What's your preference for light for a long gun?  Particularly an AR.

I am in the process of putting together an AR and deciding on what direction to go with a light.  I currently have one with a Surefire X300 Ultra and another with a Surefire G2 with the Haley Thorntail mount.  I think both are really good setups.  My preference is the X300, but they are also pricey going for $250-260 retail and around $190-200 on eBay.  Whereas I already have a G2 on hand and would just need a mount. 

I've considered trying a Streamlight TLR or Inforce.  For the Streamlight, I like and have gotten used to the push on operation of the Surefires.  I have friends who have the TLR on their handguns, but haven't really shot with them.  I really like Streamlight lights though and have a bunch of their handheld lights.  I might have one that is compatible with a Thorntail mount.  I actually have a VLTOR mount that can fit the G2, but I like how the Thorntail mount allows the light to be mounted further forward and attachment is more out of the way. 

I also have two older X300s that I have on a couple of handguns and have also thought about taking one of those and putting is on the new long gun.  Though I do want to keep my handguns setup as is.  While the X300 Ultra is brighter, I think the older X300 are plenty bright (I think around 180 lumens as opposed to 500-600 lumens for the Ultra).

I had an Inforce traditional 2 battery light with a rear tail switch and it worked fine but ended up switching to their rifle light. The integrated mount on the light saved me weight from having a 1" mount that I put the earlier light in. The angled button is also a little more ergonomic. They come in 2 different sizes. I have always liked their products and have never really had any problems with any of their lights. Their new ones are some sort of carbon fiber plastic material and they are very light.

http://inforce-mil.com/products/rifle-carbine-lights/wml-white/

Streamlight TLR on a frontsight rail mount.  It's cheap with the TLR costing about $125 and rail mount was around $20.  I was going to get the remote switch for it, but found that the built-in switch is in the perfect place and I can activate it momentary/constant easily.

One downside is it's a little harder to use left handed, but still usable.

I had an Inforce traditional 2 battery light with a rear tail switch and it worked fine but ended up switching to their rifle light. The integrated mount on the light saved me weight from having a 1" mount that I put the earlier light in. The angled button is also a little more ergonomic. They come in 2 different sizes. I have always liked their products and have never really had any problems with any of their lights. Their new ones are some sort of carbon fiber plastic material and they are very light.

http://inforce-mil.com/products/rifle-carbine-lights/wml-white/

I've considered that light (or similar).  From what I've read, it seems like recent improvements have made them much better than the previous/original versions.  I don't have any experience with them either way, so no personal bias.  One thing is that with the X300, I have it just in front of a fixed front sight, like Vickers' setup.  The X300 and TLR's switches end up each side of the front sight, whereas you'd need a gap between the Inforce and a fixed front sight.  Even then, you have to sort of reach around the front sight.  Something that I'd have to test out.

Streamlight TLR on a frontsight rail mount.  It's cheap with the TLR costing about $125 and rail mount was around $20.  I was going to get the remote switch for it, but found that the built-in switch is in the perfect place and I can activate it momentary/constant easily.

One downside is it's a little harder to use left handed, but still usable.

I should also clarify that my gun with the X300 is a 12" quad rail and the light just in front of a DD fixed front sight.  The gun with the G2 and Thorntail is with gun with FSP.  Even with the light sitting on the left side, I can still reach and activate when shooting left as it's not too far to reach with my right hand thumb. 

I've seen the mount that you describe.  Does your hand get close to touching the FSP?  Probably not a big deal, but after a day of training it might be pretty hot. 

Inforce WML at 12 o'clock position all the way forward on rail. Folding buis behind that

I've considered that light (or similar).  From what I've read, it seems like recent improvements have made them much better than the previous/original versions.  I don't have any experience with them either way, so no personal bias.  One thing is that with the X300, I have it just in front of a fixed front sight, like Vickers' setup.  The X300 and TLR's switches end up each side of the front sight, whereas you'd need a gap between the Inforce and a fixed front sight.  Even then, you have to sort of reach around the front sight.  Something that I'd have to test out.
I should also clarify that my gun with the X300 is a 12" quad rail and the light just in front of a DD fixed front sight.  The gun with the G2 and Thorntail is with gun with FSP.  Even with the light sitting on the left side, I can still reach and activate when shooting left as it's not too far to reach with my right hand thumb. 

I've seen the mount that you describe.  Does your hand get close to touching the FSP?  Probably not a big deal, but after a day of training it might be pretty hot.

I have mine at about the 11 o clock position. That way the shadow is case down and to the right so it doesn't obscure a target much.

Inforce WML at 12 o'clock position all the way forward on rail. Folding buis behind that

Have you shot with the BUIS up?  Does it get in the way of activating the light? 

I have mine at about the 11 o clock position. That way the shadow is case down and to the right so it doesn't obscure a target much.

At 11 o'clock?  What rail or mount do you use for that?  With the Thorntail, the G2 ends up maybe 1030ish.  But I would envision the Inforce being at either 3/6/9/12 o'clock positions.  I've seen many mount then on either the 3 or 9 o'clock positions. 

