What's the deal with Tactical Rail Lights

[BobC357]

I have a $1.99 nine-LED flashlight that I use for coyote, cougar and bobcat scouting. This things shines a beam well over 100 feet and is extremely light, bright and waterproof. Batteries (3 AAA) last quite a while and its very rugged (been dropped who knows how many times). It's an awesome light. If there's a critter out there, you'll see the reflection from their eyes quite a ways a way - well over 200 yards. The thing is tiny, bright and light weight. The switch is a button on the back - press on-press off. Simple and easy. Cost: $2

So, why can't they make a tactical rail light anywhere close to it in function or price. Similar flashlights on a rail start at over 50x the price -- $100+ !! I guess that plastic or aluminum rail thing costs $100? I don't think so. Some of these similar lights are $300 or more! That's nuts for a basic pocket flashlight on a rail mount!

I also have an inexpensive MagLite that is smaller than most of the expensive tactical rail lights I've seen. It is a simple $5 light with a very bright halogen bulb, about the size of one AA battery. Even the solid-state lasers I buy to make bore sighting rigs with cost only about $12 each and these things are piercing to well over 300 yards. For a gun, expect 20X that pricing.

It doesn't make sense. What makes a rail light or laser cost so much money? It isn't the materials. It isn't the technology. It isn't the electronics. It isn't the packaging. Somebody is making fortune on these. Make a combination laser and flashlight unit for $25 and sell it for $400. Maybe I'm in the wrong business.

So, does anybody know of a good rail light that isn't a total rip-off? It annoys me to have to spend $200 for a $2 light.

 

[SW01SS]

I've always wondered this as well. I can't think of any way to justify a tactical light costing so much money. Maybe someone more knowledgable here can help us out.

 

[FunkyPertwee]

A weapon light has to be able to take the recoil of the most powerful weapons it could be mounted on, meaning it has to at least be able to take the shock of a 12 gauge slug, otherwise its useless on a weapon.

I used to use the cheap lights and wonder why the name brands cost so much. Drop one of those cheap ones when you need it most and you'll learn why. Having your flashlight break while your deep into the crawlspace of a house to do work down there and you'll never buy a cheap one again. I can only imaging the degree of pants-****ting that would occur if that happened to a police officer or soldier while working in a dark area.

 

[FunkyPertwee]

Also the new lights have micro-processors in them to regulate the power output in order to maximize battery life and create a static power output throughout the lifespan of the battery.

 

[BobC357]

Also the new lights have micro-processors in them to regulate the power output in order to maximize battery life and create a static power output throughout the lifespan of the battery.

Those processors cost about 0.01¢ Those solar powered decorator LED lights use the electronic chips too and they're on the same chip as the LED itself. A simple resistor will also limit current to the LEDs. I've abused my MagLites and LED lights a lot -- there isn't much in them to be damaged by shock except the filament in the halogen lamp bulb.

 

[FunkyPertwee]

Those processors cost about 0.01¢ Those solar powered decorator LED lights use the electronic chips too and they're on the same chip as the LED itself. A simple resistor will also limit current to the LEDs. I've abused my MagLites and LED lights a lot -- there isn't much in them to be damaged by shock except the filament in the halogen lamp bulb.

In that case just get a cheap scope ring and use it to mount your light of choice to whatever gun you want.

Personally I feel more confident with a streamlight or surefire, so I go ahead and pony up for them.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

Lots of choices for tactical lights these days like this NiteCore P-12.

960 Lumens, Cree LED, 3 intensity settings, strobe, battery monitor, 2 rechargable batteries and wall charger for $60.

Bought one, liked it so well I bought another. It's like holding a car headlight in a compact package.

NITECORE P12 FLASHLIGHT 950 LUMENS! INCLUDES 2 X FREE 18650 RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES AND A WALL CHARGER! - - Amazon.com@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417I4WyrRUL.@@AMEPARAM@@417I4WyrRUL

The light uses one battery at a time.

 

[Rule3]

And Just how much do you thing adding the word, "TACTICAL" adds to the price?

I bought a 3 pack of CREE 250 Lumen TechLites with Rayovac batteries for $15 at Costco.

