Flashlight Comparisons - What Are You’re Running? 🔦💥Surefire, Streamlight, Glock

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Over the past few months, I’ve put together a handful of flashlight comparison videos and figured it’s about time I organized them all into one thread. That way, anyone looking to compare beam patterns, throw, spill, or just general performance can find everything in one spot. Super easy to reference whenever you're upgrading or just curious.


🔥 Update 5/17/2025: Just got my hands on a Surefire X300 Turbo & Streamlight TLR-1 HL!

I went camping this past weekend and took all these lights out. We camp way out in the middle of nowhere and it was DARK this time with zero moonlight or stars and clouds covering us the entire time. We were in the middle of a valley surrounded by mountains and hills ranging anywhere from 70 yards to 1000+ yards from the designated range.




My observation from 100 yards and in is that any of the lights other than the XC-1 & TLR-6 will most likely be sufficient if it's dark out. Beyond 100 is where the differences became extremely noticeable. The X300U, TLR-1 HL, TLR-7 X Sub & GTLII would all be fine out to 150-200 yards in this environment. 200-300 yards is where the X300 Turbo really "Shines" the focus of that beam really allow you to focus in on areas extremely far away. Hell, we put an IPSC 2/3 steel at 440 yards and the Turbo was the only one that would allow you to see it. No video footage because it was pouring down rain the entire weekend unfortunately.





What weapon-mounted light(s) are you running?

Drop a photo, give us your thoughts, what you like/don’t like, or how it’s been holding up. Always curious to see what others are using and why.


Let’s geek out over lumens and candela! 😎🔦


Surefire X300T Turbo vs. Fake X300U

Surefire X300U vs. Streamlight TLR-1 HL

Surefire X300U (Ultra) vs. X300T (Turbo)

Surefire X300U vs. Streamlight TLR-1 HL

Turbo vs TLR-1 HL

Glock GTLII vs. Streamlight TLR-1 HL

X300T Turbo vs. Glock GTL II

Glock GTL2 vs Surefire X300U

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Fake X300U vs. Real X300U

X300U vs. XC-1B

Glock GTL II vs. TLR-6

Glock GTLII vs. Streamlight TLR7-SubX

X300U vs. TLR7-Sub

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TLR-6 vs. TLR-7 Sub

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I have a TLR-1 HL as well and I've been happy with it. I believe they went through a few iterations and since mine is older I think it's only half as bright as the current production ones that you reviewed. Still, it's plenty bright for my needs as a home defense unit. I think that Surefire would be the ticket if you are looking to spot for things at a distance, such as in an LEO outdoors search type use case. I like having a large flood area for close home defense ranges, at maximum distances of 10 or 15 yards indoors the wide peripheral vision seems more useful than a tightly focused beam to me.

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I have a TLR-1 HL as well and I've been happy with it. I believe they went through a few iterations and since mine is older I think it's only half as bright as the current production ones that you reviewed. Still, it's plenty bright for my needs as a home defense unit. I think that Surefire would be the ticket if you are looking to spot for things at a distance, such as in an LEO outdoors search type use case. I like having a large flood area for close home defense ranges, at maximum distances of 10 or 15 yards indoors the wide peripheral vision seems more useful than a tightly focused beam to me.

Yeah, I was more than happy with my older Surefire X300U's with 600 lumens. They are more than bright enough, and plenty of throw for most situations. I think some of these other lights might be a little too bright. Even all the way down my upstairs hallway, the reflection from the TLR-1 HL for example is nearly blinding. Not sure how that would be very helpful indoors. Imagine if you reflected it off a mirror and got a direct shot to the eyes.

One of many reasons to use your handheld for navigation instead of a weapon mounted light. I use the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA which is much easier on the eyes, but still plenty bright at 350 lumens and 6,400 Candela for most situations. The reflection is much less blinding in the house.

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Turbo vs TLR-1 HL added!

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X300U vs TLR-1 HL Added!

