rbernie
Contributing Member
I’ve had good luck with Streamlight pistol and pocket lights, but not long gun lights. My go-to for lights on my carbines is gonna be a Surefire.
StreamLight, OLight or SureFire
- Thread starter DetBrowning
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Old Dog
Member
Mag-Pul makes some great mounts for Surefires and Streamlights that should fit other brands.
https://krafordandlypt.com/products/magpul-rail-light-mount
crestoncowboy
Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2011
- Messages
- 3,307
Or get a brighter 150 dollar olight odin that comes with the light/ mount/ pressure switch and all . Lol.
I've had no issue with any of the three. My 500 has a surefire light/forearm. I have several streamlight and 3 olight.
Lasermax ive had issue with and I had a buddy who just quit carrying "nebo" because of all the complaints. Id have tried those but he always told me not to
Anyone else have a maglight mount on a predator gun back in the 90s? Lol. Anything is 100x better now. Even that tactical light saber that melts tarpoleum on the commercials. Lol
I've had no issue with any of the three. My 500 has a surefire light/forearm. I have several streamlight and 3 olight.
Lasermax ive had issue with and I had a buddy who just quit carrying "nebo" because of all the complaints. Id have tried those but he always told me not to
Anyone else have a maglight mount on a predator gun back in the 90s? Lol. Anything is 100x better now. Even that tactical light saber that melts tarpoleum on the commercials. Lol
crestoncowboy
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edit....I lied. I got to second guessing and checked and my 500 has a streamlight forearm not surefire. But I do have something surefire. Just can't recall which one.
berettaprofessor
Member
This is going to sound naive and stupid to many, but I ran across the VOTATU lights and lasers on Amazon and have been fairly pleased by the quality of the aluminum bodied ones I've tried. I have this pistol light, 800 lumens, now on a QD mount, and it's good quality and has held up so far under 9 mm recoil and is $30. And I have a laser that attaches similar to this 1450 lumen tactical M-Lok light (https://www.amazon.com/VOTATU-ML40S-Flashlight-Compatible-Rechargeable/dp/B0CCDLW2PQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=BB9ZWPT3L19B&keywords=vovatu+light&qid=1701292023&sprefix=vovatu+light,aps,90&sr=8-1) and really like it.
Captains1911
Member
I own and have owned so many streamlight products at this point that it might be over 50 total, from weapon mounted lights, handheld lights, headlamps, lanterns, etc. I’ve never had a problem of any kind with a single one. Safe to say I trust streamlight. I’ve owned a few Surefire products over the years as well, and never had any issues with them either, but can’t justify the higher price considering my experience with Streamlight.
Just an example and testament….my neighbor and good friend lost a streamlight handheld light a few years back, I believe it was one of the single CR123A protac models. About a year ago, his wife was walking down the gravel road we live on after a grader had scraped it for maintanece purposes, and saw something partially sticking out of the dirt. Sure enough it was the light he’d lost at least a year previously, that had been buried in the road. Lord knows how many times this thing had been run over, exposed to rain and snow, etc., and with one click of the tail cap it turned right on. Streamlight is good to go.
Just an example and testament….my neighbor and good friend lost a streamlight handheld light a few years back, I believe it was one of the single CR123A protac models. About a year ago, his wife was walking down the gravel road we live on after a grader had scraped it for maintanece purposes, and saw something partially sticking out of the dirt. Sure enough it was the light he’d lost at least a year previously, that had been buried in the road. Lord knows how many times this thing had been run over, exposed to rain and snow, etc., and with one click of the tail cap it turned right on. Streamlight is good to go.
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In terms of robustness, I'd rank the options as 1. Surefire 2. Streamlight 3. O Light.
I run Streamlights. I have a few rifles and had to outfit them all and needed a bang for the buck that was still reliable.
I don't know what you're willing to spend, but maybe check out the offerings at Arisaka Defense. The 3 options listed aren't all that's out there.
I run Streamlights. I have a few rifles and had to outfit them all and needed a bang for the buck that was still reliable.
I don't know what you're willing to spend, but maybe check out the offerings at Arisaka Defense. The 3 options listed aren't all that's out there.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
IMHO, as a mechanic, stay far away from Streamlight... their work lights are horrible and i would not trust them...
I have a Surefire m952v-tn on my sbr 5.56 and its pretty decent, i got mine while at a gunshow, some dude walked up and asked if we'd be interesting in buying any of these lights, and i was like yeah I'll take one. Just keep some CR123s around to swap out every year or so...
Old Dog
Member
Yeah, but again -- we're talking WMLs. And as one who's been issued both Surefire and Streamlight WMLs for hard use in the real world (military and LE), given the budget, I'd go with a Surefire for an AR (simply because I like the models Surefire has for rifles), but for handguns, I have no problem accepting a Streamlight. As I and others have noted, Streamlight has excellent customer service -- in the rare event you would need it. For handheld lights, I'll go Streamlight solely because they're some excellent, durable, high lumen lights at a far better price than Surefire.
dranrab
Member
We are pretty deep into this thread and nobody has asked how you envision using the light. That will have a lot to do with getting "good" information.
