Photon Fusion Headlamp

We’re very impressed with the design and range of features – one of the best being the adjustable output. This feature allows you to determine the brightness and subsequent battery life, depending on your situation. Although it is offered with several LED color variations, our favorite uses 6 white and 1 red LED, and includes power management (regulation) for constant level light output. When the batteries have finally reached the point where they can no longer support the current level of brightness, the light will finally start to dim slightly and the secondary beam color LEDs will come on continuously indicating the reduced power. Night vision? No problem. Even the red LED has the “dimmer switch” feature. Electronic switch features three levels of brightness, three levels of strobe, and an auto shutoff. A secondary button, the "Hyper Bright" gives you instant, full, steady light. If you are looking for a serious headlamp, look no further.

Photon Freedom Fusion Headlamp

The Photon Freedom Fusion Headlamp is the Holy Grail of headlamps. It has many of the same features as the Fusion. The secondary beam color will now have two bulbs instead of one so should be a bit brighter and more useful. Still 6 bulbs for the primary beam, but the electronics that regulate the light output have been cranked up to put out about 45% more light at full brightness. When the batteries have finally reached the point where they can no longer support the current level of brightness, the light will finally start to dim slightly and the secondary beam color LEDs will come on continuously indicating the reduced power. Night vision? No problem. Even the red LED has the “dimmer switch” feature. Electronic switch now features a dimmer control that offers a full-range of brightness, four levels of strobe, signal mode, and an auto shutoff. The battery life is 12 hours in "High Bright" mode.

Princeton Tec Yukon

For energy-efficient, focusable beam and comfort teamed with water- and bomb-proof durability, this Yukon is the lamp for you. The three-bulb LED yields a long battery life powering a strong Xenon beam – perfect for night hiking. We were particularly impressed with the lamp’s full-tilt housing and the headband is even comfortable. Although this lamp offers some excellent features, cycling through each mode to get your preferred setting isn't one of them. Three AAs last 3 to 5 hours on Xenon, and 120 hours on LED.

Petzl Myo 3

Have it both ways with bright light and long battery life. This lamp can literally go all night. A quick twist to the housing changes the output from a focusable, long-range halogen beam to a fairly bright, three-bulb LED beam perfect for close-proximity lighting. Halogen setting lasts up to 4 hours; LED setting up to 180 hours! The sacrifice for all that long-running power? A clunky battery pack on the back of your cranium. The Petzl electronic system also monitors battery power and automatically switches to energy-saving reserve power mode when necessary. If you're concerned about the battery weight on your head, check out the Petzl Myobelt 3 with removable battery pack.

Petzl Myo 5

Climbers, adventure racers, or anyone moving quickly under variable lighting conditions will appreciate this versatile headlamp – designed specifically to alternate between long-range lighting and extended battery life. Its five LEDs can illuminate up to 99 feet. Three lighting levels include: Optimum for walking or general use; Maximum for climbing or moving quickly on technical ground; and Economy for reading maps or setting up a tent. Each level is regulated by an electronic system. When the batteries are almost completely discharged, the system switches to reserve power mode, providing proximity lighting and greatly extending burn time. The electronic system also regulates the 6-Volt Xenon bulb, guaranteeing a constantly bright beam that illuminates up to 330 ft. The rotating bezel switch makes for easy adjustment between the LED options and the Xenon halogen bulb. Great for mountaineering or any fast paced activity.

CMG Bonfire

CMG's little Bonfire will put an end to all those fire-hazard-wax-dripping-heat-generating, noxious-fume-emitting-candle lanterns and fuel lamps out there. It uses 3 LEDs that emit a soft amber candle-like glow. A lanyard is included and the molded-in cord locks permit many hanging configurations. The Bonfire used inside of your tent is perfect for reading, or playing cards. Probably not enough output for a table lantern however, unless you just need a bit of light in a small area. The Bonfire is also a great backup light to use at home during power outages. Dual brightness switch permits you to select 18-hours of bright area light or up to 30-hours of low, personal light.

