This Streamlight TLR 1, in more instances than not, has been my crutch. In this Streamlight TLR 1 review, let's check out its features and pros & cons.
As a female law enforcement officer, I have trained with a typical, handheld flashlight. Although my flashlight is a beast and is bright, with a lasting rechargeable battery, great strobing effects, and high lumens, in any situation which requires my weapon drawn, I highly prefer my Streamlight TLR 1.
For traffic stops at night, interacting with the public, searching the area, or any instances in which I require assistance in visibility in non-life threatening situations, I utilized my handheld. However, when it is dark and my gun is drawn, my Stramlight TLR 1 is being utilized.
This light is rail mounted, meaning it attaches to the rail of my duty firearm, a Glock 19.
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Streamlight TLR 1 Specs
Lumens and Candela
The TLR 1 is a 300 lumen light with a maximum candela of 12,000.
Higher lumen models are already available, we highly recommend getting the Streamlight TLR 1 HL instead with 1000 lumens & 20K candela.
Candela is a super important spec that many people ignore, if you want to learn more about what is candela, please click here.
Battery and Runtime
The batteries on the TLR 1 are two CR123 lithium powered batteries which have a ten year storage life.
The runtime is two and a half hours.
Ease of Installation/ Removal
The rail grip clamp system makes the Streamlight TLR 1 easy to put on and take off without having to put your hand in front of the barrel of the firearm.
The light mounts right on any firearm with Glock-style rails and to any and all MIL-STD-1913 rails. The Streamlight TLR 1 also comes with keys for Glock-style, Picatinny, S&W 99, Beretta 92, and S&W TSW weapons.
Activation Switch
One of the best features of this tool is that the on/off switch is ambidextrous and allows for one to choose between a momentary or a steady flow of light from the device.
Waterproof
The light is waterproof for up to one meter for thirty minutes.
Length and Weight
The length of the Streamlight TLR 1 is 3.39 inches and it weighs 4.18 ounces.
Streamlight TLR 1 Law Enforcement Officer Performance
Ambidextrous Operation
My absolute favorite feature is that the TLR 1 features an on switch on both sides of the light which mounts to the rail of your firearm.
Toggled with the pointer finger, these switches can momentarily flicker on to quickly check an area or individual without giving away your location, which is a large portion of officer safety.
The switch can also be held on to continuously produce light until you release it. This provides the use for both right-handed and left-handed shooters.
Lumen Intensity
At 300 lumens, this is plenty bright to accommodate any officer shooting in the dark or caught in a situation in which they need light and weapons drawn simultaneously.
Want 1000 lumens instead? try to Streamlight TLR 1 HL
Beam Type
With a wide beam, the TLR 1 illuminates a large area that is designed to both illuminate an area and concentrate light to where the weapon is pointing.
This means that the rail-mounted light can also be used to temporarily blind or disable suspects without harm.
Strobe
There is a programmable strobe that can be turned on or off for user preference.
This strobe can be used to surprise or alarm suspects or to temporarily disable or disorient them.
Battery Life
As an avid user of my rail-mounted light, the battery on this is amazing. The device is designed to always power at full potential with a two and a half hour runtime. This is more than enough.
Modifications
Streamlight offers many ways to modify and alter your Streamlight TLR 1. With a rifle mounting kit available, you can also transfer this over to your duty rifle if, for example, you are on a SWAT call out and have switched weapons for the task.
If you are planning to use your tac light on a long firearm, you can invest in a rear pressure switch. This allows you to turn on the light without placing your hand in harm’s way in front of the barrel. Remote switches are also a great option for longer firearms.
There are many filters available to alter your light that comes from the TLR 1. You can even add infrared filter to be utilized with night vision, if this is something that your police department would allow.
Warranty
Lastly, police love when their equipment is backed up. With a limited lifetime warranty, the function and quality of this light for your weapon is guaranteed.
Pros and Cons
Some of the most describable and positive aspects of the TLR 1 are the performance, brightness, ambidextrous controls, reliability, and compact size and weight. This rail-mounted light packs a punch and offers a lot of customization and modification options to make it function just how you would like it to.
On the flip side, the TLR 1, because it slightly alters the shape of your weapon, will not fit into a regular holster. You will need to find a holster that accommodates the rail-mounted tac light. For some, this can prove to be a minor inconvenience.
Another thing to mention is that because the light does add some weight to the barrel of your gun, I have known for some to mention that when shooting, some officers will have to make adjustments to compensate for a little bit of a “dip” in their shot due to the extra weight. While this is something that can be fixed and corrected with training, it can be a bit of a hassle to work through.
Want to check out other pistol weapon lights? Click here for more.