CapnMac
Member
I'ven had good luck with all three brands, if none of those as WML.
I have used all 3 brands and no issues with any of them. All good. That said I'm kind of happy with My O-light stuff as they often have sales making them real deals in terms of cost. One I really like is their Odin series. Comes with a M-LOK mount that lets you take off the light real quick without having to mess with the mount. And rail pressure switch included. I have it on a long range gun and will swap an Odin for a Odin Turbo LEP quick. The Odin works great inside 200 yards and is high Lumen. But the turbo is a LEP light (Laser Excited Phosphor) . It's just a small hot spot with with only 330 lumens. Useless up close but can easily illuminate an armadillo at 500 yards+ for an easy scope shot....and that's what I use it for. None of my other lights can do that and it's small like the regular Odin. Not even sure O-light makes it anymore. When out after armadillos in the field, I go with an Odin on the gun and the Odin Turbo in my pocket.
Peakbagger46
Member
- Joined
- Jan 1, 2009
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- 1,476
I’ve got a long history with both Streamlight and Surefire dating back to ‘06 or so. Both brands have held up to rough duty use for handheld and weapon mounted lights.
I’m probably in the minority but I really like my issued 1K lumen Streamlight on the AR, same thing that I’ve had on the Glock for years and it doesn’t add a lot of weight. Also am just used to the toggle switch at this point.
For a duty belt light currently use a 1K lumen fenix that I can recharge and keep topped off. So far so good.
I’m probably in the minority but I really like my issued 1K lumen Streamlight on the AR, same thing that I’ve had on the Glock for years and it doesn’t add a lot of weight. Also am just used to the toggle switch at this point.
For a duty belt light currently use a 1K lumen fenix that I can recharge and keep topped off. So far so good.
I picked up 3 handheld lights recently with the plan to use them on 3 AR15's plus have a handheld good quality light.
2 Surefire G2X Pro
1 Streamlight Protac HL-X
I like the G2X Pro the best. I like the 1st tap low 15 lumens output followed by the high 2nd tap 600 lumens output. The Streamlight just has too many options to choose from and is more complicated. I like simple things. The G2X Pro 600 lumens is perfect for outdoors. The 15 lumen = 52 hours of battery life and is enough for somethings.
Generalizing - I'm using Magpul Moe stocks and forearms, with a Moe rail section, and a Viking Tactics Light mount.
This one is set up a little different with M-Lok handguards, an M-Lok Rail Section and the Viking Tactics light mount. It has an older Streamlight that is no longer available.
Brace Injunction Pistol.
2 Surefire G2X Pro
1 Streamlight Protac HL-X
I like the G2X Pro the best. I like the 1st tap low 15 lumens output followed by the high 2nd tap 600 lumens output. The Streamlight just has too many options to choose from and is more complicated. I like simple things. The G2X Pro 600 lumens is perfect for outdoors. The 15 lumen = 52 hours of battery life and is enough for somethings.
Generalizing - I'm using Magpul Moe stocks and forearms, with a Moe rail section, and a Viking Tactics Light mount.
This one is set up a little different with M-Lok handguards, an M-Lok Rail Section and the Viking Tactics light mount. It has an older Streamlight that is no longer available.
Brace Injunction Pistol.
I am going to say it, I am not a fan of weapon-mounted lights. See: Assessing the Rise in Unintended Discharges Following the Sheriff’s Department’s Conversion to a New Handgun by Office of the Inspector General, County of Los Angeles.
That out of the way, I am a fan of SureFire. In fact, there is one sitting next to me at my desk right now, and one in the console box of my car. A big part of my decision to go with SureFire is that it is made in the USA. . . yes, I have been called a jingoist.
I understand the issue with 123a batteries. I got a set of rechargeable 123a and a charger to go with them. It the long run it is cheaper.
Here is a short video produced by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department on the selection of weapon lights.
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I'm a huge Streamlight fan. I've been extremely happy with every WML I've had from them and I've had several.
My second choice would be Surefire, but I really like my TLR-1HL's better than anything Surefire has to offer, and they are significantly cheaper.
My second choice would be Surefire, but I really like my TLR-1HL's better than anything Surefire has to offer, and they are significantly cheaper.
DustyGmt
Member
Streamlight for my money. Surefire when I start my cash printing press. Hard pass on the Olight, they have some iffy marketing practices and nowhere near the cred as streamlight or surefire. I don't have $300 for a surefire X300 or Scout but I do have $80 for one of their G2 series lights and another $20 for a light mount. Good way to get a quality surefire on your gun. My G2L got chewed up in my lawnmower when I dropped it outside for a couple weeks and found it with the mower. It's on my gun right now, a few nicks and scuffs but works like a champ. The strwamlight has held up well on my G17 too..... I wouldn't roll the dice on an Olight. No offense to people that have and back their Olights.
