Mike Boyle
The concept of mounting a light to a firearm is nothing new and this practice has been around since World War I. However, lights which were designed for pistols may not work as well when attached to patrol rifles.
In the 1960s, High Standard marketed the Model 10 shotgun to law enforcement agencies, a self-loading bullpup design which came complete with an integral light. Fast-forward 30 years and there was considerable interest from the police community on tactical lights for both handguns and shoulder weapons. Weapon mounted lights were once pretty much limited to SWAT operators, but are now common among patrol officers and investigators. Locally, just about all the coppers are now sporting a pistol with a weapon mounted light and as patrol rifles now dominate the territory formally ruled by the shotgun, these are also being equipped.
What You Can’t See Can Hurt You
Now more than ever, the ability to discriminate between life-threatening or nonthreatening behavior is even more critical than in the past. Clearly, we are in an era when violence directed at law enforcement officers is at an all-time high. For years, the number of officers feloniously slain in the line of duty was declining, but that is no longer the case. Conversely, law enforcement officers are under the microscope and even the most righteous of shootings will be challenged by certain elements. Shoot too soon without justification and you will be taking an extended vacation in the Graybar Hotel; however, a delay may cost you your life.
The bottom line is that we have precious few seconds to sort it all out and darkness compounds the problem. The obvious solution remains a light source. Some years ago, I was able to take a trip out to the Surefire Institute and I came away with a wealth of information. One of the points which stuck with me all these years was a statement by one of the staff instructors that “light helps us make an informed decision.” Light will no doubt keep us out of trouble, but will also put the bad guy at a huge disadvantage.
Fortunately, today, we have a wide selection of lights available which are dedicated for weapon use. Where it begins to get a little dicey is that the performance characteristics of lights optimized for a pistol may not be the best bet for a rifle. To arrive at the best possible answer, consider the context in which you may be using that light.
So, why do you need a light on a shoulder weapon? After all, scenarios when the police use a rifle or shotgun are far rarer than times when a handgun is used. Couldn’t we just use a handheld light along with our rifle or shotgun? Sure, you can, but I’m here to tell you that it all goes down the commode after the first shot and if you factor in a little movement. A weapon mounted light on the shoulder weapon is really the only way to go.
Also, consider the following: Service pistols are reactive weapons. They allow us to perform our routine duties with minimum inconvenience, yet give us the ability to instantly react to a deadly threat. Rifles and shotguns are proactive weapons and you make a conscious decision to bring them into the fight. In the dark of night, you may be excused should an errant round fired from your pistol hit something or somebody it shouldn’t. The fact that you chose to bring that shoulder weapon into the fight may, in fact, cause you to be held to a higher standard. Have a light and be absolutely sure of your target and beyond.
What Does All of That Stuff Mean?
Illumination tools, like many other products, are described in their own special language. For many people, these terms can be somewhat confusing, or even misleading, but by paying just a little attention to the details, you, too, will have no problem at all selecting the right light for your needs.
It goes without saying that we want a bright light. Total light output is expressed in lumens and the higher the number, the greater the potential for selecting a winner. However, the lumens rating represents only part of the picture. Another dimension is candela or the amount of light emitted in a particular direction. A light may very well have a high lumen output, but a modest candela rating. At typical pistol fighting distance, that particular light may be a very good choice. However, it may very well come up way short on a rifle when used at extended distance.
Perhaps the best analogy I can offer on lumens versus candela is a simple garden hose. The volume of water of passing through the hose equates to lumens while candela is the stream. Cranking down on the nozzle will certainly extend the distance the stream will travel. However, there are times a wider cone of spray is desirable. A high lumen count with a modest candela rating is ideal for pistols and indoor applications. On the other hand, if you need to reach out well beyond practical pistol distance, a higher candela rating is advisable. Consider the application for your weapon and you will have no problem making the right choice.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has now approved criteria for rating flashlights. In addition to lumens and candela, beam distance, runtime, water resistance, and shock resistance are also rated. This basically helps the end consumer make an educated decision and puts manufacturers on a level playing field. With rare exception, a high quality, cop-proof light is going to cost more than a few bucks. For many years, Streamlight® and Surefire dominated the tactical light game; however, in recent years, outfits such as Cloud Defensive, INFORCE®, Modlite, and Nightstick® have been putting out some great stuff. By all means, go with quality – buy cheap, buy twice!
Streamlight
Streamlight has been an industry leader in tactical lights for years and their current offerings for rifles are indeed top-shelf. I have been running a Streamlight TLR-9® on one of my rifles for some time and it has yet to disappoint. Brand-new additions to the extensive Streamlight line are the TLR® RM 1 and TLR RM 1 G Laser Rail Mounted Tactical Lighting System.