CMG Bonfire Blaze

The compact Bonfire Blaze features both white and red LED modes, and puts out significantly brighter light than the standard Bonfire. The white-light mode provides adequate table light and the single red-light mode preserves your night vision while producing a gentle glow. It also comes with a lanyard and molded-in cord locks for various hanging options. We like the red or white light option and were pleased with the battery life, particularly the 72-hour duration in the red-light mode. Highly recommended for the backpacker and equally suitable for car camping. A great alternative to candle lanterns.

Streamlight Luxeon Task-Light

The Streamlight Task-Light uses a Luxeon LED - 10 times brighter than a high-intensity LED (you could almost suntan with this thing!) Some of the features include water-resistance, O-ring sealed, knurled grip, lanyard and crazy output-to-battery life ratio. The exterior is made of anodized aluminum, available in either black or silver. The threading and diameter of the tail cap is identical to that of the Mini Maglight, so you can use the rubber tail-cap switch originally designed for the Mini Maglight.

A similar flashlight is the Arc LS, which is another 1Watt Luxeon Star flashlight. The Streamlight Luxeon Tasklight uses 3AA batteries versus the 2AA the Arc LS uses, which equates to a longer run time. The Streamlight Task Light also only costs $35 while the Arc LS with AA battery body will run you well over $100. Thumbs up from all of us.

Photon Microlight II

Successor to the original Photon keychain squeeze-light, this tough and tiny light now features an adjustable switch providing prolonged light – eliminating the need to squeeze it to keep the light on. The Microlight II produces an ultra bright white light that can be seen for up to a mile. The LED is rated for over 100,000 hours and the light is manufacturer-guaranteed for a lifetime, anyway. Sweet.

This super-bright LED is secured in a tough ABS case and runs on a thin, coin-cell lithium battery which is actually included. Right from the start we were impressed: lifetime guarantee with battery included – you can hardly go wrong here. The light is available in several colors with varying run times: over 120 hours for the red, amber and yellow type which use a single cell; and 12 to 14 hours for the white, blue, green or blue-green which use two cells. Also available in purple – runtime information not available.

Great for home or office use, popular with fire and rescue professionals, pyrotechnicians, stage performers, and pretty much anybody who needs a small, yet brilliant light.

The 2 case halves are held together with four small Philips head screws and generally require a small precision type screwdriver to remove them- although we found the tip of a knife blade will work too when a screwdriver isn’t handy.

Photon Microlight III

As compact, durable, and bright as the Microlight II, the Microlight III utilizes a state-of-the-art micro-processor which allows you the choice of three levels of brightness, three levels of strobe, and a very handy one minute auto-shutoff. At any time you can squeeze the front button to bypass the electronics to get instant brilliant light.

The Microlight III produces an ultra bright white light that can be seen for up to a mile. The LED is rated for over 100,000 hours and the light is manufacturer-guaranteed for a lifetime, anyway. A good little perk.

This super-bright LED is secured in a tough water-resistant ABS case that has been redesigned to make battery changes easier. The light is available in several colors with varying run times: over 120 hours for the red, amber, and yellow type which use a single cell; and 12 to 14 hours for the white, blue, green or blue-green which use two cells. Also available in purple – runtime information not available.

The Covert model has all the excellent features of the Microlight III plus an extended non-removable housing to shield the bulb, thereby reducing glare and eliminating all peripheral light. Originally designed for covert military use, the Covert Photon 3 is great in any situation where you don’t want to attract attention or disturb anyone. Indoor applications might include reading programs in darkened theaters, or reading menus in dimly lit restaurants. The covert housing is not removable.

Photon Freedom Micro

The main difference is that the Freedom Micro offers full-range brightness control, while the Photon 3 only offers three set levels of brightness (high-medium-low). When it comes to ease-of-use, the Freedom Micro is generally much more intuitive and easier to use for most people.

An additional "signaling" mode can be accessed by tapping the button several times in rapid succession. When in the signaling mode, the Freedom Micro will behave like the squeeze-only Photon I, with the light turning on only while the button is pressed and off when it is released. When needed, the four safety strobe functions (fast, medium, slow, & SOS) can be accessed by continuing to hold the button down. Once the light has dimmed or brightened fully, it will proceed to cycle through the various strobe functions.

This also comes in a Covert model, similar to the Covert description of the Microlight III. Our biggest gripe is that this series of flashlights doesn't jive with our AA Battery Doctorine.

CMG Infinity

For night time objectives, the CMG Infinity is the whole enchilada. The Infinity contains "patented circuitry" inside the head to regulate the voltage provided to the LED. Unsurpassed in efficiency and durability, it requires only a single AA battery. It is encased in anodized aircraft aluminum. The Infinity is waterproof up to depths of 30 feet. It’s easy to turn on and off by rotating the head. Our initial impression is that a switch would be quicker and easier to use but that means more moving parts that can break easily. It comes with a neck lanyard and pocket clip. When considering tactical lighting, and the level of “stealth” your application requires, brightness is not as important as battery life so although the CMG Infinity Ultra burns twice as bright, it only does so for half as long. See the full review below. Ultimately, we would stick with the standard Infinity. This would have been a 5 star product if it didn't come with a piece of shit belt clip that attaches by sliding on and just as easily slides off and gets lost! We recommend replacing the original clip with an ALICE clip and taping it in place. Also, when the light is off the battery rattles around inside the case, which is easily remedied by taping half the battery lengthwise from the positive to the negative terminal using some 100mph tape.

CMG Infinity Ultra

Operating from a single AA battery, this efficient flashlight produces twice the light as its little brother, the Infinity, but for less time. If secrecy isn’t a big factor in your applications, the level of brightness here could be a real plus. The battery life is reasonably good and the Ultra is also crafted of extremely durable aircraft aluminum, is waterproof up to depths of 30 feet, easy On/Off by rotating the head, and comes with a neck lanyard and a shitty pocket clip that slides on and falls off.

Energizer Hard Case Tactical Flashlight

This is Energizers second offering to the tactical flashlight realm, and they did a great job in making a well rounded task light. The Hard Case Tactical uses a bright white 70 lumen LED. It also features small red, green, and blue lights for map reading, medical applications, preserving your vision at night, or for tactical situations. If you need to get even more stealth, it has an infrared light for night-vision devices that you can put into strobe mode for IFF (Identifying Friend or Foe). The Hard Case is waterproof, has a 130° rotating head, and can withstand 15 foot falls. It also features a rubberizes shock-proof case, ergonomic grip, and it clips to MOLLE or OTV (Outter Tactical Vest). It uses AA batteries, which helps triage your gear's batteries according to our AA battery doctrine. The best feature is that if you are short a battery, it can still produce a (dimmer) beam with a single AA.

L-Shaped Flashlight

The military has been using this right angle shaped waterproof flashlight since WWII. It features a 3-position switch and a switch guard to prevent accidentally turning it on at an inconvenient time. The olive drab colored body is made of ABS plastic, which we have seen cracked a number of times. The belt clip allows you to suspend the flashlight from your LBV and the ring hanger is good for dummy-cording the flashlight to yourself. It includes spare bulb and blue, red, blackout, and diffusion filters. The bulb of this flashlight is not very bright and the bulb can easily shatter or the filament can easily break. The battery life is nothing near that of any LED flashlight. The flashlight is heavy because of the large D cell batteries; which aren't commonly found in other military equipment - so pack batteries in your ruck. Some politician's relative must own the company that manufactures these flashlights, because we can't think of any other reason that the military should still be using these.

Mini L-Shaped Flashlight

This is the pocket-sized version of the GI Angle Light. The high intensity Krypton bulb and reflector provide bright illumination, which is not needed in a tactical environment. LEDs are much better for tactical lights since they have a much longer battery life, much much longer bulb life, and they can handle much more abuse. Turn it on and off via a metal switch with a protective switch guard and flasher button. It can be suspended by the tail cap hanger loop or by the belt clip. It includes clear, red, blue, yellow and white lenses. The plastic case is rustproof, but it is not as durable as aircraft aluminum although it is lighter.

