Inforce Weaponlight review - Lots of Pics!

[Bgu301]

Cross posted at Ar-15.com . Thought others might be interested, so I am posting here as well. They sent out 4 to 16 individuals for review. Here is mine.

Review: Inforce Weapon light - Desert Sand 12/8/11-12/10/11

I was late to get this as having to juggle a busy work schedule. I got on 12/8 - And immediately opened the box. Packaged fair, clean and simple. Battery included. Instructions. Simple Click 1- High, Click 2, Low, Click 3 off. Repeat. Strobe feature is cool, but can be user disoriented. Before ever trying the feature, I figured it would be a great idea, in use, I would probably not use it. Makes the environment seem more stressful to me. I do like how you can disengage the feature, or engage the feature that requires the bezel the be unscrewed 1 turn, the activation switch to be pressed twice, and screwed back on, as to prevent accidental usage.

First Impressions. Plastic housing felt solid, head felt solid. Good resistance on turning the bezel, but not too stiff. Clean lines w/ a very fluid and sleek body. The pressure pad/push button activation switch feels good. It doesn't feel as if the flex material will split, very solid feeling, and affirmative resistance and on/off function. When putting it on my rifle, It was easy to attach with no instructions necessary, Tighten the screw to allow to attach, tighten down to secure. Very secure when mounted. I had some resistance issues issues, but it was near some rail coverings, which I think the Magpul rail covers are too high to run up underneath the back end of the unit, much better install on open rail.
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On my 14.5" it is just perfect on the 9 o'clock position. It was also very comfortable on the 12 o'clock position, w/ a thumb over top grip. Again, the pictures show the clean lines that seem as if they would not snag on the rear end as you might see on a traditional setup w/ a tail-cap.

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On the G3k, I wanted to show it does work w/ a ptr91k, hk93, or g3k setup. It is not perfect as you have to have easy access to the charging handle, but is very doable, especially when the charging handle is retracted. Not sure how it will work in a high stress environment, but at a snales pace, it is fine. In this instance, I just got the rails the same day, and put on some Scar Panels. I found them to be more of a knuckle grinder than a help. It feels very intuitive w/ a VFG on this instance.

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[Bgu301]

I did find that it will not attach to the DD rails w/ a Magpul AFG1. Pictures showing it are merely a mock up, though an AFG 2 would resolve. It did feel as this light is not ideal setup on a carbine setup w/ an AFG. but would be better w/ a VFG as long as it was close to the mag well.

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Fit fine on DSA SA58 - again, it seems as if it works best on mid length rails better as it gives you more room to get the correct spacing if you run a VFG or AFG. As you can see, on longer barrels, because of the low profile and being so close to the weapon, it will create a silhouette/shadow
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The light is very bright even w/ over bright overhead can lights, you can see it has a good white light output. In a dark room, you can see it has alot of throw, and a farly condensed beam. It is white light so it is quit bright. Outside, as you can see it does a good job of spot lighting. Distance about 15-20 feet. I am comfortable in CQB distances, but outside it would not throw the beam that much if you were it the woods, but no worse than any other light in its class (low/moderate lumen output). In the outdoor pics, there is a good amount of ambient light. There seems very little to no heat on this unit.

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I put in the freezer in my ice tray overnight, pulled it out. perfect function, and was not as cold as I feel a aluminum bodied flashlight would be. Other than some minor fogging on the lenses, it was perfectly functional. There was no additional resistance on the on/off switch. No hesitation.
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I did a quick 15 minute water dunk, ran just fine, and fully waterproof. No issues at all.

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I did try using the the switch cover. It prevents gross motor functions, but the light can still be used. It is a good solid setup, and has a good amount of resistance in moving it where it does not flop around, or engage when not wanted. Time will tell if this stays the same as the unit has wear due to use and movement.

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I did not/will not have a chance to go to the range this weekend, I did get to do a fit/finish use review, and found this unit to be ideal for rifle use. I purchased an x300 w/ a La Rue mount, and resold it, was not happy w/ the size w/ the mount on (too far out), and wanted qd capabilities. In addition, I was not happy w/ the surefire switch, I enjoyed my M6 better than the surefire.

I tried to put this unit on my Sig 226 Tac Ops, Glock G23, and FNP 45, just to see if it would attach, and is to large for all of them. That is something that this unit falls short compared to units like a surefire x300/400, or a TLR, where it could be an independent unit that can be fully transferred between host firearms. I feel the ergonomics are superior on a long arm with this unit.

I would like to see this unit around $115-25 range, but all in all, I know its a new product and am excited to see it even just at a tad bit more expensive, as it has the function and feel of it being of high quality. I am excited to see this product and the company evolve. I would love to win one of these, though I am likely to purchase one also. I have been looking at one since the first ad's came out, and this was a great opportunity to get a fit and feel for the unit. Thanks for the opportunity to review your product.

[Skang]

Great review, Thank you!!

[scottryan]

I was skeptical of this thing and now I'm even more skeptical.

I don't like its larger footprint than an X300

You said you have to scroll through the settings? Did I understand this correctly? All I want is on and off.

I also don't like how it has a strobe.

I also don't understand how Inforce claims the same brightness and run time as an X300, but only uses one CR123 battery? It should either have half the run time or half the brightness.

