Showing posts with label Surefire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Surefire. Show all posts

Friday, November 16, 2012

Streamlight ProTac HL 600 Lumen Light Review



The Streamlight ProTac HL is a 600 lumen output, C4 cree LED light powered by 2 CR123 batteries that I've had for a few months now; here's a quick summary of what I've found:

Pros:
-600 lumen output on high.  It's VERY bright; see video below for the demonstration...
-"Aircraft grade" aluminum body
-Fits all 1'' light mounts
-Good checkering on the body for a good grip as a handheld light
-Scratch resistant lens
-The tail switch can be pressed for momentary on and clicked for constant on.
-Comes with a clip should you want to clip it on your belt as well as a nylon 'holster' with belt loops.
-Claimed 803 foot beam distance (I haven't been able to test this...)
-Programable for 3 modes (high/strobe/low, high only, low/high)
-O-rings on tail cap and lens (waterproof to 1m for 30 mins)
-Durable.  I used this light on pump shotguns with no impact on performance
-Can be found most places under $75
-Limited lifetime warranty
-The finish is very even and it feels solid and well made in your hand.


Cons:
-The bezel is larger than most tac lights so if you're looking to use one of the red lens covers you have already it's likely not going to fit.
-Made in China
-In high output mode the battery life is 1.25 hours but according to their chart the output starts to taper off around 50 mins.

All in all I really like the light and have ordered a second in fact.    I'm not sure it can be beat at its' price point in terms of brightness and durability.

Here's a video with some shooting footage (mounted on an AR), a low light comparison to the 104 lumen Maglite and 200 lumen Surefire 6PX Tactical, and a discussion of the pros and cons of the light:






Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Surefire 6PX Tactical Light


The Surefire 6PX Tactical light came out a few years ago and I snatched one up after reading the specs and handling one in person.   For those of you familiar with the classic aluminum body 6P, this is an updated version with a brighter, whiter light that will perform well when used as a weapon light or general purpose/duty light.

Pros:
-Momentary on tail cap switch with only one brightness setting (200 lumens originally, 320 on the current version)
-Standard size body for use on most light mounts
-2 hour constant runtime (spec).  My testing has shown it to go well beyond that time in normal weather conditions
-Has a bright focused beam while still producing plenty of ambient light for good situational awareness
-Weather resistant O ring to keep out moisture
-Weighs 5.2oz

Cons:
-Cost.  The 6PX Tactical may be among Surefire's budget line but it's not exactly cheap.   They sell from between $80-120.  

Here's a video with some shooting on the AR & AK platform, an illumination demonstration vs. a 104 lumen Maglite, and a discussion/demonstration of the light's pros and cons: