Torches!

[J.Carr]

New to the game, I'm interested to see what torches people are using. I'm thinking open minded in terms of fixing it to a weapon rail etc.

Something bright, not too heavy and not too deadly for the bank account!

[Esoterick]

I use one of these:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Element-M600c-Scout-Flashlight-Tactical-Torch-Airsoft-Weapon-Light-Black-UK-/131273699398

 

Mounts to a rail and has a pressure pad and switch options. Seems sturdy enough and it's fairly bright, lighter than a full size torch and apparently the front cover won't smash if shot.

 

It's a clone of the Surefire M600C, which whilst being much better quality is also getting on for £400

[J.Carr]

Cheers for the reply mate, il check it out!

[TheGrover]

I use that very torch. Plenty bright enough to blind enemies when you're in the dark.

 

It might also be worth getting a little picket torch. I use a 5.11 l1 thingy which has a strobe as well, easy to hold round a corner and look to see if any bbs come your way while you're safely in cover.

 

But whatever you buy, make sure it runs on 123A betteries coz those little bastards make powerful torches

[Antt570]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Eagle-Flashlight-Laser-Picatinny-Switch/dp/B00A6MAC4Q/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_5?ie=UTF8&refRID=0N4DNFW1H8W84M92NTPT

 

I bought one of these as a even cheaper version of the one above!

 

Doesn't come with batteries mind, but you can pick them up from Tesco/Sainsburys for less than £5

[MikeMarden]

This is was I opted for, worked a treat at a recent night event, I wasn't too keen on a pressure pad etc.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TrustFire-G02-600LM-CREE-LED-Flashlight-Torch-Tactical-Gun-Pistol-Handgun-Black-/181712586347

 

Very bright - Comes with two modes on & strobe, battery not included though!

 

Mike

[Antt570]

This is was I opted for, worked a treat at a recent night event, I wasn't too keen on a pressure pad etc.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TrustFire-G02-600LM-CREE-LED-Flashlight-Torch-Tactical-Gun-Pistol-Handgun-Black-/181712586347

 

Very bright - Comes with two modes on & strobe, battery not included though!

 

Mike

 

Out of interest buddy, can you get the torch to stay on at all times? Or the strobe to stay on? Or do you have to constantly keep the pad button pressed?

[MikeMarden]

 

Out of interest buddy, can you get the torch to stay on at all times? Or the strobe to stay on? Or do you have to constantly keep the pad button pressed?

 

Hi mate - It's one click & the light is on permanently & a second click for the strobe that then is on permanently, third click & it turns off

[iBrowniee x]

If you want one that looks good look at the PEQ boxes I have one on my m416 and it looks amazing with my holo sight

[TheGrover]

 

Hi mate - It's one click & the light is on permanently & a second click for the strobe that then is on permanently, third click & it turns off

I just got mine now, and damn if it's not bloody bright.

 

Five minutes after "testing" it and I still have a big blind spot burned into my retina

[MikeMarden]

I just got mine now, and damn if it's not bloody bright.

 

Five minutes after "testing" it and I still have a big blind spot burned into my retina

 

Haha! - Made that mistake myself!

[djben9]

interesting read, all good for future purchases!

years ago, Surefirre were the buzzword from memory, how so much has changed in the last few or so years

 

liking the Surefire M600C clone

[TheFull9]

SureFire hasn't 'gone away', far from it they've significantly updated their entire line and come out with some really good new models over the past year or two. They're just really bloody expensive and you can get a pretty bright LED light that's fine for airsoft use with a picatinny mount for £20 or less. In the current economic climate (combined with the availability of cheap stuff from china) the real deal stuff is never going to see much popularity amongst the average skirmishers.

