You see, making handheld flashlights isn't nearly as difficult as making weapon lights. The amount of abuse a light takes when attached to a firearm is light years (excuse the pun) beyond what it would experience in your hand. The recoil, heat, carbon fouling, etc., all take a toll on even the toughest lights. Not to mention the physical beating they take getting tossed around the range. That is exactly why, out of 100 light manufacturers, only a select few have the technology and skills necessary to make a true weapon light.
The Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount 2 is purpose built to take such a beating and perform without fail. Like all of its ProTac siblings before it, the Rail Mount 2 is machined from high-grade aluminum with a clean anodized finish. The lens is impact-resistant tempered glass that resists scratching and protects the single 625-lumen LED diode behind it. Powered by two CR123A batteries, the Rail Mount 2 is good for a runtime of 2 hours on the highest setting. If you don't need the full blast of light there's a low setting that produces 60 lumens and extends the battery life to over 20 hours. And of course there's a strobe setting if you feel the need. All of these options are user-programmable through Streamlight's proprietary "Ten-Tap" system so you can lock down your preferred output and forget about it.
The rail mount on the Rail Mount 2 is machined into the body of the light for maximum strength and attaches to any 1913 rail segment in seconds with no tools required. I snugged mine up a bit with a screwdriver as I've seen way too many thumb-tightened lights come loose after a short time on the range. It also comes with your choice of activation attachments; a simple rubberized end cap or a remote pressure switch. Both are capable of momentary and constant-on modes and swap out in seconds.
If you're in the market for a high-quality weapon light and have been checking out some other, similar looking lights with a much higher price tag, I'd urge you to pick up a Rail Mount 2 and keep the other $200 in your pocket. For a retail price of $190 the new Rail Mount 2 is a screaming deal. Check it out at
www.streamlight.com
.
A.J. George is a sergeant with the Scottsdale (AZ) Police Department assigned to the Technical Operations Unit, Special Investigations Section.
Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount 2
Ten-Tap programming - choice of three operating modes: high/strobe; high only; low/high
Remote pressure switch features momentary and “constant on” operation
Integrated rail clamp attaches to MIL-STD-1913 rails
Includes remote pressure switch, push-button tail switch, remote retaining clips, double-sided tape, and zip tie
Uses two CR123A lithium batteries (included)
Durable, anodized aluminum construction with impact-resistant tempered glass lens
Limited lifetime warranty
Price: $190
www.streamlight.com