Waterproof, impact resistance. I bought many!

Costco no longer has them but I think you get them on Amazon (the CREE LED are the ones)

I have this one but paid less. It is a good light.

Streamlight TLR-1 Tactical Illuminator Flashlight White LED Fits

 

[3dots]

I received my TLR-3 yesterday and got it mounted to my SR40. I paid $70 for it off Amazon. What I got was a C4 shock PROOF 50,000 hour LED, Borofloat high temp glass lens, mounting keys for most pistols, IPX7 rated, serialized and a lifetime warranty. It's very ergo on the pistol and works well. I believe you get what you pay for and I would have even paid a bit more for this quality.

 

[sipowicz]

Way smaller market for rail lights than lights themselves. If you made a great rail light for under ten bucks, you probably wouldn't sell enough to make back your initial investment.

Edited to add...the streamlight tlr-3 can be hand for under 70 bucks....a good deal in a rail light.

 

[Jessie]

Probably the same reason one chooses a S&W or Colt or Glock ( yes, i said Glock ) or any other high quality gun over a High Point or Taurus for serious work.
I suppose they all work, to some extent, but what are you willing to bet your life on?

 

[cowart]

I bought a 3 pack of CREE 250 Lumen TechLites with Rayovac batteries for $15 at Costco.

Waterproof, impact resistance.

I bought a set too. While they do work well, they are definitely not impact resistant. A very light bump while changing batteries has already disabled one of them. Hook one of these up to a 12ga and it would probably only work for the first shot.

These are *flashlights*, not firearm accessories.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Rails are for moving coal and oil.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Call me old fashioned but I do believe most of the time you get what you pay for. A specific item designed and engineered to work in its intended fashion and environment will always work better than an item not intended for that specific job and cost more as well. As I see it a light, both hand held and weapon mounted are life support items when used in the self defense mode, I will not trust my life and my family's life to a $1.99 light duct taped to a weapon. Like the old Bell motorcycle helmet add.

"If you got a ten dollar head, buy a ten dollar helmet".

 

[Rpg]

OP implies that rail lights and the whole buisness of mounting lights on firearms is silly.

He's right.

Most folks that buy such things are imaganing their usefulness.

I doubt most such customers have ever had the opportunity to actually shoot in low light conditions.

A flashlight attached to a defense weapon is an affectation.

Folks would be better off learning to shoot using a detached light, if any flashlight at all is indicated.

Precious few situations present that can best be solved with some sort of mounted lgbt.

Lots of folks want to hang all sorts of stuff from their sd weapons : rarely with any real experience using the weapon with the neet accessory.

NSF my opinion, of course.

 

[shouldazagged]

If it's an affectation, a lot of law enforcement agencies are busy affecting it.

I don't have a gun that will accept a light, and don't want one. But I know a lot of LEO's like having lights under their sidearms and long guns. I'm guessing they have pretty good reasons for that.

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

I personally like to know what I'm aiming a weapon at in low light conditions.

 

[sipowicz]

OP implies that rail lights and the whole buisness of mounting lights on firearms is silly.

He's right.

Silly boys....

 

[LostintheOzone]

If it's an affectation, a lot of law enforcement agencies are busy affecting it.

I don't have a gun that will accept a light, and don't want one. But I know a lot of LEO's like having lights under their sidearms and long guns. I'm guessing they have pretty good reasons for that.

I think Rpg was referring to the general public. "most folks that buy such things" would exclude LEO's and military because generally they don't buy their own equipment.

I also think a lot of what the public buys is designed to 'look' like what LE and military units use although in most cases the weapon or accessories will never see the environment that it was designed for. People who do marketing for a living know this.

 

[sipowicz]

I think Rpg was referring to the general public. "most folks that buy such things" would exclude LEO's and military because generally they don't buy their own equipment.

I also think a lot of what the public buys is designed to 'look' like what LE and military units use although in most cases the weapon or accessories will never see the environment that it was designed for. People who do marketing for a living know this.

True...but in this case, I think the average person will do better with a gun on his light in a bad situation than with it in the other hand. The latter requites much more training to get good at it...