Mini Maglite

The Mini Maglite® with the original incandescent bulb seems pretty inefficient considering the batteries last 5-6 hours and is fully bright only a brief period of that time. The necessity of 2-AA batteries adds weight and one, if not it’s only, redeeming factor is that it is water proof to depths of 200. Let’s face it, if you had a better light, you probably wouldn’t have ended up falling in the water in the first place! This is a popular replacement for the L-shaped military flashlights, but we can't figure out why. Maybe it’s the camouflaged exterior which might actually cause you to lose it – a blessing in disguise! Bottom line: a dim bulb for dimwits.

Opalec NewBeam

The NewBeam LED Module is essentially a retrofit kit for use with the AA Mini Maglite® flashlight. The kit consists of the NewBeam LED Module, an adapter ring which replaces the original reflector, and a replacement abrasion-resistant lens. This retrofit doubles your battery life, the light output won’t dim as the batteries near expiration, and of course, the LED’s lifetime is thousands of hours. A note-worthy plus is the red indicator LED which signals when it's time to replace the batteries. Its great strengths are that it is rather efficient, highly durable, constant light-output, and has an excellent compromise between brightness and battery life. However, when you see the price, the light bulb in your head should signal that you’d be better off with one of the CMG Infinity models in the first place.

Lambda Ill Pill & MiniPro

The Lambda Ill Pill is a drop-in for the 2AA Mini-Mag, Brinkmann, or other 2-AA metal flashlight. It features a 1Watt Luxeon Star LED and a DC-DC inverter sealed in epoxy for additional strength and durability. The beam is well-centered, and free from any shadows or irregular hot spots. It is no longer focusable after the mod. The reflector is removed and the Luxeon Star lens is installed behind the standard Mag lens. The light retains its water resistance.

As you noticed, it has a crappy if non-existent heat sink, and will not be well suited for long term use. The Ill Pill must only be used in a metal flashlight to help it dissipate heat. It will overheat and begin smoking if used in a plastic flashlight.

The MiniPro uses a 3W Luxeon Star LED. The MiniPro is brighter but only has a two hour battery life. The MiniPro also has a low level survival mode so when the batteries do run down you won't be left in the dark.

We don't recommend either of these lights. They are not bright enough for weapon lights and their short battery life is not well suited for tactical lights.

Streamlight TL-3™ Xenon

The Streamlight TL-3 is lithium-powered tactical flashlight. It is made of machined aircraft aluminum with an anodized finish. The TL-3 features a spot-to-flood focus, non-protruding tail-cap switch to decrease the chance of accidental activation, momentary push button tailcap which rotates for locked "on," spare bulb contained within the flaslight, and high-temperature glass lens. Streamlight tactical lights include an adjustable wrist lanyard and a removable spring-steel pocket clip. We found the head of the flashlight to be too large to easily mount onto a shotgun with any off the shelf mounting brackets. The TL-3 would have been among the best as far as weapons lights are considered, if the bulb was shock isolated. After mounting it to a shotgun and firing 48 rounds, the filament in the TL-3 xenon bulb broke. This flashlight is as bright as the brightest Surefire flashlight and the battery life would have been three times longer than any comparable Surefire light. Too bad it doesn't have the durability of a Surefire.

Streamlight TL-3™ LED

The TL-3 LED would remedy the durability issue at the expense of dropping the brightness to 90 lumens. On the plus side the TL-3 LED has a battery life of 2.5 hours at full brightness (20 hrs at diminishing brightness). It also has an adjustable spot to flood focus. This flashlight uses a 5W Luxeon Star LED, which can optimally emit 120 lumens of light when driven at its spec limits. The TL-3 LED only emits 90 lumens. Streamlight must have made this flashlight with a power regulating circuit in order to extend the battery life. Bad move. This limits the brightness of what could have been a bright 5 Watt Luxeon bulb. This flashlight also officially sucks (along with the TL-3 Xenon).

