I'm very sorry because I'm sure this has been discussed before. I tried to find threads on it, but the search function is awful and going back several pages of results yielded nothing.

I'm looking at a light for the M&P15x for home defense purposes (please no discussion on how suitable the M&P15 is/isn't for HD), and just wondering about some things. What is the minimum recommended lumens for a tac light? Has anyone had any bad experiences with a particular light (brand) on your AR15? Do you like/dislike pressure switches for on/off? Any thing else to consider?

Thanks in advance for any insight/feedback.

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686/M&P9 Pro/M&P15X/M&P15-22

You're home, use the light switch. Lol. All joking aside I had a cheap UTG pistol light of 120 lumens and it throws enough light the see about thirty yards give or take. Imagine in a home defense scenario it should adequate.

I have been looking at lights recently. I just can't justify the 200-500 dollar price tag I see on some of these "tactical" lights for guns. I looked at one a few weeks ago that was $624.99, thought I might choke. I have found a 10$ flash light that I love. It's a single LED about 4' long takes 3 AAA batteries 150 lumens, push button on/off at the rear and water resistant made by Ozark Trail. I found that it is 28mm and with a little rubber wrapped around it will fit nicely in a 30mm scope mount. I bought three of them and use one at work a lot. I have dropped it few times from the top of a ladder onto concrete and it keeps on working. Yes it's made in China and came from Walmart. I love to buy American and support smaller businesses but I have to draw the line at a flashlight over $100. Maybe someone else can come along and tell me what I'm missing cause I just don't see it, or should I say I see it just fine with my $10 light. As for lumens, I had one that was 80 and it was fine for inside in a dark room but outdoors it was worthless. I have another that is 200 and it eats batteries too fast for a very little difference in noticeable light over the 150. Anyone, please I would like to know, I haven't actually seen a $250 flashlight in action, what is so special. I think I may just stick with my $10 light and spend the rest on ammo.

Just looked on Midway real quick and Surefire does have a few at an $80 price, maybe I'm shopping at the wrong place. The cheapest ones at a big LGS near me are $200. I like to buy quality and don't mind paying for it in my guns, scopes and accessories but I just can't do it in a flash light when I can get the same effect for one under $20.

I'm not usually one to go the cheap route with my gun accessories, but this is what I have for several of my home defense guns. Both items bought on Amazon with awesome results.

1" picatinny light mount: $5.00 (sold by AR Solutions). This is a true 1 inch diameter mount- many are advertised as 1" but are smaller and don't work. This one fits the bill.

Amazon.com: Generic Offset Ring Side Mount for Flashlight/Laser, Black: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41A-w%2BgKjiL.@@AMEPARAM@@41A-w%2BgKjiL

Mini-Cree flashlight with 3 modes (bright, dim, strobe): $4.00 - Cheap, durable, and mounts easily with the 1" light bracket above. I have this setup on several rifles/shotguns. Works great, very bright, and reliable so far.

Amazon seller: Blue Top (ships from Hong Kong).
Amazon.com: Mini Cree Led Flashlight Torch Adjustable Focus Light Lamp: Home Improvement@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41MuXP3ixkL.@@AMEPARAM@@41MuXP3ixkL

There are several of the Mini Cree lights sold by questionable sellers, but many are not correctly advertised. Some have the modes, others don't. Some are plastic, others are metal. My experience has been great with the mentioned sellers. For home defense, it's a great setup - for military fighting in Afghanistan, not so much.

Hope this helps.

I love this mount:
Elzetta
with this light:
Monstrum-Tactical-Flashlight

While $650 is a lot for me, a quality Surefire or Streamlight (with mount) can be had for less than $200. I trust Surefire to be durable and reliable, two things that justify a little more coin for me. Anything more than 120 lumens indoors risks blinding the shooter as well. Practice splashing and knowing where/when to shine the light in your home. That's my .02, YMMV.

I actually spent a bit more on my mount because I REALLY liked the Gear Sector mount. It's been great. Low profile and solid. I got a Streamlight Polytac and it's worked very well. They go for about $40 or so. I like the pressure button also as I don't have to "click" the light fully on and can use it for quick blasts of light.

Whatever light you buy, be certain to try it out inside your home ahead of time. I've found that much over 130 lumens reflecting off a white wall in the middle of the night is bright enough to actually be painful. It certainly destroys your night vision.

I love my Extreme Beam M4 Scirrako.
It's one heck of a light for the price with high, low, and strobe function.
Plus it fits in standard 1" scope rings for mounting on a rail.

