Looking at two or three options on amazon right now, a lot of people call the Surefire Scout Light Pro the buy once cry once option and at 330 it certainly lives up to making me want to cry, the Streamlight 88066 (and 88059, not sure what the difference is between models) is 1/3rd the price and reviews of both the Surefire and Streamlight are fairly encouraging. Does anyone have experience with both that can give a recommendation?
Streamlight vs Surefire for a HD rifle light
- Thread starter The Exile
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rabid wombat
Member
I am a Surefire fanboy - probably 1-2 dozen of various flavors…Sidekick up to dedicated fore ends / weapon lights…
That said, what is the real likelihood of need? Also said, what is the cost of failure? Surefire carries a healthy premium for being Surefire….
That said, what is the real likelihood of need? Also said, what is the cost of failure? Surefire carries a healthy premium for being Surefire….
Chuck R.
Member
SureFire without a doubt.
Pay once, cry once. I've been issued them and bought my own, never had an issue with a Surefire.
For weapon lights I prefer the X300 or X400 pistol light series. On carbines I mount them in the 12 O'clock position right in front of the FSB. This position is barrier "neutral" and doesn't case a shadow on the target at the low ready. the X300s are easy/quick to swap between platforms should you need to. Mounted lights:
Pay once, cry once. I've been issued them and bought my own, never had an issue with a Surefire.
For weapon lights I prefer the X300 or X400 pistol light series. On carbines I mount them in the 12 O'clock position right in front of the FSB. This position is barrier "neutral" and doesn't case a shadow on the target at the low ready. the X300s are easy/quick to swap between platforms should you need to. Mounted lights:
mcb
Member
Olight. Yes it Chinese but they are good lights with great features for the money.
crestoncowboy
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I used surefire, streamlight, and Inova until I got olight. They are great lights. I still have my others but don't use them. The Odin is better than what we used for 12volt spotlights 15 years ago. I can light up a 25 yard circle at 100 yards like it's true daylight and count tines on a deer way out past that. With a tiny mount. The magnetic switch/ charge cap is excellent as well . As is the mount. I also bought a Javelot turbo which is the bigger light with a spot beam. I greatly prefer the Odin though. The Javelot at 1000 yards is still a tiny pin point beam. I do think they are a great light. My "chicken defense" rifle has the Odin. I couldn't ask for any better . My shotgun has the streamlight.
Chuck R.
Member
One thing to add, having done quite a bit of low-light indoor shooting with a carbine, shotgun and pistol.
For HD (inside 25yds), there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing" when it comes to white light. IMHO, do not try to go beyond about 500 lumens for a light that will be used in-doors. The bounce back off of walls and reflections from "shiny" things will kill whatever night vision you have. The light "spill" (soft edge that illuminates) is a good thing as you can illuminate without "muzzle-ing", although honestly IF you're wandering about my house after hrs, getting muzzled by me is the least of your worries.
In addition to matches and practice I've taken three low-light defensive shooting classes. I'd advise formal training to anybody interested in HD, especially with a light. Well worth the money & time spent.
For HD (inside 25yds), there is such a thing as "too much of a good thing" when it comes to white light. IMHO, do not try to go beyond about 500 lumens for a light that will be used in-doors. The bounce back off of walls and reflections from "shiny" things will kill whatever night vision you have. The light "spill" (soft edge that illuminates) is a good thing as you can illuminate without "muzzle-ing", although honestly IF you're wandering about my house after hrs, getting muzzled by me is the least of your worries.
In addition to matches and practice I've taken three low-light defensive shooting classes. I'd advise formal training to anybody interested in HD, especially with a light. Well worth the money & time spent.
herrwalther
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Streamlight. Surefire is overpriced hype in my opinion. I have been issued Surefire lights and bought Streamlights for myself. Both will illuminate in the direction they are pointed.
Telekinesis
Member
Just a note - I’m on the “buy once - cry once” plan after having a few failures of the “just as good” type items. Warranties are great until the item fails day 1 of a 2 day class and you can’t continue without a replacement. For this conversation, consider you’re taking a low light shooting class and your light breaks. You’ve put hundreds or thousands of dollars into being there, and if your light fails and you don’t have a backup you’re out a whole bunch of money. I’ve been there with a gun that failed, and it was not a fun time. So that’s how my below comments are framed.
