If you’ve read very many of my articles then you may have noticed what an ardent supporter I am of weapon lights. Aside from a quality, clean loaded weapon that I have trained with it’s the most important tool you can have. I have used them for real world combat and law enforcement duties way more times than I care to recount. There’s nothing like a good light. I believe in having a hand held light on my person at all times. I also carry a weapon (pistol) light whenever I can, even if it’s not on the gun it’s in a pocket ready to snap on. I will not EVER own a rifle for tactical or self defense use that does not have a light and 9 times outta 10 I have a smaller back up light on my long guns as well. I had some batteries die at the worst times a couple times and nothing is worse than suddenly being blind.

XD-tactical

Like a lot of people I can be stubborn to change even when the change is for the better. I badmouthed LED bulbs for the longest time, I hated them and I don’t remember what I based that on. OK, so I was wrong, the Cree LED technology in a nutshell totally kicks ass. They are seemingly indestructible and way brighter than xenon, have a longer run time, farther throw and all around out perform any standard bulb I have ever used. Now these bulbs come in varying brightness levels and then you have some different “throw” and “spill” from them. Throw being how far out it shines and spill being how wide an area gets lit up when its on.

A good place for Cree led replacement bulbs is eBay or dealextreme.com. You’ll have a choice of 225, 250 lumen, these tend to have a very focused beam that can be used for aiming but not a lot of spill. The 320 and 450 lumen tend to light up a wider area but still get out a ways too, not much for aiming your weapon  but VERY bright. These are bulbs that fit in your standard 2 cell Surefires like the plastic G2 for instance. I wouldn’t bother paying Surefire’s ridiculous prices for bulbs, those Chinese bulbs rock, I have yet to break one and I’ve tried. You can get a 250 lumen (manufacturer rated) bulb for 9 or 10$ and they work awesome!! I’m a huge fan of the Surefire 951 weapon light but the bulbs are too damn expensive, I always replace them with a Cree 450 lumen. They’re brighter and run longer.

Now back to the war, we were getting these worthless green CR123 batteries made by I don’t know who for our weapon lights. They were burning out Surefire xenon bulbs left and right, it was terrible. Then your ass is responsible for buying a new bulb 🙁 and like I said not cheap and all it would do is burn out again. So one of the many beauties of the Cree LED’s is they work on varying voltage. You can put a 250 lumen R2 in a 4 cell and it works the same as in a 2 cell! They electronically regulate the voltage, no more burned out bulbs. The 450’s are a bit touchier but won’t burn out in any 2 cell I’ve ever used. Just keep the 450 lumen bulbs out of any flashlight using more than 2 CR123’s BUT feel free to use whatever batteries you want in the 2 cell, you can’t say the same for a Surefire bulb. That’s enough on the Cree LED bulb replacements.

Ultrafire-501B-on-22-

Now you know I love the Surefire 951 weapon light, I have I don’t know, 5 or 6 of them. They are a bit pricey though, if you find yourself on a budget look at the Ultra-fire 501 B from dealextreme.com. It’s a very well built light that comes with a Cree LED 250 lumen bulb, all for about 13$ free shipping. In my opinion the best “cheap” flashlight I ever saw.

Additionally look at the pressure switches and weapon mounts they offer with the light, you’ll have a good light on your rifle for 20$ mounted and pressure switched. I use this set up on my 22’s because of it’s low cost. They will however withstand center-fire rifle or shotgun recoil no problem. I really can’t say enough good about this cheapo light. Hugsby is another Chinese brand light I have beat the hell out of and performed well so don’t be afraid of those but all around on a budget?? Get the Ultra fire 501B.

On to handguns: For me it’s Streamlight, Cree LED technology in them now. My favorite is the TLR series, the TLR-1 and TLR-3. The 1 is a larger brighter light for use on handguns (or rifles) it uses 2 cr123 batteries and boasts about 160 lumen, totally blinding to your target and a damn good, solid light, for 100$ it’s a steal! I use the TLR-3 on my compact pistols, it’s smaller and shorter, still very bright and for 75$ to your door it has no equals. I LOVE Streamlight products, great stuff and a reasonable price, most cannot say “reasonable” in their pricing.

surefire-951-on-M4

Lets wrap this up, I could go on forever and tons of people can argue a million points. I just am passing on too you my likes and thoughts on the stuff I use regularly. I love Surefire rifle lights, I love Streamlight pistol lights. I think highly of the cheap Chinese Ultra-Fire and Hugsby weapon lights. I think replacement Chinese Cree LED bulbs rock in Surefire lights too. Does that make me a bad person to think Chinese bulbs are better than Surefire’s factory ones?? A lot of people will tell you it does, I don’t care, I have yet to break one with real world usage. If your made of money go Surefire everything, they have LED stuff too. I’m simply saying my experience was improved when I ditched the factory stock xenon bulbs and went Cree LED in the Surefires I already owned. If your budget has constraints check out Ultra-fire 501-B.

Point being I guess is this, if your life or family’s life is on the line doesn’t it make sense to make sure you can see what your shooting at?? To not only properly identify but then hit your target?? To give yourself a tactical advantage of having a blinded opponent as well?? These are all solid points in favor of a weapon light, you don’t HAVE to use it ya know, but if you need it, one is invaluable.

As always thanks for reading and happy shooting.

By: Cary Kieffer

hugsby-on-Moss-12-guage

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Cary Kieffer

USMC Infantry/Combat Veteran/MUESOC/Sniper School - Med Retired LEO w/ 8yrs on job before Iraq wounds caught up with me.

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