
    #53
    Jimothy

    Jimothy Lurker

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  14. Jul 12, 2010 at 4:35 AM
    #54
    Iram

    Iram Active Member

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    Interesting. I've got my G2 in a Viking Tactics mount on an AR-15, and I set it up so that the ring on the mount completely covers the gap where the tail cap screws on (mostly to prevent it from going into "always on" or "always off" on it's own), but I suppose that would also help keep dirt out.
     
  15. Jul 16, 2010 at 3:41 AM
    #55
    Sullyman

    Sullyman Crusty ole' conservative fart

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    Lowe's had a sale on em a coupla weeks ago...the two-AA size...the LED blazes much brighter than the older incandesent (sp?) bulb version...I'm lightin' up people who are probably up to no good in my cul-de-sac at much greater ranges ;-)
     
  16. Jul 16, 2010 at 5:04 AM
    #56
    rob_s

    rob_s Well-Known Member

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    How cheap are you looking to go? the Surefire G2 (incandescent), or for a couple more dollars G2L (LED) are the baseline for me. I've had several knockoff and cheapos over the years and while many of them seem to work fine for awhile they never seem to work when I actually need them most.

    Plus they come in lots of colors so you can find them easily when you need them.
     
  17. Jul 16, 2010 at 11:53 AM
    #57
    RCBS

    RCBS How long you willing to tolerate this crap??

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    X2 for G2 from Surefire. I have the 120 L upgrade bulb in it and it's 2X brighter and throws just as far as my 3 D cell LED Maglight. About an hour to hour and a half burn time. 123 batteries are a little expensive, but not so bad if you buy in bulk...and they have a 15 year shelf life.

    for hunting purposes, i use a cheapo $15 Xenon focusing headlamp. actually, i use that sucker quite a bit. it's nice to have light and use of both hands. the G2 is more reserved for situatioins where i need a freakin' bright-ass flashlight.
     
  18. Jul 20, 2013 at 4:59 PM
    #58
    13tacotrd

    13tacotrd Active Member

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    Check out Trust Fire Flashlights... so bright its retarded. I have one thats rated at 3800 lumen max. It runs up to 3 18650 batteries but can run on 2 and has 5 settings, High, medium, low, strobe and SOS. Bought it off Amazon, it was almost 40 bucks after shipping, with 2 batteries and a charger. Came from somewhere in china. Nice solid construction, no flaws thus far.
    Check out their website.
     
  19. Jul 20, 2013 at 10:52 PM
    #59
    762NateOh

    762NateOh Well-Known Member

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  20. Jul 21, 2013 at 12:19 PM
    #60
    WhatThePho?

    WhatThePho? Greg Graffin 2016

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    If anyone is interested in a streamlight strion hp pm me. 80 shipped. It has the fast charger and dc cord
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2013

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