Help w/ weapon light

[FortTom]

I just recently completed a new "lightweight" AR, using BCM's "Light Weight" 16 in. complete upper with Centurion Rail.
Also an Aimpoint ML2 and Magpul MBUS. And nothing else. My goal was to use this one as a home and property defense weapon, that was as light as possible, without sacrificing utility, or just fun at the range.

I've read many of the reviews here about lights, and am considering buying one, and hopefully a quick release mount, to shed the extra weight when not needed.

The problem is that these things (of which I know very little) are all over the place price-wise, and I'm not sure if some of the companies products advertised ratings are meaningless, something that I got a little scent of from some of the user's replies, here on the forum.

Some of them cost more than a small yatch.[:)] I can't see, being retired and a non-professional, the value of stretching my budget to hundreds of dollars, for a device that I may rarely if ever use, but might need at some time of the other. I also don't need a tape switch, I don't think so anyway, just a good QD mount, even one of the polymer mounts.

Any help sorting this out would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks ahead,

FT

[AR-10]

I don't really see a need for a QD weapon light mount on my own rifles, a thumbscrew mount can be installed and removed very quickly.

I like Surefire lights and their customer service is second to none, but this light from Primary Arms looks promising:

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-Compact-Weapon-Light-p/pawl-3bk.htm

Buy one of those and a cheap 1" ring mount and you'll have 420 lumens for less than $100.

[FortTom]

I don't really see a need for a QD weapon light mount on my own rifles, a thumbscrew mount can be installed and removed very quickly.

I like Surefire lights and their customer service is second to none, but this light from Primary Arms looks promising:

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary-Arms-Compact-Weapon-Light-p/pawl-3bk.htm

Buy one of those and a cheap 1" ring mount and you'll have 420 lumens for less than $100.

Thanks. They sell a QD mount for 20 bucks. I'd like a mount because most of the time that I would be carrying it, I won't need it, such as the range, etc. But when at ready at night, where I might have to use a light, well, it can be put on pretty quickly after I clean the weapon, and it goes into "hide" mode. Then just pop it off again, when it comes out for fun.

Again, thanks,

FT.

[RiverRat]

I've got a similar ultralight AR which eagerly leaps into my arms before I can grab another rifle, so I get the appeal of what you're doing.

Regarding a light for it, here's the thing.....it seems like you spent too much money, right up until the point where you actually NEED the light. My recent experience during the recent "1000 yr" Colorado flood taught me that having at least one really dependable light (and one very good knife) is immensely reassuring. When that light can double as a weapon light, you've hit paydirt.

What I haven't gotten from you in your posts is a sense of yet is what you expect from this bugger. Any recommendations we offer are general "feel good" recommendations until you can tell us more specifically what you want.

I don't want to get into tons of extraneous stuff in figuring that out, but there are a couple of things that are worth considering.
- indoor use = floody beam, no discerable hotspot or halo, moderate output so that you won't blind yourself with reflected light, warm white if possible.
- outdoor use = more throwy beam, a significant hotspot might be useful in some applications, no halo, higher output to create reach (sacrificing burn time) , cool white tint for more reach and contrast.
- multipurpose = dual output, semi-floody, cool light, can accept a diffuser, all of which sacrifices reliability and simplicity.

As far as my "feel good recommendation" without knowing which of those roles you want to address....because I live a little remotely on about 15 acres but still wanted a flexible weapon light, my featherweight sports an Eagletac T20C2 MkII light. I know a lot of people would criticize my choice because 1) the reliability has not been widely demonstrated and 2) it doesn't say Surefire on the barrel.

But the ability to generate 680 ANSI lumens of semi-floody cool white light was important to me. Being able to throttle that down to 100 lumens if I need it indoors or 10 lumens to preserve night vision was also critical. The unit is comfortable handheld, has a robust clicky tailcap and the electronics are current regulated to ensure constant output until the batteries die. There's no hotspot in the beam, but it throws a couple hundred yards (when the pollen or snow doesn't diffuse the beam). It's modular and upgradable as LED modules evolve. The manufacturer has a good warranty and considers it a weapon light. It had all the features that I wanted and cost all of $80. I put it in a Surefire polymer mount ($27), giving me a system I'm comfortable with at the $110 price point.

