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Picture of ruger357
posted
I’m a surefire x300 guy but I put one on my HK P30 and I don’t like the way it balances. What do y’all recommend for a lighter, smaller light? It’s a house gun so not too worried about holster compatibility.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ruger357,


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Roll Tide!

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Posts: 8040 | Location: Hoover, AL | Registered: November 06, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of parabellum
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The Streamlight TLR-7A

On a G19, the front of the light is flush with the muzzle. Shorter and narrower than the Surefire X300. Comes with two different switch options. Bright and compact and priced right.

I'm a big fan of the X300 and use them on my full-size Glocks- G17 and G34, but for compact pistols, they're just too big. The Streamlight TLR-7 uses one battery instead of the two batteries used in an X300.


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Posts: 110025 | Registered: January 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Freethinker
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After experiences with three other models, the TLR-7A has become my favorite. Although it probably won’t matter to most users, I was pleased to discover that it would fit into a holster originally designed for a SureFire because of its small size. But I really like its switches that can be operated with my trigger finger or thumb. Press forward or down briefly and the light stays on until pressed again; press and hold and the light stays on until the switch is released. The switches work the same way on both sides of the light.

I have a TLR-1 that can be easy to get confused with: down on one side and it’s momentary; up on the same side and it’s constant on. The confusing part is that the directions are reversed on the other side of the light. Plus the TLR-1 switch rotates and therefore changes position, whereas the TLR-7A switches are always in the same place.




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Posts: 47951 | Location: 10,150 Feet Above Sea Level in Colorado | Registered: April 04, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
E tan e epi tas
Picture of cslinger
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Nothing but praise for the TLR-7A. Great little light. If I could ding it for anything it could use a little more Candela but overall it’s a great package and being able to change the battery without removing the light is a bonus.

I have them on a P30 and P2000 and they fit perfectly.


"Guns are tools. The only weapon ever created was man."
 
Posts: 8014 | Location: On the water | Registered: July 25, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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quote:
Originally posted by cslinger:
If I could ding it for anything it could use a little more Candela...
The newer version, with the new switch body, is brighter, though Streamlight lists both the older and newer versions at 500 lumens.

And yes, being able to change the battery without removing the light from the pistol is advantageous, especially with the TLR-8, which is the the light/laser combo version. Not having to remove the light means you don't have to re-zero the laser after a battery change.
 
Posts: 110025 | Registered: January 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Sigforum K9 handler
Picture of jljones
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Another vote for the 7A. I’ve been shooting in the dark a bunch in the last six months and the 7A is really user friendly without adding much time to the draw.

Not a great outdoors type light, but inside a structure it works really well.

Battery life has actually been pretty impressive as well.




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Posts: 37293 | Location: Logical | Registered: September 12, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Picture of ruger357
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Well I guess it’s unanimous. Thanks everyone. Anyone seen a 7A on sale lately?


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Roll Tide!

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Posts: 8040 | Location: Hoover, AL | Registered: November 06, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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I love my Streamlight TLR's on my larger guns (G-17 & G-34

My Surefire XC1 just kinda fits perfectly on my G-19, throws out enough light for a "compact" pistol.


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"When its time to shoot, shoot. Dont talk!"

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Posts: 8651 | Location: Attempting to keep the noise down around Midway Airport | Registered: February 14, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Peace through
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quote:
Originally posted by ruger357:
Anyone seen a 7A on sale lately?
Check with DaBigBR: https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...0601935/m/6710050644
 
Posts: 110025 | Registered: January 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Ordered the 7A. Thanks everyone!


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Roll Tide!

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Posts: 8040 | Location: Hoover, AL | Registered: November 06, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
E tan e epi tas
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quote:
The newer version, with the new switch body, is brighter, though Streamlight lists both the older and newer versions at 500 lumens.


When you say newer switch body do you mean there was an update after the switch from the TLR7(side button original) to the TLR7A(With the “paddles”). Is there a newer TLR7A


"Guns are tools. The only weapon ever created was man."
 
Posts: 8014 | Location: On the water | Registered: July 25, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Fighting the good fight
Picture of RogueJSK
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quote:
Originally posted by jljones:
Another vote for the 7A.

Not a great outdoors type light, but inside a structure it works really well.


Agreed. It's a great defense/concealed carry weaponlight. A bit less so for duty use, especially in rural areas, since it lacks the throw distance of the full sized duty lights.

The TLR-7A beats the pants off any of the other compact weaponlights, like the XC-1, or the early TLR-3, or any of the lesser-/no-name lights.
 
Posts: 33431 | Location: Northwest Arkansas | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Sigforum K9 handler
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The thing I’ve noticed outdoors is that inside of 10-15 yards you usually have no issues. Beyond that, haze due to humidity on a hot summer night, rain, fog, etc all disperse the beam and limit the usefulness.

But, for what it’s made for you can’t beat it. The fed agency I was attached to issues them and I didn’t see the first user or mechanical problem at night ranges.




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Posts: 37293 | Location: Logical | Registered: September 12, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Peace through
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Picture of parabellum
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quote:
Originally posted by cslinger:
quote:
The newer version, with the new switch body, is brighter, though Streamlight lists both the older and newer versions at 500 lumens.
When you say newer switch body do you mean there was an update after the switch from the TLR7(side button original) to the TLR7A(With the “paddles”). Is there a newer TLR7A
Yes, there are three versions of this WML:

  • The original TLR-7 which has switches on the sides of the switch body

  • The original TLR-7A, which has the switches at the rear of the switch body, and which came with two switch bodies; one with the high switches and one with the low switches. Users changed out the switches by replacing the entire switch body, but this was problematic. Inside the switch bodies are tiny relays for the switches- little round buttons, and these are not captive, so, when changing out the switch body, these relays could fall out and easily get lost. This was also a problem for the switch body that was currently off the WML. You have this loose switch body sitting in your parts box and the relays could disappear in a heartbeat. Streamlight's solution for the not-installed switch body was to provide a piece of foam rubber you stuck inside the switch body to keep the relays from falling out. Needless to say, this was not a real solution. Because of this deficiency in design, Streamlight created a new version of the TLR-7A.