Anyway, I’ve seen more Streamlights fail than I have seen Surefires fail. I personally consider Surefire to be the minimum for a rifle light. If you do decide to go with he Surefire, I would make sure you can find a “dual fuel” version that lets you use 18650 batteries.
Also look into the specs of lights/output and what they mean. Most lights designed for rifles have more candela than those designed for pistols, which translates to better long distance performance.
That said, I would recommend you take a look at Arisaka lights which are very similar to Surefires but they have better light heads with significantly more light throw. Arisaka makes great light mounts as well (which also work for Surefire scout lights).
You should also look at the Cloud Defensive Rein 2.0. Even more expensive (but the blems are usually in the ballpark of the Surefire / Arisaka price) but it is an excellent light and I would say it’s currently one of the top (if not the top) performing lights out there.
Anyway, I’ve seen more Streamlights fail than I have seen Surefires fail. I personally consider Surefire to be the minimum for a rifle light. If you do decide to go with he Surefire, I would make sure you can find a “dual fuel” version that lets you use 18650 batteries.
Also look into the specs of lights/output and what they mean. Most lights designed for rifles have more candela than those designed for pistols, which translates to better long distance performance.
That said, I would recommend you take a look at Arisaka lights which are very similar to Surefires but they have better light heads with significantly more light throw. Arisaka makes great light mounts as well (which also work for Surefire scout lights).
You should also look at the Cloud Defensive Rein 2.0. Even more expensive (but the blems are usually in the ballpark of the Surefire / Arisaka price) but it is an excellent light and I would say it’s currently one of the top (if not the top) performing lights out there.
crestoncowboy
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No doubt. The olight is adjustable output if your using it in hand. Using the tail cap or pressure switch is either off or hi constant on (short press) or hi off/on (long press) it would be blinding to shine it on a mirror indoors
I use my two for killing critters that are after my livestock. So there is no "too much". But they would be too much indoors maybe
This is really something you need to experiece for yourself.. Sure it will cost a few dollars, but you will know from experience.(priceless) Both offer very different light paths.
I prefere Surefire... I own 5 Surfire lights and 1 Stremlight.
C-grunt
Member
I've used both Surefire and Streamlight on duty guns over the years. Streamlight makes a good light. However, it is not on the same level of Surefire. The Surefire has a more robust design and better materials. For a fighting gun, the extra money is well spent.
My current work rifle has an Arisaka on it. I second Telekinesis recommendation to take a serious look at it.
My current work rifle has an Arisaka on it. I second Telekinesis recommendation to take a serious look at it.
FL-NC
Member
Either company makes good products, I have used both but surefire is of the highest quality. As a civilian in HD use, I don't think a streamlight product will let you down. You simply won't be using the gun/light as abusively as a SEAL.
Armored farmer
Member
I have had a Streamlight on my HD/farm rifle for several years. I forgot the model and it's lumens power, but it has been a good light.
rbernie
Contributing Member
My HD carbine tipped over in the rack at the range, and the fall stripped the tailcap threads off the body of the Streamlight. The Streamlight was rendered NMC from literally just tipping over. All of the weight and cost in a Surefire go somewhere, and conversely the lack of weight and cost of a Streamlight have to come from somewhere.
My pocket lights are Streamlight (or Olight). My WML are Surefire.
Corpral_Agarn
Member
As far as flashlights are concerned, their development is so fast these days that I've bought mid-tier lights in twos, one as a spare, for much less than one would cost from a fancy über-tactical brand. As I have nothing mission critical going on, this has sufficed nicely and my current "go-to light", Nightwatch NS73V2, offers rather incredible bang for the buck. $70-ish for a 21700 Li-Ion, 17,500lm (nominal; almost 15,000 actual, which is 15 x that of Scout Light Pro) flashlight that weighs 6.5oz, fits easily in your pocket and can be mounted on a long gun with a 27mm clamp. It doesn't seem to mind recoil either.
If your life really depends on it, you probably should choose something else. I have yet to have a mid-priced light fail on me, maybe I've just been lucky.
If your life really depends on it, you probably should choose something else. I have yet to have a mid-priced light fail on me, maybe I've just been lucky.