I use the good ol' surefire G2 with a cheap-o offset mount that works perfectly fine. Been considering in the Primary Arms Gen III Ultimate Weapons Light but havent dug up the money to try it out.

consider a light with shock isolation
the constant recoil will develop a toll on solder joints etc.
dedicated weapon lights are a little more expensive than ordinary hand helds because of the design

I dunno, Surefire G2's have been used for quite a long time even as weapon lights

I dunno, Surefire G2's have been used for quite a long time even as weapon lights

Correct. You don't know.
Ive seen solder joints fail. Incandescent bulbs had a filament that could also fail. LEDs are surface mount but they are still prone to solder joint cracks. Im sure you could improve G2s by epoxy potting the boards but a light designed to be mounted on a weapon would be the most reliable.

Consider the 6px.?

I have both g2x led and 6px led. The 6px has a spring between head unit and battery. (I assume so battery doesn't hit circuit board during recoil.) Combined with that and led head unit it should be better than a g2??
I think I have the tactical model. Single output. I know my g2 is dual output, got to check later.

I may be wrong but eh haven't given me problems. I use tlr 1 s on my pistols and also haven't had any problems. Still got a couple bnib tlr1s for a rainy day when I'll need it. For now I just use 1 of them and swap/ put it on my pistols to get a feel for it.

I too have got a G2 dual output and a 6PX (both have LED bulbs) mounted on my ARs and they haven't given me any problems (yet...) and its spends more time in the rain when I'm out hunting during nightfall. I still want to give the primary arms gen 3 light a try since it's essentially a cheaper look-alikes of the surefire scouts and primary arms seem to have a very good reputation anyway and it's supposed to be a dedicated weapon light too.
I also run muzzle brakes so maybe that might contribute to the life of the lights in some way or another but I haven't heard or read any bad stories of the G2 myself besides breaking from using rechargeable batteries.

Ren
Are the elzetta/malkoff flashlights good to go?
They have the potted head that you mention.

For now I'm just using streamlight polytacs in the elzetta mount that attaches to the fsb.  I like the 6 o clock position because it is easier to store a gun in a case and ambidextrous.

Was planning to get some surefire bodies and putting on malkoff heads but haven't gotten to it yet

I've heard good things about the Malkoff/Surefire combos as well as the newer infroce stuff. I had an older WML that I liked but just wasn't bright enough. I think their new one puts out 400 lumens? If I was trying to keep coat down, the latest gen WML is what I'd go with but I don't have any fixed sights and could see it being a little awkward in front of one. My personal preference is an M600IB at the 1:00 with a tape switch at the 12:00, but that is a pricey setup. The IB is really cool technology.

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Ren
Are the elzetta/malkoff flashlights good to go?
They have the potted head that you mention.

For now I'm just using streamlight polytacs in the elzetta mount that attaches to the fsb.  I like the 6 o clock position because it is easier to store a gun in a case and ambidextrous.

Was planning to get some surefire bodies and putting on malkoff heads but haven't gotten to it yet

I've heard good things about the Elzetta.  They are kinda pricey, but I guess not much different than Surefire. 

I have a bunch of Streamlight lights, but none on any of my guns.  They are good quality lights at decent prices, at least IMO.

Gun with the G2x has been through a couple of carbine courses.  The highest round count was about 1000 over two days.  It held up fine.  I'm not saying that that proves anything, just that it didn't fail after being put through something more than a fun range day.  However, not as much as lights used on deployments. 

My preference remains the X300 at 12 o'clock and actually have been considering getting rid of the upper for the gun with the G2x on it soon. 

I've heard good things about the Malkoff/Surefire combos as well as the newer infroce stuff. I had an older WML that I liked but just wasn't bright enough. I think their new one puts out 400 lumens? If I was trying to keep coat down, the latest gen WML is what I'd go with but I don't have any fixed sights and could see it being a little awkward in front of one. My personal preference is an M600IB at the 1:00 with a tape switch at the 12:00, but that is a pricey setup. The IB is really cool technology.

SNIP

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Before I got the X300 Ultras, the original X300 I think was in the 180-200 lumen range.  The G2x on another guns is the older model and I believe is 180 lumens.  I've had them all out at the range in the dark and 180 lumens is plenty for at least 50 yards.  Haven't shot at night with either yet though. 

I recently picked up another X300 Ultra a couple weeks ago an it's 600 lumens.  I think when the X300 Ultra first came out (like 3-4 or so years ago) I want to say it was 500 lumens.  Both very bright and more than enough for what I'd envision using a light for. 

Before I got the X300 Ultras, the original X300 I think was in the 180-200 lumen range.  The G2x on another guns is the older model and I believe is 180 lumens.  I've had them all out at the range in the dark and 180 lumens is plenty for at least 50 yards.  Haven't shot at night with either yet though. 

I recently picked up another X300 Ultra a couple weeks ago an it's 600 lumens.  I think when the X300 Ultra first came out (like 3-4 or so years ago) I want to say it was 500 lumens.  Both very bright and more than enough for what I'd envision using a light for.

The first gen Inforce WMLs were 125 I believe. I'm good with anything over 250 really. You're correct on the original 300Us vs current, they got a bump from 5 to 6.


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I have Malkoff heads mounted on 951 bodies and they have withheld a few magazines worth of live fire.
I had a 1st gen Surefire weaponlight with the incan bulb. The wire going into the switch failed.