Tactical light personal review

CasterTroy · 01-14-2010, 09:40 AM

So I have had a couple of surefire lights now for about a year. LOVE them. The light they put out is amazing and especially for their size.

I have the E2D Defender and the E2E Executive.

Both use (2) 123A lithium batteries, which I never had any experience with before. The lights were expensive (over $100 each) but I was fortunate to have a friend that is a buyer for LOWES and gave them to me as a gift. A vendor from Surefire had given them to him to try out...and he wanted ME to have them to give him feedback.

Well I LOVE them. I USE to be a tried and true Maglight man....because it's not only a light, but a friggin battering baton! But these 2 lights have changed my preference.

Anyway....I thought about getting a loop holder for these lights to mount on a couple of my guns I keep in the house for the eminent Zombie attack or Armageddon....whichever comes first....but that would mean I'd have to sacrifice their current roll as emergency lights. Didn't want to do that.

So I shopped for some rail mounted lights.

That’s when I found the TLR-1's on sale at Botach for $69

This ALSO uses the the (2) 123A lithium batteries

I got 2 of them.

I mounted one on my 556 and one on my XDm 9

Below are the mountings and the surefire lights

here's a close-up of the TLR-1's mounted

Now for the light test:

This was at 8pm, total dark, all the lights in the house off, and my dog wondering the hall thinking she went blind.

First up: Surefire E2D Defender

Next: Surefire E2E Executive

Now for the TLR-1

You can see the vast difference. The wide mouth of the TLR-1 makes for a much broader throw of the light as well as more of a washing effect with overall light as well. The TLR-1 also has a more "blinding effect" as well, meaning that with the surefire pointed at me I was fairly certain exactly where the person holding was standing, but the TLR-1 made it very difficult to pinpoint the exact location and distance FROM me.

I'm very impressed so far.

**All lights had fresh batteries, and all were pictured with the same camera and lack of lighting (no flash)

Trip · 01-14-2010, 09:55 AM

Make sure that Elian Gonzalez dies this time

CasterTroy · 01-14-2010, 10:01 AM

Slippery little bastard

askmrjesus · 01-14-2010, 10:06 AM

Nice write up, I may have to look into one of those for Rapture day.

JC

shmike · 01-14-2010, 10:21 AM

Wow.

That TLR-1 is impressive.

z06boy · 01-14-2010, 10:22 AM

I have a few Surefires that I keep in my briefcase...the vehicle and around the house and like them alot.

I've been thinking about putting some type of tactical light on my AR. I'm not familiar with TLR-1's but after seeing your pics I'll sure look into it.

Amber Lamps · 01-14-2010, 10:28 AM

Very interesting....

LeeNetworX · 01-14-2010, 10:43 AM

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

karl_1052 · 01-14-2010, 11:18 AM

I am waiting for you to bling out this TLR now.

marko138 · 01-14-2010, 11:26 AM

Thats one hell of a gun, fuck the light.

01-14-2010, 09:40 AM	#1
CasterTroy ................ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC Posts: 3,028	Tactical light personal review So I have had a couple of surefire lights now for about a year. LOVE them. The light they put out is amazing and especially for their size. I have the E2D Defender and the E2E Executive. Both use (2) 123A lithium batteries, which I never had any experience with before. The lights were expensive (over $100 each) but I was fortunate to have a friend that is a buyer for LOWES and gave them to me as a gift. A vendor from Surefire had given them to him to try out...and he wanted ME to have them to give him feedback. Well I LOVE them. I USE to be a tried and true Maglight man....because it's not only a light, but a friggin battering baton! But these 2 lights have changed my preference. Anyway....I thought about getting a loop holder for these lights to mount on a couple of my guns I keep in the house for the eminent Zombie attack or Armageddon....whichever comes first....but that would mean I'd have to sacrifice their current roll as emergency lights. Didn't want to do that. So I shopped for some rail mounted lights. That’s when I found the TLR-1's on sale at Botach for $69 This ALSO uses the the (2) 123A lithium batteries I got 2 of them. I mounted one on my 556 and one on my XDm 9 Below are the mountings and the surefire lights here's a close-up of the TLR-1's mounted Now for the light test: This was at 8pm, total dark, all the lights in the house off, and my dog wondering the hall thinking she went blind. First up: Surefire E2D Defender Next: Surefire E2E Executive Now for the TLR-1 You can see the vast difference. The wide mouth of the TLR-1 makes for a much broader throw of the light as well as more of a washing effect with overall light as well. The TLR-1 also has a more "blinding effect" as well, meaning that with the surefire pointed at me I was fairly certain exactly where the person holding was standing, but the TLR-1 made it very difficult to pinpoint the exact location and distance FROM me. I'm very impressed so far. **All lights had fresh batteries, and all were pictured with the same camera and lack of lighting (no flash) __________________ “Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one’s belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one’s right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.” Viktor Frankl

01-14-2010, 10:01 AM	#3
CasterTroy ................ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NC Posts: 3,028	Slippery little bastard __________________ “Being tolerant does not mean that I share another one’s belief. But it does mean that I acknowledge another one’s right to believe, and obey, his own conscience.” Viktor Frankl

01-14-2010, 10:06 AM	#4
askmrjesus Soul Man Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Everywhere, all the time. Moto: '0000 Custom Turbo Cross (with jet kit). Posts: 6,481	Nice write up, I may have to look into one of those for Rapture day. JC __________________ The way things are going, they're gonna crucify me.

01-14-2010, 10:21 AM	#5
shmike Follower Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 5,549	Wow. That TLR-1 is impressive. __________________ Racing For Smiles

01-14-2010, 11:18 AM	#9
karl_1052 sergeant hatred Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ottawa Moto: The bus Posts: 2,723	I am waiting for you to bling out this TLR now. __________________ My wife was afraid of the dark...then she saw me naked and now she's afraid of the light.

01-14-2010, 10:22 AM	#6
z06boy Letzroll Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lake Norman area, NC Moto: 07 Red R1 & 07 Blue R6 Posts: 5,265	I have a few Surefires that I keep in my briefcase...the vehicle and around the house and like them alot. I've been thinking about putting some type of tactical light on my AR. I'm not familiar with TLR-1's but after seeing your pics I'll sure look into it.

01-14-2010, 10:28 AM	#7
Amber Lamps Moto GP Star Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 14,556	Very interesting....

01-14-2010, 10:43 AM	#8
LeeNetworX SFL Expatriate #1 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: ATL Burbs Moto: '09 Triumph Speed Triple Posts: 4,712	Nice! Thanks for sharing.