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Thanks everybody so much for all your great comments. Deeply appreciated. I've spent a whole lot of time researching all the recommendations and comments, and educating myself on the specs of these and other flashlights, and their meanings. Phew. Talk about a chore!

I've narrowed the field down to 4.
Fenix TK12($74.95): http://www.batteryjunction.com/fenix-tk12.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Olight T20-M($59.95): http://eliteled.com/products/flashlight ... t20-t.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

UltraFire WF-503C($22.26): http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.26120" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

MTE SSC P7($34.95): http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.12060" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I'm leaning toward the Olight because of the quality and reputation. But the UltraFire and MTE are SO affordable, and the comments are so favorable that I may choose either one of those. The issue is still in doubt.

Has anyone out there ever owned an UltraFire flashlight?

Thanks apostate! That's EXACTLY the kind of info I'm looking for.....plus the best pricing avail.

Yes I am. For the house primarily. But also when I go on the road.

KeithB made a great review on his back in January for his OLite T-20 Tactical:

http://www.texasshooting.com/TexasCHL_F ... 13&t=21450" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That one has REALLY caught my eye. Another one is a Fenix TK-11, but the price is a little to high. I'd love a TK-12 but out of budget. *sigh*

Ever since I saw an episode of "Tactical Impact" that had a segment on the tactical flashlight, I've had the desire to have one. I immediately saw the advantage of having one. Prior to that episode if someone would have asked me if I had a tactical flashlight I would have said "Yes I do. A real good one.....A MagLite 3"D"cell one." Well it's not the same...not by a long shot.

At night or in low light situations, they are something next to mandatory in defending yourself successfully. It becomes even more critical in having one for a senior citizen, who begins to lose night vision due to the onset of cataracts. It's just a fact of life that happens as we grow older. I'm in that category. Don't get me wrong...I see fine...I've just lost a little clarity and sharpness in low light situations. Thus my desire to have something like this.

But to decide on one is the dilemma. I've spent the last week educating myself on them...the specs, phew. Watts, Candlepower, Lux, Lumens. Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my! The bigger the number the better...in most cases.

I checked into the forums for flashlights, mainly the candlepower forum. Talk about people in their own little world! They get embroiled in debates between the benefits of a CREE Q2 LED versus a CREE Q5 LED. Geez Louise, I just want to know what's the best tactical flashlight for my money! I don't want an education in quantum physics! They are worse than we are in debating if the .45 is a better s.d. round than a .40 S&W! It's endless.

I know some of the more popular tactical flashlight makers out there: SureFire, OLite, UltraLite, Fenix, Pelican, etc, etc,etc ad nauseum. I know I want a t.f. that goes into the 220+ lumen range. I know that I want a strobe feature(it's very disorientating to a bg). I want 4,5,or 6 illumination settings. With those requirements, I know it will probably require 2x CR123 batteries.

I also know I'm working in a budget. $45-$75, and no more. But that's all I know.

In closing, can anyone recommend a t.f. make and model that has those features? Do they have sales on those things? If so, where can they be found?