By Carlos Huerta
Streamlight TLR-1 Flashlights are known for their durability, versatility, and bright beams, and they are applicable both professional and casual users. Your firearm is an expensive, highly-capable tool. Why use a cheap accessory? The top three selling points when looking for a duty light is compact, lightweight and the ability to mount securely and quickly to a wide range of firearms. For both durability and brightness, the Streamlight TLR-1 is a good choice. This is not your ordinary duty flashlight. The TLR-1 light is a virtually indestructible tactical light fit for any firearm for any use.
Streamlight TLR-1 Features
The Streamlight TLR-1 is a 300 lumen, LED, weapon light that safely and securely attaches to your handgun. The LED has a 50,000 hour lifespan. It’s powered by Scorpion CR123 Batteries that run the light for up to two and a half hours. Unlike other brands, the TLR-1 is designed to run at maximum brightness until the very end. This is so you do not have to deal with a fading light in an inopportune time. The TLR-1 has an aluminum, sealed body with a black finish. The heavy duty coating protects the flashlight from scratches, corrosion and abrasions. This light is dust-proof, shock-proof, and waterproof. It’s been tested to withstand one meter of water for 30 minutes. The lens is also temperature and impact resistant. It weighs about 4.18 ounces and is 3.26 inches long. That is small for a powerful and durable light. Heavy flashlights can slow down your performance, but the TLR-1 is a light flashlight that doesn’t weigh down your gun. This ensures your weapon light does not affect your accuracy when operating the firearm.
The TLR-1 flashlight uses an ambidextrous switch also known as a paddle switch. Whether you’re a left or right-handed shooter, this weapon light will accommodate your needs. It has a momentary and constant-on modes, and there is a user programmable strobe that can be enabled or disabled.
TLR-1 Beam Functions
The Streamlight TLR-1’s wide beam lights up large areas. This weapon light can do more than just light up an area. Your light can also blind an attacker or home invader. The beam is designed to both illuminate an area and concentrate light on where the gun is pointing. This is a heavy duty beam lens and its build to withstand any abuse. The best part about the TLR-1 is that there’s a variety of holsters that will fit your gun when the light is mounted. You can choose from DeSantis, Safariland, Bravo Concealment, and so on. There’s so many options for you to choose from that will best fit your needs.
Mounting
It is so easy to mount your TLR-1 flashlight to your handgun. It mounts directly to the handgun with a rail grip clamp system. It attaches and detaches quickly with no tools and without putting your hands in front of the muzzle. In the box, along with the light, you’ll find batteries and a hex key, as well as Glock-style, Picatinny, Beretta 92FS, S&W 99, and S&W mount keys. The keys provide the mount with the adequate spacing allowing the proper purchase to stay firmly attached to your weapon’s rail system. When putting flashlights on a gun, they tend to take a lot of stress. Recoil from a handgun or a rifle can damage a flashlight, but not the TLR-1. This light was designed and made for stressful and intense situations. The TLR-1 is suitable with a wide range of firearms and long guns. You can easily find any light bearing holster to accommodate your light. It is proven to be a weapon and duty light.
Modifications
Streamlight also offers a number of accessories allowing users to modify the TLR-1 to match their intended use. Most significant of these accessories is the rifle mounting kit so your pistol isn’t the only firearm in the safe that gets a little Streamlight love. For example, if you wanted to add your light to your long gun, you can easily attach a rear pressure switch which allows you to turn on your weapon light without reaching across your barrel. Streamlight offers several remote switches to attach to your long gun for a smoother use. Also, Streamlight offers various filters to alter your light. You can add an infrared filter to transform your beam to be used with night vision. Another perk for the TLR-1 is the different mounts you can purchase to be able to wear the light on a helmet. This is ideal for military use so that you are able to be hands free and still have a sturdy weapon light.
Streamlight Excellence
Unlike other companies, Streamlight listens first to their customers to get an idea of what they would want to see in a light. Streamlight is a “hands-on” company. They are eager to learn from customer’s feedback. Their products are protected by a limited lifetime warranty. If their item is defective or flawed in any way, Streamlight will either replace, repair or refund your money. Streamlight is an American-made company and their products are assembled in the United States. However, some of Streamlight’s parts are sourced from China.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this light is easy to operate, heavy duty and simple to mount. It has a concentrated beam and is compact. It’s the complete weapon mounted light package, and no tools are necessary. Compared to other extreme bright flashlights, two and a half hours is a good runtime. Also, it doesn’t overheat unlike other brands, nor does it effect your aiming when at the range. This tactical light is able to take any recoil from any gun. The TLR-1 is the most cost-effective pistol light on the market. If it’s in your budget, I would definitely recommend the TLR-1. It has served me well over all these years, especially in my military days. I have used it in various situations, and this light is always up to the challenge. The Streamlight TLR-1 is a tough light, and like many other reviews praising the product, it should be trusted for those who want to know what they are shooting in the dark.
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