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Posted: 1/13/2026 7:02:01 PM EDT
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Are the combo vis/IR weapon lights worth it? I know there is the surefire scout/mini scout pro infrared and the inforce wml IR and im sure there are some more. are the combos worth it to save some coin and weight? are the single cells still usable? this would be going on an 11.5 with a can and a t2, single tube pvs 14 also, not a professional but don't want junk |
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I have a m300v head and a t2. It couldn't punch through enough smoke at 50y for me so I bought a 3EIR DIR-ONE-V. Maybe a Malkoff dedicated IR head would be enough IR that you could passive aim through smoke, but then you are going to end up constantly adjusting the dot. I think it's far better to have your dot set up for absolute passive and if you need to emit, do so with IR laser and Illuminator combo. |
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@Wattles the sms trinity fits your ir needs then you can pick your weapon light. How much are you willing to spend? My nods build is an aimpoint, peq15 clone & sf vamp light. The vamp stays set on white light. My gp build is a sf 340 turbo & an arisaka ir250 (1 cell light). The combo lights are floody on it settings normally and the white setting is nothing wild. |
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Originally Posted By chevrofreak: I have the Inforce and I don't like the IR of it at all. It is very floody and it autogates my tube pretty bad. @chevrofreak the tnvc vamp 1 cell light is awesome on a helmet since it’s low to high on the switched. Pricey but worth it I think. |
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I would take a streamlight vir-II over a vampire any day. Easy switch, pretty good laser. I also had a vampire light just stop working for me and kind of made me sour about them. I’m also not a fan of the twist bezel in use. This is mostly ideal if you have very limited rail space or want to keep it compact. It’s nice in the top rail or a pistol. It works very nice indoors. |
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Originally Posted By Pennsilfaanisch: I like my SureFire M640V WL/IR Scout Light, but they're expensive. And I see its not rated for 16650s, do you know of a way for it to take 2x 123s or a 16650? |
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Originally Posted By Wattles: Yeah it's pricey but that was on my radar. I am thinking I would like to just have one accessory on the rails. I see that the lumens are kinda low (which doesn't mean everything) for white but how is the beam pattern? And I see its not rated for 16650s, do you know of a way for it to take 2x 123s or a 16650? @Wattles I run a km2 head with 2 sf rechargeable cr123s. |
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Originally Posted By Wattles: Yeah it's pricey but that was on my radar. I am thinking I would like to just have one accessory on the rails. I see that the lumens are kinda low (which doesn't mean everything) for white but how is the beam pattern? And I see its not rated for 16650s, do you know of a way for it to take 2x 123s or a 16650? @Wattles I use 2x123 rechargeables. I wasn't aware of the 16650 issue? I just threw one in the light and it put out the same brightness as the 2x123's I had inside. I'll have to research the 16650 issue to see if it would cause any problems. I've been using them in my Streamlight pro-tac for about 3 years and it hasn't burned anything out. the M640 has a pretty tight beam. Not sure how it compares to higher lumen beams, but I definitely don't want to look directly at it 
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| I had a M640V. It was lacking in both white light and IR. Ended up selling the head and replacing it with an EX-IR-250 head and a separate M640 as a dedicated white light. |
“Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.” -Patches O’Houlihan
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
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Originally Posted By Wattles: Thanks for the update So that seems to be common thing where the combos are jack of all trade, master of none? I guess tech isn't quite there for a good combo light yet? No free lunch in the gun world! @Wattles pretty much. I personally think the ideal setup would be a turbo light (340turbo) and a laser/illum ( that has ir laser, vis laser, & ir illum). Pricey but at least you don’t compromise on performance. |
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Originally Posted By bdover: @Wattles pretty much. I personally think the ideal setup would be a turbo light (340turbo) and a laser/illum ( that has ir laser, vis laser, & ir illum). Pricey but at least you don't compromise on performance. |
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Originally Posted By Wattles: Ya I would agree on that. I do think I may go with a 1 cell white and im thinking maybe a 1 cell IR? Ive been a huge fan of what Arisaka has given me in the past so im pretty sure they are on my short list. Trying to keep this as light as possible and I figure if I want to switch I have somewhere to put them if I want more capability Originally Posted By Wattles: Originally Posted By bdover: @Wattles pretty much. I personally think the ideal setup would be a turbo light (340turbo) and a laser/illum ( that has ir laser, vis laser, & ir illum). Pricey but at least you don't compromise on performance. At that point, just go with a CTF3. https://www.ctfphotonics.com/product/ctf3-bundle-om/ |
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New light from streamlight just dropped. ProTac rail mount VIR PRO. 2x 123s or a rechargeable. Looks like 2 separate emitters in the head. White max 1100 lumens, 40,000 candela and IR max 2300 mW. 8-9 oz so she's a chonky one. Not seeing where to buy but this does look kinda neat https://www.streamlight.com/products/detail/protac-rail-mount-vir-pro |
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You probably wont be able to find one since it was discontinued a few years ago. Fenix TK25ir You switch between vis/ir by rotating the head. I really like mine, the throw is decent for a several year old light. |
"I've always felt that the real horror is next door to us, that the scariest monsters are our neighbors."
