Hand-held flashlight?

[mrvmax]

Olight has some great lights for the price, at the end of the month when their website is up they are offering 25% off.

[Keith B]

Olight has some great lights for the price, at the end of the month when their website is up they are offering 25% off.

I have the T20 and love it! https://olightworld.com/product/t20/

[Beiruty]

LAPoliceGear.com. Buy one of theirs and thank me later. And forget about the body switch. Learn to use the tail cap switch.
http://www.lapolicegear.com/lapg-operat ... light.html

[Beiruty]

LAPoliceGear.com. Buy one of theirs and thank me later. And forget about the body switch. Learn to use the tail cap switch.
http://www.lapolicegear.com/lapg-operat ... light.html

Silly me, I visited LAPG and I ended up paying $120 and I ordered yet another LAPG flashlight.

[Pawpaw]

I have several Fenix PD35s. Think they are closer to $70 though. The button is on the end but the intensity button (5 levels) is on the body. I align the clip with this button so I can get to it quickly by feel. Carry one every day in the belt holster. Also have Streamlight and Surefire but this is my daily.

Add an 18650 battery or two, & a charger and you have a great setup.

It has variable power (5 settings, I think) up to 960 lumens. That will throw a beam strong enough to identify a person at 100+ yards.

[LDB415]

I haven't checked models and specs but Maglite brand is made in U.S.A. and top quality. FourSevens has excellent lights and extremely good customer service. I ordered a closeout light that has the modes you want but not the switch, after hours Thu. 8/11. It shipped Friday 8/12 and was in my hands Monday 8/15. Service doesn't get any better than that. Good luck with your quest.

[aaangel]

Olight has some great lights for the price, at the end of the month when their website is up they are offering 25% off.

here's one with a side switch and in your price range!

http://www.bladehq.com/item--Olight-S2A ... -XM--37249

[Skiprr]

Hey, Crash, just a question about core purpose for the light. Is it for general light-up-the-dark or self-defense? While not mutually exclusive, those two don't necessarily jive.

I'm kinda assuming you want the latter because you mentioned a strobe mode. If so, I have a couple of honest questions and comments.

I understand the desire for an on-off button on the barrel of the light, but by default that limits your options of techniques to deploy the light in a defensive situation. Some say there are only four viable techniques, but I'd dispute that because I think at least six are regularly taught. Are you familiar with those techniques and have practiced and chosen the ones you will use?

Speaking of, the older techniques (some of which, like the Harries, are still suitable to the 21st century) were developed at a time wheen tailswitch buttons didn't exist and a flashlight was just a flashlight, with the on/off switch on the side of the barrel. Too--and folks more hardware-informed than I am can correct me--I believe that few side-switch activated lights are momentary-on by design. If you press softly enough, maybe; press harder and you get on-until-turned-off. In the heat of a crisis situation trust me, you will not have any governance on how softly you press.

I mention that because the last decade-plus of training has drilled into me this sequence: illuminate; identify, delumminate; move; shoot. That having a static-on flashlight can get you killed. Even the clicking sound of an on/off button is a very bad thing.

Similarly, have you had any very-low-light training using a nice, bright strobe? It can be a force multiplier, but let me just say such training is one reason I do not want a strobe function on my go-to light. It is as easily disorienting to the flasher as the flashee. If the bad guy moves rapidly, I think 99% of the population would misjudge his position (maybe not SEAL Team Six members). And the effect of the strobe lingers after the light goes off. Your spatial judgement remains impaired, even if very briefly.

I had a nice conversation with one of the SureFire engineers at the 2009 NRA annual meeting. He said that SureFire didn't make a strobe function because their research showed it to be more of a potential disadvantage than beneficial tactical advantage. I will note that, since then, SureFire has caved to market pressure and now offers a number of lights with strobe capability.

Another thing that's always bothered me about multi-function lights is the mechanism to get them to the function you want. Click the on/off button twice to go from high beam to low beam to strobe? Click a fourth time and it will blink SOS? Turn the tailcap a quarter turn to the right to go from normal to strobe? Who the heck can remember that under pressure, much less perform it reliably under stress? I imagine there has been much hilarity among instructors at Thunder Ranch and Gunsite over shoot-house students who stood there dumbfounded while their flashlights placidly blinked SOS at the bad guy.

Someone else can come along and school me about lumens and why they don't seem to be a regimented, consistent measurement. Yeah; I know what a lumen is supposed to measure, one lumen per square meter equals one lux. But I can't be convinced that manufacturers don't jury-rig the evaluation of their products preposterously. For example, I have a flashlight that's supposed to be rated at 360 lumens. In a dark room, if I activate both, my old Surefire L5 rated at 100 lumens is subjectively brighter than the adjustable-focus, multi-function wonder-tool.

And, last, I trust my old L5 as an impact instrument. I've bought a number of flashlights since that one, but that's the only one I'd want if it went hand-to-hand. The only adjustment the L5 has is on or off. The high-lumen, multi-function wonder-tools are relegated to looking under the sink, a glance into a late-night backyard, or a quick look into the garage.

Just sayin...

[The Annoyed Man]

I have several Fenix PD35s. Think they are closer to $70 though. The button is on the end but the intensity button (5 levels) is on the body. I align the clip with this button so I can get to it quickly by feel. Carry one every day in the belt holster. Also have Streamlight and Surefire but this is my daily.

My EDC is also a Fenix PD35. It's a pretty good light. I also keep a Fenix PD40 in my vehicle's glove box. The form is a tactical light, while the latter is more of a general purpose flashlight. Both extraordinarily bright.

[Jusme]

Hey, Crash, just a question about core purpose for the light. Is it for general light-up-the-dark or self-defense? While not mutually exclusive, those two don't necessarily jive.

