The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Tactical Rifle & Carbine => Topic started by: billt on February 28, 2015, 12:34:46 PM
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http://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_Arms_Ultimate_Weapon_Light_Gen_2_BLACK_p/pawl-2bk.htm
I ordered one of these and it came yesterday. I'm really impressed with the quality. Especially for the price, ($89.99). It's all machined anodized Aluminum, and has the new version Cree T-6 LED that is rated at 450 Lumens. It's delivered to run on 3, CR-123A batteries, (included), but if you wish you can remove the section with the wrench flats and it will run on just 2 cells. It produces the same lumen brightness, just not for as long. This is in case you want a shorter light, depending on your application, or preferences. I left mine set up for 3 cells. It has a 1-1/2" diameter bezel.
The nice thing about this light is the mount it comes with. It is removable if you wish, but as delivered it mounts nice and solid to any Picatinny rail in seconds. No Mickey Mouse rings or mounts to buy. I put mine on my Bushmaster M-4, and it's a nice set up. I thought I might want to get a 45 degree offset mount, but it mounts just perfect to the side rail on the forend, and doesn't interfere with the handling of the gun.
This light is really bright as hell! It has a really intense center hot beam with just enough spill over to give you a really bright cone of light. I went out in the backyard last night with the dog to test it, and it turns night into day. It had no problem illuminating my neighbors 80 ft. tall palm tree 100+ yards away. The reflector is Chrome plated metal, not that ripple like plastic you see so much of. All of the threaded connections are double O-Ring sealed.
It comes with a push on / off switch on the back, and you can order it with a pressure pad switch for $20 more and they'll include both. I didn't because I didn't want any cords or wires on my gun. The rear button is easy to access. I've been looking for a good weapon light, and I didn't feel like paying $500.00+ for a Surefire. This light fits the bill nicely. It is Chinese, but with that said it comes with a 1 year warranty. And Primary Arms is good to deal with, and has great customer service. If you're looking for a nice bright, well made weapon light for the money, don't hesitate to go with this one from Primary Arms. I'm going to get a couple more for my other AR's. They come in black, and flat dark earth if you prefer. The anodizing is very evenly applied, and has consistent color with no "chalkiness" some anodized finishes have. The only thing I'm going to add is one of those Butler Creek Flip Up Scope Lens Covers for the front, to protect the lens and keep it clean.
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Looks like a nice setup. Night-time coyote hunting is screaming for something like this! ;D
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Especially if one could adapt a red filter to it.
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Some months back when I started this thread, I purchased a new Primary Arms Gen II Weapon Light. I was extremely satisfied with both it's construction, as well as it's performance. This light is extremely robust in it's manufacture, and very bright. It comes with a very sturdy, built in mounting system, that mounts right up to any standard Picatinny Rail system with 2 thumb screws.
The other day I received an E-Mail from Primary Arms, and noticed they now have introduced their new Generation III Model. It was on sale for $69.00 from $89.99, so I immediately ordered one. This light is simply fantastic! The light itself is the same in appearance and construction as the Gen II Model. The difference is it now comes with the new Cree XM-L2 LED bulb that puts out and incredible 750 Lumens, and is one of the brightest in the industry. Up from the 450 Lumens of the Generation II model.
Last night I took it outside to test it out, and this weapon light literally turns night into day. They advertise a throw distance of 300 yards, and they're not kidding. I had zero problems completely illuminating a 40 foot tall palm tree at that distance, and even beyond. This light gives total illumination at that distance. To the point a person would have no problem engaging a target at that distance. I can't imagine how blinding it would be to be on the receiving end of this light. Especially at closer ranges.
The light comes with a standard push on, push off rear switch. Or it can be had with an optional pressure pad switch that can be mounted in your choice of places. These lights are manufactured in China. With that said, they possess very good quality for the price. Chinese goods have advanced today to the point where we now have both "good China", and "bad China". This is definitely high quality Chinese manufacturing. The anodized coating is very durable, and evenly applied. The light also has a removable mid section that reduces it to 2 cell from 3 cell. (CR-123-A batteries), if you want a smaller profile light. The light is the same brightness, but obviously has a longer run time in the 3 cell configuration.
For anyone looking for a good, high quality weapon light, but don't like the idea of paying Surefire prices, I highly recommend this light. Primary Arms is very good to deal with, and you will not be disappointed in this light's quality, or it's performance. I should also mention it comes in Black, as well as Flat Dark Earth.
http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-ultimate-weapon-light-gen-iii/p/kt-pawl-2bkgeniii/
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My Streamlight Scorpion with a xenon bulb is only 78 lumens so the Primary Arms light would be nearly 10 times as bright. I knew there were much brighter weapons lights than regular flashlights but wow. The LED bulbs have come a long way in recent years.
P.S. With all of the reviews being 4 or 5 stars, mostly 5, I'm sure it's a great light.
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That's not a weapon light, silly Bill.
This is a weapon light !
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281867476354?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
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My Streamlight Scorpion with a xenon bulb is only 78 lumens so the Primary Arms light would be nearly 10 times as bright. I knew there were much brighter weapons lights than regular flashlights but wow. The LED bulbs have come a long way in recent years.
P.S. With all of the reviews being 4 or 5 stars, mostly 5, I'm sure it's a great light.
I find it literally shocking in two different ways, how far LED technology has come.
1.) In how extremely bright they have become, along with how little energy they consume, and how many thousands of hours they last.
2.) And how ignorant I've been in regards to not knowing about #1 until recently.