-George A. Romero
-George A. Romero
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I tried to do just a m300v with no LAM on my SPR, but that turned it into a 50y gun under NV. Too much spill, not enough punch. So for a PDW/PCC I think it's an OK move, but TLR-VIR-II is better for slightly more money. So then it's relegated to this helmet mounted niche for an umbrella light... Unless you are trying to keep the weight down on your helmet... Any buyers for an m300v head? ETA: I already replied to this thread... fml. |
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I really like the TNVC reverse programmed Surefire Vampire that they had built for them. For weapon mounted, I am really digging the light and laser on the Trinity. The footprint and ergos are amazing, and on full power, it's on par with anything I have ever been issued or used in the $4k and under range. I haven't had any zero issues, so time will tell. |
A real 1 MOA All Day shooter.
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Gonna kinda resurrect my thread here.... Was at a shop and ended up with a SMS Trinity IR laser/illuminator/vis laser. Seems real nice, haven't put it through its paces yet. Now I need a white light as well. This will be on an 11.5 with a RDS Anyhoo... Wanting to go with my original idea and add a 1 cell white light, I want this to be able to use c123s and rechargeable batteries. This will be joining the SMS on the rail Surefire M340 DFT? Seems super nice. also super expensive Streamlight ProTac 1L-X? Just released, hasn't shipped, but 850 limes, 30k candela, price about $140, seems cool Or using a rechargeable battery on something that says not to. Surefire does make a 3.2v rechargeable, so that *might* work? Or give up my idea of dual fuel and I'll prolly just do Arisaka 300 or 18350 body and stick to 123 or 18350s respectively Any others? (edited for clarification) |
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Originally Posted By Caeser2001: At that point, just go with a CTF3. https://www.ctfphotonics.com/product/ctf3-bundle-om/ 
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"At the heart of it, mastery is practice. Mastery is staying on the path."
- George Leonard
- George Leonard
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Reviving the thread, however I did land on a set up Went with the Surefire M340 DFT Pro Turbo and a SMS trinity The Surefire I decided on due to the dual fuel and single cell. With the Arisaka In-line scout mount Im able to have it at 10 o'clock clock position and it doesn't give too much suppressor shadow with a K can. For a single cell light, sure seems pretty damn bright with a decent pattern The SMS trinity is pretty slick and at a great cost for someone just pointing at trees in the woods. the illuminator is stupid bright, need to play around with it more changing the power settings and don't have any updates on POA drift. That question is for someone else who is better at the NV thing Overall, happy with the set up |
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Originally Posted By PistoleroJesse: I tried to do just a m300v with no LAM on my SPR, but that turned it into a 50y gun under NV. Too much spill, not enough punch. So for a PDW/PCC I think it's an OK move, but TLR-VIR-II is better for slightly more money. So then it's relegated to this helmet mounted niche for an umbrella light... Unless you are trying to keep the weight down on your helmet... Any buyers for an m300v head? ETA: I already replied to this thread... fml. How? Mine blasts 200+ yards easily. More juice than my triple click mawl |
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Originally Posted By Pennsilfaanisch: @Wattles I use 2x123 rechargeables. I wasn't aware of the 16650 issue? I just threw one in the light and it put out the same brightness as the 2x123's I had inside. I'll have to research the 16650 issue to see if it would cause any problems. I've been using them in my Streamlight pro-tac for about 3 years and it hasn't burned anything out. the M640 has a pretty tight beam. Not sure how it compares to higher lumen beams, but I definitely don't want to look directly at it 16650 is fine, but about a 20% brightness drop. |
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Originally Posted By Wattles: Reviving the thread, however I did land on a set up Went with the Surefire M340 DFT Pro Turbo and a SMS trinity The Surefire I decided on due to the dual fuel and single cell. With the Arisaka In-line scout mount Im able to have it at 10 o'clock clock position and it doesn't give too much suppressor shadow with a K can. For a single cell light, sure seems pretty damn bright with a decent pattern The SMS trinity is pretty slick and at a great cost for someone just pointing at trees in the woods. the illuminator is stupid bright, need to play around with it more changing the power settings and don't have any updates on POA drift. That question is for someone else who is better at the NV thing Overall, happy with the set up @Wattles I think that’s the best combo you could’ve done honestly. I love the 340 turbo as a single cell light. |
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Originally Posted By JamesAR: MAWL plus vis white light is the answer you seek. Attached File |
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