tactical flashlight - your thoughts

[ilbob]

http://da.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=tactical+flashlight&Submit=Go

[Headless Thompson Gunner]

For $13, it's probably worth trying.  Buy one and let us know how it turns out. 

[Preacherman]

Beware of the wording of that ad!  When they say it can be 'seen from a mile away', that's meaningless - given the right atmospheric conditions and line of sight, you can see a match flame from a mile away!  They're trying to make you misinterpret the blurb as meaning that the light will illuminate something a mile away, which of course it won't.  I've learned that when an ad makes a claim like that, they're basically out to mislead you.  I'd be cautious, and go with a product whose maker talks in terms of lumens or candlepower or beam focus and effective range, rather than a useless claim like that.

[griz]

I haven't seen one of those, but it sounds too good to be true.  And I don't mean that in a good way.

[Mannlicher]

hmmmmmm  without it saying "surefire" on the product, and costing several hundred bucks, I kinda doubt that it can be really "tactical".

 

[ilbob]

Perhaps I should have pointed out what i found interesting.

Why would a place that sells cheap tools (some of which are quite good by the way) sell a tactical anything?

[roo_ster]

Mmmm, Harbor Frieght.  Cheap tools to match my cheap skills....

[erik the bold]

Just comparing lumens, (yeah, I know numbers can be manipulated..... )   this is twice as bright as Surefire L1, or double a standard Maglight.  15 lumens approximates a 2-D cell flashlight.  After looking, though, I think I need a Surefire  L2 at 100 lumens 

[charby]

I'm still a big fan of the 2 D Cell maglight because you can beat someone with it and they will feel it. (only if you half too) I have one in each of my vehicles by the front seat.

For pocket carry I still carry the 2 AA battery maglight, because if I loose it, of well I can buy another one pretty cheap.

Plus with all the LED bulb options you can get now the maglights pretty damn bright.

-C

[AmbulanceDriver]

I gotta agree with the "harbor freight tools + "tactical" flashlight = " thought....

personally, i have a streamlight TL-2 LED.  It's bright enough that it'll cause temporary blindness at close range.  However, it doesn't have the throw that an incandescent bulb does. 

And if i have to throw it, I've got a 6 D cell maglight i can throw.

It's the .50 cal of flashlights....


 

[Lee]

"This tactical pocket-sized beast is used by combat soldiers, police, and special forces units. Constructed from heavy industrial aluminum. Highly durable light emitting diode delivers an extremely bright beam that can be seen one mile away. Two or three times as powerful as a Mag-Lite style flashlight that runs on four D cell batteries. Our tactical flashlight shine 100,000 hours before the bulb needs to be replaced."

The quotation marks make me nervous..."Uh.. we didn't make that claim ...they did...whoever they are."  I'm sure the Special Forces are all over that deal.  Secondly, I'm not sure that LED and Tacticool can be used in the same sentence...unless your tactic is to have 20 hours of continuous  light.   

[Art Eatman]

A flashlight is the best place I know of to store dead batteries.

Art

[Perd Hapley]

A flashlight is the best place I know of to store dead batteries.

Why do you keep saying that?

[Art Eatman]

SFAIK, it's the first time I've said it.

I'm happy with my Streamlight SL-20.  Works great for coyote hunting.  Good self-defense critter, too, if a club should prove to be useful.  "Blind 'em and bonk 'em".

, Art

[Perd Hapley]

Flashlights and other electronic gear are devices for storing dead batteries.

Gotcha!  From SHTF, WHEN not IF.  Yes, I am on this board way too much.

[griz]

I think this is the same light.  I saw it at the local Lowes on clearance for $2.50.  I need another flashlight like I need another gun ( ) , so I went ahead and bought it.  It's a decent little light.  The beam has some rings in it and the quality is not up to "tactical" standards*.  But it's bright, has a nice push button switch, and seems durable enough.  Probably worth $13 if you actually needed one.

*Meaning it is built like a tank, has a nylon holster, either camo or black, and expensive.

[Antibubba]

Pffft.  Everyone sells Tactical Flashlights.  I want a Strategic Flashlight.   

[Art Eatman]

fistful, if you don't lie, you don't have to remember what you said.   And how long ago was the SHTF to which you referred?  Wuz it the same context?  Allasamee people?

But ain't it true that folks buy neat stuff for hard times and then don't do periodic checks as to whether or not it works?  Chain saws, generators, flashlights?  Hey, they don't even check the oil, water and tire pressure in their cars!

People are slow learners.  If you doubt me, consider how many of the same people keep starting off-topic threads in L&Pee at THR.

Art

[Perd Hapley]

And how long ago was the SHTF to which you referred? 

About one week ago.  There is a link to it in my earlier post.  I'm not trying to start an argument, I was just wondering why you said that twice in one week.  Your reason for saying it is a good one. 

[Monkeyleg]

I don't like to wade into a war, so let me just say this.

On THR I was asking about a low-priced set of electronic shooting muffs. One poster replied with a link to "similar" shooting muffs on harborfreight.com.

The ones on harborfreight were inferior. At their reduced price of $9.99, I cannot imagine them working at all.

I like Maglights that take 3 D-cell batteries. Makes me feel like Babe Ruth.

We have flashlights everywhere all over the house. If we had to buy SureFire lights to replace those we already have, I'd have to sell my house to pay for them.

[ilbob]

I don't like to wade into a war, so let me just say this.

On THR I was asking about a low-priced set of electronic shooting muffs. One poster replied with a link to "similar" shooting muffs on harborfreight.com.

The ones on harborfreight were inferior. At their reduced price of $9.99, I cannot imagine them working at all.

It might have been me that posted the link. I actually bought a set. They work OK (but not anywhere near as well as an expensive set), but I still mostly use regular muffs. I still use the HF ones now and then. The sound qualities are adequate but I don't like how they fit on my head so much.

[Art Eatman]

Digressing into ear muffs for shooting:  I had an old pair that were so old the foam was falling apart.  So, I found some foam and took scissors and glue and got them back as good as new.  "Hmmm, I sez," if some is good, why is not more, better?"  I added some more foam, and got another db reduction or so.  I added foam until it was against my ears.  Since that was an obvious stopping point, I did.

I guess you could add foam on the outside, covering it with duct tape.  Sound deadening is sound deadening.  Weight?  Pad the head band.  I've seen Korean women carry 55-gallon drums atop the head, half-full of water.  Even a healthy American male could deal with an extra three or four ounces.

Ugly?  Which is more important?  Saving your hearing, or looking pretty?

Art

[Molon Labe]

personally, i have a streamlight TL-2 LED.  It's bright enough that it'll cause temporary blindness at close range.  However, it doesn't have the throw that an incandescent bulb does.

Yea, I can't stand LED flashlights.  The light they give off is horrible.  Bright, but horrible.

[ilbob]

personally, i have a streamlight TL-2 LED.  It's bright enough that it'll cause temporary blindness at close range.  However, it doesn't have the throw that an incandescent bulb does.

Yea, I can't stand LED flashlights.  The light they give off is horrible.  Bright, but horrible.

I actually like the blue glow LED lights give off for the lower powered lights. I once saw one that had like 45 LEDs. It was downright bright, but I did not like the glare much.