How many lumens do you look for in a tac light

[outerlimit]

With the blueish tint of most typical LEDs it is harder to identify your target than with a good xenon-halogen setup. And the terrain in front of you appears more two dimensional. As far as how many lumens, I would say a steady output of at least 60 lumens is the minimum for a tactical light. It's not really the quantity of light as much as the quality of it though. That said the newer breed of HCRI LED lights are better in this regard. I have one from Malkoff that is fairly impressive. Surefire is starting to get into the game now as well with a warm tinted version of their Saint headlamp.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

With the blueish tint of most typical LEDs it is harder to identify your target than with a good xenon-halogen setup.

Yep, but you're (much) less likely to incur a recoil-popped bulb with an LED than with a xenon-halogen. My xenon Surefire Remington 870 fore arm intermittently blew bulbs. It hasn't happened since I updated it to an LED.

 

[blinkjr]

To get an education on flashlights, head over to www.candlepowerforums.com. You can search about weapon lights. Also, a lot of good info about batteries. Just as Glocks get a lot of ink here, you will find many proponents of SureFire and Fenix over there. Hope this helps.

 

[rdsmith3]

I just got a Fenix E21 (not for mounting to a gun) and I am really impressed with it, both in terms of absolute performance and value.

It has simple push button operation, it is bright, and it is supposedly water proof. It uses a Cree LED.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

I have no use for multiple power settings or other features (strobe, SOS, "dazzle", etc.) that I'm never going to use on a "tactical" light. I want a simple "on/off" pushbutton tail cap switch.

More features means more complexity means more opportunity to do something with the light that I don't want it to do at the wrong moment under stress.

Press "On", release "Off". That's all I need.

 

[JTHunter]

None of these flashlights put out that much in the way of light, except for the fact that their light is mainly in one direction.

Look at the lumens output for a 60 watt incandescent bulb. They run around 800-850 lumens but that is in all directions. A 40 watt bulb puts out about 425 lumens.

Figure accordingly.

 

[RhinoDefense]

Screw lumens.

Grab the light and shine it in your eyes. If it's bright enough for you to curse in discomfort, buy that flashlight.

 

[Rail Driver]

Screw lumens.

Grab the light and shine it in your eyes. If it's bright enough for you to curse in discomfort, buy that flashlight.

I think I've actually done that with every flashlight I've ever purchased (though usually after buying it lol)

 

[RAINS]

Look into a SOLARFORCE L2m body and then you can drop in any p60l type lamp. Anything from 80l to 460l. I like the Thrunite 460 lumen lamp for outdoor use. Bright cheap and tough. Look at the reviews of the L2m body and Thrunite p60 lamps.
I've had and liked surefires but they are so dammed spendy.

 

[preachnhunt]

RhinoDefense has the right idea, but I can say from experience that trying out this method on your spouse may incur some unexpected and unwelcome response.

 

[fatcat4620]

If you want great info on flashlights look up candle power forums. I use a trustfire 285 lumen light on an 18650 battery with a convex lens. It will throw a direct beam 100 yards all day.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Check this out, by Rayovac. Yes Rayovac. I've had one for several months now, and leave it with my HD weapon. Nice light and inexpensive. I paid 28 bucks at Meijer.

http://www.amazon.com/Rayovac-SE4W3C-Sportsman-Xtreme-Flashlight/dp/B00112HSE2

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I think for a good, quality, bright light without breaking the bank, 4sevens makes some excellent ones. http://www.4sevens.com/index.php?cPath=297
I got a quark a while ago and have been carrying & using that more than my surefire or fenix.

They also rate the actual number of lumens instead of theoretical lumens that the cheap lights boast about but don't actually put out
http://www.4sevens.com/otflumens.html

If for bump in the night house use I would not want more than 120 lumens and 60 or more is plenty adequate to light up a room or temporarily blind someone. If you fire up your 800 lumen master blaster inside, the splashback off the walls will blind you as well.

 

[CoRoMo]

Screw lumens.

Yep. I think the numbers are given more weight than they should. I carry a StylusPro in my pocket everyday and I'm still amazed at how much it will light up the dark places I walk through. They've even come out with a new version with double the lumens, which is crazy, but I'll see if I can't get it too. When we were hunting this past fall, my dad could see me up on the mountainside, hiking out through the woods at night from a great distance. All I had with me was this little 24 lumen stick.

 

[gym]

The 128 that I picked up blinded the clerk in Home depot, "his idea". So I guess it's ok for my uses. If it can blind a guy in broad daylight then it will do more damage at night. The 200+ model was a big $45 dollars. I'll give this one to my wife and pick up the double power one for myself.I would prefer to spend the extra money on ammo and guns, the flashlight is just in case I have to go out back at night, my house is pitch black out back where I let out the dog. I tried it out and it lit up the whole area.

 

[trayzor]

150 lumens min.
Candlepowerforum.com for information
Fenix, Zebralight, Surefire, Olight, Jetbeam and 4Sevens are all quality.

 

[longspurr]

Guys
don't forget a good American manufacture, Maglite. I just bought a XL200 and it throws a good 170 lumen beam. I also bought a XL50 as a gift for a friend. I will know after Christmas how bright that one is.

I keep a Maglite LED - 2 D cell in the car and it lights things up better than my old 3 D incandesent.

 

[Millwright]

I've bought a number of "tactical lights" over the past few years for m y lady and sons.

Since NJ doesn't permit gun carry, I'm forced to more "passive" means. My - and one son's - current carry is a 600 lumen light with a strobe feature. It works ! <MW

 

[vvanders]

Another vote for Fenix, have the PD31 @ 304 Lumens it's super bright, has a nice UI as well(low/med/high/SOS, turbo/turbo strobe) and is really compact.