Have you ever tried shooting in the dark? It sounds absurd, right? Tracking your target in a dark room is one of the worst possible experiences, even with an efficient firearm like the AR15. However, with the best AR15 flashlight at your hand, this task becomes effortless.
As you know, AR15 is an extremely efficient and versatile rifle. Why not treat it better with a rail-mounted flashlight? Whether you are a hunter, tactical shooter, or a home defense buff, you will not regret buying a quality unit. With this investment, you will up your shooting game with no extra hassle.
However, finding a flashlight for your AR15 is not an easy task. Because of the high demand for this tool, there is a lot of competition on the market, each claiming their device to be the superior one. If you do not know much about this product, you will have a difficult time making your choice.
That is where we come in. In this article, we will give you a thorough understanding of everything you need to know about this tool. By the end of this article, you will be an expert when it comes to an AR15 flashlight.
Image | Name | Editor's Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| SureFire M Series Scout Light | 5 out of 5 | |
| INFORCE WMLx 800 Lumens Flashlight | 5 out of 5 | |
| INFORCE W-05-1 WML Weapon Light | 4.5 out of 5 | |
| Streamlight 69265 TLR-2 800 Flash Light | 4 out of 5 | |
| Monstrum 90 Lumens LED Flashlight | 4.5 out of 5 |
Top 7 Best AR15 Flashlight Reviews
Now that you know why you need a flashlight for your AR15, we can head into the list of products. We have taken our time making this list to ensure you can get the best value out of any of the units. After all, a flashlight is not something that you want to replace very frequently.
With that being said, here are our top picks for the best AR15 flashlight that you can find on the market today.
1. SureFire M Series Scout Light
Starting off our list, we have one of the most popular flashlights out there for the AR15. The Surefire M Series Scout Lights falls at a moderate price range and offers many of the premium features we like to see in an AR15 light. It is a versatile product that provides a high level of utility to the user.
The unit can output 500 lumens of white light, which is exceptionally bright and capable of blinding anyone in close distance. Its high-performance light is also recoil-proof, meaning the abuse it faces will be negated to a large extent. You can expect a lasting performance out of it without facing any issues.
It comes with an impressive battery life allowing you to use it for 1.5 hours continuously with the light on. The TIR or Total Internal Reflection technology used in the unit makes sure you get a reliable and intense beam of light with enough peripheral illumination to be usable in any situation.
This flashlight features a sturdy and robust construction making use of Military-grade hard-anodized aluminum and an optically coated tempered glass window. You can lightly press the tail switch for momentary illumination while pressing it fully activates the full power of the light. It also comes with a lockout feature that ensures you do not activate the light by mistake.Pros:
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2. INFORCE WMLx 800 Lumens Gen 2 White Light Black Body WX-05-1 Weapon Mounted Light
Next up, we will be looking at a compact weapon-mounted tactical light by the brand INFORCE when it comes to flashlights for your AR15; not many brands stand out as much as this one. This particular model is an excellent example of the quality you can expect from the company.
The unit can output a bright white light of 800 lumens continuously thanks to its powerful LED. However, the brightness is not the only great thing about it. It comes with three different light output modes, further enhancing its utility. The three modes are constant, momentary, and strobe lighting
In the constant lighting mode, the battery lasts for about 2 hours, which is quite a long time for this much illumination. It uses two lithium-ion 123a batteries for power, and you get one set included with your purchase. With the strobe and momentary lighting modes, the runtime is far longer.
It offers a tool-free mounting system making the installation process extremely streamlined. The unit features a glass-reinforced polymer body, ensuring the highest levels of durability and impact resistance. If that was not enough, it is also waterproof for up to 66 feet, making it an exception tactical light for AR15.Pros:
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3. INFORCE W-05-1 WML Gen 2 Weapon Light
If you are not sold on the quality of the brand yet, you should take a good hard look at the W051 by INFORCE. It is a slimmer and more compact unit that might not be as bright as the last one, but still offers a decent level of utility. And to top it off, it costs a lot lower, making it highly affordable.
The total illumination of the unit is only 400 lumens, which might not be that much for most tactical operations. However, for a casual user, this is more than enough. You can still get the three distinct modes of operation, constant, momentary, and strobe. Having this option does open up a lot of interesting opportunities with the unit.
