Need help! review on light & laser combofor my handgun

[kpinoy]

hello fellow cal gunners! I am new to the light and laser combo for my HK uspf 45. I want to add it on but I dont see myself spending a lot of money at something I am not going to use often but a great addition on home defense. I have seen a product on cheaperthandirt but I cant really trust the reviews on there. Anyone here actually touched it or used it. any review would be great. the price is what attracted me

http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/LIGHT146-1.html

Also any reviews on the insight m6 light combo. thanks again

[maxicon]

The problem with inexpensive Chinese optics is that they're not as reliable, in general, as the higher end stuff. For instance, you can get a Chinese flashlight that seems to be as good as a Surefire out of the box for 1/4 the price, but the small yet important things like the switch and battery springs may not hold up as well over time.

Unfortunately, this is unpredictable. Like with inexpensive scopes, you'll find people who have had good experiences with them, but you'll generally find the failure rate is a good bit higher than with the big-ticket gear.

For range gear, it's not a problem. I have inexpensive flashlights, lasers, and scopes, and they've mostly worked well for the money. Even if they fail, I toss them and get another because they're cheap. My SHTF gear is more expensive stuff from name brands with very good reputations, because the cost of a failure in a crisis is much higher.

That said, there's a lot of cheap Chinese gear that works just fine for a long time, and I've had a Surefire handheld and an Insight XML fail.

It's a tradeoff everyone has to decide on for themselves.

[Matt P]

For the price, and the potential advantage it provides, I say go for it.
It would be much, much better then what you have now... Nothing.

You use the laser as a means to discourage a threat, and or enforce beyond just your wepon pointed in, that the dot means dead and not as a principal means to aim.. So, who cares if its cheap.
Lighting? Well I would have a back up source for it possibly with a Surefire or a Fenix. But again, much of the chinese lighting is based off whats out there. You would be amazed at how many lights I have found which will use the Surefire series of bulbs.

Good luck, and I think its fantastic you are seeking out additional means to tip the possible scales of a gunfight in your favor.

[FMJBT]

I have the flashlight only version of this made by UTG/Leapers. Theres no cross bar on the mount, so it will hook up to a USP rail no problem. I'm using mine on a USP 45 actually. My first time at the range, I turned on the light and let it heat up for a good 20 minutes before I started shooting, Over the course of an hour or so, I put 250 rounds through the gun without turning off the light. The battery died a short time afterwards, but the light itself was fine. It's a pretty durable unit for the price, and made mostly from aluminum rather than plastic like a lot of the other budget priced lights. I haven't tested the watertight integrity of the unit, but it is pretty well sealed with O rings. For the price, the laser light combo seems like a really good deal.

[kpinoy]

thanx for the reply. Yea I dont work in law enforcement or use the light all the time. I would see a reason to purchase the higher end if I use it on an everday basis. I guess its just something I wont feel bad if it breaks after using the range. anyone have any experience with the insight mx6?? thanks again

[aplinker]

My $0.02...

Buy the best light you can for that price and skip the laser. The TLR-1/2 (if you have to have the laser) would be a good choice. The M6 & M3 are two generation old technology. The TLR is a generation old, too. There are more new ones coming out.

The reasoning: the purpose of a weapon light is for self defense under low light conditions. That isn't the time you want your light to fail.

[3GunFunShooter]

I have both the TLR1 + 2, save your money and get a good one. These are great units.

[kpinoy]

thanx for the input. I will take it to consideration. I am not in a rush to have it. I was actually looking into that tlr2 but might just save more money

[TalonArms_R]

kpinoy,
If you put something like that on a USP, your pistol will probably refuse to function on pure principle alone!

You have a very high quality defensive pistol and you need a high quality light source as well. The Streamlight is the cheapest thing I could ever recommend to one of my clients based on reliability. Streamlight is warrantied for law enforcement use, and I am sure that one is not. Your personal defense gear is not a place you should be looking to cut costs for quality.

[Sniper3142]

The real problem with these cheap items is that they very well might fail when you need them most.

Cheap chinises lights and lasers might not survive the recoil for more than a couple of rounds. Then you are SOL due to an attempt to save a few $$$.

I've got a TLR-2 and it's great and reliable. Since it is a firearm related accessory, it's one of the things I don't go cheap on (my life is worth the added $$$ IMHO).

Good luck either way.