Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

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Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by RunRabbit » 04 Aug 2022, 11:35 am

I'm just wondering if it's worth buying a dedicated red spotlight for walking around looking for rabbits, foxes and pigs?

Anyone have one and actually use it over a white light or does it just sit on a shelf? Looking at something like this: https://www.liteshop.com.au/content/ace ... archlight/
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Boundry Rider » 04 Aug 2022, 12:29 pm

Yep sure is, or at least a filter. Less spooking for bunnies and foxes
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by niteowl » 04 Aug 2022, 2:39 pm

Nah. Thermal
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by animalpest » 04 Aug 2022, 3:02 pm

Light filters do make a difference, but they will restrict your distance that you can see from.
Thermal is great, but try walking around in the dark with just that, I have and it wasn't pretty :crazy:
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by RunRabbit » 04 Aug 2022, 3:57 pm

animalpest wrote:Light filters do make a difference, but they will restrict your distance that you can see from.
Thermal is great, but try walking around in the dark with just that, I have and it wasn't pretty :crazy:


The light that I linked is a pretty big unit. I'm hoping that it would have enough power to make up for the reduction in vision.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by bigpete » 04 Aug 2022, 4:42 pm

Get a red led over a red filter,makes a huge difference imo
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Blr243 » 04 Aug 2022, 6:28 pm

Exactly what big Pete said. I’m setting one up for my 22 mag because I can’t afford thermals on all my rifles. Red light is a huge difference regarding spooking game compared to white or green lights ... there’s some very powerful very cheap red led torches on eBay about ten times cheaper than some of the pro stuff
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Blr243 » 04 Aug 2022, 6:29 pm

I think my red convoy c8 was only 33 bucks
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Blr243 » 04 Aug 2022, 6:31 pm

No point trying to be discreet with a red light in a vehicle because you have already announced your presence
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Lazarus » 04 Aug 2022, 6:32 pm

I've got one of the Zeus assassins and 2 of their R5s, great lights.

https://www.zeusindustrial.com/Zeus%20A ... tlight.htm
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by animalpest » 04 Aug 2022, 7:54 pm

Blr243 wrote:No point trying to be discreet with a red light in a vehicle because you have already announced your presence


And therein lies the problem driving around with thermal
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by MtnMan » 05 Aug 2022, 6:07 am

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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Lazarus » 05 Aug 2022, 11:38 am

This thread seems the appropriate place.

I have a Streamlight Super Tac IR as a supplementary illumination for my Pard007.

After getting it wet I disassembled it to check water resistance, which was fine, but on reassembly the IR emitter and circuit came off the LED module, my fault.

I contacted their Australian distributor 3 times looking for a replacement, each time to be promised a return call that never came.

I emailed Streamlight themselves and explained my plight and they said "OK, we'll send you one".

It arrived yesterday, free, and with a spare end cap switch as well.

Great back up.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by RunRabbit » 05 Aug 2022, 12:20 pm

MtnMan wrote:Z Visions- https://foxdog.com.au/collections/zvison-1

Your welcome.


Their stuff does look pretty good and I'm always a fan of supporting an Aussie business. Might consider a scope mounted and a headlamp from them. Having multi colours in each makes it way more versatile.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by deye243 » 05 Aug 2022, 6:55 pm

Blr243 wrote:I think my red convoy c8 was only 33 bucks

This I have 4 of them
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by MtnMan » 06 Aug 2022, 6:13 am

RunRabbit wrote:
MtnMan wrote:Z Visions- https://foxdog.com.au/collections/zvison-1

Your welcome.


Their stuff does look pretty good and I'm always a fan of supporting an Aussie business. Might consider a scope mounted and a headlamp from them. Having multi colours in each makes it way more versatile.


It's a very versatile system. Beam focus, 3 led colours switchable on the fly, intensity control, elevation and windage adjustable quick release mount system. Ticks all the boxes.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by on_one_wheel » 06 Aug 2022, 8:00 am

Yesterday I had no idea how badly I needed a HS-33 multi coloured headlamp.
This morning, I'm feeling like I can't live without one.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Blr243 » 06 Aug 2022, 5:39 pm

I hav a few just red and some red white switchable. Not once have I ever been busted walking up to pigs with my red on my noggin I’ll never go o a hunt with just one because if it fails I’m screwed. Essential kit
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by northdude » 08 Aug 2022, 6:47 pm

Ive got a night saber. Just bought a red lens cover thing so ill try it this weekend hopefully
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Baronvonrort » 08 Aug 2022, 9:06 pm

If you're going out at night having red lights for everything is good it doesn't interfere with your natural night vision your eyes will adapt and see more if you limit light to red spectrum.