[djben9]

agree there, they make some really nice stuff and id love a few of them, but yeah for airsoft and the chance of me damaging it, I'm with you on looking at alternatives!, a lot has changed, well ive seen, over the years

[ImTriggerHappy]

agree there, they make some really nice stuff and id love a few of them, but yeah for airsoft and the chance of me damaging it, I'm with you on looking at alternatives!, a lot has changed, well ive seen, over the years

I have a surefire tac light and it got the front shot out first time I used it. They are really good but the one I have is a glass lens so not really airsoft friendly. Have tried a few clones but gave up using a weapon light because it just makes you an easy target. Now I just use a couple of welco torches 180 lumen with a strobe. £12 each doesn't matter if I lose it or it gets broken. Have chucked them 20ft down corridors to light up a doorway and they still work perfectly.

[MrMcG]

I have two of these

 

Great bits of kit

 

Has both constant and strobe settings too

 

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131325023255?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[TheFull9]

agree there, they make some really nice stuff and id love a few of them, but yeah for airsoft and the chance of me damaging it, I'm with you on looking at alternatives!, a lot has changed, well ive seen, over the years

 

I wasn't actually saying I prefer alternatives; if you're worried about damage to a SureFire you just put in a sacrificial lens, the metal body of the light's never going to be damaged by a BB. Various ways of covering up the actual light emitting head. But I'm quite conscious of the fact they're excessively built for most airsoft usage and to be honest, I'm pretty wary of reverse-snobs these days after various things I've had said to me.

 

But anyway, right now I have a few SF lights of various models because I tried some Insight clones initially and they quite literally fell apart on me the first game I tried to use them. That made me purchase a Streamlight TLR-1 and once I saw how much higher the RS quality actually is (even at the 'lower end' with the TLR) I never looked at a clone again. The clones have generally gotten quite a bit better since then, long as you're careful what you pick (from what I've seen), but personally I don't trust them any more. Plus I like the fact I can get a wide variety of mounts and other things for the SF lights and know they'll all fit together and work. But as with anything, it all depends what you want in this great game of ours.

[shortman]

I kinda go the other way and have a 75lumen pistol torch fitted to my m4 as it is bright enough to see by and pick out wnimies in the dark but not so bright that an i xan be seen from space.

 

Rule nuber 1 of a torch if you can see, you can be seen!

 

The brighter th torch the further away people notice the light moving arond from.

[Raggedy_man]

Just don't use head torches... ever! They just beg to be shot at and I'm more than happy to oblige.

[TheFull9]

I think there's a lot of misunderstandings regarding the tactics of light employment in this thread. Nobody who has even the faintest clue what they're doing ever walks around with a 300-500 lumen light set to constant on; or indeed turns on their light for any more than about half a second when there's any chance there might be enemy presence close by (and only then if it's really necessary).

 

All my weapon lights are equipped with momentary-only switches/remote pads. When you need light to navigate, you have something small in the range of sub-50 lumens using red, green or blue and obviously use it as sparingly as possible but just as much as is necessary to not break your face on something. The light on your pistol or rifle will depend on your environment as if you're outside you want something brighter than if you're indoors (especially with white walls) but will generally be white and 200+ lumens. You use it in short, controlled bursts to highlight your target once you're actually engaged with said target, then fire and move inbetween firing the light to keep an eye on the enemy. If it's a strong light and they've been in the dark for even a minute or so it'll be disorienting to the enemy. Regardless of how much their eyes have adjusted the source of the light they're seeing won't be small enough to give an accurate aiming point; often quite the opposite and they'll likely see a very large cone of light. When combined with the fact you should be moving and they're trying to fire back while taking fire themselves, they shouldn't be able to get a proper bead on you at all, whereas you will have seen them clearly through proper employment of your light and will be able to get a precise aim on them.

 

Not having a dig at anyone, but I think there will be lurkers who aren't familiar with this sort of thing as it's rarely mentioned in airsoft.

[ImTriggerHappy]

I think there's a lot of misunderstandings regarding the tactics of light employment in this thread. Nobody who has even the faintest clue what they're doing ever walks around with a 300-500 lumen light set to constant on; or indeed turns on their light for any more than about half a second when there's any chance there might be enemy presence close by (and only then if it's really necessary).

