AA or AAA Handgun Light

[jkchan83]

Fellow Calgunners,

I have an interesting question for you. I am looking to add a light to a Glock 17 and 30 (hers & his).

However, rather than getting a light that uses CR123A batteries, I am looking for one using AA or AAA batteries.

Please send me your ideas and suggestions.

Thanks.

[DNA]

The safariland rapid light system (RLS) would fit the bill. It's a LED that runs off of 3 AAA. Couple of my buddies have them and love them since they can be carried separate from t he gun and mounts fairly quick.

Dan

[jkchan83]

The safariland rapid light system (RLS) would fit the bill. It's a LED that runs off of 3 AAA. Couple of my buddies have them and love them since they can be carried separate from t he gun and mounts fairly quick.

Dan

Thanks for the lead. I will look into it.

Jason

[maxicon]

Most AA or AAA lights are too big for handguns, partly because the 1.5 volt nominal output requires 2 or more of them to get the voltage and current necessary for a bright light.

A single CR123 is 3 volts with high current draw capacity, allowing pretty high lumens (usually up to 150 or so) in a small size. Compact handguns often need an even smaller light, and use CR2 batteries, which are more compact but more expensive and don't have the runtime of CR123.

There are good handheld tactical lights that run on AA batteries (like the Fenix LD20), but I'm not aware of any handgun size lights that have decent output and will fit on railed handguns.

ETA: The RLS, which I hadn't see before, is a possible solution, but it's a pretty unusual mount, and 65 lumens. It also adds nearly 6 oz, which is a fair bit for a handgun, and much more than dedicated CR123/CR2 lights. If Safariland makes holsters for it, that would help, but it wouldn't fit in most holsters.

[jkchan83]

I just looked at the video for the RLS at Brownells and it is definitely unique. I agree that it is unlikely that a holster will be available for it and I didn't find one from Safariland in a quick search. I think that they intend for the light to be carried off of the gun until needed, hence the "Rapid" part of the name.

[maxicon]

Well, I could see it for a bedstand gun. I'm not sure I'd want to be needing to put stuff on and off the gun as I holstered and unholstered it, though I'm sure you could get fast with practice.

I'd go for a TLR-1 (or TLR-3 for a sub-compact), though. Less money, more lumens, far lighter and more compact, and more holsters available.

I've already got a bunch of CR123 lights, so it makes it an easier choice for me. I also have an older CR2 xenon light on a XD9 subcompact, and I just keep a few spare batteries on hand for that.

I've bought a couple of 2xAA tac lights recently - Fenix LD20 - but those are testers for the car emergency kits. Lithium batteries for long shelf life, easy to find replacements out on the road, but less output than the CR123 models.

[HalveNaught]

The safariland rapid light system (RLS) would fit the bill. It's a LED that runs off of 3 AAA. Couple of my buddies have them and love them since they can be carried separate from t he gun and mounts fairly quick.

Dan

Do they make one for a rifle? Or is it only for handguns. I would like somehting like this for my HD gun.

[DNA]

I believe they have several different mounting options for the RLS. So... if, you've got rails, i believe it'd be good to go.

Dan