The TLR RM 1 is a low profile, rail mounted light which puts out an impressive 500 lumens and 5,000 candela. The beam is rated for 140 meters, certainly up for all but the most unusual low light scenarios. This unit features an independently operated push-button switch and remote switch, plus a safe-off feature which prevents accidental activation and saves batteries. In designing the TLR RM 1, Streamlight’s engineers incorporated a concentrated central beam with optimum peripheral illumination to make it ideally suited for a wide range of tactical applications.
The Streamlight TLR RM 1 G Laser boasts all of the desirable features of the TLR RM 1, but includes a green laser aimer. Lasers do indeed bring something to the table and are in fact the ultimate night sight. The mode selector on the TLR RM G Laser features a toggle switch for laser only, white light only, or the combination of laser and white light.
Recently, Streamlight introduced an improved version of their very successful PROTAC® series of lights, with handheld and weapon mounted offerings now available. The PROTAC 2.0 Rail Mount is designed to put out an incredible amount of light without sacrificing runtime. The user can draw on multiple settings including high (2000 lumens), low (250 lumens), or high/strobe. At the highest setting, the PROTAC 2.0 generates 17,700 candela with a beam distance of 266 meters.
The PROTAC 2.0 is rendered from 6000 series aircraft grade aluminum and wears a Type II Mil-Spec finish. However, the thing which sets it apart from most other lights is the new SL-650 battery which charges the light using a USB-C cord without removing the battery. This eliminates the need to remove the light from your rifle. Runtime at the highest setting is estimated at 2.5 hours with an incredible 11 hours when set on low.
SureFire®
For many years, I have run a SureFire WeaponLight on my personal shotgun and many of my outfit’s Remington 870™s are similarly equipped. I also have an original Scout Light® affixed to one of my rifles. A recent addition to the line is the M6000DF Scout Light which takes performance to a whole new level.
One big advantage the newer M6000DF has over my original Scout Light is dual fuel capability. It can run off the provided 18650 rechargeable lithium-ion battery or a pair of three volt 123A lithium batteries. Clearly, having that flexibility is a big plus. With the lithium-ion battery in place, the M6000DF is rated at 1500 lumens while the 123A batteries will produce 1200 lumens.
The M6000DF is easily attached to the Picatinny rail of your rifle by a thumbscrew clamp. The high performance LED, combined with a total reflection reflector lens, produce a hybrid suitable for a wide variety of real-world applications. With the lithium ion battery in place, the beam will reach out to 250 meters with 1.5 hours of runtime. For most patrol rifle applications, the M6000DF would be just the ticket.
Viridian®
Viridian is probably best known for their extensive line of lights and laser sights for pistols. A very short while ago, Viridian moved into new territory with the 4LUX CQ Grip Light which brings a very different dimension to the table.
The 4LUX CQ Grip Light is a very lightweight illuminator which can be affixed to any M-LOK direct attachment system. It also functions as a hand stop and activation is very intuitive when taking a shooting grip. Power is supplied by a pair of CR2 3V batteries which deliver 90 minutes of runtime. Built to stand up to hard knocks, the 4 LUX is impact- and weather-resistant.
As the name implies, the 4LUX CQ Grip Light is designed specifically for work in close quarters. Rated at 400 lumens, the floodlight lens saturates a room with intense white light. It is indeed different than the other products reviewed herein, but it would be a performer on a pistol caliber carbine, PDW or SMG which are typically used at shorter ranges than a rifle.
Final Thoughts
Threat discrimination and target identification remain the strong suit of weapon mounted lights. Although it can be done, coordinating a handheld light with a shoulder weapon is by and large an exercise in futility once the first shot or two has been fired.
Introducing intense white light into the night adapted vision of an aggressor will certainly help your cause. No, his face isn’t going to melt and he is certainly going to see your light, but he may not be able to define your form. To me, that sounds like a big advantage. A weapon mounted light may indeed help you gain compliance without any shots being fired and that, too, is another plus. And, if things get ugly, that intense white light can cut through the confusion, smoke and oncoming headlights to help you prevail. Next to a sling and a good set of sights, a weapon mounted light on your shoulder weapon is the way to go.
Captain Mike Boyle served with the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife, Bureau of Law Enforcement, and has been involved in firearms and use-of-force training for over 40 years. He has been a police academy director and rangemaster and remains active as an instructor providing basic, in-service and instructor level training. He is a member of ILEETA and NALEFIA. His book, Everything You Need to Know About Police Firearms Training, was recently published by Blue360 Media.