Tactical Strobe Flashlight

[tchostler]

Anyone use a tactical strobe flashlight? I have seen them advertized, any recommendations?
tc

[Jim 1855]

I have a SWAT officer friend that really likes the Gladius (sp?) light. The reports that I have heard are very positive.
Jim

[drollerindy]

I carry a Fenix P2D Premium 100 everywhere. It has a very convenient strobe feature and is quite powerful.
See my previous post: http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=37105

Doug

[tchostler]

Thanks for the info fellas. I think I'll order one. I have several very bright lights, but the strobe effect is what I'm looking for.
tc

[drollerindy]

Assuming you get a Fenix, let us know how you like it. I think they are great lights and have been trying to tell everyone I can. :)

Doug

[krackels]

I carry a Fenix P2D Premium 100 everywhere. It has a very convenient strobe feature and is quite powerful.
See my previous post: http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=37105

Doug
I just ordered a Fenix a few days ago. I'll let you know how I like it.

[tchostler]

Will do. thanks again.
tc

[tchostler]

After sorting through the mounds of info on these lights, I decided on the Gladius Night-Ops and added the upgrade to 160 Lumens. What really sold me was the frequency of the strobe. It's designed to flash at a rate that is the most disorienting. The booklet even mentions that the strobe effect can cause seizures in some individuals. Just what I want. The light is very well constructed and houses a lot of electronics that allows a 4 "channel" multi function switch. I purchased it from Stratego's Intl in MO. Ordered it on-line 2/7, modifications were made and I received it today. Very pleased.
tc

[ABC3]

+1 on the Gladius Night-Op. A fine light....

[Mastiff54]

I was looking for a compact rail mount model to keep from tying up 2 hands.
I just found the Blackhawk Xiphos which is only in the 60 lumen range.

Do you use a weapon mount or handhold yours?
If mounted which mount or model did you choose?

[Matthew Hutchins]

Not to sow dissent, but I've got some reservations about strobing flashlights.

I was shooting force on force in low light against an officer who had a Gladius, and he had a humdinger of a time finding the setting he wanted in the dark with rounds flying. It is a very fine motor skill to change modes. Moreover, if you run across people who train to fight into light (but really, what are the odds of that happening), the strobe is worth about what it takes to throw it across the room. If you want the strobe, buy the strobe, but for my money, a normal light with a good strike bezel on it (which I recall the Gladius having) is a better way to go. Do you want it because it is useful, or do you want it because it is cool? :)

Matt

PS: I'm not one to throw stones about buying cool stuff. My space is full of awesome but far less usefull stuff than a strobing flashlight. BTW that strobe effect is fantastic for marking position in the woods at night as long as you're not worried about light pollution.

PPS: Editod fer speling

[drollerindy]

The problem I see with the Gladius is that it has too many options controlled by the push button. Thats why I like the Fenix. One push turns it on bright, then one touch puts it into strobe. Other options are accessed by loosening the bezel.

Doug

[tchostler]

Thanks for your comments. It's true the Glad can be confusing at first, but the way that works for me is to rotate the switch all the way clockwise to begin with and counterclockwise to the effect you want. Strobe is the second position as you know. I usually don't use the other positions. If I want continuous illumination, I'll use a larger more powerful light.
tc

[Mark G]

This thread got me intrigued and after reading reviews of other Fenix products on the Flashlight Review sight I ordered a Fenix P3D Q5 flashlight this Wed and got the thing yesterday. It uses 2 CR123A batteries and is very bright at 215 lumens in turbo mode. It's waterproof to IPX-8 rating (highest) and is smaller than a Mini-mag.

Now only having had it for a day I can't give it a thorough test but on first impressions I have to say I like it. It's very simple to operate one push for on, tap it and you're in strobe mode. The bezel controls the intensity (and life of the battery). It comes with two extra O rings and switch boot.

I'm going to Australia next month and will see how it fares. Meanwhile, it's on my night stand next to my Les Baer for now.

[wichaka]

Skip the Galdius, and get the Insight H2X Typhoon. Insight makes the Galdius, and the Typhoon is the same model, but about 80.00 cheaper.......go figure.

Check out Insight's web site. insightlights.com

[drollerindy]

Mastiff54,
Insight now offers the Procyon weapon light at 130 Lumens with a strobe effect. As soon as I break free the money, one is going on the front of my Taurus. If you search for it, put weapon light in the search terms; there's a lot on "procyons" out there...

Doug

[John]

We are waiting for a Procyon for a review. We should have it soon.

[drollerindy]

GREAT :appld:
I'll wait for the review if i can contain my spending impulse. ;)

Doug

[Recon Pablo]

Currently I'm carrying an STI 5.0 Tactical with a Surefire X-300 attached to it. On my duty belt I carry a Gladius light in a Blade-Tech holster, up front, next to my buckle for ready access. Then in my flashlight/Sap pocket on my trousers I have a Surefire E2L Outdoorsman. I work evening shift from 2:30 to 10:30 pm, and even during day shift, the minute you walk through a door it may all go dark so have your light handy.

