Month: April 2006

Tactical Lights – Updated

From left to right, Top row: G&P 6P, Surefie G2 Nitrolon, G&P M3, Maruzen MT-1 Bottom Row: Inova 24/7, Samurai S61, Streamlight Twin Task 2D, G&P E3, Wolf M97

Recent Additions: AMP Tactical Light/Laser

These are not your typical Maglites. Just as "GearWhores" get addicted to ballistic nylon, the addiction to tactical electronics can be just as bad.

Are tactical flashlights useful for Airsoft rigs? Unless you play alot of CQB (Close Quarters Combat) or night skirmishes, they don't serve any function except making your rig look a little more tactical.

Tactical lights are special flashlights that typically use special highoutput camera type battery (CR123a) and ultra bright bulb assemblies. These give off much more light then a typical flashlight. But since they shine so brightly, they will only last about 1-2 hours of continuous use.

The tactical light world used to be the domain of the high output Xenon bulbs that gave our 65 – 120 lumens (A mini Maglite AA only gives off about 15 lumens, but will run for 5 hours continous).. The big players in the Xenon bulb world are Surefire, Streamlight and ITI. Xenon bulb based lights are bright enough to temporarily blind and disorient a person by impairing thier night-adapted vision. (Blackhawk makes a light called the Gladius that also has a strobe funtion to further disorient opponents). These lights come in 2 different varieties. The traditional handheld light and the weapon mounted light.

There has been huge progress in the high output LED based light world. These also use the CR123A high output lithium batteries and output around 30/100 lumens. LEDs are power-efficient, virtually impact and vibration proof, and can provide variable lumen output, but they are currently limited to a much lower maximum lumens output compared to incandescents and HIDs. Surefire, Streamlight, ITI and Inova are leaders in LED technology.

On to the lights!

G&P 6P
{simplegrade:5}
Lamp: Xenon.
Surefire 6P Clone

The G&P 6P tactical light comes with 3 "tip off\" filters, red, blue and clear and uses the Surefire 6P xenon bulb. This is the 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a Batteries. It's built out of aluminium and includes a on/off/momentary tail cap switch. This light is a standard 1" diameter and 1" scope rings can be used for mounting. Seen in picture mounted on a First Samco rail mount. Very good quality build and has lasted for over 3 years with the original bulb.

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Surefire G2 Nitrolon
{simplegrade:5}
Lamp: Xenon

The Surefire G2 Nitrolon is Surefires most economical light and uses the standard Surefire 6P xenon bulb. This is a 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a batteries. The body is polymer and includes a momentary on/off twist tail cap. This light is a standard 1" diameter and 1" scope rings can be used for mounting. Very good quality build and is my daily carry light.

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G&P M3 Weapon Light
{simplegrade:5}
Lamp: Xenon
ITI M3 Clone

The G&P M3 Weapon Light is another quality build form G&P uses the standard Surefire 6P xenon bulb. This is a 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a batteries. The body is polymer and includes a momentary on/off ambedextrious toggle switch. This ia a weapon style light and mounts directly to any 20mm rail. it works well under mounted on a pistol as well on a railed foregip.

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Maruzen MT-1 Weapon Light
{simplegrade:1}
Lamp: Xenon

The Maruzen MT-1 Weapon Light is an interesting weapon style light in that it includes 2 different mounting systems. This is a 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a batteries. Unfortunatly the build wasn't very good and the plastic body warped due to the xenon bulbs heat.

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Inova 24/7
{simplegrade:5}
Lamp: Multiple High Output LED's

The Inova 24/7 is a multipurpose, high output tactical LED system. This is a modern replacement to those G.I. Style Angle Head Flashlight we all once had. This is a 3 volt system that uses 1x CR123a battery. It has 8 functions: Low Output White Light, High Output White Light, Signal Strobe, S.O.S. Signal, 3 Color Distress Strobe, 2 Color Emergency Beacon, Night Vision Red adn Locator Beam. It also comes with various mounting systems: Head Strap, Neck Lanyard, Magnetic Mount and Wall Mount, but it can also freestand and has a built on clip.

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Samurai S61
{simplegrade:1}
Lamp: Xenon
Surefire E2D Clone

The Samurai S61 is an machined aluminum body untilizing a high output xenon bulb. This is a 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a batteries. The build is good and would hate to be on the recieving end of the "Meat Tenderizer" bezel. It has an click tail on/off switch and I also bought the pigtail tail cap but that part broke soon after intallation. Update 07/26/2006.  Rear tailcap switch is now broken.  Very shoddy workmanship. But I did find out it uses the G&P G60 lamp, which will work where ever a Surefire P60 will work.   

