Tactical Handgun Lighting
 

Gents:

Just recently acquired my first personally purchased tactical handgun light.

I bought a Surefire X200A, which I had previously examined at the Shot Show. It is a 6v. light, momentary or constantly switched, and it is absolutely tiny for the illumination it puts out. It will also slip quite handily on any rifle or carbine with a free section of 1913 rail, I tried it on my M-4 and it works great at less than half the size of the WeaponsLights. This light also makes a very convenient hand held light. I have decided that if not mounted already, this light will go in my tactical vest permanently.

I had no pistol on hand with a tactical rail, so I had to order a rail and have it installed.

I bought the Caspian Recon Rail, and had my local smith install it on my house pistol, a modified Para P-13 Limited.

Here are a few pics of the weapon with the rail, which is a pretty compact package.

Hope this helps someone who is looking for a light.

TR

Dammit, wheres the light??????????

There is another version of the switch available that is a pressure tape type with the switch located back under the triggerguard.

The X200A version I have is a push momentaty, rotate constant switch system.

As I understand it, the switches are interchangable by replacing the rear battery compartment cover, which contains the switch.

This is the light mounted. Note the very compact package.

TR

Whew, much better..

Nice light!

(nice background bag also!)

Slow down, there, Hoss!

I can only post once per minute due to board limitations.

Light is on.

TR

Hey, I think they even fit the H&Ks. They come with two latches for the different rails.

This light is the heat, TS!

TR

Very nice Sir. Gotta be the most compact pistol mounted tac light on the market right now.

SWEET! Now - what's the skinny? Tech specs, sources, prices, etc. You can't just throw it out there for bragging rights and leave the rest of us hanging. And what are you planning to use for a holster when it's all said and done? YIS - Peregrino

Details, details, I guess your Search or Google button is broken as well....

It can be had for under $200, BTW.

TR

http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main....110&sesent=0,0

X200 LED WeaponLight (X200)
PRICE: $ 250.00

The X200 features aluminum body construction and a special computer engineered Total Internal Refection (TIR) focusing lens for a tight diamond-shaped central beam and a broad peripheral corona. The special lens allows the X200 to project a tightly focused beam at greater distances than comparably sized lights. The window is constructed of tempered Pyrex® and has an anti-reflective coating. The X200 is designed to fit both the Universal Standard rail as well as the MIL STD M-1913 (Picatinny) rail, and includes adapter plates for both. A momentary toggle/push switch allows fail-safe ambidextrous function under fire.
The X200 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 useable life of the batteries (as opposed to unregulated lights, which are subject to a steady decline in light intensity beginning shortly after activation). The X200 produces over an hour of tactical light output followed by 30 minutes of declining intensity light.

Batteries - Two SureFire lithium SF123 3.0 Volt with 10-year shelf life

1.34" high by 1.43" wide by 3.47" long

Weighs less than 4 ounces

Direct mounts to all rail-equipped Glocks and other popular handguns including Beretta, SIG, Springfield and Kimber

Instantly attaches and detaches

Extended runtime

Includes rail interface kit for conversion to Picatinny rail

Superior smoke-cutting ability

Accepts optional pressure-activated switch that extends under trigger guard. Pressure-pad tape switch for long guns coming soon.

MilSpec Type III hard-anodized aluminum construction

Waterproof to 30m/99ft

Ambidextrous momentary and constant-on switch

Flawless beam, always in focus

Bright enough to momentarily blind an opponent

See - All you have to do is jerk their chain and they come through on the challenge. :p Now the rest of us need to see if we can get enough interest for a group buy. I have it from a reliable source (who must remain unnamed) that if we can generate enough interest, he has a POC who might be able to get a decent group price. I for one am interested, especially if my wife doesn't see this post before I can get another job to pay for it! YIS - Peregrino

I'm in for the group buy.

Great photos TR....once again setting the standard!

Nice! I think I may need two.

Guy, I do not see that as unreasonable.

For those not familiar with the Surefire lights, the two lithium batteries have over a 10 year shelf life (unrefrigerated) and are only $15 per dozen from Surefire. The light provides an hour of high intensity illumination, followed by continuing light at a decreased output, and due to the LED lamp, never requires a bulb replacement.

Thanks, Joe!

TR

Does that indicate that you suggest refrigerated batteries have a longer shelf life?

I was taught that cold unloads batteries, which is why in arctic environments you are supposed to take them out of your tractor and dig them a hole which you isolate and then cover.

That is according to the Swedish mil, but I've heard elsewhere to put them in a refrigerator.

A certain temperature range, perhaps?

I have seen a few of these lights. I like the size and the light output. That being said, I am not a fan of the rocker switch. On all of the examples I have seen, the switch was "Mushy" and lacked positive clicks when engaged. If I were to get one of these, I would go for the "Low Profile" switch, or the tape switch.

