Weapon Lights and Batteries

[Loathing]

At some point I'll be looking into picking up a weapon light, no real specific type in mind yet though.

When doing a little bit of browsing I decided to look for rechargeable batteries mainly CR123A's and CR2's to buy online because buying one time use one's is just way too expensive.

One thing I keep seeing on the details for the batteries is it that it keeps saying "Not for Flashlight's".

Anyone got any idea what's this about? Or maybe even a link to a place to buy rechargeable batteries from (with a charger)?

[chaosnemesis]

have a look at dealextreme.com they've got a pretty good selection of lights and batteries and the price shown includes shipping....albeit a little slow. But, at those prices i don't expect next day shipping. My orders have arrived as quickly as 1 week and as long as 3. I've been shopping there for a few years now great service great prices.

[Loathing]

Delivery time isn't an issue, as long as the stuff gets here eventually. And thanks, the prices there are pretty decent, a hell of a lot cheaper then what I paid for my CR2 batteries in store.

[5.56]

Rechargable batteries in my experience work best with LED weapon lights. However, please be carefull buying batteries from China as they tend to have a higher voltage than they indicate, which will ruin the light/bulb.
As for weapon lights, I recommend Surefire hand-held series such as 6P, GZ, or G2 Nitrolon. You can get one now for just above 100 dollars canadian.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by chaosnemesis

have a look at dealextreme.com they've got a pretty good selection of lights and batteries and the price shown includes shipping....albeit a little slow. But, at those prices i don't expect next day shipping. My orders have arrived as quickly as 1 week and as long as 3. I've been shopping there for a few years now great service great prices.

Cheap CR123s from places like dealextreme have a history of exploding/leaking and ruining flashlights. It's happened once to me.

[Loathing]

I've been looking at the surefire series for a little while now. Saving up and buying a decent one would be good in the long run I think, since it would serve me at home and work, plus if I decided to put it on a airsoft rifle (night games?) at some point.

[tunabreath]

Get a flashlight that runs 18650 batteries (usually single). They're amazingly convenient - a single 18650 can power a 450+ lumen LED for over an hour, and for a looooong time on low/navigation modes. I haven't had a single problem with my trustfire protected 18650s yet.

The only inconvenience is they're too fat to fit in stock storage compartments designed for AAs and 123s.

While Surefire lights are very good quality, most people don't really have use for a light that needs to withstand that much abuse. The stuff on dealextreme, on the whole, is much better bang for your buck as it were. Most of them are more than sturdy enough for home/work use, and half to a third the cost of an equivalently powered Surefire. I use mine in the shop and it's been dropped on concrete a fair number of times with no resulting damage. Just make sure you get a light with a lot of reviews. It lessens your chances of getting a dud.

[PaCHeKo!]

There's a very nice deal going around :

http://www.rsov.com/index.php?target...roduct_id=3723

I just ordered one and waiting for the postman.

Here's some review : http://www.arniesairsoft.co.uk/forum...ic=179331&st=0

Include one of their "Free Shipping" item with your order and it makes your entire order "Free Shipping" (Depending the weight of the second item). After all, shipping will cost you 3.00$ instead of +10.00$.

By the way, I use standard CR123A. I heard some crap about rechargeable one. Anyways, you will not use your weapon light that much.

[Chingyul]

RCR123s have a higher voltage in general. It's the nature of their chemistry, and not because they're from China.

CandlePowerForums - View Single Post - So many RCR123 types?!
Gives pretty good brief on the different rechargeable CR123s.


I think the reason some batteries say "not for flashlights", is because of the higher voltage. It will cause incandescent bulbs to pop.

Having said that, I have some RCR123s myself, but I went the safe LiFePO4 chemistry. No explosive venting, but they are a little less energy dense than the other ones, where you have to take of them a little better.

[-Trooper-]

I just bought the Surefire E2D LED flashlight off ebay and some rechargeable batteries from battery junction.