Surefire A2 Aviator

The A2 has some great features that include a tail cap pushbutton switch, allowing momentary activation or a constant ON switch in a single click; a handy pocket clip; aerospace grade aluminum shell; and Pyrex® lens (O-ring sealed for weatherproofing). The Aviator's unique digitally controlled two-stage switching mechanism allows the user to choose LEDs for close-up work or the high output lamp for full power applications. Digital current regulation circuitry provides a more consistent (even) level of incandescent light output and color temperature for the useable life of the batteries. Lamp assembly/Runtime - SureFire MA02 high-output incandescent lamp producing 50 lumens of white light for 60 minutes - three LEDs producing three lumens max output for 15 hours, followed by over 30 hours of minimal output.

This is an extremely popular flashlight but lacking brightness overall for a weapon light and the battery life is quite inefficient as a task light. We wondered how many of these flashlights Surefire had to give away to “buy” the endorsements of so many hunting magazine writers out there. Bottom line: Why get the A2 when you can get the L4 LumaMax, which is lighter, brighter, and cheaper?

Surefire L4 LumaMax

The nicest feature of the L4 is probably the tail cap pushbutton switch, allowing momentary activation or a constant ON switch in a single click. It has a 1 hr max brightness (3 hrs declining brightness) battery life. It also features a removable pocket clip which can be handy. The aerospace grade aluminum with anodized finish, Pyrex® lens (O-ring sealed for weatherproofing) make it super durable but the five-watt LED just isn’t bright enough in our opinion – regardless of the Surefire Lifetime Guarantee: “If it breaks, we fix it!"

Surefire L5 LumaMax

The L5 is made of type III hard anodized aluminum. The L5 uses an uncollimated Pyrex® lens, but it does have a reflector that shapes the beam. Features O-ring seals and a stainless steel pocket clip. It features a new click-on/click-off tailcap pushbutton switch that gives the user the tactical advantage of momentary activation or the convenience of a constant-on “click” switch in a single switch. Patented lock-out tailcap allows the light to be locked in the off position to prevent unintentional activation during storage or transportation.

The L5 also features digital current regulation circuitry to match the LED's current requirements with the battery's output to maintain a more consistent level of light output for the 1.5 hours of useable life of the batteries, the next 1.5 hours is at diminishing brightness. The L5 is slightly brighter than the L6 at some location in its beam at 1 meter. The output of the L5 and L6 is not significantly different under field conditions. You can’t tell which light is shining, even at distances of 50 to 100 feet.

When compared to the L6, the L5 is wasting 1 Watt of energy for a 1% increase in brightness! So, clearly the L6 will last much longer but the L5 is just a hair brighter up close. The battery life is not as long as the L6, but still more than sufficient to perform as a weapon light.

The L5 is much more compact than the L6 and weighs less. You could argue that its lighter weight would be worth the lesser performance. For strictly a weapon light, the L5 is better than the L6.

Surefire L6 LumaMax

The L6 is made of type III hard anodized aluminum. The L6 uses an uncollimated Pyrex® lens, but it does have a reflector that shapes the beam. Features O-ring seals and a stainless steel pocket clip. The L6 is equipped with a click-on/click-off tailcap pushbutton switch that gives the user the option of momentary activation (for self-defense use or emergency signaling) or the convenience of a constant-on “click” switch in a single switch.

The L6 LumaMax also features digital current regulation circuitry to match the LED's current requirements with the battery's output to maintain a more consistent level of light output for the 1.5 hours of useable life of the batteries, the next 3.5 hours is at diminishing brightness.

Other flashlights with a 5watt Luxeon Star LED may produce approximately the same amount of light as the L6 (and L5), but it appears (to the eye) dimmer because the beam is focused by a lens and is not collimated as well as the L6. The L6's head does focus the light better than the L5, but we can only tell a difference in CQB conditions. The light output of the L5 and L6 is not significantly different under field conditions. You can’t tell which light is shining, even at distances of 50 to 100 feet.

