SIGforum
Do any LEO’s or high speed low drag door kicker types actually use strobes?
December 04, 2019, 10:11 AM
RichardCDo any LEO’s or high speed low drag door kicker types actually use strobes?
I think a miniaturized disco ball projector with railmount adaptor would be an awesome OODA loop disruptor on a fighting pistol.
Go ahead and scoff; someone will put it into production. It'll be the next biggest thing since smokeless powder and red dot sights on handguns.
____________________
December 04, 2019, 10:57 AM
kidcopI can take it or leave it, but typically find the LEDs on the cruiser do a good enough job disorienting EVERYBODY that anything else is superfluous.
December 04, 2019, 12:22 PM
jljonesquote:
Originally posted by RichardC:
I think a miniaturized disco ball projector with railmount adaptor would be an awesome OODA loop disruptor on a fighting pistol.
Go ahead and scoff; someone will put it into production. It'll be the next biggest thing since smokeless powder and red dot sights on handguns.
It only works if you also play the main theme to Star Wars at the same time.
December 04, 2019, 07:18 PM
Warhorsequote:
Originally posted by cslinger:
Yes it uses Streamlights typical 10 tap system.
Thanks
____________________________
NRA Life Member, Annual Member GOA, MGO Annual Member
December 04, 2019, 07:48 PM
LMLarsenquote:
Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I have the strobe feature specifically disabled on my weaponlights, since I don't use it, and it only serves to frustrate me when I activate it inadvertently when trying to do brief momentary lighting.
(For those who are wondering, Streamlight TLR-1S and TLR-1HL lights have a button press system to disable the strobe feature. Press briefly down on the momentary lever 10x, and hold down on the 10th push for 5ish seconds. After 5ish seconds, the light should flash and turn off, letting you know the strobe is successfully disabled. Repeat it to enable strobe again, if you decide you want it in the future.)
I tried this on my TLR-1S several times, and it didn’t work.
__________________________
We few... We happy few...
December 04, 2019, 08:00 PM
DaBigBRYou have to rapidly tap the momentary exactly ten times and hold until the light shuts off on the tenth time. There are a number of YouTube videos showing the process. My experience is that when people have trouble it's that they're not "tapping" fast enough.
December 04, 2019, 08:02 PM
bubbatimeWorthless except in traffic at night to get peoples attention while directing traffic or trying not to get run over.
______________________________________________________
Often times a very small man can cast a very large shadow
December 05, 2019, 06:49 AM
HayesGreenerI tell my low light course students not to buy the damn things with strobes in them, it is just a marketing gimmick so they can charge more money for a useless option. Some things, like Combat lights, should be kept simple, "On", or "Off".
CMSGT USAF (Retired)
Chief of Police (Retired)
December 05, 2019, 07:45 AM
Cous2492I used the strobe function on my handheld light in traffic situations. Occasionally, when an after-hours bar would let out and people would get rowdy, a strobe to the eyes would keep 'em moving.
December 05, 2019, 08:40 AM
RogueJSKquote:
Originally posted by HayesGreener:
I tell my low light course students not to buy the damn things with strobes in them
The problem is, it's getting tougher to find a quality modern light - especially a weaponlight - that
doesn't have that feature included.
Luckily, on most of them it can be disabled through a series of button taps, so if you don't want it (and you almost certainly don't...) then it's not that big of a deal.
quote:
Originally posted by HayesGreener:
Some things, like Combat lights, should be kept simple, "On", or "Off".
I'll add a third necessary feature: Momentary On. There are situations in which you want to be able to lock the light on. But in many/most tactical or defensive situations, you'll only want brief, momentary pulses of light from your flashlights.
IMO, all lights (both handheld and weapon mounted) intended for serious purposes should have settings for Off, Constant On, and Momentary On. The good news is that nearly all of the ones from reputable companies already do.
December 05, 2019, 10:21 AM
357fuzzI have used the strobe several times in the line of duty..... they are great for signaling the Hydrant Humpers that the scene is safe for them to come in.
December 05, 2019, 07:40 PM
LMLarsenquote:
Originally posted by DaBigBR:
You have to rapidly tap the momentary exactly ten times and hold until the light shuts off on the tenth time. There are a number of YouTube videos showing the process. My experience is that when people have trouble it's that they're not "tapping" fast enough.
Thanks, I’ll check out the videos and try it again.
__________________________
We few... We happy few...
December 06, 2019, 10:36 PM
BradleySI retired about 6 years ago, but never had a desire or need for one.
________________________________
Then I heard the voice of the
Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Isaiah 6:8
_________________________________
December 06, 2019, 10:47 PM
Fuego220Meh, too much of a PITA to deal with it and that flashing light still makes a nice target. My weapon mounted light is there to briefly ID a target, or keep illumination on a perp so that my other hand can perform other tasks. Cover and concealment is important, and going lights-out when practical is the best choice. If I am throwing rounds, I have to be damn sure that I am shooting at the right target.
December 07, 2019, 06:34 AM
chongosuerteNever used strobe on a WML, but used the strobe on my handheld light several times to help the helicopter find us during situations. Not sure if that’s better than a solid beam, but seemed like a good idea at the time.
Knowing what one is talking about is widely admired but not strictly required here.
Although sometimes distracting, there is often a certain entertainment value to this easy standard.
-JALLEN
"All I need is a WAR ON DRUGS reference and I got myself a police thread BINGO." -jljones
December 07, 2019, 09:19 AM
jljonesThe biggest problem I have with the strobe feature on flashlights is that they seem to activate when no one wants them to, and then the user pays more attention to trying to turn the strobe off than what it is they are supposed to be paying attention to.
December 07, 2019, 11:51 AM
car541It is a little know fact that the strobe function is the only way to get wreckers to move up on your DWI stop.
As such it is indispensable.
*****************************
"I don't own the night, I only operate a small franchise" - Author unknown
December 07, 2019, 03:03 PM
FJRiderI believe that it needs to be hard to turn on but I have used it many times. I used to walk late at night and often had problems with very aggressive Dogs that had attacked several other dogs and a couple of people. When hitting them with a steam light HPL in strobe mode they would always stop at 10 feet. The one time that they got out during the daylight They left a cornered pit bull to attack me and I had to shoot the lead dog. With the strobe on at night, they could never see me well enough to come after me. That said this is the only time that it has ever been useful to me.
December 07, 2019, 05:23 PM
dehughesquote:
Originally posted by jljones:
The biggest problem I have with the strobe feature on flashlights is that they seem to activate when no one wants them to, and then the user pays more attention to trying to turn the strobe off than what it is they are supposed to be paying attention to.
Exactly. I saw this happen at the range yesterday, albeit only once as it was a small group. It's happened to me several times in the past. No longer, though, thanks to RogueJSK.

________________
tempus edax rerum
December 07, 2019, 06:14 PM
pso1207I don’t use as I’ve never really found a need. But I don’t think most people actually realize the purpose of it. It is NOT to disorient a person. What is IS used for is to “disorient” a suspects depth perception where you are. Obviously if the suspect is hiding in a dark corner and you come in the room with a light on, it’s easy to tell exactly where you are. But if you use strobe mode, the idea is they can tell where you are, but not necessarily how far away you are. In other words....it’s fairly useless.