Tactical Lights – Updated
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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