In 2015, SureFire modified the sport for hid carriers who needed a weapon-mounted gentle with the introduction of the pint-sized XC1. Since then, firms like Olight, Inforce, and Streamlight have continued pushing compact weapon lights to the following degree. At SHOT 2018, Streamlight launched what could possibly be thought-about the king of compact weapon lights, the Streamlight TLR-7.
Streamlight TLR-7 Compact Weapon Mild
Whereas the TLR-7’s 500-lumen output is spectacular, the sunshine additionally places out a claimed 4,300 candela to supply some attain. Why is 4,300 candela spectacular when the gold normal SureFire X300 Extremely (1,000-lumen mannequin) places out over twice as a lot candela? Merely put, once you examine the output to different lights within the “concealable” compact weapon gentle section, nothing touches the TLR-7.
Listed here are some numbers to think about:
Streamlight TLR-7
500-lumen
4,300 candela
90-minute run time
SureFire XC1 A
200-lumen
730 candela
90-minute run time
SureFire XC1 B
300-lumen
820 candela
45-minute run time
Olight PL-Mini
400-lumen
1,400 candela
70-minute run time
Olight PL-Mini 2
600-lumen
2,500 candela
60-minute run time
Inforce APLc
200-lumen
3,800 to 4,000 candela per testing by Sage Dynamics
As much as 90-minute run time
The numbers inform an fascinating story, don’t they? Positive, there are some lights just like the Olight PL-Mini 2 which have a larger LUMEN output, however they fall flat on their face once you begin candela numbers.
In the event you don’t perceive Candela, I extremely suggest watching Mrgunsngear’s video on the subject.
Controls, Options, & A Look Inside
One of the fascinating issues concerning the TLR-7 is the interchangeable rail key inserts that enable one mannequin of TLR-7 to suit nearly any pistol with a rail. Streamlight consists of six plastic inserts that relocate the place the sunshine interfaces with the rail slots in your pistol. The TLR-7 ships within the “common 1” insert, making it appropriate with Glock Gen 1-4 pistols, Beretta APX, Ruger SR-9, and Springfield XD & XD (M) pistols.
Now that we’ve got established that the Surefire TLR-7 is the present king of compact weapon lights, the controls are a sticking level for a lot of. The flush buttons on both aspect of the sunshine aren’t as straightforward to make use of as nearly each different compact weapon gentle I listed earlier, apart from the older SureFire XC1 A. Even after nearly a yr of use, I nonetheless really feel as if the switches on the sunshine are in want of enchancment. That mentioned, they’re nonetheless useable.
The cool factor concerning the TLR-7? Making some enhancements to the switches ought to be a cakewalk, given the design of the sunshine. Since there was a problem with the primary gentle that Streamlight despatched to me for assessment, I made a decision to take it aside and see how the TLR-7 is constructed. The images under ought to make it fairly obvious that the sunshine is designed to be economical whereas nonetheless being sturdy sufficient for on a regular basis carry.
We already talked about output earlier; there isn’t a query that the TLR-7 is at present probably the most highly effective compact weapon gentle in the marketplace—the sunshine ships from the manufacturing unit with the included strobe mode disabled, which is my desire anyhow. If the strobe mode is your factor, the sunshine may be reconfigured utilizing Streamlight’s Ten-Faucet system. After you have the strobe mode enabled, getting the sunshine into the strobe mode is fairly straightforward. Simply double-tap one of many ambidextrous activation switches, and the TLR-7 turns no matter room you’re illuminating into a celebration.
Now, in case you are a type of who’ve put their pistol into a variety bag solely to seek out that it had been switched on inadvertently, you may be happy to be taught concerning the “protected” place that forestalls inadvertent operation. Stopping your batteries from getting kilt in your vary bag within reason easy. Simply loosen the entrance cap a couple of quarter flip, and you’ll really feel a detent that renders the sunshine inoperable.