[tacticalcity]

A couple years back I got into night vision. This meant getting lights that were IR capable. There are really only two contenders when it comes to pistols. The Streamlight VIR II has an integrated laser. Making it a good choice for a gun without a red dot. But a terrible choice for one with a red dot. That leaves the incredibly expensive Surefire X300V Vampire light. Which I run on most my full-size pistols. I also have a Streamlight TLR-6 on a non-railed 1911 and a now discontinued Viridian C5L Compact light on a P80 G26 size pistol. Neither of which have an IR mode. While Viridian normally makes pretty great stuff, I am a little disappointed that the batteries in this light need to be replaced after about a year whether you use it or not. Probably why it got discontinued. I would replace it, but I paid a fortune for a holster to fit it and there aren't a lot of appealing options that fit that size P80 frame. I should say, the RFX35 green dot sight on this gun is amazing. Been very happy with it. Viridian is usually pretty great. None of my other pistols have lights on them at the moment. On my rifles I am running Surefire M300 and M600 Vampire lights. On my Mossberg 500 I am running an Inforce WML with a white and IR light. Which reminds me, I do like the Wild1 light for compact pistols like the Glock 19, but it does not have an IR mode. I like that it fits the Glock 19 frame size perfectly. Making it a lot easier to index carry than lights that stick out beyond the barrel like the Surefire X300V vampire light does.

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A couple years back I got into night vision. This meant getting lights that were IR capable. There are really only two contenders when it comes to pistols. The Streamlight VIR II has an integrated laser. Making it a good choice for a gun without a red dot. But a terrible choice for one with a red dot. That leaves the incredibly expensive Surefire X300V Vampire light. Which I run on most my full-size pistols. I also have a Streamlight TLR-6 on a non-railed 1911 and a now discontinued Viridian C5L Compact light on a P80 G26 size pistol. Neither of which have an IR mode. While Viridian normally makes pretty great stuff, I am a little disappointed that the batteries in this light need to be replaced after about a year whether you use it or not. Probably why it got discontinued. I would replace it, but I paid a fortune for a holster to fit it and there aren't a lot of appealing options that fit that size P80 frame. I should say, the RFX35 green dot sight on this gun is amazing. Been very happy with it. Viridian is usually pretty great. None of my other pistols have lights on them at the moment. On my rifles I am running Surefire M300 and M600 Vampire lights. On my Mossberg 500 I am running an Inforce WML with a white and IR light. Which reminds me, I do like the Wild1 light for compact pistols like the Glock 19, but it does not have an IR mode. I like that it fits the Glock 19 frame size perfectly. Making it a lot easier to index carry than lights that stick out beyond the barrel like the Surefire X300V vampire light does.

Yup, I know what you mean! Fortunately my goggles have an integrated IR light on them which is great indoors, and outdoors at short range. My laser aiming devices also have an integrated IR light, but that's only for long guns. Pistols, I don't have any IR lights so far.

[tacticalcity]

Yup, I know what you mean! Fortunately my goggles have an integrated IT light on them which is great indoors, and outdoors at short range. My laser aiming devices also have an integrated IR light, but that's only for long guns. Pistols, I don't have any IR lights so far.

I find it helpful. While nobody is actually shooting back and I am just punching holes in paper, it is nice to be able to pick and choose in the moment when I am willing to throw an IR light signature out there. In a real-world situation, which will never happen, I probably wouldn't want to just turn the IR light on my PVS14 on and clear a building. Anyone with night vision would be able to see that IR light signature. Since someone like me, who is no longer in the military and not law enforcement can have it, anyone can. Then again, all this night vision stuff is crazy expensive. They are charging an insane amount of money for a flashlight. One added perk of the Surefire Vampire series lights is the "off" setting. If you need to store the gun in a bag you don't need to worry about the light actually being turned on and setting the bag on fire. Something I've actually done with a traditional light. Probably not worth the crazy high price. But nice to have once you have already done so.

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Streamlight TLR-7 X Sub vs. TLR-1 HL added to the OP!

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Surefire X300T Turbo vs. Fake X300U added to the OP