I'm kinda assuming you want the latter because you mentioned a strobe mode. If so, I have a couple of honest questions and comments.

I understand the desire for an on-off button on the barrel of the light, but by default that limits your options of techniques to deploy the light in a defensive situation. Some say there are only four viable techniques, but I'd dispute that because I think at least six are regularly taught. Are you familiar with those techniques and have practiced and chosen the ones you will use?

Speaking of, the older techniques (some of which, like the Harries, are still suitable to the 21st century) were developed at a time wheen tailswitch buttons didn't exist and a flashlight was just a flashlight, with the on/off switch on the side of the barrel. Too--and folks more hardware-informed than I am can correct me--I believe that few side-switch activated lights are momentary-on by design. If you press softly enough, maybe; press harder and you get on-until-turned-off. In the heat of a crisis situation trust me, you will not have any governance on how softly you press.

I mention that because the last decade-plus of training has drilled into me this sequence: illuminate; identify, delumminate; move; shoot. That having a static-on flashlight can get you killed. Even the clicking sound of an on/off button is a very bad thing.

Similarly, have you had any very-low-light training using a nice, bright strobe? It can be a force multiplier, but let me just say such training is one reason I do not want a strobe function on my go-to light. It is as easily disorienting to the flasher as the flashee. If the bad guy moves rapidly, I think 99% of the population would misjudge his position (maybe not SEAL Team Six members). And the effect of the strobe lingers after the light goes off. Your spatial judgement remains impaired, even if very briefly.

I had a nice conversation with one of the SureFire engineers at the 2009 NRA annual meeting. He said that SureFire didn't make a strobe function because their research showed it to be more of a potential disadvantage than beneficial tactical advantage. I will note that, since then, SureFire has caved to market pressure and now offers a number of lights with strobe capability.

Another thing that's always bothered me about multi-function lights is the mechanism to get them to the function you want. Click the on/off button twice to go from high beam to low beam to strobe? Click a fourth time and it will blink SOS? Turn the tailcap a quarter turn to the right to go from normal to strobe? Who the heck can remember that under pressure, much less perform it reliably under stress? I imagine there has been much hilarity among instructors at Thunder Ranch and Gunsite over shoot-house students who stood there dumbfounded while their flashlights placidly blinked SOS at the bad guy.

Someone else can come along and school me about lumens and why they don't seem to be a regimented, consistent measurement. Yeah; I know what a lumen is supposed to measure, one lumen per square meter equals one lux. But I can't be convinced that manufacturers don't jury-rig the evaluation of their products preposterously. For example, I have a flashlight that's supposed to be rated at 360 lumens. In a dark room, if I activate both, my old Surefire L5 rated at 100 lumens is subjectively brighter than the adjustable-focus, multi-function wonder-tool.

And, last, I trust my old L5 as an impact instrument. I've bought a number of flashlights since that one, but that's the only one I'd want if it went hand-to-hand. The only adjustment the L5 has is on or off. The high-lumen, multi-function wonder-tools are relegated to looking under the sink, a glance into a late-night backyard, or a quick look into the garage.

Just sayin...

I concur. I trained as a LEO with a flashlight/handgun combo for clearing rooms etc. There was no integral light rails then, I liked the side button option because I could choose from constant on or temporary on. There is no way I would want to try to remember a sequence under stress. I also suffer from short thumb syndrome so I can understand the desire for a barrel switch especially if used in conjunction with a handgun. With too many options for light, it could distract from the objective.

[Soap]

I need recommendations for a hand-held (rather than weapon-mounted) flashlight. I'd like one with both a steady-on and a strobe function. My problem is that most of them have a push-button on the back end, but I'd rather have one with a switch on the barrel of the light. Also, I don't want to pay out the nose for one--about $50 at the most.

Suggestions?

Crash

Go to amazon.com

Get the Nitecore P12 flashlight. It has 1000k lumens. MY edc. I've dropped it out of a vehicle several times and it still looks good.

[Skiprr]

...For my ex-wife and myself...I bought the same bodies and heads...and we're both happy.

Just digesting that.

Very quietly.

[WinoVeritas]

FastCarry,

I have very short thumbs and when I hold them straight the ends of them actually curve backwards at about a 60 degree angle. Therefore, it's very hard to push the button if it's on the end.

Crash

EDIT: For whatever reason can't post links. 1st is AuK vi AK80; 2nd. is TotalLohan XML-T6; 3rd. is BYBLIGHT XM-L T6 - all available on Amazon.

Presume Crash has already resolved his flashlight need. Just want to add that I use my index finger to operate the tail button rather than thumb due to arthritis pain - it's natural using index when holding in a "tactical" manner (palm up).

I'm a bit of a flashlight junkie, having beau coup MagLites over the years and having bought a TerraLUX TT-5 some years back +/-$65. More recently have bought some el cheapo's (all $11-$17 ea.) as per the following links. The first link is identical to the second link although branded different - the second links gives you two in a nice little plastic storage box. The third link is another inexpensive with rather large beam. All have the power settings, strobe, SOS, which are easily changed with just a slight pressing of the on/off switch/button to each mode when powered on, whereas the TerraLUX has a separate button on tail to change power settings, but none of the strobe or SOS and the second button is small and difficult to actuate. Frankly, the cheaper units have more features, appear to made from same materials and if they go south, no big loss.

[chl-dawg]

I just bought the Vizeri LED Tactical Flashlight with Focusing Lens, Cree XML T6 or XRE Q5, Military Quality from Amazon 460 lumens.
its on sale right now 46% off, 35 dollars with prime. I got it lastnight and the light was so shinny and strong. i loved the strobe function on it and the size. check it out on the below link. it uses 3 AAA or one 18650 rechargeable.