Just My $.02

Yes, refrigerating "Dry Cell" batteries radically extends their Shelf Life. All batteries have a certain amoiunt of "electrical leakage" in them, coupled with the normal chemical reaction betwen the various compounds that they are made from will limit their useful life. Note, "Refrigerate", not FREEZE !!! I'll look up some data on Shelf Life Extensions for "Nicad" cells that we use and post it later.

Now on a vehicle battery, they are "wet cells" and they will really suffer if subjected to extreme freezing conditions.

Also, when any of the batts have been subjected to cold, they should not be used untill they return to normal operating temperature.

For rechargeable Nicads:

SHELF LIFE 30 DAYS FROM CHARGING DATE AT AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OR 120 DAYS IF STORED BETWEEN 32 AND 41 DEGREES F.

This is from one of the Nicad Batt Manufacturers that we use.

Thanks AM!

Group buy price estimate?

I am in for (2)two if the price is right. :cool:

From the pictures on Surefire's site, the switch plate looks almost identical to the Streamlight/ITI M series. I had an M3x rifle mounted in Iraq. *If* the Surefire switch plate is of the same construction, they will break if you do anything resembling vehicle operations. My bottom tab went first, then the top (it'll be sideways on a rifle). If it wasn't for the backup tape switch I brought, I'd have been SOL. If the tabs are plastic and attached to a thin, rectangular metal rocker switch, be wary.

P

reaper,
SWEET pistol! here's a pic of my custom P14.45 signature model with GG&G rail installed.
cheers,
MM

*If* constructed the same as ITI, this can happen:

Not the same switch.

The X200A uses a rocker on either side of the battery compartment. Forward pressure activates momentary, rotation activates constant on.

The other X200 model uses a tape switch which goes under the trigger guard.

Will have to take a pic later.

TR

So, where are we on the handgun lights?

I found this online with my googleFU. I know nothing about this company. Can this price be beat by anyone's contact on the group price?

$189.00 http://www.botac.com/surefirex200.html

You may want to give these guys a call:

http://www.shomertec.com/contact.cfm

They don't list that light in their catalog, but they may have them. Their prices have been very competitive in the past for me.

Take care.
Martin

Gentlemen:

RE the add on rails, I've heard that they tend to work their way loose. What is your experience with this?

I plan on buying a 5" 1911 (for 3 gun comp. and home defense, hence the light) either with an integral rail or adding a rail onto a non-railed weapon.

The price difference can be significant, hence my interest in the add on rails.

Regards

Botach has a VERY checkered rep, and I would exercise lots of caution in dealing with them. Caveat emptor.

As far as the rails working loose, the Caspian puts the screws inside the dustcover to increase the contact area. I also asked my 'smith to Black Loctite the screws and JB Weld the rail on as well. Some are actually welding the rails onto the pistols.

As an aside, I do not think that you can mount the rail on an alloy framed gun, or a 1911 with less than a 4" barrel.

TR

Thanks for the rep advisory TR
 

If that was for me, it is not intended for my Kimber Sir.
I would like one for a different personal weapon. The second one was for my brother as a present. He just got one of those .40 SW99's.

Roger that. Thanks for the information, TR.

Hey Sir,
I wonder if they have one for Glock 23 or 19. I would definately be interested.

L5

I do not think so, though there may be a source for a Glock add on rail, frankly, it is probably cheaper and easier to sell your Glock and buy a new one with the built in rail.

TR

I THINK that I heard that Glock will update older pistols to the new style with rail for a fee. I would Contact Glock direct. They should have answers.

Glock will replace the lower receiver with a 3rd generation frame with the finger-grooves and accessory rail for a nominal fee. You have to contact Glock in Smyrna, GA and send in your pistol, and they will charge you about $150 or so to replace it.

I have a sig 220, but it doesn't have a rail system. My question is, are there any good lights, that don't use a rail or should I spend the money and get a rail mounted on it?

Some of the older Surefire systems didn't require a rail but I'm not 100% on whether they work on the Sig 226/220 weapons or if they're even still available.

/edit:

http://www.action-lights.com/product...673.asp?bhcp=1

It appears that they are still available.

They are still available. I don't know the model #'s but a quick call to surefire can fix that for you.

I had a very bad experience with that company. Ordered a gun safe from them based on assurance of prompt shipment, then they were out of stock and did not ship and I ultimately had to cancel the order. That did not stop them from putting me on a seriously annoying e-mail list that spammed the living daylights out of me for a while.

Perhaps this was an isolated event, but I do not plan to buy anything from them again.

Agreed, I would avoid Botach like the plague.

TR

Ditto that. I had SEVERAL instances where they did not delivery as promised.

For those of you who are interested, there is an armorer here at the Dept. of Energy who makes rail mounts. I don't know what he wants for them, but if you're interested I can get his contact info for you.