Teething Points
I discussed earlier that I had a couple of TLR-7, the primary of them. There was a little bit of a problem, and that’s the reason I took it aside. The sunshine would flicker throughout dry fireplace each time the firing pin dropped. Now Streamlight has addressed the issue, and it’s not a problem, nevertheless it ought to be famous that it was a problem for the primary few months the sunshine was in the marketplace. As an alternative of repairing my check pattern, Streamlight elected to ship out a second gentle, permitting me to take one aside with out ruining good gear.
It seems that they stiffened the spring on the within of the entrance cap to stop the battery from shedding contact with the contact pad inside the sunshine physique. There could have been different modifications to the internals, however nothing that I used to be capable of spot with out taking aside a working gentle.
Carry & Utilizing The Mild
That is the place the compact design of Streamlight’s TLR-7 actually stands out from different related output lights. Firms like Henry Holsters, PHLster, Raven Concealment, ANR Design, and a blue million different holster producers have nice holster choices that match many in style mannequin pistols with the TLR-7 fitted. After a yr in the marketplace, the Streamlight TLR-7 has acquired nice assist from smaller Kydex benders in addition to massive producers, making the sunshine that rather more viable.
Whereas the advantages of a smaller gentle aren’t going to be as obvious when carrying robust aspect, it’s once you begin stuffing a pistol within the appendix place the sunshine turns into a hid service’s finest pal. About 90% of the time I carried a pistol with the TLR-7 fitted it rode in a PHLster Highlight Holster, however that modified when the FN 509 Midsize was launched and Henry Holsters launched a TLR-7 appropriate FN 509 holster that accepts Discrete Carry Ideas clips.
One of many greatest hurdles for these seeking to attempt appendix carry has been sustaining a degree of consolation whereas sitting. Whereas I can’t let you know what you would possibly expertise, I discovered {that a} correctly arrange holster with a Glock 19 and TLR-7 was very comfy, even on lengthy drives.
Remaining Ideas
After a lot time utilizing and carrying the TLR-7, I really feel comfy recommending the sunshine to these in search of one thing smaller than a Surefire X300 Extremely for EDC. For the reason that repair carried out by Streamlight, the TLR-7 has been 100% dependable and exceeded each expectation I had for the pint-sized gentle. The truth is, I preferred the sunshine a lot I’ve bought a number of extra for different pistols that make it into my carry rotation. Whereas the Streamlight TLR-7 is one of the best compact weapon gentle that cash can purchase proper now, there may be all the time room for enchancment.
The very first thing that I’d like to see addressed is the switches. Streamlight might simply enhance the switches to be pleasant to these with smaller palms because of the modular design of the sunshine. If Streamlight had been capable of replicate the identical fashion paddle switches discovered on the favored Inforce APL sequence of lights, it could quell quite a lot of the complaints I hear concerning the TLR-7.
Now my different request of Streamlight would require a small redesign, making it much less possible than seeing revamped switches. I’d LOVE to see the physique of the sunshine enlarged ever so barely to just accept rechargeable 18350 batteries that might doubtlessly enable them to extend the output of the sunshine in each lumens and candela. There are some fairly loopy 18350-powered handheld lights in the marketplace, some that rival obligation measurement weapon lights, by switching energy sources it could be attainable to pack some critical energy right into a compact gentle physique.
Proper now the TLR-7 is your best option by a big margin for these in search of a compact weapon gentle that doesn’t add any size to a Glock 19-sized gun. Which will change later this yr with the introduction of the brand new SureFire XR1. We must see what sort of candela it’s pushing when the manufacturing mannequin is launched.
The Streamlight TLR-7 carries an MSRP of $215 however may be discovered at on-line retailers proper across the $110 mark. Study extra concerning the Streamlight TLR-7 and the remainder of their product line on the Streamlight web site.
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About Patrick R.
Patrick is a firearms fanatic who values the hunt for the absolute best gear setup and pragmatic methods to enhance his capturing expertise throughout a variety of disciplines. He values truthful, trustworthy info above all else and has dedicated to reducing by means of advertising fluff to ship the reality. Yow will discover the remainder of his work on FirearmRack.com in addition to on the YouTube channel Firearm Rack or on Instagram at @thepatrickroberts.
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