It has a decent battery runtime offering 1.5 hours of continuous use in constant mode. Because of its lower illumination, you can use it with just a single battery, significantly lowering its upkeep cost. You need to use a 123a lithium-ion battery with the unit that can be installed by removing the head of the unit.
Despite being a smaller counterpart, it features the same impressive polymer construction that we saw in the previous product. The ergonomic design, along with the safety lever lockout activation system, improves your overall experience with the unit. It also has heat dissipating vents to further improve thermal management.
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4. Streamlight 69265 TLR-2 800 High Lumens G Rail Mounted Flashlight with Green Laser
If you want to get the most out of your flashlight, you might consider buying a unit that comes with a laser sight integrated into it. The 69265 by the brand Streamlight is one of the most versatile light-laser combo units that you can find on the market without breaking your wallet.
With a light output of 1000 lumens, you will be able to illuminate the darkest of places. It has a 283-meter beam distance that makes it suitable for any and all conditions imaginable. Thanks to its green Class3R laser, you can even acquire targets faster and easier in broad daylight.
Despite outputting such a high intensity of life, it can give you a decent runtime on the batteries. It uses two 3V CR123 lithium-ion batteries to give you continuous usage of 1.5 hours when you are running both the led and the laser simultaneously. If you stick with only the laser, you can get 17 hours of runtime, which is pretty impressive.
The design of the unit is also quite exception giving you ambidextrous access to its on/off switch. So your hand preference will not impact how soon you can turn it on. Furthermore, its durable anodized aluminum construction ensures that the unit can shrug off any damage and give you a lasting performance out of it.
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5. Monstrum 90 Lumens LED Flashlight with Rail Mount
Top-mounted designs in an AR15 flashlight are quite common but not without its flaws. Over the years, we made our peace with it. However, if you are not one for compromises, the brand Monstrum has a perfect unit for you. It is an extremely versatile rail-mounted flashlight that is quite impressive for the price tag.
When it comes to illumination, it is not meant to brighten up the night. However, for indoor conditions, 90 lumens of output is more than capable of covering your back. It also comes with a removable pressure switch that allows you to remove it from the rail and use it as a standalone flashlight.
Thanks to its lower, yet optimized lumens output, the battery life on the unit is exceptional. It uses a single CR123A lithium-ion battery and gives you a runtime of 9 hours on a single cell. This, in turn, drastically reduces the cost of having to replace the battery every few days.
The aircraft-grade aluminum used in its construction ensures you end up with a unit that is both lightweight and durable enough to give you years of use. Its design allows you to equip it in any Weaver or Picatinny style rail without any modifications. The compact and versatile nature of this unit makes it highly worth buying.
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6. Streamlight 88059 Pro Tac Rail Mount 2 625 Lumen Professional Tactical Flashlight
Next up, we have another product by the brand Streamlight for you to check. Unfortunately, this one does not include a built-in laser. However, if you want a fully-functioning professional-grade tactical light that is versatile enough to serve you well in any situation, you cannot go wrong with this unit.
The unit produces 625 lumens of illumination and comes with three different power modes. First, we have the high mode that gives you 260 lumens of light. It is the mode that you will use in mostly dark areas. For low mode, you get 13 lumens of lighting. You also have a strobe mode to signal in case of an emergency.
Its battery utilization is quite efficient and gives you different runtime in different power modes. In high mode, you get 3 hours of continuous usage while the low mode gives you around 50 hours. For strobe mode, you can expect a minimum of 6 hours of runtime. The unit uses two 3v C123a lithium batteries.
Construction-wise, there is nothing much to complain about. It uses machine aircraft-grade aluminum construction along with a hard anodized finish for increased durability. With a 2-meter impact resistance test under its belt, you do not need to worry about the longevity of the unit.Pros:
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7. VASTFIRE Zoomable AR Flashlight
For the last product on our list, we are looking at a fantastic AR15 flashlight by the brand VASTFIRE. Despite being the most affordable product on our list, the utility it provides is excellent. If you are on a tight budget, this unit is worth a strong consideration because of its amazing features.
The total light output in the unit is 500 lumens thanks to the XM-L2 U2 LED used as its light source. It even comes with a zoom head to focus on distant objects. With its two operating modes, you can customize the distance you want to focus on. The spotlight mode can reach up to 200 years, while the floodlight mode reaches up to 100 yards.