Since Elzetta has moved to high output LEDs, I need to research the $210 Bravo (650 lumen, high-low tailcap) a little more. Eagletac also has a new 965 ANSI lumen light that runs about $100, which I might look at for extended outdoor range. But what I have has worked well so far, in its limited "go get the varmint" role.

[FortTom]

Thanks, RiverRat,

I suppose my primary use would look like this: It would be on the weapon at all times,, except when I go shooting. I know that sounds strange, but I don't need it on the range during daylight, and our local indoor range. No where to shoot here in the dark, unless I travel to a friends farm about 80 miles from here. I would have it on as an aid of a SD version of the weapon, in other words on the property and in the home at night. Again, want to go to the range? Just "pop" it off with a QD mount and loose the weight and extra "bulk".

I understand your need for more info, to make a recommendation, and can definitely appreciate that fact. However, being fairly ignorant of these types of lights, I really didn't know what kind of more specific questions to ask, but general terms on how I intend to use it. That actually made it hard to make an informed decision, as most of the "light" threads appear to be with and for people who have to and do know all about them, as they use them in a professional setting.

For instance, you mentioned "Since Elzetta moved to high output LED's...." Is there something you don't like about LED's over standard bulbs? That kind of thing in the threads just left me more confused than informed, so the reason for me to start this thread, and ask for help.

Lastly, I hope I can get a "decent" light without a second mortgage. I'm sure that it's the same - "you get what you pay for"- for lights, as well anything else, but this light will probably never be put to use, or at least I prey it doesn't.

I hope this helps, with your suggestion, RiverRat, as Well as AR-10's.

Thanks again,

FT

[UWone77]

FT,

I if you're on a budget, I like the INFORCE lights. Yes, they are polymer, but from my experience with them, they are a viable alternative. The cost is just over $100 I believe for 200 lumens. I'm not sure what kind of Centurion Rail you run, C4 or CMR... but this is how I run an INFORCE APL on a C4 Cutout Rail:

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/UWone77/1544440_516169795163626_748704507_n_zps9a79635e.jp g (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/UWone77/media/1544440_516169795163626_748704507_n_zps9a79635e.jp g.html)

On a CMR, the Scout Light Mount they're offering works very well, and is currently my favorite setup:

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/UWone77/1545096_603039926434798_1012053573_n_zps69b40ba5.j pg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/UWone77/media/1545096_603039926434798_1012053573_n_zps69b40ba5.j pg.html)

I actually picked up this M600C Scout Light used recently for about $150. Deals are to be had used if you look.

[mustangfreek]

nice brake on that bottom pic rich..[:D].....:P....[BD]

I have nothing good to add to the thread as i am still looking to pick up a light, and the inforce is probably where ill start, like the one shown above i believe you can run it on a pistol also

[FortTom]

FT,

I if you're on a budget, I like the INFORCE lights. Yes, they are polymer, but from my experience with them, they are a viable alternative. The cost is just over $100 I believe for 200 lumens. I'm not sure what kind of Centurion Rail you run, C4 or CMR... but this is how I run an INFORCE APL on a C4 Cutout Rail:

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/UWone77/1544440_516169795163626_748704507_n_zps9a79635e.jp g (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/UWone77/media/1544440_516169795163626_748704507_n_zps9a79635e.jp g.html)

On a CMR, the Scout Light Mount they're offering works very well, and is currently my favorite setup:

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab55/UWone77/1545096_603039926434798_1012053573_n_zps69b40ba5.j pg (http://s849.photobucket.com/user/UWone77/media/1545096_603039926434798_1012053573_n_zps69b40ba5.j pg.html)

I actually picked up this M600C Scout Light used recently for about $150. Deals are to be had used if you look.
I have C4 12" (non cut away) on two. I'm only going to put a light on the one, the lighter, gun.
Thanks for the help.
FT