Streamlight for price vs quality, but they cut out momentarily under recoil. Even using the charging handle will make them cut out momentarily. I do like their tape switch best.
Arisaka if I could only have one to trust my life to and wanted to save a few dollars over Modlite money. They're all too expensive for me and I have multiple weapon lights. Streamlight here x 5.
Arisaka if I could only have one to trust my life to and wanted to save a few dollars over Modlite money. They're all too expensive for me and I have multiple weapon lights. Streamlight here x 5.
C-grunt
Member
Couple other things with the Streamlight railmount lights.
1. Use a 18650 battery. It does work with CR123s, but they are slightly loose in the flashlight body. The 18650 is slightly wider and will have less movement in the light under recoil. This is one cause of the light flicker that sometimes happens with the lights.
2. The Streamlight tape switch is a known problem. I had one on my work rifle for several years without issue, but from what Ive seen at work, that is the outlier. Everyone else that had the Streamlight tape switch ended up having problems after a while.
If you plan on running it with a clicky cap and a 18650 battery you will avoid most of the issues.
1. Use a 18650 battery. It does work with CR123s, but they are slightly loose in the flashlight body. The 18650 is slightly wider and will have less movement in the light under recoil. This is one cause of the light flicker that sometimes happens with the lights.
2. The Streamlight tape switch is a known problem. I had one on my work rifle for several years without issue, but from what Ive seen at work, that is the outlier. Everyone else that had the Streamlight tape switch ended up having problems after a while.
If you plan on running it with a clicky cap and a 18650 battery you will avoid most of the issues.
Mannlicher
Member
I use both Streamlight and Surefire on several different shotguns and .223 rifles. I think they both do a great job. I have not had a failure with either brand. I do like the lesser price of the Streamlight products though.
Phaedrus/69
Member
Better still, the REIN 3.0 is "dual-fuel" capable, running from either an 18650 or CR123a batteries. Streamlight is fine for utility lights but they're not super durable and the switches are suspect. They're like going to Walmart and buying the best tool in the tool dept. Surefire is a step up for sure, more like going to Home Depot and getting the best tool they have. Elzetta & Cloud Defensive though, they're like tracking down the Snap-On truck. A consumer probably can't get anything tougher. Anything made by man can break of course, but it takes stunning punishment for those last two. I once had a Surefire Nitrolon LED light roll off a 7' foot shelf onto a hardfloor and break, totally dead. Could be fluke, but their construction doesn't match that of Elzetta, Peak, CD, etc. Surefire uses a "conformal coating" on the electronics, essentially a spray-on coating like epoxy that helps hold things in place. Elzetta, Peak & CD fully pot theirs, meaning backfill the electronics with a high temp resin. They're much more difficult to break than a Surefire.
This kind of mirrors the $5,000 scope discussion. I can acknowledge that a Nightforce or Schmidt & Bender are better than my Nikon but it's not worth the considerable sacrifice I'd have to make to own one. Good optics are better even for plinking, but I can't justify an expensive scope. However, my main HD gun wears an Aimpoint CompM5 and a Cloud Defensive REIN (the original, just haven't had time/opportunity to get the 3.0 yet) and another wears a CD OWL. For me a $5k scope would be a luxury where I view the carbine in a similar vein to a fire extinguisher- a lifesaving tool. So it's worth the money to me.
Still, financial reality can be unyielding. I'd say Surefire is the lowest quality light I'd put on a defensive weapon but they're not cheap. Maybe the best way to go if you can't spring for a high quality dedicated WML would be to get a quality mount designed for a 1" flashlight, then mount a quality handheld to your rifle. The weak point of a Streamlight is the tape switch. You could get a single output Surefire for, what $80 now?
TL;DR- The Cloud Defensive REIN/OWL lights are amazing. Modlite is very good if you like the color temp. Surefire is plenty good enough but not the SotA anymore. Steamlight is okay if it's all you can afford but not really a step up from Fenix or Olight (which to be honest are pretty solid lights for Chinese brands).
Peakbagger46
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I’ve been using streamlight on my duty pistol and now rifle for over a decade. They definitely get cosmetic wear from the holster but have always been dead nuts reliable.