M4 Scirrako

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Hold my beer and watch this!

How about this mount and streamlight?

Amazon.com: Streamlight PolyTac LED Flashlight with MSP Offset AR-15 Mount: Sports & Outdoors@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K%2BZxr7L1L.@@AMEPARAM@@41K%2BZxr7L1L

How about a pistol weapon light? They're light in weight, compact, self mounting, durable and around $100. By the time you buy a reliable light and mount you're close to $100. The TLR-1S is what I have on my M&P40 and would have put one on my M&P15 had I not already had a Surefire m952 that was given to me. They throw more than enough light and I live on 10 acres so throw is an issue at times for me.

Thanks all for the input thus far. The Streamlight lights look to be about where I'd like as far as price range, seem to be pretty well user reviewed.

As far as mounting goes, does one "spot" seem to work better than others? I'm right handed, so left hand is up on the rail with a Magpul AFG2.

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686/M&P9 Pro/M&P15X/M&P15-22

My setup above is perfect for my grip and using my thumb to activate the light. It should work with an AFG too but depends on how you grip the AFG.

The 11'oclock position or the 1'oclock position are the best in my opinion. It's still close enough to centerline to be used ambidextrously, but low enough not to interfere with front sight picture and placement (like you get sometimes when putting a pistol-style weapons light @ 12:00 in front of the front sight.

Gear Sector makes a fantastic mount. You've said this is for HD...this is not a place to cheap out. Every single one of my defensive weapons has a Surefire light on it from a 9mm pistol to a 12GA shotgun and none of them have ever failed. Surefire's LED is also brighter and whiter than competitors. The Streamlight has a bluer color to it.

As far as how many lumens, it can be deceiving. Mine are all 200 lumen lights, but my buddy who is a local Sheriff's Deputy runs the 500 lumen "Ultra" models. I had read online about "blinding inside off walls." It's not true, at least not with the Surefire. The additional lumens just create more side-spill so you can see more of the room.

I have X300's on my pistols and G2X (well, 1 6PX) on my long guns. The G2X with the polymer body is just fine. If you want a little more peace of mind, jump to the aluminum body 6PX model. The Gear Sector mount is as good as it gets. Way simpler and fewer parts than the Haley mount and stronger than the Vtac, which is bulky and prone to cracking.

Some pics for your enjoyment:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87859750@N03/10430578946/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87859750@N03/10430578946/ by ASH556, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87859750@N03/10925284043/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/87859750@N03/10925284043/ by ASH556, on Flickr

Light: SureFire G2X Tactical LED

Mount: Gear Sector SureFire 6P Offset Light Mount

In-stock combo for $130.

I don't know much about lights, but I have a Cree 180 combo light/handgrip mounted on my S&W M&P-15, and it's bright. Plus you hit the button again (which falls handily under your thumb) and the light goes into strobe mode, which would definitely disorient an intruder. Another touch of the button and it goes back into constant on mode. It's very effective, I'm happy with it, and I can't imagine needing more than 180 lumens for home defense. I think you have to ask yourself how much light do you actually need for a given situation, you know?

This rifle, by the way, is one of only two exceptions to my "I don't buy new guns" rule.

That gear sector mount sure is sexy, if ever a flashlight mount could be sexy. Appreciate the opinion and pics.

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686/M&P9 Pro/M&P15X/M&P15-22

I use Streamlight Tlr-1's on all Ar's and shotguns. They hold up pretty nice and they are easy to mount. Great bang for the buck.
Streamlight 69210 TLR-1s LED Rail Mounted Flashlight with Strobe Function and Rail Locating Keys - Basic Handheld Flashlights - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41RnpGy4BHL.@@AMEPARAM@@41RnpGy4BHL

I'm a big fan of Inforce WML. They offer 200 lumens and start at about $99. One good feature of Inforce lights is that they already have a built in mount for use on a picitinny rail, so purchasing a separate mount is not necessary. They feature a compact size with different models with just about any feature you could want in a WML. Plus they look great.

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They seem light in weight. As someone who uses a TLR -1HL on my duty weapon I can tell you their not. Try mounting one then aiming your weapon at a target for 3 minutes, makes a Huge difference in endurance.

Sent from my VS930 4G using Tapatalk

Sidearm or long gun? I EDC (and I mean every) an M&P40 with a TLR-1s and only practice with it like I carry it. Not a feather but I'll take the little bit of added weight to always have a light at quick access.

Mounting that on my AR would be far lighter than the Surefire M951 I have now.