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Streamlight Twintask 2D
{simplegrade:5}
Lamp: Xenon/LED

The Streamlight Twintask 2D is an machined aluminum body untilizing a high output xenon bulb an d2 high output LED's/. This is a 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a batteries. It's a side click "xenon on/off" "led on/off" switch. This light is the best of both world high lumen xenon's when needed, low power consumption LEDs for battery life. At 1 point I had 2x 2D's and 3x 1D's.

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G&P E3
{simplegrade:5}
Lamp: Xenon
Surefire E1E-HA Clone

The G&P E3 is an aluminum body single cell light.. This is a 3 volt version that uses 1x CR123a batteries. It's a tail button on/off switch. It's a good light setup but because it's only 3 volt, it's not as bright as the others. This light is mounted in an ICS light mount with 3 more rails.

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Wolf M97 LAM
{simplegrade:4}
Lamp: Xenon/Laser
HK MK23 LAM Clone

The Wolf M97 LAM is plastic body LAM (Light/Laser Attacment Module). This is a 6 volt version that uses 2x CR123a batteries. It has 2 momentary on/off switches; 1 for the light and other for laser. This can only be mounted on HK MK23's.

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AMP Tactical Light Laser
{simplegrade:4}
Lamp: Xenon/Laser

The AMP Tactical – Tac Laser-Light is a close copy of the ITI (Insight Technologies) M6 Light/Laser, but with some added features. It has both a Xenon tactical weapon light and Class IIIa laser in a single unit.

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Other Pics

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Nades, nades and more nades. The airsoft launcher style grenades are typically gas powered and fire from single large slugs to multiple bb's (up to 180 bb models exist) at once. I had lost interest in airsoft grenade launchers due to the original Mosquito Molds grenade design. They are typically hard to reset, cannot take green gas and need to be carefully handled.

More Updated Collection Pic. G36 Grenadiers 😉

Mosquito Molds, 24 BB, 6mm version {simplegrade:3} The Mosquito Molds 24BB 6mm version is one of the original style M203 type airsoft grenades. I've only fired it using HFC134A gas, since it being of Japanese origin and not wanting to replace o-rings if at all possible. This is built under the original ball bearing/spring/piston style which is sometimes tricky to reset. UPDATE! Installed the Army Code 40mm Internal Upgrade Kit. Performance is awesome and my MM grenades can now take green gas. More info here.

Mosquito Molds, 18 BB, 8mm version {simplegrade:3} The Mosquito Molds 18BB 8mm uses a new piston then found in the inital M203 type airsoft grenades. I've only fired it using HFC134A gas, since it being of Japanese origin and not wanting to replace o-rings if at all possible. This is built under the original ball bearing/spring/piston style which is sometimes tricky to reset.  UPDATE! Installed the Army Code 40mm Internal Upgrade Kit. Performance is awesome and my MM grenades can now take green gas. More info here.

Mosquito Molds, 165 BB Shower {simplegrade:3} This is an awesome grenade with some serious pelting power. 165 bb's at once. The internal are based on the orginal MM internals with an updated piston. I've only fired it using HFC134A gas, since it being of Japanese origin and not wanting to replace o-rings if at all possible. This is built under the original ball bearing/spring/piston style which is sometimes tricky to reset.  UPDATE! Installed the Army Code 40mm Internal Upgrade Kit. Performance is awesome and my MM grenades can now take green gas. More info here.

Classic Army 24BB Grenade {simplegrade:2} This is Classic Army's take on the 40mm grenade. Extremely well designed and afforadable. It will take Green Gas with no problem and it's relatively easy to reset. Unfortunatley this nade started to malfunction (main valve won't close properly to hold gas) about 3 weeks after purchase.

Madbull 18BB Grenade {simplegrade:5} The Madbull 18BB Grenade takes green gas and is easy to reset. Extremely well designed.

VFC/GB-Tech Slug Type Grenade {simplegrade:4}  The VFC/GB-Tech Slug Grenade fires a single 40mm rubber shell. It comes with 6 rubber projectiles. The projectiles are 2 piece are made of light rubber with a plastic carrier. This grenades internals allow for easy resetting. This is an extremely LOUD grenade when fired and the force is awesome. Unfortunately the main O-ring blew using green gas after only a few fills, but I've found local replacment o-rings.

Madbull Slug Grenade {simplegrade:5} The Madbull Slug Grenade fires a single 40mm rubber shell. This grenades internals allow for green gas use and is easy to reset. The rubbber projectile is very heavy and hits with a great deal of force. This is an extremely LOUD greande. Although AEX has these in stock, They are only for sale to Law Enforcement.

Mosquito Molds – PEQ-2 Mini Moscart Set {simplegrade:4} This is a 27mm grenade set. It's a unique and reliable design. More detailed info here.