Best Flashlight for Handgun Training.

[wjhachet]

I am looking to purchase a good, quality flashlight and not spend $200. I am wanting a flashlight to carry with me and use for pistol training.

 

[DesmoDucRob]

I've got and recommend the Streamlight Polytac LED. I've got no formal handgun training with the light, but I don't like the idea of concealed carry without having a flashight, so I decided to pick it up. My criteria for selection were not unlike yours. Affordable and easy to carry. It easily beats the pants off of any light I've previously owned. Good luck.

-Also, I think there have been some threads on the subject. Pangris may have had one of his famous "deep thoughts" regarding carry lights.

 

[Nolacopusmc]

Fenix LD10 or PD20

 

[SpeedRacer]

Fenix LD10 or PD20

Big +1. If you want something a little bigger try the PD30. I carry both with the PD20 being my general use light. I've put that thing through hell (although I was nice enough to clean it in the clothes washer a few times) and it's never let me down.

 

[homeslice]

LD10....or.....

Or if you're really cheap and don't mind waiting a couple weeks for China lights, I've had great experiences with this:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.3607

 

[JR1572]

I use a Surefire Backup light. No problems in the 2+ years I have had it.

JR1572

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

Be careful going too small. Small is easier to carry but there is a point where small becomes difficult to handle in conjunction with a pistol.

 

[honestlou]

Fenix LD10 or PD20

I have a few Fenix lights and I think they are a great value. My only problem with them is the push button tailcap. Have they made one that is momentary only?

On my lights, which I've had for about 2 years, the tailcap switch is multifunction: press lightly for momentary on, and press harder to click into a latched on. My problem with this design is that under stress it is easy to unintentionally click it to latched, and I find that to be quite distracting. Personally, I don't need something extra to worry about.

Are there replacement caps available, or do you not find this to be a problem?

 

[Booseman]

Maybe it is just me but I love Surefire lights. I have quite a few and they have never failed.

They are also bright enough to go frog gigging.

Back on topic; I have abused some of mine for many years in the great desert here and they all work great.

EDIT: Also if you are going to train why would you not use a rail mounted light like TLR-1? You never know when you might be down to one hand and then what are you going to do?

just my $.02

 

[Booseman]

This happens to be one of my favorites.

http://www.surefire.com/Z2-S-LED

 

[Bearco]

I carry a PD20 everywhere along with a TLR1 on my gun. I have dropped my Fenix PD20 on cement more time than I can count before losing my first one a couple weeks ago. I quickly replaced it with a new one. I have plenty of faith in it now, but like you, I wish they would release a momentary tail switch.

 

[JBP55]

EDIT: Also if you are going to train why would you not use a rail mounted light like TLR-1? You never know when you might be down to one hand and then what are you going to do?

just my $.02

You need to train with both.

 

[Booseman]

You need to train with both.

Trust me, I am not knocking the hand held light at all. I agree with you on that, you must train with both because you will never know when one will fail.

 

[Duck Jenkins]

Fenix lights are excellent. You can goggle them and find some great prices.

 

[ryan]

I carry a pd20 and surefire backup. Both work well.

I did have one problem with my pd20 a while back. I was messing around with it for about an hour at a parade using the strobe mode to flash shine up and get beads, it was on and off a lot. After the hour it stopped working for about 30 minutes or so.

Surefire-2 years+ no problems
PD20- 1.5 years, one problem

Either would would out very well.

 

[Duck Jenkins]

it might have been your batteries in you pd20.

 

[ryan]

it might have been your batteries in you pd20.

nope, i always carry 2 extra batteries with me, tried them both. It just started working after a while, maybe after it cooled down.

Its not a big deal, it only happened once

 

[SpeedRacer]

It just started working after a while, maybe after it cooled down.

That sounds like the problem. IIRC they have built in heat protection to prevent them from damage. The strobe function uses max output and those little guys can get HOT.

 

[ryan]

i used to carry my surefire l4 in my pocket. You would know if it was accidentally turned on after about 5 minutes, it got hot!

 

[dantheman]

i used to carry my surefire l4 in my pocket. You would know if it was accidentally turned on after about 5 minutes, it got hot!

Glad to hear that's normal . I was using mine in the attic a couple of days ago and it got pretty damn hot . I just had it repaired by Surefire a few weeks ago so I was kinda concerned .