StreamLight, OLight or SureFire

DetBrowning

DetBrowning

Contributing Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2023
Messages
88
Location
Florida
I'm looking for a tactical light for my newly acquired AR 15 (Anderson) I've been reading & reading & reading lol
Additionally, I've spoken with a few friends and clearly I seem to be getting as many answers as new questions.
Some say StreanLight becomes faulty and doesn't operate 100% all the time. Olight is [just] okay if one cannot afford Surefire,
yet others say Surefire is over rated for the price, and others recommend other manufactures.
I look for to getting good information here on THR as I have in the past.
Wishing you all a blessed & healthy Thanksgiving.
 
I used a surefire m600, at least I think it was an m600 it had no markings or finish left by time it finally died on me, that followed me home one deployment for about 10 or so years after I left the service, worked great for what it was but more modern LED technology made it quite the relic. When I was forced to replace it I went with a streamlight protac and I have to say that it has performed extremely well, is much brighter than the surefire ever was, and came with the pressure switch and mount for about 1/3 the cost of a new surefire.
 
DetBrowning said:
Additionally, I've spoken with a few friends and clearly I seem to be getting as many answers as new questions.
Some say StreanLight becomes faulty and doesn't operate 100% all the time. Olight is [just] okay if one cannot afford Surefire,
yet others say Surefire is over rated for the price, and others recommend other manufactures.
Click to expand...
Sorry to be that guy, but you'll get the same spectrum of answers here.

Was issued Surefires, such as the M600 or M300 for the M4, in the military. Last employer issued Streamlights (TLR-1 HD) for pistols, a worthy light.

I have currently Surefire Mini-Scout lights on ALL my ARs. But most of my hand-held lights are Streamlights.

I currently own both brands, and have WMLs by both on multiple pistols,

I also have another personal favorite maker, Fenix. I confess to having zero experience with O-Light, but one department I know of issued them to patrol officers and they seem to like them.

I can state from personal experience, if your Streamlight doesn't work, the company's customer service is excellent. I got a brand-new light back inside 10 days. And I'd caused the light to break.

In my opinion, I'd bite the bullet on the cost and go with Surefire for an AR. But if budget is a concern, I don't think you're taking a risk with Streamlight; obviously the price differences can be substantial. But Streamlights are not cheap lights nor significantly less durable.

Another opinion, I don't favor using a tape switch. Just another thing to go wrong and not necessary if you mount your light so that you can easily access the tail cap with your support hand.

Old pic of one of my M4s with a Surefire Mini-Scout light (my personal favorite AR light).

rifle.jpg
 
Last edited:
Old Dog said:
Sorry to be that guy, but you'll get the same spectrum of answers here.

Was issued Surefires, such as the M600 or M300 for the M4, in the military. Last employer issued Streamlights (TLR-1 HD) for pistols, a worthy light.

I have currently Surefire Mini-Scout lights on ALL my ARs. But most of my hand-held lights are Streamlights.

I currently own both brands, and have WMLs by both on multiple pistols,

I also have another personal favorite maker, Fenix. I confess to having zero experience with O-Light, but one department I know of issued them to patrol officers and they seem to like them.

I can state from personal experience, if your Streamlight doesn't work, the company's customer service is excellent. I got a brand-new light back inside 10 days. And I'd caused the light to break.

In my opinion, I'd bite the bullet on the cost and go with Surefire for an AR. But if budget is a concern, I don't think you're taking a risk with Streamlight; obviously the price differences can be substantial. But Streamlights are not cheap light nor significantly less durable.

Another opinion, I don't favor using a tape switch. Just another thing to go wrong and not necessary if you mount your light so that you can easily access the tail cap with your support hand.

Old pic of one of my M4s with a Surefire Mini-Scout light (my personal favorite AR light).

View attachment 1180814
Click to expand...

