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View Full Version : Tactical light personal review


CasterTroy
01-14-2010, 08:40 AM
So I have had a couple of surefire lights now for about a year. LOVE them. The light they put out is amazing and especially for their size.

I have the E2D Defender and the E2E Executive.

Both use (2) 123A lithium batteries, which I never had any experience with before. The lights were expensive (over $100 each) but I was fortunate to have a friend that is a buyer for LOWES and gave them to me as a gift. A vendor from Surefire had given them to him to try out...and he wanted ME to have them to give him feedback.

Well I LOVE them. I USE to be a tried and true Maglight man....because it's not only a light, but a friggin battering baton! But these 2 lights have changed my preference.

Anyway....I thought about getting a loop holder for these lights to mount on a couple of my guns I keep in the house for the eminent Zombie attack or Armageddon....whichever comes first....but that would mean I'd have to sacrifice their current roll as emergency lights. Didn't want to do that.

So I shopped for some rail mounted lights.

That’s when I found the TLR-1's on sale at Botach (http://www.botachtactical.com/sttrtali.html) for $69

This ALSO uses the the (2) 123A lithium batteries

I got 2 of them.

I mounted one on my 556 and one on my XDm 9

Below are the mountings and the surefire lights

http://www.troybaker.com/gun/litewide.jpg

here's a close-up of the TLR-1's mounted

http://www.troybaker.com/gun/tlr11.jpg


Now for the light test:

This was at 8pm, total dark, all the lights in the house off, and my dog wondering the hall thinking she went blind.

First up: Surefire E2D Defender

http://www.troybaker.com/gun/E2Ddefender2.jpg


Next: Surefire E2E Executive

http://www.troybaker.com/gun/E2Eexecutive2.jpg

Now for the TLR-1

http://www.troybaker.com/gun/tlr13.jpg

You can see the vast difference. The wide mouth of the TLR-1 makes for a much broader throw of the light as well as more of a washing effect with overall light as well. The TLR-1 also has a more "blinding effect" as well, meaning that with the surefire pointed at me I was fairly certain exactly where the person holding was standing, but the TLR-1 made it very difficult to pinpoint the exact location and distance FROM me.

I'm very impressed so far.

**All lights had fresh batteries, and all were pictured with the same camera and lack of lighting (no flash)

Trip
01-14-2010, 08:55 AM
Make sure that Elian Gonzalez dies this time

CasterTroy
01-14-2010, 09:01 AM
Slippery little bastard

askmrjesus
01-14-2010, 09:06 AM
Nice write up, I may have to look into one of those for Rapture day.

JC

shmike
01-14-2010, 09:21 AM
Wow.

That TLR-1 is impressive.

z06boy
01-14-2010, 09:22 AM
I have a few Surefires that I keep in my briefcase...the vehicle and around the house and like them alot.

I've been thinking about putting some type of tactical light on my AR. I'm not familiar with TLR-1's but after seeing your pics I'll sure look into it. :dthumb:

Amber Lamps
01-14-2010, 09:28 AM
Very interesting....

LeeNetworX
01-14-2010, 09:43 AM
Nice! Thanks for sharing.

karl_1052
01-14-2010, 10:18 AM
I am waiting for you to bling out this TLR now.:lol:

marko138
01-14-2010, 10:26 AM
Thats one hell of a gun, fuck the light.

ericr
01-14-2010, 10:50 AM
I've been using SUrefire's since shortly after they came out. If you get one of the 9v models (3 battery) they will hurt someone at close range they're so bright! That TLR-1 is sure impressive from your pics Troy, what is the battery life rated at on those?

Adeptus_Minor
01-14-2010, 11:54 AM
Maybe I'm just cheap, but it's ridiculous how much most of those "tactical" lights go for. :skep:

Amber Lamps
01-14-2010, 01:28 PM
Maybe I'm just cheap, but it's ridiculous how much most of those "tactical" lights go for. :skep:

I agree! I have a Chinese one that takes 123 batteries and it costs $15. I've had it for 4 or 5 years at least. All aluminum body, uses ultra bright leds... IDK his is probably better I'm sure but WOW for $100... To each his own though!

