Recommend me a light

[Disciple]

What are the advantages or disadvantages of 18650 vs 18350 batteries?

I was hoping to stay with CR-123 (for commonalty of battery stock/availability) but that doesn't look like it will happen.

A 123 cell can deliver about six watts of power. A high current 18350 can deliver over 30 watts making it easily superior if you value high burst output in a small form factor. The runtime will be limited however. CR123 cells are better for lower rates of discharge and long term storage.

[Defaultmp3]

The light just did not have enough throw for stuff beyond 75m and not enough penetration of smoke with still air. I had to move out of the rifle's smoke several times to light up the target.

I am looking at going to a Modlite or a Cloud Defensive light after seeing what others were using.

Were these others at the same match? Curious, because smoke in it of itself can be problematic regardless of the output of the light; I've not dealt with smoke using WMLs at range (have only dealt with it from a structural firefighting perspective, so rather different illumination needs), so I don't know how much of an issue it is with the higher throw WMLs, but even some flood may be enough to cause significant issues with splashback due to the smoke.

ModLite does make a dual-fuel OKW head (their throw-specific head) if you're that wedded to CR123s.

[1168]

If you want to stick with 123s, there’s the Arisaka/Malkoff combos that take 2 123s or a 16650. You may end up falling in love with rechargeables, though.

Smoke can be an issue even with high candela lights.

[acrocat]

Valhalla Tactical makes a 21700 body for the Cloud Rein. $409 for a complete light including pressure switch and mounting bracket. It only comes in MLOK though. So far, I'm pretty happy with their 18350 body but might go for the 21700 body soon. The 21700 body will let you mount it pretty far forward if that is needed. They claim some impressive run-time numbers with it but I haven't used one yet to test it.

https://www.valhallatactical.com/baldr-rein/

correction: $409.95 for complete 18350 light and $419.95 for complete 21700 light.

[mrbieler]

Sticking with CR123's, you can put get a Malkoff E2HT head, body, tail cap, and mount for about $200. Need a tape switch and prices get higher pretty fast. The option to run rechargeable 16650's would be there, but it's a solid light using primaries. Would be a pretty big jump from the 300 you have now. You can repurpose the mount and tail cap from that.

[fedupflyer]

Were these others at the same match?

ModLite does make a dual-fuel OKW head (their throw-specific head) if you're that wedded to CR123s.

Yes, they were at the match. (Half the squad and match was NVG)
One guy had a light that was really a laser and it cut through about everything. We had a small fog bank roll through and it did not seem to matter to his light. Down side of that light/ laser, it is very focused and not much spill.
After seeing some reviews on you tube, the Modlite PLH2 seems to be a good combo between throw and spill.

Having trouble finding good demos of the dual fuel head.


Still doing my research and what fits my needs.

Thanks for all the replies. Learned lots in a short time.

[Disciple]

One guy had a light that was really a laser and it cut through about everything. We had a small fog bank roll through and it did not seem to matter to his light. Down side of that light/ laser, it is very focused and not much spill.

A LEP light, or are you speaking figuratively?

[Adrenaline_6]

A LEP light, or are you speaking figuratively?

I was thinking he meant LEP. I wonder what LEP that guy was using?

[fedupflyer]

A LEP light, or are you speaking figuratively?

I have no idea what a/an LEP is.

I was speaking literally and not like a millennial literally.

The light is classified as a laser.
https://atibalillumination.com/colle...i-1-light-head

[Disciple]

LEP stands for Laser Excited Phosphor. It is similar to the way white light LEDs work where the phosphor is excited by a blue LED, but the laser can be more focused and intense, producing a greater surface brightness and thereby a tighter, higher intensity beam from a small reflector or optic. The total luminous output is typically less than LED based lights. The product you reference appears to be a LEP light.