[Bgu301]

You can disable the strobe feature. I would say its longer than the x300, its narrower. next to each other, they have about the same height, however, I don't have both in my possession to give a side by side., if you add a LT mount for the surefire though, it is taller, but is a better qd system (I am a fan of the LaRue mounts). I have to mail it on to the next reviewer tomorrow.

[misanthropist]

I will also put myself in the "severe skepticism" group.

I can't comment on brightness vs time stuff because I don't have a good sense of what variables affect the efficiency of lights.

But on a weapons light, as far as I am concerned, a switch should do one thing, or two TOPS:

1) momentary on
2) some separate motion that cannot possibly be accidentally employed for constant-on.

And I don't even really want the second one.

This light could be a great light in the sense that it is indestructible, lightweight, and attaches like a pit-bull/divorce lawyer cross. But the switch makes me think that the designers have not thought this through. It sounds like your usual run of the mill cheap chinese flashlight switch approach.

And while I have no specific loyalty to Surefire and I increasingly suspect other companies can build lights that are every bit as good, in order for me to want one, the features have to actually make sense.

[C4IGrant]

I have two of these lights. It is actually a very nice light. The switching options are on the complex side though and would prefer a simple on/off version (which I have told them about).


C4

[Bgu301]

Momentary on would be a good option. How to integrate it would be something above my pay-grade.

[misanthropist]

I have two of these lights. It is actually a very nice light. The switching options are on the complex side though and would prefer a simple on/off version (which I have told them about).


C4

Well, hopefully they'll pay attention. If the switching were better suited to a WML I'd be interested. There is no particular reason that only one company should be able to build solid lights. This seems like it might make a nice 12 o'clock light...how is the height compared to a x300, say?

[og556]

If they released a simple on off switch variant I would be interested. The only add on I would love is a tape switch if possible but only if it did on or off, multi stage light is a no go for me if its going on a weapon.

[motoduck]

I purchased two of these lights. One standard and one with IR capability. I puchased them with out knowing much about them but the design looked intriguing and I wanted to test them out. I am a big Surefire fan, having said that, so far I am happy with my purchase. I have not had a chance to run either light hard but the ergonomics work well for me on both a SBR and full length long gun. I am not crazy about the muiti function switch (I prefer just on/off) but the switch is simple and so far has worked well. The lights appear to be well made and well thought out. They are also on a good price point when compared to the competition.
I am not ready to replace any of my surefires yet but I am satisfied enough that I am going to use both of these lights regularly and see how they hold up under different conditions.

[militarymoron]

good writeup. i did one in october:
http://www.militarymorons.com/weapons/wlights2.html#wml

i like mostly everything about the light EXCEPT the switch, as everyone else has mentioned. i want momentary on, ONLY. that's it. i wouldn't mind having two light levels and a constant ON, but i'd want that controlled by rotating the bezel, not using the switch.

[militarymoron]

I also don't understand how Inforce claims the same brightness and run time as an X300, but only uses one CR123 battery? It should either have half the run time or half the brightness.

the specs on inforce's website state 125 lumens for a 2 hr runtime.
the X300 specs from surefire's website state 170 lumens at 2.4 hrs of runtime.

also, you're making an overly simple linear assumption about number of batteries, run time and brightness.

for example, surefire's X300 uses two CR123s, has an output of 170 lumens and 2.4 hours of runtime.
you're saying that by going down to one battery, it should either have 170L/1.2hrs or 85L/2.4hrs.

using that same relationship, if we go from two to three batteries, we'd get 255L/2.4hrs. or for 170L/3.6hrs (each value increasing by 3/2). say we decrease the runtime to 1.7 hrs at 255L, then the lumens should go up to 360, correct?

how then does surefire claim 800 lumens for a 1.7 hr runtime out of their M3LT-S combat light then, which uses three CR123 batteries?

my point is that there's a lot more to calculating LED run times and brightness than multiplying or dividing values by the number of batteries.

[trinydex]

for a 12 o clock mounting, where would the iron sight go?

[misanthropist]

rearward of the light

[trinydex]

Does the button location make things weird if the iron sight is there?

[yellow50]

^^^ I was thinking the same thing. I think I will stick with a rocker switch for 12 o'clock mounting.

[Dennis]

I also don't understand how Inforce claims the same brightness and run time as an X300, but only uses one CR123 battery? It should either have half the run time or half the brightness.



my point is that there's a lot more to calculating LED run times and brightness than multiplying or dividing values by the number of batteries.

Yup, different LED types draw different amounts of power for a given output. Generally, newer LED's are more efficient and give more runtime for less power. Newer XM-L LED's give almost twice the output for the same power as the older CREE XP-G LED's. I think the Inforce uses an older CREE XP-G LED but there are many variations.

I echo MM's comments that I wish it had a much simpler interface. Or at least one that makes it hard to do anything other than full power momentary/constant ON/OFF.

Other than that, it is a low profile well designed light. I run one in front of a MBUS with no issues. With a newer XM-L LED and simpler switching this would easily beat the X300 for long guns.

The only other thing I would like to see is a low profile 11:00/1:00 mounting capability somehow...

Dennis.

[edmorseiii]

Does the button location make things weird if the iron sight is there?

I am going to replace the MOE on my carbine with the Troy rail that goes around the front sight, I would love to see one of these mounted on a setup like that if possible. Otherwise, I will be sticking to my TLR1.

[misanthropist]

Does the button location make things weird if the iron sight is there?

I don't think it would cause issues with my particular grip but with no momentary-on-only switch, it's kind of moot.