With a runtime of four hours, this is one of the best AR15 flashlights used for hunting. It uses a rechargeable battery and includes a charger with your purchase saving you a lot of money on having to buy replacements. You also get a compact carrying case for easier transportation.
The construction of the unit is one that is meant to last. With its high-quality aluminum construction, and recoil-proof design, you can expect this unit to serve you well for a long period. It is also water-proof and features a dual-switch pressure switch, further enhancing its utility.
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Things to Consider When Buying the Best AR15 Flashlight
Now that you have gone through the list of products, you should already be feeling quite confident about making your choice. However, at this stage, you should take a step back and think about your requirements.
- What do you expect out of the flashlight?
- Is it for military application or hunting?
- Do you want the flashlight to be removable?
As you can see, these are all important questions that often get overlooked in all the hassle of balancing out the expense. And let’s face it, flashlights for AR15 are not exactly cheap. But if you want to make the most out of your purchase, you need to understand a few key concepts about the tool.
In the following section of the article, we will give you a thorough rundown of things you should consider when buying the best AR15 flashlight so that you can get a better understanding of the device.
Intended Purpose
Before investing in a particular AR15 flashlight, take a moment to consider where you might use it. This device is quite versatile and is suitable for a plethora of applications. Figuring out your requirements is the first step to ensuring you are making the right choice.
Home Defense
If you want to use your rifle from home defense, you do not need to spend a lot of money. You want a basic tool that allows you to install it with minimal hassle quickly. The priority, in this case, is the ease of use and quick installation so that you can react to a break-in with the least amount of time.
You do not need too much brightness either. Since you are dealing with an intruder inside your house, a lumens count of 60-200 should be enough. That way, you will not have to worry about the light reflecting off the surfaces and disrupting your vision. However, try to find a unit that gives you decent peripheral lighting to help you cover wider distances.
Hunting
When it comes to hunting, you need to go a step above with the flashlight. You need brighter light along with a lasting battery to ensure you get the most out of your purchase. Remember, hunting takes place outside, so the higher the lumens count, the better performance you can get.
Hunting also involves waiting for long hours stalking your prey. For that, you need a decent battery so that you do not run out in the middle of the hunt. Some models offer different light modes that allow you to switch between distances. These units are great options for hunting, as you often need to hunt from a long-range.
Tactical Application
If the flashlight is used for tactical application, you really cannot afford to skimp out. You need to ensure you get the best performance, along with some adjustment options to use when you need to. Choosing the wrong unit for tactical applications can often lead to disaster.
Make sure you have the option to adjust the brightness. Furthermore, one must-have illumination mode that you should have is strobe light. Both peripheral and primary illumination should be decent to give you a comfortable experience. Some flashlight comes with a filter that turns down the brightness automatically when you move indoors. This feature is excellent for tactical applications.
Lumens of the light
Understanding how the brightness works is essential to figuring out which unit will give you the best result. The unit of measurement for brightness is lumens. With a higher value of lumens, you can expect the light to be brighter while a lower value means dimmer light.
For indoor use, a lower lumens value might, in fact, give you a better result. The higher the lumens, the more reflection you have to deal with, especially in an indoor environment. However, for open spaces, higher lumens typically give you a better performance. With higher lumens, you also get a wider beam of light that can help illuminate the peripheral areas.
Intensity of the Light
In terms of illumination, brightness is one thing, and the intensity is another. For intensity, the unit is Candela. This unit is important if you want to understand how wide the beam will spread from a light source. The higher the candela value, the higher the intensity of the emitted light.
For indoor usage, you want the candela value to be lower as it would help keep your visibility higher. With greater intensity, you will get a wider beam to enlighten a larger area. However, when using indoors, having a lower candela rating will help keep it focused and comfortable for eyes.
Battery life and Efficiency
An Ar15 flashlight is only as efficient as its battery. When the battery runs out, you either have to replace it or go on using the rifle in the dark; none of the choices are very appealing. So in order to get the most out of your flashlight, you need to make sure that it uses its battery efficiently.
Thankfully, just by looking at the spec sheets, you can get a general idea of how long the batteries in the unit will last in different power modes. So make sure you are going with a unit that gives you enough uptime for your particular application. For home defense, you do not need to get a massive uptime; however, for hunting and tactical application, the better the battery, the better the performance.
