Two scenarios, in order of priority

1 AR pistol for home defense. Short range, indoors, possibly with a can.

2 General purpose AR carbine

Taped switch?
Placement?
Linens? Or Lumens if you wanna get fancy!

Anything else?

I'm not sure about Linens for a light, but lumens are pretty helpful.

I run a Streamlight TLR-1 HL on my pistol and plan to get another one for my AR soon.

It's hard to describe without you seeing it in person but the switch on the back rotates so if you're left or right-handed you can turn it on with your rail hand.

It has three modes, you can just hold the switch down to illuminate and then let it go to turn it off, rotate it all the way down to leave it illuminated without having to hold it down, and if you "double clutch" it it'll strobe.

Link

https://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-69260-Weapon-Tactical-Flashlight/dp/B00B8Q31UQ

Txgunrnnr said:

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I'm not sure about Linens for a light, but lumens are pretty helpful.

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I though the OB knew things?

Thanks. I have a similar Streamlight on my pistol and certainly see how the switch and compact nature of the light would work. Definitely something attractive as I'm stuck between the typical plunger of a light and the mess of an external switch.

I had thought about mounting a light at 45 degrees offset so not sure how that would work with this model.

1872walker said:

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Txgunrnnr said:

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I'm not sure about Linens for a light, but lumens are pretty helpful.

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I though the OB knew things?

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Yeah, someone lied to you.

I mount at 45 degrees and 6 o'clock but I've been running Inforce for a couple of years now. I used to use stream lights, but got these on sale and haven't had any issues. Ended up buying one for my pistol as well and I found that I liked the push button better on it versus the Streamlight toggle.

I use streamlight polytach with Elzeta mounts on my shotguns and AR. Button on the back, cheap, and tough as nails. Mounted at 6 o'clock. I guess if you're in some commando squadron, you might need all the high tech and switches, but not me.

What else do you have on the rail? What type of rail are you mounting to?

I've done everything from handgun lights like a TLR up to 1000 lumen dedicated rifle light with a tape switch.

Where you put it and how you activate it depends a lot on what else you have going on the rail and how you shoot.

Pistol is a shorty M-Lok

Carbine is a pic rail.

Have any pictures? "Shorty" rail like 7" with a FSP, or a 10" rail on a 10.5" gun with no FSP?

Just the light on the rail or any other accessories?

surefire
inforce
streamlight.
modlight.

no tape switch. just one more thing to short out go wrong.

Sorry. Don't have any with me.

7" MK4

with that rail.

the easiest to mount and operate..

fbi hrt runs inforce.


https://inforce-mil.com/products/rifle-lights/wml-wmlx-white/

Thanks. That looks perfect

Which brings me back to those linens (lumens). I assume something towards the lower end is appropriate for short range/indoors usage vs higher output?

one battery vs two battery.

one battery more compact. plenty of light.
two battery. little longer, plenty of light.

get the two battery. but both will do the job.

one battery version 120.
two battery version 140.

get the two battery.


https://www.primaryarms.com/search?keywords=inforce

Having taken some low light classes and shot low light with both lower and higher lumen lights, I'm in the "all the lumens" camp.

https://www.breachbangclear.com/light-and-lumens-you-want-it-all-or-youre-wrong/

Thank you, gentlemen

12 o clock mount is good idea for push button light, as long as it clears sights/optic.

You want to be able to activate the light without changing support hand grip.

Also a good idea to be able to do that with either hand for a home defense gun, since you may have to shoot from your non dominant shoulder.

Despite the small additional possibility of failure (and pushbuttons can fail as well), thats why I like using a pressure pad. No matter which shoulder I shoot from, I can activate light without adjusting grip at all.

Also look into the 300 series style lights. Smaller footprint, still bright. Probably a better idea on a 7" rail than a HLX.

Inforce 2 battery On mk4 rail.

Inforce WML 2 at the 12 o'clock position. Momentary switch and it is low profile enough that It does not imped vision through red dot.

For your General purpose AR if you want to be able to identify a target far away pay more attention to candela not lumens. The two brands that I found with really good throw are Modlite and cloud defensive. They are a bit pricey though. I just got my Cloud defensive Rein in and am pretty happy with it so far.

AgFan85 said:

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For your General purpose AR if you want to be able to identify a target far away pay more attention to candela not lumens. The two brands that I found with really good throw are Modlite and cloud defensive. They are a bit pricey though. I just got my Cloud defensive Rein in and am pretty happy with it so far.

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I am looking at the Rein and Rein Micro for a PDW.

My mind is saying go with the Micro due to size but I do wish it had a longer run time (30 min Micro vs 80 min Standard). It says it provides light for up to 4 hours (8 hours on standard). Maybe that is enough and just maybe always have easily accessible back-up battery. I am guessing 1 in a million chance of needing that much light for that long...

cloud defensive OWL are what i use

highvelocity said:

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cloud defensive OWL are what i use

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Its a tough call.

I have been looking at the OWL for a while too (was going to put on my rifle but I waited 3 months for FDE and it never delivered so i cancelled) and honestly for a PDW the OWL makes sense. Don't need the switch to be moved for reach like you might on a longer rifle.

However, for some reason however the past few days I really started leaning towards the Rein.

Probably going to stew on this a few days before i make my final decision but appreciate any thoughts from anyone.

I have surefire, stream light, and o-lights. All are good lights, but when I go to work I trust my life to streamlight. Get a TLR-1 HL and don't look back!

My "EDC" light is a streamlight. I love it. I think for my rifle i want a bit more "power"

im pretty anti wires running around the rifle so that was my biggest reason to go with the OWL. recharging is super easy and it comes with 2 batteries and a charge dock

That definitely makes sense and was one of my main things when looking earlier.

I honestly have no idea why i started looking at the Rein...maybe need to go back and watch some OWL videos...

As others have said Cloud Defensive OWL is what serves this purpose best. Compact Single package, more robust than most lights, All the lumens (and linens), and better power source solution.

Surefire and streamlight are good options but there are compromises. I like those best on carbine and rifle lengths since the tape switch can be moved to best position for use and still push the light as far forward on the rail as possible. But for the pistol go with the OWL.

I'm running this on my 300blk SBR, works well with an illuminated LPVO at night

https://www.flashlightdealer.com/mobile/tlr-1-game-spotter-details.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItN62kc2e7gIVBLSzCh0lrAt8EAQYASABEgIg_PD_BwE

BenderRodriguez said:

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Having taken some low light classes and shot low light with both lower and higher lumen lights, I'm in the "all the lumens" camp.

https://www.breachbangclear.com/light-and-lumens-you-want-it-all-or-youre-wrong/

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100% this. You don't really know what the application will be, it might be projecting into a dimly lit space from an already lit space, and "all the lumens" is what you want.

I just bought a SureFire mini scout. Will report back once I get my rifle (pistol) built