I completely forgot about Fenix. Though I don't have any currently, I did have one of their 18650 lights mounted on a Mossberg 500 for a few years that was my home defense and midnight coyote hunting gun. Worked very well and the rechargeable battery was very nice compared to the CR123A's. As far as I know the gun's new owner still has it mounted on there for the same purposes. Also had two others just like it in my car and hunting pack for a hand held light.
 
I have no better or worse experience with any of those 3. All work great. Olight has some insanely bright lights that get plenty warm. At the moment I think they are the better deal.
 
Surefires can be had affordablly if you hunt around.

I picked up a G2X to throw on my "good" carbine for $60.

I've got TLR-1s that bounce between carbines and pistols.

Streamlight has a few models that are "dual- fuel that can run on multiple types of batteries, and some of them may work better with one or the other type. Generally, very strong, but perhaps not quite as bomb proof as the Surefires.

And I just stay away from OLights.
 
I only buy weapon lights/lasers/red dots with replaceable batteries. Even if they're rechargeable I'm make sure they're user replaceable and the batteries are able to be purchased on Amazon.

I have several olights and they work well for my applications. I don't carry with them, they are strictly used for home defense.
 
I don't think you can go wrong with any of those 3. I have been using O-lights on a couple pistols and also have had several of their hand held lights over the years. The hand held lights eventually get replaced due to weld spatter on the lense, broken pocket clips, torn off rubber buttons etc. but none of them ever quit lighting on me.
I also have had excellent luck with thrunite and fenix flashlights. I think surefire kind of rides on their name at this point as they are not really keeping up in terms of light output, run time, or size. They are known for being very reliable though and I wouldn't tell anyone not to buy one but I think other brands offer better value now.
 
gralewaj said:
Surefire G2X in a Magpul polymer rail light mount gets you a weapon mounted, dual output (15/600 lumen), tac light for around $100. I'm not taking this into battle, but if something goes bump in the night it'll turn on and stay mounted.

Best price I've seen on G2X.
https://tacticalgunslings.com/surefire-g2x-pro-15-600-lumens/
Click to expand...

The odin is over 3x the lumens, double the meters of recognition (on paper but in real life seems more) and the same price but with mount and remote switch. Plus it's rechargeable and you don't have to remove batteries or remove it from the rifle to charge it.

Other than being made in an enemy country the odin is a better light in every way IMO and I have both. Ive used my odin in rain and snow in horrible conditions on my predator rifle and its been great since November of 2021 with weekly (minimum) use. I like mine well enough I got another for my HD/ training gun.

Screenshot_20231126-141137_Gallery.jpg

The only con is olight are made in China. Surefire is usa. Innova makes them all over the place.


I got tired of buying 123a batteries so my g2x and Innova 123a lights are shelved indefinitely. Lol
 
I would go with Surefire if you are going to bet your life on it. As mentioned above, they were issued during OEF/OIF and used hard for many years. I have several I bought off the surplus market and they were a great deal back a while, not sure about the prices on them now.

Plus, US made which I have a strong preference for these days.

Elzetta may also be worth a look. US made, but I have no experience with them yet.
 
If you're looking at spending Surefire money, check out Cloud Defensive. Your AR is an Anderson, though. Get a Streamlight TLR RM 2 and call it good.
 
The only Streamlight light I have issues with is the TLR4. Mine broke at the mount. I sent it in, they sent a new one. This happened twice more. I called and was told it was common on that model. I asked for anything else but they could not do anything but send another. I told them to keep it.

But my TLR-1, 2G, 7’s, and 10G have all been excellent, as have my handhelds. No worries at all!
 
shafter said:
Surefire has a basic model that sells pretty reasonably. I've had excellent success with them. Roughly $70 most of the time.

Click to expand...

Is there a generic weapons mount for those type lights? I have an older version light similar to that, that I'd like to mount... but I know zero about weapon mounts...
 
Charlie98 said:
Is there a generic weapons mount for those type lights? I have an older version light similar to that, that I'd like to mount... but I know zero about weapon mounts...
Click to expand...
I use an mlok BCM mount for mine but there's lots of options available.
 
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