As the saying goes, "two is one, one is none."

Semper Fi!

[MoneyTree]

We are waiting for a Procyon for a review. We should have it soon.

John , is there a link to a list of the site's upcoming reviews ?


And I'll take this time to Welcome Recon Pablo to the forum .

[Recon Pablo]

Thanks MoneyTree, according to my kids that should be my name too! LOL!

[MoneyTree]

Thanks MoneyTree, according to my kids that should be my name too! LOL!

I received it from my three grandsons . I kept telling them that money doesn't grow on trees so often that they decided to call me the money tree . Thankfully they've out grown it and gone back to calling me papa . :)

[Mastiff54]

I have now received both a Xiphos and a Procyon rail mounted tactical light. I used (abused?) my son and grandson for testing of both. I had it mounted the rail of my Fusion 1911 - for safety I left the slide off and only used the frame. Distance was 10 to 30 feet

The Xiphos -
• Weak light - at 90 lumens it was barely disruptive to either persons; at 30 feet it was not disruptive at all. My Crimson Trace laser was easily visible on the target with this light.
• Strobe was slightly disruptive at 10 feet but was easily overcome by shading their eyes. At 30 ft it was not disruptive.
• Activation of the strobe was extremely difficult. The double tap was extremely unreliable even after a lot of practice. I am still only able to activate it 2 out of 10 attempts. Under faux stress drills I found the activation unreliable, distractive, and therefore worthless.
• Once the strobe was activated it remained on until deactivated allowing ready target acquisition.
• Other than the strobe activation I like the switch on the Xiphos best.

The Procyon
• Strong light was very disruptive causing both persons to shade their eyes immediately at both 10 and 30 ft. My Crimson Trace laser was moderately visible with this light and still provides good aiming capability.
• Strobe was very disruptive at both 10 and 30 ft
• Activation of the strobe was very easy and reliable
• The strobe requires the switch to be held in the momentary position and is deactivated (along with the light) upon release of the switch. Under faux stress drills I found that having to double tap and keep the switch activated was distractive and caused problems with target identification and acquisition.
• Switches were easy to reach and only slightly less convenient than the Xiphos

Should you decide to have a weapon mounted light (this is subject for another post in its self) neither of these lights were acceptable in my opinion. Since the purpose of the strobe is to be disruptive to the bad guy, it must be reliable, easy to activate and constant (without requiring manual effort) for quick target identification and acquisition.

Specific to weapon mounted strobes – until the manufactures change the switching to permit the strobe to be the primary mode of operation as opposed to the secondary, I would not recommend either of these two lights for use as weapon mounted accessories. By constant I am only referring to 1 to 5 seconds, not for sweeping an area.

I must qualify my review. I am not a LEO or a professional operator, just an aging knuckle head who takes his family's security seriously. Experienced and skilled professionals may have a completely different opinion of these tools.

[MoneyTree]

Mastiff54 , thank you . Very good hands on review . I especially like the family involvement aspect . It is an interesting read .

[drollerindy]

Mastiff54,
According to the Procyon spec sheet, if you double tap one side switch and, while holding it down, push the other side swith up to the constant on position, the strobe will stay on. Could you try that and let us know if it works and how hard it is to perform?

Thanks,
Doug

[Mastiff54]

Sure can and did Doug.
That was a part of the drill I performed. It is not difficult and works as described. It is the complexity of doing all these gyrations while trying to focus on an intruder and keeping your wits in a stressful situation - like defending your family or self. I want to focus on the situation and not the flashlight, and I think it would take many hours of training with the light to make it instinctive, and that training excercise would have to be continuous or it would be lost. I practice shooting at the club regularly and did try for a while, but I could not make it instinctive enough to make me want to try it should my home be invaded. For now I am continuing to use a Gladius held away from my body. The rail mount is only a back up.

The design of both of these rail mounted devices needs to be changed so that the strobe is the primary function when a switch is activated, not something requiring complex actions. Even if the strobe is only momentarily activated while the switch is held down would be much better, but I found the double tap far too complicated and then having to hold it down while hitting another switch was impossible in my faux tactical situation.
My simulation was simple, I had my son and grandson try to shoot me first with nerf guns while I was trying to maintain protective cover. I have to admit it was a fun excercise but they got me more than I got them any time I was trying to activate the strobe. The few times I did get the Procyon strobe activated as designed it did disrupt them and I did have 100% success even after a few excercises for them to get used to it. The Crimson Trace worked great when used with either light for target identification, but they usually were able to get a shot off at me every time I hit the constant light, especially with the Xiphos. I was also usually able to get a laser hit on them (and assume I would have been able to put the 45 acp in the same place in a real situation, probably sustaining a hit myself. By the way my 3 year old grand daughter was running around through out this and the trick was not targeting her.