Which weapon light? *Surefire, Viridian, or Streamline?*

[UpandComer]

Think I'm going to buy a Five-seveN sometime in the next month and was checking out weapon lights. Seems like the top 3 are:

Surefire X400 - $430
Viridian X5L - $265
Streamline TLR-2 - $245

I'd take the Surefire without even looking at anything else if it weren't for the outrageously high price. Is it worth the additional expense over the Viridian or the Streamline? Besides build quality, the Streamline is only 80 lumens and the Viridian is 100 lumens, while the Surefire is a whopping 170 lumens (over double the bright intensity of the Streamline).

What do you guys recommend most for the 57? Is the Surefire worth saving up for and buying later as opposed to buying the Viridian or Streamline as soon as I get the gun? Any pictures of either of these setups on a 57?

[justjeepn]

I do not have a pic for you, but I do own the new Viridian C5L and IMHO it has a cleaner look to it and comes with 2 extra rails to accomodate several other pistols, one being the FNH 5.7. Good luck.

[UpandComer]

I do not have a pic for you, but I do own the new Viridian C5L and IMHO it has a cleaner look to it and comes with 2 extra rails to accomodate several other pistols, one being the FNH 5.7. Good luck.

Thanks. Were you considering the X400 also? What made you decide to go with the Viridian?

[UpandComer]

I think I'm split between the Surefire and the Viridian. Want to go with the Surefire but it doesn't have a strobe function and the Viridian does. justjeepn, what do you think of the strobe function? Is it worth it? If a bad guy broke into your house, would you turn on the strobe or regular light?

[tqtran]

If a bad guy broke into your house, would you turn on the strobe or regular light?

I'd turn on the muzzle flash.

In an indoor situation, you point your light at the floor to light up the room.
The only time your gun would be pointed forward at someone is if you are about to pull the trigger.
Try it sometime, point your light at an angle toward the floor.
The light bounces off the floor and walls to light up the whole room.

Then the question comes, why waste your time turning on the strobe???
If you are LEO, then I can see the use of strobe.
But for a civilian in a breakin situation....

[UpandComer]

If a bad guy broke into your house, would you turn on the strobe or regular light?

I'd turn on the muzzle flash.

In an indoor situation, you point your light at the floor to light up the room.
The only time your gun would be pointed forward at someone is if you are about to pull the trigger.
Try it sometime, point your light at an angle toward the floor.
The light bounces off the floor and walls to light up the whole room.

Then the question comes, why waste your time turning on the strobe???
If you are LEO, then I can see the use of strobe.
But for a civilian in a breakin situation....

Good point. But help me out... how would a strobe benefit an LEO but not a civilian?

[tqtran]

disorient, detain, and arrest

Do you plan on doing those things?

[UpandComer]

disorient, detain, and arrest

Do you plan on doing those things?

Probably not. The strobe function seemed pretty effective in the movie Kick-Ass though.

[tqtran]

The strobe function seemed pretty effective in the movie

Life isn't a Movie.
Use the Strobe if you want, I'm just saying that I won't.
I suggest that you take a "Night Shooting" defensive class.
Don't take my nor anyone else's Internet "Word" for it, go learn it for yourself.

[UpandComer]

The strobe function seemed pretty effective in the movie

Life isn't a Movie.
Use the Strobe if you want, I'm just saying that I won't.
I suggest that you take a "Night Shooting" defensive class.
Don't take my nor anyone else's Internet "Word" for it, go learn it for yourself.

I like that idea. Any recommendations for a particular school?