I have a SureFire M962 Millennium Universal WeaponLight. I’ve had it for years on my AR, works great! Tail cap wire came loose, and even though SureFire has a lifetime warranty on their products, they would not cover the replacement. Wanted me to buy $160 replacement. eBay wanted $20 and ship was included. I have Streamlight on all my handguns. Maybe next time, I’ll look there.
Space Ghost
Member
Nothing wrong with Streamlight. Much less expensive, and they're dual fuel. (CR 123 & AA)
Now, I do prefer the Surefire. They have the best rep for durability. That rep, however, comes at a price.
If it's going on a weapon likely to get banged around a lot, (rough handling / abuse) it gets a Surefire.
Others (to save money) get a Streamlight.
On a home defense weapon, (one I'll not stumble with in a stream crossing, or throw in the back of a truck) I'd be 100% comfy with a Streamlight like I have on both lever guns, shotgun, and 1 of my ARs.
Just happens my HD weapon is my only SBR, (one I'll take with me) and that one has the best of everything, so it has a Surefire.
Kinda how the SBR gets the only Aimpoint, but both lever guns, 1 AR, 1 10/22, and the Lee Enfield gets a Romeo 5.
Gotta spread the cash out.
Now, I do prefer the Surefire. They have the best rep for durability. That rep, however, comes at a price.
If it's going on a weapon likely to get banged around a lot, (rough handling / abuse) it gets a Surefire.
Others (to save money) get a Streamlight.
On a home defense weapon, (one I'll not stumble with in a stream crossing, or throw in the back of a truck) I'd be 100% comfy with a Streamlight like I have on both lever guns, shotgun, and 1 of my ARs.
Just happens my HD weapon is my only SBR, (one I'll take with me) and that one has the best of everything, so it has a Surefire.
Kinda how the SBR gets the only Aimpoint, but both lever guns, 1 AR, 1 10/22, and the Lee Enfield gets a Romeo 5.
Gotta spread the cash out.
Old Dog
Member
I was issued SureFire lights in the military. But on my last two deployments, I also took a couple Streamlights. In my next career, I was also issued SureFires, as well as Streamlights. All my lights were subject to hard use. Multiple excursions outside the wire. Daily in and out from vehicle racks. Two week intensive training sessions. Two day night shoots/low light shoots. 80-hour weapons academies with a hundred draws from the holster per day.
Some comparable SF lights go for $150-200 more than the SL lights. Are they that much better? All I know is, I carried a pistol with a Streamlight TLR-1HD, wore it daily for duty, and took it through several training courses for work, and at least three commercial gun school courses, and I'm still using this light.
Two of my ARs have SureFire Mini-Scout lights. One of my go-to pistols has a SureFire X-300 Ultra. But I still trust all of my Streamlights. Hey, you know who's a big Streamlight fan? Clint Smith. And he's seen it all.
We gun guys get so down in the weeds sometimes because we tend to equate price-point with superiority (as far as performance). I will say that I've used Streamlight's customer service more than once and had a couple lights replaced (one that I broke, not the light's fault) no questions asked, within a week. I did NOT have the same experience when one of my $300 SF lights crapped out.
Some comparable SF lights go for $150-200 more than the SL lights. Are they that much better? All I know is, I carried a pistol with a Streamlight TLR-1HD, wore it daily for duty, and took it through several training courses for work, and at least three commercial gun school courses, and I'm still using this light.
Two of my ARs have SureFire Mini-Scout lights. One of my go-to pistols has a SureFire X-300 Ultra. But I still trust all of my Streamlights. Hey, you know who's a big Streamlight fan? Clint Smith. And he's seen it all.
We gun guys get so down in the weeds sometimes because we tend to equate price-point with superiority (as far as performance). I will say that I've used Streamlight's customer service more than once and had a couple lights replaced (one that I broke, not the light's fault) no questions asked, within a week. I did NOT have the same experience when one of my $300 SF lights crapped out.
JeeperCreeper
Member
I use streamlight.
And I can keep claiming that it's correct until I stop posting on here because my house was over run my nocturnal critters and I lost the battle.
And I can keep claiming that it's correct until I stop posting on here because my house was over run my nocturnal critters and I lost the battle.