Weight and Durability
When it comes to an AR15 flashlight, it is always a compromise between weight and durability. If you want your light to survive for a longer period, you need to find units that use metal components that can, in turn, add to the weight of the unit. Lighter products are typically less durable and can take less abuse.
If you want to keep the weapon’s weight on the lighter side, you need to invest in a lighter flashlight. For that, the material of choice is a polymer. Although this material is lightweight, the durability is quite good. However, it cannot match the strength that you would get from a strong aluminum device.
For people who do not need to worry about weight, aluminum is always the way to go. Although it might be a bit heavier, the durability more than makes up for it. The bulky nature of the material ensures that your flashlight will survive anything and everything you throw at it.
Ease of Use
You also want your flashlight to be easy to mount and use right out of the box. For that, you need to go with units that offer tool-free mounting. Most of the rail-mounted flashlights can be installed in moments without any hassle. These are a great option for just about anyone.
In a practical home defense scenario, when you are reacting to a break-in, you will not have enough time to fiddle around with tools to get the flashlight running. Additionally, you could even find products that allow you to remove the flashlight. With this option, you can use it as a standalone flashlight, which further enhances its versatility.
Additional Modes of Lighting
A flashlight may or may not feature multiple lighting modes. However, our recommendation would be to find a unit that offers at least two other lighting modes. This feature enables you to get even more out of your investment without any extra hassle on your part.
Strobe mode, for instance, is a must-have feature that helps you signal in case something goes wrong. You can also find a low or high mode to adjust the brightness of the light, or even momentary illumination mode that keeps the light turned on for a smaller period of time.
Control Options
Finally, you should also consider how you have to activate the flashlight. Some models require you to tap on the flashlight itself to activate it. This might sound okay in theory; however, reaching for the flashlight in a real-time gunfight might take too long.
You can even find units that come with a pressure switch that you can position on the grip of the gun. These units are excellent as you can simply grip the weapon, and it will turn on automatically. So before investing in a flashlight, take some time to consider how you have to turn it on.
Advantages of Using the Best AR15 Flashlight
Let us start off with why you would want to buy it in the first place. Understanding the many benefits of using the best AR15 flashlight is the key to knowing whether you need one for yourself.
Here are the major advantages that come with an AR15 flashlight
Versatility
The best thing about this tool is that it is extremely versatile. Not only does it illuminate a dark room, but it can also be used for many other applications. Whether you are shooting indoor or outdoor, this light can ensure you have proper vision.
Furthermore, it can help you disorient the enemy by emitting a bright beam of light directly at the perpetrator’s eyes in a moment’s notice. Some models even come with multiple modes of emission that allows you to get even more use out of it.
High Illumination
With a high-quality AR15 flashlight, you are in for some pretty impressive illumination. With the right model, you do not have to fear the dark when you are walking through a dark and empty corridor or stalking prey through the jungle in the night.
Your vision will be perfect as a good flashlight not only illuminates where you point it but also improves peripheral lighting. As a result, you can acquire your targets and also track it easily without having to guess and aim in the dark.
Strong construction
Typically, an AR15 flashlight is quite durable. It uses either aluminum or some form of polymers as the primary material for its construction. Both of the materials are quite tough and can handle a lot of abuse.
That is why a flashlight is a long-term investment. If you spend some cash on a high-quality unit, you do not need to worry about replacements for a long time. This one investment will help you get out of a lot of tough situations unscathed.
Ease of shooting
Having an AR15 flashlight mounted on the rail will make it easier for you to shoot in the dark. Since it is mounted on the barrel, wherever you are pointing your gun, the area gets illuminated.
So, you do not need to aim the flashlight and then manually aim your gun. The two tasks are essentially one when you have your flashlight mounted on your weapon. It improves your reaction and target acquisition time drastically.
Ease of use
Using an AR15 flashlight is also quite easy. Most of the models allow tool-free mounting so you can get it running almost instantly. Activating the unit is also quite easy, and if it comes with removable pressure switches, activation becomes extremely intuitive.
Final Thoughts
A flashlight can entirely change your experience with your firearm. It adds a lot of utility, giving you a way to track your target even in darkness. However, it does have its flaws, but the versatility of the unit more than makes up for it. Especially if you invest in the right unit, you will never look back.
We hope our article on the best AR15 flashlight could help you expand your knowledge about this tool. Now you should have no trouble figuring out which product will serve you best.
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