We couldn't detect any difference in "throw" of the light under field conditions. In the special photographs people have on the Candle Power Forums, you can clearly see the throw is better in the L6. The L6 has a better throw, but I just couldn't observe it.

There are no substitutes for the Surefire L5 and L6 out there. If you want a light to do double duty as a hand-held light with long runtime and as a weapon light, the L6 might be a better choice.

TNC Hyper Lux V (Hard Anodized Natural)

This small flashlight is waterproof and durable. It is made of aircraft quality aluminum with a Type III Hard Anodized finish. The Lens is an uncoated Mineral Glass Lens. The light uses a reflector with an "Orange Peel" finish. The life of the LED is 1,000 hours. Twist the head to turn it on, then just loosen the tail cap slightly to use the tail cap like a push button on/off (You can buy a real push button tailcap switch for $15 extra). This light has a pure white light and uses a white 5-watt Luxeon LED and a reflector that produces a tighter beam, with very minimum void in the center. The Hyper Lux V is good, especially for the price, but its not regulated, which is subject to a steady decline in light intensity beginning shortly after activation.

The owner of Ogaz Enterprises will custom make a current regulated Hyper Lux V for $180 (You can buy a real push button tailcap switch for $15 extra). The brightness values would be about the same as the non-regulated Hyper Lux V, with an output of 1.0A . This version with tail cap would be comparable to the L5/L6, but the L5 is slightly better and $15 cheaper.

The L5 focus is better than the TNC. Note that the TNC website only compares their light to the L4, which sucks.This is still an excellent weapon light for the price and a good rival to the Surefire L5 or L6 LumaMax except that it is not as bright and has a shorter battery life.

Surefire M962SU07

When time is of the essence and you need nothing but the brightest, this is it. The M962U07 is made of CNC machined aerospace-grade aluminum and finished in durable MilSpec Type III hard anodizing (Mil-A-8625 Type III Class 2). Pyrex lens window for improved water/scratch resistance, and shock-isolated bezel. The system attaches to Picatinny Rail interface-equipped shoulder-fired weapons via a built-in A.R.M.S. throw-lever mount. and can also accommodate a SureFire laser.

The M962SU07 is 9-volt shock-isolated system powered by three lithium batteries and providing 125 lumens for one-hour of runtime using an MN10 xenon/halogen gas-filled lamp assembly or 225 lumens for 20 minutes using the included MN11 ultra-high output lamp assembly. Switching is controlled with a pressure-activated momentary-on tape switch (7.0" cable standard - custom lengths available by calling SureFire). Available switching options include a tailcap-mounted momentary pushbutton and a tailcap-mounted Click-ON/Click-OFF switch - apply moderate pressure for momentary activation, depress completely to "click" the switch to the constant-on position.

Here's the best part. Components are interchangeable, allowing the operator to configure light output and switch configuration to mission-specific applications. The ultimate weapons light would be the M962SU07 for CQB, or switch the L6 Lumamax head assembly (KL6) for more durability and battery life but less brightness. No one ever said the very best would be inexpensive, but how can you put a price on perfection.

EagleTac P10A2

The EagleTac P10A2 has the right balance of brightness, battery life, and features. The P10A2 uses "quick-select" dual output brightness modes that deliver two output levels: Hi (220 lumens) and Low (60 lumens). It uses digital regulation for a constant brightness. The LED is a CREE XR-E Cool White Q5, which has low thermal resistance and low forward voltage for extreme power-efficient operation. The P10A2 is able to throw up to 150 yards thanks to the precisely machined curve of the aluminum reflector.

The P10A2 is o-ring sealed and IPX-8 waterproof, which translates to it being fully dunk-able at two feet depth of water for more than ten hours. It is composed of mil-spec hard anodized aerospace aluminum, a shock-mounted multilayer coated optical glass lens for maximum light, and an aluminum reflector. A push-button switch allows for momentary or constant output. The icing on the cake is the stainless steel bezel and scalloped tail cap.