CasterTroy
01-14-2010, 02:01 PM
I agree! I have a Chinese one that takes 123 batteries and it costs $15. I've had it for 4 or 5 years at least. All aluminum body, uses ultra bright leds... IDK his is probably better I'm sure but WOW for $100... To each his own though!

I personally wouldn't have BOUGHT them :idk: Had they not been a gift I'd still be a mag-light fan....but beCAUSE of them I decided to invest in the TLR-1

Figured I'd put this out there in case anyone was debating if they're WORTH it or not.

I really need to take a pic with the standard maglight too...hmmm

Particle Man
01-14-2010, 02:04 PM
any impact to balance?

Rider
01-14-2010, 02:11 PM
any impact to balance?

If so, you just use slightly heavier rounds to compensate. :dthumb: I doubt the light weighs very much though.

CasterTroy
01-14-2010, 02:11 PM
any impact to balance?

Taking it to the range this weekend to test that. I'm going to assume it might actually HELP recoil. With a 19rnd mag the XDm is already a friggin BRICK so it doesn't FEEL very different when loaded. We'll see

unknownroad
01-14-2010, 02:32 PM
Hell, those stupid 123 batteries cost more than most of the flashlights in my house :willy:

I do like my big older-model Elektro Lumens for the truck, tho...

Cutty72
01-14-2010, 02:50 PM
I use a Pelican light myself. Comparable to the Surefire's, but a bit better light output, probably not as good as that TLR though. My surefire was about $35, pack of 10 batteries costs about $20, and constant on time is rated at 2 hours.
I have had the same batteries in mine since October, and I use it daily working on vehicles.

ericr
01-14-2010, 03:01 PM
Troy, one other question for ya, the two Surefires you compared in the pics, are those LED's or incandescent lights? THey just look dimmer than mine but i've never done a pic like that either.

Twobanger
01-14-2010, 03:45 PM
Can you post a picture of the surefire executive in low power mode?

CasterTroy
01-14-2010, 03:48 PM
Troy, one other question for ya, the two Surefires you compared in the pics, are those LED's or incandescent lights? THey just look dimmer than mine but i've never done a pic like that either.

*Ninja edit: E1E Executive Elite® Single-Output Incandescent


The pic is really dim compared to how they ACTUALLY look PLUS...my walls are a sand/beige color anyway.....I mean, that TLR-1 lights up the hall like a single HID headlamp from a new audi. VERY crisp WHITE light.

Can you post a picture of the surefire executive in low power mode?

It's only the single output version

z06boy
01-14-2010, 04:27 PM
My surefire was about $35, pack of 10 batteries costs about $20, and constant on time is rated at 2 hours.
I have had the same batteries in mine since October, and I use it daily working on vehicles.

Sounds like the ones I have.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db01b3127ccec47d0330114000000010O08AcMWjly5cNA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

CasterTroy
01-14-2010, 04:40 PM
ASP :rockwoot:

I have a couple of those. Use to wear them on a belt when I rode till a cop pulled me and told me that wasn't such a good idea :lol

Now it stays in the tank bag

Cutty72
01-15-2010, 05:53 PM
Sounds like the ones I have.

http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8db01b3127ccec47d0330114000000010O08AcMWjly5cNA e3nww/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/

No, I have the M6 2320 with the Xenon bulb.

http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2320

OneSickPsycho
01-15-2010, 07:22 PM
Wow.

That TLR-1 is impressive.

All TLR's are impressive. :D

zlicius
08-25-2010, 10:49 PM
just got my streamlight pt2l

great little light for the $

my eyes are still jacked up from the strobe

ack ed here.

http://images1.tacticalstore.com/640-640/opplanet-streamlight-pt-series-2l-flashlight-01.jpg

z06boy
08-26-2010, 09:02 AM
No, I have the M6 2320 with the Xenon bulb.

http://www.pelican.com/lights_detail.php?recordID=2320

Real old thread but just saw this response and after reading it again I realize you stated 2 hours of constant on time which should have been my first clue because the one I have wouldn't last anywhere close to that but it sure is a bright little sucker. It cost about the same and the batteries run about the same price and that's what I saw.

Amber Lamps
08-26-2010, 03:56 PM
Oh yea baby!! Here's mine, $15 at Radio Shack-100 lumens and 6 hours constant...