A pistol light is crucial for use with concealed carry or any other shooting weapon when it’s dark. When considering a purchase, one of the key features to look for is reliability and adequate lighting. You need a reliable light that will not fail you when you most need it and adequate light to ensure you can clearly see your target. Some of the other key features to look out for include intuitive controls and intact positioning, which ensures the light keeps intact while in use. Below we look at the top 5 pistol lights that you need to have.
Why You Need a Pistol Light
One of the key reasons why you need a pistol light is that it enables you to concentrate on your target without distraction. Carrying a flashlight means you will be distracted as you try to adjust the light while aiming simultaneously.
The flashlight also helps you identify targets while in the dark. If you cannot identify the threat, a pistol light is key before you pull the trigger.
How to Identify the Best Pistol Lights: Key Features
Before venturing into the perfect pistol lights in the market, it’s important to understand the key features that you need to look out for. These include:
Easy Use and intuitive Controls
Find a pistol light that is easy to use with simple controls that need a minimal operation. The ambidextrous switch located at the rear is very crucial as it enables you to flip both up and down using the trigger finger, making it easy for both right and left-handed persons to use with no need for interchange. The same should be the case with buttons that should be easy to use. You also want to go for a light with modes that are not complicated and can easily adjust when you flip or touch.
Go for a Reliable Brand
Before making the purchase, look out for reviews, referrals, and recommendations from trusted people who have used the light you would like to purchase. You can purchase a light, and it ends up stalling when you need it or detaching from the weapon. Online reviews should also give a perfect picture since disappointed customers also leave negative reviews. You can gauge by the number of positive versus negative reviews on sites such as Google and the company’s social media pages. The Better Business Bureau is another great place to look. An A+ rating indicates trust and very few customer complaints. Consider testing some of the features if possible to ensure you leave with the right gadget
Light Output
Check out for a unit called candelas which defines the intensity of the light. It also tells how bright and intense the beam will be at the center.
Lumen’s unit, on the other hand, helps you determine the amount of light produced. This is the overall light produced by the pistol light. The higher the number, the brighter the light.
Compatibility With a Holster
If you carry your concealed carry around, you want to purchase a light compatible with the holster for easy movement. You can have a custom holster made specifically for your type of weapon though finding a ready-made one should not be very difficult.
Integrated Laser
An integrated laser makes it easier to aim. You can also easily tell where the barrel is pointed without the need for sights. If you do not have night sights, aiming your pistol is hard in the dark. A laser does not only make your pistol easy to use. It also offers additional functionality.
Water Resistance
Since you do not know when you will need to use your weapon, always consider a waterproof light to avoid interference during rainy seasons. The light should also withstand harsh conditions, including grime and other dirt such as mud and sand.
The Top 5 Pistol Lights
The key feature that makes these pistol lights stand out is the integration of the above key features to produce a superior product. They are not only popular but also come highly recommended with excellent online reviews as the best pistol lights.
SUREFIRE X 300 ULTRA
Top on the list is the SUREFIRE X 300 ULTRA. This is one of the brightest pistol lights in the market with the farthest casting. It has been touted as the best in the market with reliable light.
It fits most rail systems and also comes with an onboard steady switch. The light puts out 1000 lumens projecting a narrow beam for up to 1.25 hours. The beam goes for over 200 yards, and its center spot reaches over 11,000 candelas.
The X 300 is the go-to for most professionals, including the military and the police departments. It’s waterproof and can survive for up to 30 minutes under a meter of water. The pistol goes for around $296.
From the Surefire series, you may also consider the Surefire X 300 V, which is more tactical but mostly used on rifles.
STREAMLIGHT TLR- 1 HL
This is one of the best pistols among Streamlight pistol products and the second-best on this list, making Streamlight one of the highly trusted pistol brands. The TLR-1HL has a very bright light with a run time of 1.25 hours. It produces a 20,000-candela beam density that stretches over a distance of 300 yards. It pits out 100 lumens making the center beam more intense than the typical beam.
The TRL-HL has an ambidextrous on and off switch and securely fits on a broad range of weapons. The pistol produces a concentrated beam with optimum peripheral illumination as a result of tar optic. It’s ideal for searching an alley or clearing a room.
The light is durable and waterproof and can survive under 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. The average price is around $140.
The STREAMLIGHT TLR- 7A
The Streamlight TLR7A has reduced brightness, making it easy to use indoors. It pits out 500 lumens which is smaller and less bright compared to higher lumens. The beam reaches a maximum intensity of 5000 candelas and over 150 yards making it still usable outdoors.
The TLR 7A comes with a safe off feature, which helps prevent accidental activation, helping save batteries. It has a 1.5 hour run time on a 1CR 123A lithium battery and power LED for extreme brightness. It is also serialized for positive identification.
At 2.6 inches, it can fit on most standard-size pistol barrels. It is also waterproof and can last for 30 minutes under meter water. The average price is $120.
INFORCE WILD 2
The pistol has a sleek design for those that are particular about looks. Wild 2 produces 1000 lumens which is a full-size light with a beam intensity of 25,000 Candelas. The beam can stream up to 345 yards with a very bright center.
The pistol can be activated using the right or left paddle switches hence easy to use whether you are right or left-handed. It also comes with a specialized parabolic reflector which is very key when it comes to throwing and shaping the 100 lumens of light.
It also comes with a set of 123A lithium batteries which have a 1.5 minutes runtime. Inforce Wild 2 is 3.5 inches long and one of the heaviest at 4.7 ounces.
The pistol is housed in rugged anodized aluminum, making it completely dustproof and waterproof. It can therefore be used in any field conditions with maximum performance.
Inforce can mount on any gun equipped with Glock universal, generation 3 and 4, and 1913 such as the Sig Sauer P320. The standard pistol goes for around $180.
SIG FOXTROT1X
This is one of the lightest pistols at just under 2 ounces, though the Sig Sauer product still produces a great light at 450 lumens. It’s one of the best lights for home defense since it’s not too bright or too dim. Its beam covers a distance of 262 yards.
It has a 1.5 hour run time on a single CR123 battery. SIG can be used with a gun-mounted flashlight for tactical operations with lowlights or to illuminate a hunting trail.
The pistol has ambidextrous push buttons side switches. These allow both right and left-handed shooters to activate the weapon easily. It also has latching and momentary modes that suit different applications.
The pistol light comes with both M1913 and Glock sliding rails interface plates. These two enable you to adjust range optimally on your forearms rail. The pistol is 1.3 inches in height, 2.4 inches overall length, and weighs 0.9 ounces.
It has an IPX7 waterproof rating of 30 minutes under 1 meter of water and fog performance. As one of the cheaper pistol lights options, the SIG pistol’s average price is $80.
The above five pistol lights are the best in the market based on the highlighted key features that enable you to get the best from the light. They come with very positive reviews, and the prices are affordable.