  • The current version of the TLR-7A comes with one switch body only, and while it can be removed from the WML, there is no need to do so. Streamlight made it so that the tiny springs under each switch are internal to the switch body, and Streamlight provides a tool which allows the user to easily replace switches and to have a combination of high switch on one side and low switch on the other, if so desired. I accomplished this on the original TLR-7A using a straightened out paper clip. See my post below, from January, 2020, explaining this.

    Is there a way to tell apart the new and old versions of the TLR-7A? Yes, the older version has a switch body with smooth sides. The newer version has a switch body with channeled sides.

    Also, please note that all newer Streamlight WMLs are date coded. The four numbers below the serial number on each WML represent two digits for month, two digits for year: 1219, for example, indicates a manufacture date of December, 2019.

    The newest version of the TLR-7A is definitely brighter than the older version of the TLR-7A and the original TLR-7 (and whatever LED they are now using is of a cooler appearance; the light output looks more white and less red or yellow), although, as I said, Streamlight has specified 500 lumens for all versions of this WML.



    TLR-7 thread
    quote:
    Originally posted by parabellum:
    I mounted my new TLR7-A on my G19 gen5. The light comes with the high switches installed. I'm right handed and I like the high switch on the right side of the light. I know people say that you are not supposed to be activating a pistol-mounted WML with your trigger finger, but I do this and have done it ever since the first Surefire X-series lights came out. If people want to call this a poor technique, so be it, but I'll wager that I am far from alone in this practice.
    When I put my finger through the trigger guard, my fingernail was contacting the inside of the left side switch and this bothered me. Also, I noticed that if I did wish to activate the light with my off hand, the low switch would be preferable.

    Given all this, it seemed to me that the best configuration would be high switch on the right side and low switch on the left side. The transverse pin which holds the switches in place is a friction fit. It can be pushed out with a paperclip. Actually, the pin doesn't need to be removed entirely, but rather, simply pushed in far enough to free one switch. Removing this pin entirely would increase the chances of it getting bent when reinserting it.
    Using the second switch body which comes with the Flex model, I used a paperclip to push in the pin from the left side of the switch body. If you do this, you'll want to press down on the switch to hold it in place, because behind the switch is the tinest coil spring you'll ever see, and if it gets away from you, you'll never find it.

    Then, I removed the left side switch and coil from the high switch body and installed the low switch. On the switch body, there is a small plastic pillar which keeps the spring aligned. Put the spring on this pillar, then carefully align the switch so that the hole for the spring on the underside of the switch itself captures the spring. While using one hand to hold the switch in place and one hand to hold the switch body, use a flat surface such as a tabletop to gently push the transverse pin back into place. You can get the pin perfectly flush by using the paperclip to tweak it a bit.

    So, now I have my own personalized model- the TLR-7A High/Low. High switch on the right side, low switch on the left side.

    To keep all parts in place, I installed the left side high switch I removed from the high switch body into the left side of the low switch body.

    It took me longer to type out this post than it did to make this modification, in case any of you are interested in making this change. Remember- the world's smallest coil spring. Be careful. If you drop it, it's gone for good.

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    Posts: 110025 | Registered: January 20, 2000Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    E tan e epi tas
    Picture of cslinger
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    Thank you sir. Super helpful post.


    "Guns are tools. The only weapon ever created was man."
     
    Posts: 8014 | Location: On the water | Registered: July 25, 2002Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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    Picture of RichardC
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    You'll want to clean muzzle blast schmutz off the lens regularly.


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    Posts: 16312 | Location: Florida | Registered: June 23, 2003Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Fighting the good fight
    Picture of RogueJSK
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    You can cover it with masking tape when practicing without the need to use the light.

    When doing live fire low light training with the light, put a thin layer of chapstick or vaseline on the lens. This doesn't significantly alter the light output, yet allows you to just wipe the powder residue off afterwards.
     
    Posts: 33431 | Location: Northwest Arkansas | Registered: January 06, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Sigforum K9 handler
    Picture of jljones
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    I just dab a little toothpaste on it when I clean the pistol. Does a fantastic job of restoring the lens to like new and gives it a fresh minty taste.




    www.opspectraining.com

    "It's a bold strategy, Cotton. Let's see if it works out for them"



     
    Posts: 37293 | Location: Logical | Registered: September 12, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Member
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    quote:
    Originally posted by jljones:
    I just dab a little toothpaste on it when I clean the pistol. Does a fantastic job of restoring the lens to like new and gives it a fresh minty taste.


    NO-NO!
    Seriously!! NO-NO! You're not supposed to lick that end of the pistol! Cool


    ______________________________________________________________________
    "When its time to shoot, shoot. Dont talk!"

    “What the government is good at is collecting taxes, taking away your freedoms and killing people. It’s not good at much else.” —Author Tom Clancy
     
    Posts: 8651 | Location: Attempting to keep the noise down around Midway Airport | Registered: February 14, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
    Bolt Thrower
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    Do you guys like the high or low switches more?
     
    Posts: 10080 | Location: Woodinville, WA | Registered: March 30, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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