Flashlights – My OPINION:
Flashlights are a tool that is in the rapidly changing technology area. They are getting brighter, lighter, and better every day. But for me, a weapon light has a specific function. I want it on and off when it should be on or off and I want to do this without fidgeting with complicated switches or controls. A grip mounted pressure switch works for me.
Technology tends to lead to gadjetiering, as manufacturers race to add features to products in an attempt to claim superior function and a higher price point. The latest features of these products are marketed as a “must have” and magazine writers support this to protect their advertisers. With flashlights, the new “blinding strobe” effect is the epitome of this process. I am not buying in.
Are you kidding me? Say there is a bad guy coming into my house in the dark of night. I grab my home defense weapon, which is not my 15-22, and does not have a cheap flashlight on it, it is a name brand weapon light. I go down the hallway and find the bad guy in my living room. In fractions of a second I am going to be forced to make life and death decisions. Decisions that will affect his life and mine. Is he armed? Is he really a bad guy or a drunken neighbor or friend that stumbled in. Is he wearing body armor I can see? Can I identify him? Where are my kids? Did they get up too, if they heard the same noise as me?
In that situation I want as much information as I can gather and gaining that information will require light. The last thing in the world I am going to do is fumble for some ridiculous feature on my flashlight called strobe and turn that situation into a scene from the Halloween haunted house. The potential target in front of me could become so jittery and shaky to my eyes that I may not know if he is advancing or retreating. I will rely on my training, skills, and firepower in that situation. NOT a stroboscopic gimmick on a flashlight. This forum is filled with posts from guys stressing about making a purchase(of any type) because of technology. “What if it is better and cheaper next week?” I ask myself, is it really a benefit to my needs? Just my .02 cents worth.
The OP here is on to something. As the lights do improve in brightness, I would like to have something like 700 blinding lumens on my SD weapon. I will wait for them to be commonplace and affordable.
For clarification – in a post above I supported a UTG flashlight for a 15-22 for nighttime hunting. That is not self defense. I treat my SD weapons differently than my 15-22, they generally get the best accessories money can buy. The $57.00 UTG flashlight is a bargain and a good light for a .22 caliber fun gun, especially if your just lighting up coyotes!
I did not mean this to be a rant....but hey....sometimes I do that