LED illumination is taking over, no question about it. And not only in weapon lighting. Home 110 volt LED bulbs are improving constantly. Becoming brighter, more energy efficient, and cheaper as well. The CFL market is shrinking, while the LED market is growing in leaps and bounds. This is because LED is getting all of the new technology. CFL's are pretty much dead in the water.
20 odd years ago these things had all they could do to illuminate the numbers on a digital watch or calculator. Now they can damn near blind you. And they keep improving all the time. Heated filament or gas bulbs are on the way out. I'm sure it won't be too much longer before they start taking over street and road lighting as well. Just imagine when, (not if), they replace all of the lighting on the Interstate Highway System nationwide, how much electrical energy will be saved.
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Remember the huge Carbon Arc spotlights that use to be hauled around on trailers?
We might not be there yet, but soon that power will be hand held.
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Remember the huge Carbon Arc spotlights that use to be hauled around on trailers?
We might not be there yet, but soon that power will be hand held.
Don't laugh. Look at what happed with computers.
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Don't laugh. Look at what happed with computers.
Not long ago I read an article that said if the Apollo Command Module and L.E.M. were built with todays computer technology, they would have almost twice the room inside, and over 10,000 times the computing power over what they had in 1969.
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Don't laugh. Look at what happed with computers.
I know. When I was a freshman in HS, in 1963, I told my guidance counselor I wanted to work with computers. He told me not to be foolish, that there would never be jobs in computers.
I joined the Army in '65 to work with computers and since then all my time was working with computers or going to school/training for them.
Was "downsized" in 2009 still working with computers and unemployment turned into retired.
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Theater lighting as well is moving to all LED. New facilities will have just a few dimmer circuits to hand legacy lights, but for the most part it will be all LED.
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That light is good, but I'm looking at the Compact Weapons Light Gen II. 700 Lumens, but without the mount. If it just had a belt clip. What a great buy for a hand held.
http://www.primaryarms.com/primary-arms-compact-weapon-light-700-lumens-genii/p/kt-pawl-3bkgenii/
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I like Streamlight over Surefire.
That said, what I don't want is a bunch of bells and whistles. I want a tactical flash light that comes on, and goes off. I don't need a bunch of "modes". When that time comes, I won't remember or care about "85 Lumens gives you 20 hours of light".
So I do have two Streamlight tacticals one LED and one Xenon, but no where near as bright as the newer models.
I did find this interesting one, evidently made for me. Still a little skeptical about too many things to go wrong inside. About $90. It's pre-programable. You can have the light be High Only mode, or High/Med/Low/Strobe mode or Low/Med/High modes. Accepts a wide variety of batteries. ProTac HL® USB
http://www.streamlight.com/en-us/product/product.html?pid=321
I think I'll just look for brighter replacements to my simple on/off.
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That said, what I don't want is a bunch of bells and whistles. I want a tactical flash light that comes on, and goes off. I don't need a bunch of "modes". When that time comes, I won't remember or care about "85 Lumens gives you 20 hours of light".
I'm the same way Alf. Simple "On" & "Off" is all I require. I've got a Nova-Tac that came with my Paul Howe CSAT Edition LWRC rifle, but it's got way too many "modes" for me to deal with. 3 or 4 levels of brightness, and "Strobe" setting. It has a complicated code of fast / slow taps on the switch that activates them. It's fun to play with, but there is no way I want something like that on a life and death weapon light that I have to depend on. When things get crazy simple is ALWAYS better.
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Went by Batteries Plus for work to pick up a gross of AAs and while I was there ended up buying the Streamlight ProTac HL. Not the USB rechargeable, just the plain one. +750lum Great. A little bigger than my other Streamlight, but I'm comfortable carrying it. Because of our corporate discount, even though I was paying for this separately, I got a nice discount.
This is the series with the TenTap programming which is exactly what it sounds like. You tap the switch 10 times in 5 seconds to change the mode. It comes Hi/Strobe/Low. I changed it to Hi only. (the other mode is Hi/Lo) I think that's a good way to market one product to different user demands. The tactical boys can have their strobe, the operators their low mode, and us simpletons can have just plain off/on.
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Might want to reconsider buying batteries in bulk.
I read a review of AA and AAA batteries a few years ago and of the brands tested, Radio Shack's were the longest lasting.
However the review said this was not because they were better quality but because Radio Shack has a quick turn over in batteries and their batteries were 'Freshest'....had sat on the shelf the least.
So buying batteries in bulk will give them extended time spend on the shelf.
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I worked in the same building as our radio shop. Watched several times as the broke the seal on a case of name brand batteries. They threw away at least 1/3 of the case each time because they didn't check as good. Sorta cringed because that was my tax money too!
Richard
PS: I worked for the State of Ohio DOT
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Might want to reconsider buying batteries in bulk.
That might be true for consumers but we use about 75a month. We only use Pro-Cells. Many outlets will only sell Pro-Cells to corporate accounts. They are preferred in the live theater/church/entertainment business. Not that they are perfect, but rarely do we get a bad one. And we know exactly what to expect under usage from them. They may or may not be identical to consumer Duracel just in a different color scheme, but they come at a discount that puts them on par with Costco/Sam Duracels or Eveready. We hesitate to buy the store brands because we're not sure of the quality or expected usage. Pro-Cells have a guaranteed 7yr shelf life, as do many other brands these days. We turn them over every 2 months. Batteries Plus turns them over in a week. Sometimes I have to wait while they open their new shipment.
YMMV as it usually does.
Oh just thought of something else. It's been reported that some brands of batteries are physically different size than others. Sloppy specs. Not real significant in most consumer gear, but in pro audio/video specs can be tight. Buyer Beware.