This flashlight is brighter and has a longer battery life than most of the flashlights in its class. The best part is that it is one of the only tactical lights that abides by DGI's AA battery doctrine, which allows you to triage all of your AA battery electronics if a battery dies. The P10A2 comes with a detachable stainless steel pocket clip, nylon holster, and lanyard. This is the top notch tactical light.

SureFire X400 LED Weapon Light

The SureFire X400 LED Weapon Light features a red laser sight and a bright white LED. The X400's Total Internal Reflection (TIR) lens gathers virtually all of the LED's light and forms a tightly focused beam for maximum reach. It also emits a surrounding beam to accommodate a user's peripheral vision. At 635 nanometers, the X400's laser sight is one of the most powerful available to the public. Ambidextrous switching makes it easy to operate the X400, and optional pressure-activated switching for many firearms offers precise control without altering one's grip. The X400 slides onto most handguns with a Picatinny rail and fits many handguns without rails via a SureFire rail adapter. A tough, hard-anodized aerospace-grade aluminum body protects the X400's electronics and a tempered Borofloat window offers more of the same for its TIR lens and LED. O-ring seals and gaskets keep out dust, dirt, propellant residue, and moisture.

Insight Technologies M6 TLI

The Insight Technologies M6 TLI Tactical Laser Illuminator combines a white light with a Class IIIa laser. The light beam can be adjusted from wide flood to narrow beam, and the laser sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. A four-position mode switch can be set to turn the unit completely off; to use just the laser; to use just the light; or to use the light and laser. Once the mode switch is set, twin rocker switches on the rear of the unit, positioned just forward of the trigger guard, are used to activate the light. Continuous and Momentary modes are available. Use your trigger finger or the thumb on your opposite hand to press the rocker down for Momentary, or flick it up for Continuous. It is a simple and very effective system. Although the battery life and brightness are not as great as the SureFire X400 or the TLR-2, the M6 TLI is less expensive and more versatile. One feature that made it stand out from its competition is the quick release latch, which made it easy to quickly remove. The M6 delivers good value for the money.

Streamlight TLR-2

The Streamlight TLR-2 combines a 3W Class II Luxeon LED white light with a Class IIIr laser. The laser sight is adjustable for windage and elevation. The TLR-2 includes four polymer rail keys that allow it to be attached to a variety of firearms: Glock rails, 1913 Picatinny rails, TSW & 99 rails, and Beretta rails.The Streamlight TLR-2's battery life and brightness outperform the SureFire X400 and the M6 TLI.

A four-position mode switch can be set to turn the unit completely off; to use just the laser; to use just the light; or to use the light and laser. Once the mode switch is set, twin rocker switches on the rear of the unit, positioned just forward of the trigger guard, are used to activate the light. Continuous and Momentary modes are available. Use your trigger finger or the thumb on your opposite hand to press the rocker down for Momentary, or flick it up for Continuous. It is a simple and very effective system.

Although Streamlight lists the TLR-2 as a "Pistol" light, mine spends most of its time on an AR15 carbine. It is designed for duty-size handguns, but it also fits a variety of full-size handguns and rifles. When the M6 is slipped onto the left-side Picatinny rail, my normal grip puts my thumb right on the rocker switch. The carbine wears a low-power variable scope, and the TLR-2 throws enough light to get a clear crosshair sight picture to almost 100 yards. Zeroing the laser was simple. The scope is sighted to place rounds 2 inches high at 100 yards. After dark, I found a tree about 100 yards away, rested the empty rifle and adjusted the laser to sit on top of the crosshair junction. I have removed and installed the M6 on the AR numerous times, and the point of impact has not shifted. When I attach the sight to my M&P 9mm or .45 ACP, the point of impact is nearly perfect at 15 yards, and no sight changes are needed to shift between those handguns and the carbine.