Gun light

Looking for suggestions for a flashlight mounted on a 10.5" SBR. I'd like it to have 600 or more lumens, a pressure/tape switch with momentary/strobe/low function, rechargeable, decent battery life (60 mins). I've looked into the Streamlight ProTac 2 and Fenix TK11. I'd prefer to use the Arisaka mount if possible. I'd love $urefire but am on a budget. Anyone have any input? I'd also like to see what you guys are running and cable management too so post up some pics.

 

Heard of OLight but haven't looked into them just yet. Sub $200 is in my price range for sure. I'll take a look.

 

Streamlight protac is decent, but Id highly recommend Modlite, Cloud Defensive or Surefire. Yes its more, but why cheap out on serious equipment?

Strobe is a gimmick, a high/low setting is just more button pushes when you are falling to base level of proficiency. Stick with on/off.

Modbuttons or the surefire tape switches work incredibly well and the SF tapes have a well proven legacy all through GWOT. I personally run the later. Others I know do push button tailcaps on white light for white light discipline reasons.

 

Just gonna put this out there, Olight has numerous documented QC failures and actually managed to directly kill a person in a battery failure before.

What you do with that info is up to you.

 

I'll check into Modlite as well. Seeing as lighting is a new topic for me, I'm open to all options at this point.

 

I've had a stream light Strion on my 12ga for a couple years still going strong, it doesn't have a tape switch (possibly aftermarket never looked into it) but should meet all other requirements.

The Strion is an extremely durable light I've put a few through absolute hell and they all still work.

Only complaint is if you use them frequently during a daily basis the tail cap switch can get fussy but it's easy to replace.

 

Had to look that up. Puts flashlight in mouth and leans into engine bay by car battery. Did he short it from the battery pos post to the body while it was in his mouth?

I have an Odin on my 10.5, tape switch on side activated by thumb or palm.

 

I use the Strion HL for work on a daily basis so I am more than familiar with it, hence my looking at streamlight. It does check all the boxes except I haven't found a decent mounting solution that doesn't seem cobbled together.

 

I've been told the SF legacy switches can only handle like 80% output on ModLite, and to go with either Modbutton or Unity Tactical. Haven't had a good opportunity to test myself yet.

 

Ive heard the same unless you use the DS00 tailcap.

That said, they work quite well and are still bright as heck for cqb to intermediate ranges.

 

I believe it.

I had a 90° head Olight and the button silicone tore and the switch desoldered from the PCB within three weeks of light duty use.

My c6hr or whatever Zebra light I replaced it with has been going strong for a few years now.

 

Link to a light killing a person, please?

 

https://www.courthousenews.com/gruesome-death-2/

 

Link to article and court detail link in this post.

https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/comments/kh2mxa/gruesome_death_olight_flashlight_exploded/

 

That makes more sense (not that that poor person died unexpectedly, that is utterly devastating).
I thought someone was in a gunfight and blamed their battery for a death rather than the firearm holder.

Thank you for the link. Appreciated.

 

According to that thread, it sounds like the guy put the wrong battery in, the battery was at fault, not the light, and he put it in his mouth and then touched the battery terminal, not the wisest, etc. Not sure whether one instance means I shouldn't throw one on a pistol/rifle. First I've heard of it.

 

Dang, I guess I’m super cheap. I’ve got a 12$ Harbor Freight Quantum 580 lumen light stuck on mine. I mean, it works.

Maybe… maybe I should look into something else.

 

First I ever heard of it too, and I just googled it and that's what I got.

Dunno about the death but I can personally attest Olight's build quality and QC are lacking especially compared to Zebra light.

 

I have 3 zebralights currently. Wouldn’t mind upgrading a couple.

 

Have you taken your gun out and shot it with the light? Especially quickly since mounting light?

With my first gun light which was even marketed as a weapon light (albeit it was a cheap one) it would cut out and turn off from slug recoil due to the battery being pulled off the internal spring contact from the recoil forces.

100% if your life depends on it you need to test your gear in the environment and conditions you are expecting it perform in, had I not known that light would cut off when firing and gotten into situation where I had to use the 12ga it would not be a good time if I lost my light after squeezing off the first round.