 

All my weapon lights are equipped with momentary-only switches/remote pads. When you need light to navigate, you have something small in the range of sub-50 lumens using red, green or blue and obviously use it as sparingly as possible but just as much as is necessary to not break your face on something. The light on your pistol or rifle will depend on your environment as if you're outside you want something brighter than if you're indoors (especially with white walls) but will generally be white and 200+ lumens. You use it in short, controlled bursts to highlight your target once you're actually engaged with said target, then fire and move inbetween firing the light to keep an eye on the enemy. If it's a strong light and they've been in the dark for even a minute or so it'll be disorienting to the enemy. Regardless of how much their eyes have adjusted the source of the light they're seeing won't be small enough to give an accurate aiming point; often quite the opposite and they'll likely see a very large cone of light. When combined with the fact you should be moving and they're trying to fire back while taking fire themselves, they shouldn't be able to get a proper bead on you at all, whereas you will have seen them clearly through proper employment of your light and will be able to get a precise aim on them.

 

Not having a dig at anyone, but I think there will be lurkers who aren't familiar with this sort of thing as it's rarely mentioned in airsoft.

Doesnt always work quite like that. If you play at somewhere like the mall quote a few regulars can move around in the pitch black because we know the layout so well. This enables us to go hunting for the enemy and anybody who uses a torch even for a split second is an easy target you just shoot for center of the light.

I only use a light to draw people out or defensively to light up a point of entry.

I think how you use a light depends on the environment and the opposition. If you are are facing people who know a layout so well then they work against you. If you are both on unfamiliar groud then the person using the light effectively definitely has the upper hand.

[TheFull9]

Wouldn't dream of suggesting it always works like that, I'm talking basic real-world tactics that you can apply to any environment, regardless of knowing the place you're in like the back of your hand (or not). Personally I don't ever go to the same place often enough to learn it down-pat, so I use a light the same way I would in reality. I like the practice aspect of doing that.

 

Either way, from a safety aspect, using a small nav light, or indeed any light, never works against you. Plenty of crap to trip over at The Mall (as an indoor example) and even more brick walls to smack your head on if you do fall over.

[Esoterick]

One thing I think some people overlook is how use of light effects your team. I've had a couple of occasions at The Outpost where a team mate turns his torch on and off checking different areas, my eyes were adjusted to the dark but now it's basically impossible to see without that damn torch lol.

 

I'm not saying people shouldn't do it but it goes from me thinking that i'll get used to the dark to thinking I wish I had a torch now as my eyes can't adjust.

[shortman]

Im not saying it works agianst you but it can certianly give up a position, i play bunker most of the time and all it takes is a shining torch two tunnels over and you know exactly where to head to get people! And i agree as all the torches i use have flash switches/pads but again that few secs can be enough for people a few tunnels away to start homing in on you! You are quite right the site itself will have alot to do with the efectiveness of the torch and the way you can use it. But is a clear concept if you turn one on you stand as much chance being seen as you do being able to now see.

[TheFull9]

Im not saying it works agianst you but it can certianly give up a position, i play bunker most of the time and all it takes is a shining torch two tunnels over and you know exactly where to head to get people! And i agree as all the torches i use have flash switches/pads but again that few secs can be enough for people a few tunnels away to start homing in on you! You are quite right the site itself will have alot to do with the efectiveness of the torch and the way you can use it. But is a clear concept if you turn one on you stand as much chance being seen as you do being able to now see.

 

I agree with what you've said, but you seem to have ignored what I mentioned about nav lights. A 20-30 lumen light in red, green or blue will certainly not be visible from long distances/across lanes/around corners etc the way a strong white light would; very far from it. If people flash their weapon lights around just for the purposes of seeing where they're going then that's a problem with their specific equipment and tactics, it's not a problem with lights.

 

One thing we all got told to buy going through basic was a small Gerber torch with filters for the above mentioned colour as well as white, we all used them extensively through many long nights and they worked well indeed. A white light will absolutely give away your position as well as ruining your night vision along with the rest of your teams'; a small red light will not do any of those things realistically when used properly. Airsofters just don't take this in to account as they're not aware of it, you can't bunch all lights in one category as all having the same effects.