Flashlights, head lamps, torches etc

[iacco]

I bought that lamp and I am enthusiastic about it.
Low-intensity mode (and red filter maybe) works great for reading maps and "work" around your rucksack.
In hi-intensity mode it works well for . . . running in the night or light a path.
The beam is narrow (not much i.m.h.o.) and therefore, it is useful to spot a "target" without signalling your presence all around you.
The weight is quite limited and the adapt system make it great for fixing to helmets and (often, in my case) to be clipped on the shoulder strap of my gear.
I spent months searching for a cheap place to buy it but without any effective results.

bye

[Britboy]

Well, I finally bit the bullet and splurged the cash on one.

It is a bad boy all right, V nice piece of kit!! Makes you think it is v high tech. I also like the colour it is, like a khaki brown, which will be good for mil stuff but not be too militaristic for going for a jog, riding your bike or going hiking etc etc...

It'll soon enough get a chance to be tested in use properly when out and about...

Cheers everyone!
BB

PS: The brochure did say something about the ADAPT kit, but I don't think I'll splash out yet further on one. Although I can see how it would be handy for someone who had a bare helmet (cavers, AFV crew?) or who wanted to stick it to their dashboard/inside of vehicle to read a map easily...

PPS: Can't believe I just typed 'bare helmet' in solemnity. Fnarr fnarr!!

[JJC]

Surefire makes amazing lighting tools and they're very popular, but I always wondered if people in the field are bothered by their short runtimes? For example their famous M900 model foregrip lights only pump out 60/20 minutes depending on lumen output and most other xenon models pump out the same 60/20 pending on lumen outputs. Are these runtimes more than sufficient to complete whatever the low light situation is, or is it common that troops and cops have to frequently change batteries during these low light (room clearing) situations?

[JC0352]

Surefire makes amazing lighting tools and they're very popular, but I always wondered if people in the field are bothered by their short runtimes? For example their famous M900 model foregrip lights only pump out 60/20 minutes depending on lumen output and most other xenon models pump out the same 60/20 pending on lumen outputs. Are these runtimes more than sufficient to complete whatever the low light situation is, or is it common that troops and cops have to frequently change batteries during these low light (room clearing) situations?

From my experience, I only changed my batteries twice during a 7 month deployment for my 951 series that I had on my M16. Checking your gear before stepping off is a must, and good team leaders make sure their guys have spare batteries for everything. I'd say they're plenty sufficient for what they're designed for.

[JJC]

From my experience, I only changed my batteries twice during a 7 month deployment for my 951 series that I had on my M16. Checking your gear before stepping off is a must, and good team leaders make sure their guys have spare batteries for everything. I'd say they're plenty sufficient for what they're designed for.

ok interesting, shows that weaponlights are not constantly used by everyone at night in let's say Iraq or Astan?

[JC0352]

ok interesting, shows that weaponlights are not constantly used by everyone at night in let's say Iraq or Astan?

well, it's not a "door-kickin', blind 'em with the flashlight" fest all night long out there.

[SMGLee]

The run time has increased dramatically with the newest generation of the LED klamps, i have a Scout light with 6P head and a aftermarket CREE LED lamp inside, it pumps out about 200lumens for about 60 minutes.

[JJC]

The run time has increased dramatically with the newest generation of the LED klamps, i have a Scout light with 6P head and a aftermarket CREE LED lamp inside, it pumps out about 200lumens for about 60 minutes.

Ye, LEDs are the new thing. I'm somewhat bit knowledgeable about lights, but am always disappointed with SF and how slow they're are to respond to the market. They say by end of year, SF will have cool new LED lights.

[tango44]

We all know how SUREFIRE underrate their lumen power and runtimes, my experience with a X200 and a Scout light has been great and the runtimes is more than the advertised in their web site, they are working in a new scout light at the moment.

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/.../345/sesent/00

[vinny_121_ND]

The run time has increased dramatically with the newest generation of the LED klamps, i have a Scout light with 6P head and a aftermarket CREE LED lamp inside, it pumps out about 200lumens for about 60 minutes.

I'll get that cree lamp on ebay later.

To respond to the thread starter, I have a G2 on 65 lumens and it's sufficiently bright with about a hour run time. At 120 lumens, it drains the battery too fast that it's not worth using it.

[SMGLee]

Ye, LEDs are the new thing. I'm somewhat bit knowledgeable about lights, but am always disappointed with SF and how slow they're are to respond to the market. They say by end of year, SF will have cool new LED lights.

Many times, when a company grow to the size like SF, you get slow and bogged down.

It is not that SF is not fast to the market with new products, but they have gov't and mil contract to answer to, so the development takes a slower but more detail process. hence the product you see are forthcoming in a much slower time frame compare to the market.

As of this year, the new Scout light with the 110 Lumens are about the standard, anything brighter, you literally blind yourself in a confined area.

[LongShot]

Many times, when a company grow to the size like SF, you get slow and bogged down.

It is not that SF is not fast to the market with new products, but they have gov't and mil contract to answer to, so the development takes a slower but more detail process. hence the product you see are forthcoming in a much slower time frame compare to the market.

As of this year, the new Scout light with the 110 Lumens are about the standard, anything brighter, you literally blind yourself in a confined area.

Im glad you mentioned the "lumen threshold" so many people go big....trying to push 200+ lumens when they will we working in confined spaces...I prefer the M961P combat light myself, though I also have a 6P that I can quick attach if I dont want the 125 lumens the M961P puts out....Surefire is made of win.

Run time can be an issue depending on the situation, and battery changes mid-action is not a preferable situation....PCI and carry a back up.

[Hispeed1]

I prefer the lighter Scout light to the M951/961 series. Those are heavy. I also suggest looking in the Insight M3X/M6X line. Also when a tactical light is used on a gun, it's not supposed to be turned on all the time.

[LongShot]

I prefer the lighter Scout light to the M951/961 series. Those are heavy. I also suggest looking in the Insight M3X/M6X line. Also when a tactical light is used on a gun, it's not supposed to be turned on all the time.

M3/M6X lights are fine for handguns, but take a serious beating when mounted to a long arm...heat from sustained fire can also create problems with the polymer casing, at least thats my experience with them...they also have a wider focus, leaving distant illumination wanting...

[SMGLee]

M3/M6X lights are fine for handguns, but take a serious beating when mounted to a long arm...heat from sustained fire can also create problems with the polymer casing, at least thats my experience with them...they also have a wider focus, leaving distant illumination wanting...

I ran M6x on one of my carbine, but it is for mostly range session, I did however ran a X300 with the rifle kit on my primary carbine and I broke the battery compartment latch in about three outtings. still waiting on the replacment battery door that is supposed to handle the beating a rifle can dish out.

Currently i run the Scout light with the 6P adapter with a CREE 200lumens lamp that give good reliability, and sustain run time. 200 lumens are a bit bright for my taste, but it makes for a decent perimeter gun.