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View Full Version : Rosch Works SL-1 Combat Light/FSP



JGifford
16 October 2013, 05:03
http://roschworks.com/


http://i40.tinypic.com/ravyx3.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/10p6kaf.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/ka1avc.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/wrfcbm.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/24fhbo9.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2sam3og.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/2nk8inb.jpg

I have been playing with this for a while, and here are my impressions:

The lumen rating is pretty accurate. I have a 280 OTF lumen Malkoff M31 module that is EVER SO SLIGHTLY brighter to my eyes. I would say 250 OTF is spot-on after warm-up. Crank-up may be a touch more.

Tint is right at 6-6500K. It's "cooler" than we have been led to believe is "good" for picking the prettiest flowers at night, but it will illuminate things very well, and will scramble vision as well as anything could hope to, if you could hope for that result.

The build quality is just as good as the pictures in this thread indicate. It is EXTREMELY lightweight without one bit of "cheap" to the feeling of operating it.

The threads are pre-lubricated correctly, as are O-rings.

The beam is very well focused. There is no "trash" or "cree rings" to it (the XPG-2's are great about that, anyway), and the hot-spot and spill are very well compromised with each other, slightly more focused than my other M61 modules.

The "guts" are fully potted with thermal epoxy, typical of Malkoff's ultra-reliable modules that you are already familiar with. In this light, Malkoff and Rosch appear to have decided upon an aluminum instead of brass heat-sink. This allows less thermal mass, but much better heat-conduction away from the LED. The real benefit here is that the product is probably a full ounce or two lighter for the decision with no negatives that I can quantify. Great call!

The switchology is stoopid simple and works. Nothing else can really be said. The button is recessed into the tail-cap so that it must directly be pressed---you can tail-stand the light and press on the bezel and it won't activate. Also, the white letters are also deeply recessed. If you notice them while behind the gun. Well. You're counting snowflakes while your house is burning. Noone can help you. It is momentary-only, with the option to twist it for constant on--or lock it out completely. Think original Surefire 6P/G2 type operation.

The lens is recessed deeply into the head of the light, which is great for keeping soot off of it, as well as shock, and impact resistance. I think a Delrin or polymer bezel here, is just fine. I do, however, feel that the chemical and scratch resistance of the sapphire lens is a great idea and am very glad that Rosch Works is considering it.

When mounted on a weapon, the foot-print of the light is almost completely invisible viewed from my Eotech EXPS3-0. You gain 1.5" of rail-space (roughly) and 2.5" of sight-radius, as compared to the X300U/Daniel Defense FSB combo (which the rifle pictured is setup for, with the X300 pressed against the FSB).

I don't know how good/bad it will be for spotlighting pigs at 200 yards, but I think for home defense or urban usage, it is one hell of a solution. Basically, if 2-300 lumens of well-managed light is the need, this is the answer. Rail space is very well preserved.

http://i42.tinypic.com/nf0jyg.jpg



The M300B is the "top dog" as far as 1 CR123 lights go, in my opinion, for throw. However, this light does pretty well closer in, with a lot larger/smoother blending of the hot-spot. Here are 35 and 100 meter beamshots of both. Tonight I had more cloud-bounce, but the settings I used are identical in both photos, and my eyes agree with the photographs as well as they can. I am VERY IMPRESSED! I think the SL-1 hits its goal of 50m usefulness very easily, and beyond. For urban work, or dense wooded areas, I think it's great. If all else fails, slap an X300U on the 9 or 3 of the rail for hog hunting or whatever, but the SL-1 is definitely NOT under-powered. I think the blend of throw and spill are near perfect for its output level.

Light-metering mode is set to "average" for all shots, 1250 ISO, "White balance: fluorescent".


M300B, 50 yards to AC units:
http://i39.tinypic.com/2e1vuqg.jpg
SL-1, 50 yards to AC units:
http://i42.tinypic.com/33li1id.jpg
M300B, Building at 25 yards:
http://i40.tinypic.com/303d99x.jpg
SL-1, Building at 25 yards:
http://i41.tinypic.com/24pi5j5.jpg
M300B, 15 yards to gap in fence:
http://i41.tinypic.com/16ayukh.jpg
SL-1, 15 yards to gap in fence:
http://i39.tinypic.com/dmfi29.jpg
M300B, 20 yards to target:
http://i44.tinypic.com/2py8hp5.jpg
SL-1, 20 yards to target:
http://i43.tinypic.com/2ch1fr7.jpg
M300B 30 yards to target:
http://i42.tinypic.com/33a82sx.jpg
SL-1 30 yards to target:
http://i39.tinypic.com/fbccus.jpg
M300B 40 yards to target:
http://i42.tinypic.com/16jhpad.jpg
SL-1 40 yards to target:
http://i43.tinypic.com/hx9qpc.jpg
M300B 50 yards to target:
http://i43.tinypic.com/xdyt1f.jpg
SL-1 50 yards to target:
http://i40.tinypic.com/53u77l.jpg
M300B into brush/trees on trail-side close-by:
http://i44.tinypic.com/v6oyvm.jpg
SL-1 into brush/trees on trail-side close-by:
http://i41.tinypic.com/f23meb.jpg
M300B, targets at 25 yards:
http://i44.tinypic.com/ta1n3t.jpg
SL-1, targets at 25 yards:
http://i44.tinypic.com/seofnb.jpg


It is my opinion that for most things that you will NEED a weapon-light for, the SL-1's beam profile offers much more utility, and will allow faster, and better threat detection and less distraction from the hot-spot. If you are using this for hunting or predator control, better solutions than either exist at much lower price-points.

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Mike Pannone's review: http://www.defensereview.com/rosch-works-rw-sl1-sight-light-review-making-the-most-of-your-ar-15m4m4a1-carbinesbrs-tactical-real-estate/