[Smiley]

I was looking into getting a light to compliment CCW and general use. I have always carried a little LED light on my key chain and it is amazingly powerful. It reallly lights up when it is pitch dark, not so much with some light.

I was wondering if an LED trumps a surefire light.

Speifically I was looking at an LED light like the L1 LumaMax compared to something like the G2 Nitron.

Usually I stick to maglights and I will always have a maglight handy in the truck but I know that I can get one of these two light for less than $45 right now.

[Reason]

Depends on what you need it for, of course. IME, LED lights just aren't as bright as Surefires, but they're not supposed to be. If you plan to use your light a lot, you'd probably be better off with an LED one because those CR123As get expensive mighty quick. If you plan to use it only in tandem with your firearm as a self-defense tool, you'd be better off with a xenon light like the G2.

Incidentally, the 6P might be better for your needs than the G2. It has a lock-out tailcap to prevent accidental activations while in your pocket - important because you don't want to find your self-defense light low on batteries when you need it most. The weight difference between the two models is pretty negligible as well (I'm holding both right now), as most of the mass is in the batteries anyway. Of course, 6Ps are $60 and G2s are $30, so...

Oh, and where the hell can you get an L1 LumaMax for $45? If you don't take it, I'll be willing to pick it up. :)

[Zak Smith]

If you compare the lumen output of the lights, the LEDs aren't even close to the conventional Xenon bulbs.

A Surefire G2 is brighter than a 3-D cell maglight, and it will fit in your jeans pocket.

For everyday carry, I find the smaller E2E size to be easier to carry. It is just as bright as the G2, but quite a bit more compact.

-z

[stevelyn]

If cost is an issue on the light you might want to check out lights from Pelican. Thanks to $$$ dumped into Homeland Security and response, my department received a shipment of Pelican M-6s for all the officers. And they are nice. They also sell for less than $30.
Comparing it to my Sure-Fire 6Z, the M-6's dimensions are slightly larger in the lamp/head area and is about a 1/2" longer. The Pelican has a brighter lamp than the Sure-Fire, 108 lumens as advertised verses 65. My SF lamp was replaced w/ a 120 lumen. In practice, either light will sear your retinas.
Both have a lock-out tailcap switch, and are made from machined aircraft aluminum. The M-6 has finer, but more aggresive knurling on the barrel for a sure grip, the beam is adjustable, but the switch seems a little stiffer than the SF.
I'm carrying both on duty w/ the SF in a special pocket on my vest carrier and the M-6 on my belt. (I also carry a mini-mag for just plain old light) if I needed a bright light I would just as likely reach for the Pelican as I would the SF. The SF (6Z, Z2,etc.) is designed to be used with the "Rodgers Method" of employing a light w/ a handgun, and this is the one I'll continue to go to if I have to have my pistol out for any reason.
My thoughts on LEDs are that they are perfect when you need light in the immediate area, but if you need to project light, you need to project a lot of it especially if you are CCW. The light gives you positive target ID and becomes a force multiplier. That can only be done with a SF type of light.

[Smiley]

Thanks alot guys. I will check out Pelican also.

[DigMe]

Or...(don't laugh here, ok) you could check out the Brinkmann lights from Wal-Mart. Seriously! I have the Brinkmann Rebel LED light. It's great and does what an LED light should and it's a really tough little light (under 15 bucks at Wally world if I remember correctly). Soon, though I'm going to purchase the Brinkmann Legend LX xenon/lithium light. It's only 20 bucks and it's comparable in function to some of the Surefire lights. I've heard GREAT reviews of these from everyone that has bought one.

Legend LX:
http://www.thebrinkmanncorp.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=8&User_ID=580967&st=6666&st2=37549691&st3=-43969007&Product_ID=579&CATID=2

Rebel LED:
http://www.thebrinkmanncorp.com/acb/showdetl.cfm?&DID=8&User_ID=580967&st=6666&st2=37549691&st3=-43969007&Product_ID=578&CATID=2

brad cook

[DigMe]

all you guys with the Lithium powered flashlights might be interested to know that you can get 20 Toshiba Lithiums for 20 bucks at www.botachtactical.com right now (click on the ad on the top right corner of the home page).

They also have 20 Surefire lithiums for 25 bucks.

brad cook

[Doc]

concur

lithium/xenon better than LED

also consider scorpion stinger: rubberized, cheaper than surefire, just as bright

thanks for the tip about the li 123 batteries!

[Justin]

Currently I carry a little LED keychain light and a G2 Nitrolon. I like the LED light for general things that don't require much distance or a retina-searing (I like that!) level of light output. In other words, I use the LED light when I drop a pen and it rolls under the desk, and I use the G2 if I have to illuminate something farther away, or am doing night-shooting.

[Billmanweh]

if you already have a small LED on your keychain and you're looking for something to compliment your CCW, I'd go with something like a Surefire E2e

[Double Naught Spy]

While they may be out there, I have yet to see an LED light that will illuminate objects at much distance. I like my LED lights, but they are not used for CCW purposes as they just don't shine far enough well enough. What they are good for is having a nice little navigation light, use for doing repairs in the dark where you need a small light that will illuminate a small area very well, for use when the power goes out, or to use to read maps in the car without blinding the driver by putting on the overhead light. By the way, I have a CMG and an ANOVA light. The ANOVA is much more durable, but doesn't shine as far as the CMG and the CMG doesn't shine that far.

Do note that LED makers claim the lights are visible up to 2 miles or something like that. That aspect is true. You can see the light from a distance but you can really use the LED to see at distance.

For CCW, get the G2, but get a good LED light as well as they are quite handy to have for general purpose needs. The batteries last longer in them and the bulbs are not prone to breakage or burning out like other types and so they are great for general purpose stuff.

[Jim Watson]

Streamlight is bringing out a line of double-barrelled flashlights; a number of LEDs imbedded in the reflector around a xenon bulb. Click once for dim but long life, twice for bright. See description of them and other new lights at
http://www.equipped.com/shot_show_2003_lights.htm

[Doc]

NEWSFLASH

I just looked at my Natchez Shooters Supply (http://www.natchezss.com) catalog
streamlight Scorpion $28.99 plus shipping

nice folks, good prices on ammo too

[Serpico]

YOu can find scorpion at botach for 19.95 I am waiting to find a streamlight tasklight..that is the one with 3 LEDS surrounded by a xenon....great tactcal/EDC light...and it should only run around 25 bucks....I don't like E1Es or E2Es because the knurling is a bit abrasive in a pocket or on the belt...

[45R]

Go with the SF. You wont be disappointed esp when the light is going to be used to compliment your CCW!! The G2 is light and you can add a 120 lumen bulb to double you output. A LED cant do that!

[Lightfighter]

While not an inexpensive light by any stretch of anyone's imagination, I have recently found myself completely and totally in love (head over freakin' heels) with the new Surefire Aviator. What is cool about this light is one hand (or with a slight push of the lockout tail cap), it is an LED GP light. Push a little harder on the tail (or twist for Constant on), it is all Surefire, about the same as an E2 Exective Elite!

http://www.lightfighter.com/Surefire/SFA2-bothheads.jpg

When I first heard about the new LED lights from Surefire, I thought, "Gimmick!" I have learned otherwise, I am afraid (and I don't like being wrong about things). These lights are cool, bombproof, and very, very handy.