All the yachties who race offshore only use red light for interior down below at night so they can see when they come up on deck.

Thermal is the go for night hunting they're getting cheaper and better all the time.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Bruiser64 » 12 Aug 2022, 10:22 am

I have a Lightforce 240 Blitz spotlight that I have the red filter for. The filter has a big impact on brightness and length of the beam. Having said that it doesn’t spook the animals as much as the unfiltered light. I have moved away from spotlights and now use a thermal monocular with an ATN 4K Pro ir scope. I have recently purchased a side by side to shoot from. I use red filters on the headlight to try and be more discrete. It seems to be working well so far. The technique we use is to spot the quarry and drive to a reasonable walking distance to it. We then walk up on it and shoot off tripods with the night vision scopes. I like my ATN so much, I have ordered a new ATN LTV to put on my .243. I also have the Pard NV007. I wasn’t convinced about the Pard on my .204, but it works really well on my 22 magnum.

In summary my shooting system has gone through a significant progression from a white spotlight, to a red filtered light to a thermal monocular. Clearly my set up is not cheap. Having said that, shooting is my main hobby and I want to give myself the best chance of being successful when I go out. You are a long time dead and the time spent without the equipment you want to maximise your enjoyment isnt tacked on at the end of your life. So based upon my experience, if you can’t extend to a thermal monocular, use a combination ofvthe red filtered light and an IR scope. I believe the ATN LTV is good value as it can be purchased for $829 at the moment.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by northdude » 14 Aug 2022, 12:01 am

Well the red filter on the spotlight didnt seem to make any difference with possums. Shot more once we took the red lens off
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Blr243 » 14 Aug 2022, 7:13 am

Maybe because possum already feels safe in trees when danger rocks up and no where to run ?
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by bigpete » 14 Aug 2022, 7:40 am

Red filters on spotlights suck. Red led lights though are quite awesome
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by mickb » 15 Aug 2022, 7:58 pm

Thats a serious unit of a spotlight, I think it would certainly illuminate what you need. Acebeam is chinese but considered decent tier.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Aug 2022, 11:42 am

Got me beat. They are all black. Easy to lose in the dark. :unknown:
Seems everything these days is black.

Can anyone recommend a basic rechargeable led torch? Say 1400 lu
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Blr243 » 17 Aug 2022, 9:06 pm

Ob what you doin with th new torch when u get it ?
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Oldbloke » 17 Aug 2022, 11:11 pm

Thx blr. Just general use. But perhaps a bit of spotlighting say,,, once a year.

I had an Aldi 1400lm rechargeable did the job. (It was pretty cheap. Lol) But it was stolen with a heap of other camping gear.

Some on ebay look fine for my use for under $40 but NFI if they are OK. Don't really need filters. Would like rechargeable using a ph charger.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by RunRabbit » 21 Aug 2022, 4:56 pm

I bought the Z Vision headlamp and hunting torch kit. Compared to my Olight Javelot, it doesn't get anywhere near as bright but the red LED is better than my Olight with a filter.

I'll try them in the field when I head out for a shoot in two weeks. If you want a super powerful throw then the Olight Javelot is probably better but these seem like awesome all rounders.
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Re: Red searchlight / flashlight for hunting

Post by Fionn » 21 Aug 2022, 5:06 pm

Oldbloke wrote:Thx blr. Just general use. But perhaps a bit of spotlighting say,,, once a year.

I had an Aldi 1400lm rechargeable did the job. (It was pretty cheap. Lol) But it was stolen with a heap of other camping gear.

Some on ebay look fine for my use for under $40 but NFI if they are OK. Don't really need filters. Would like rechargeable using a ph charger.


Look at Convoy C8 flashlights, from AliExpress, rechargeable in the sense they take 18650 batteries that you can recharge. They claim 2000 lumens.

I personally find them a great light, I have 5 of them.

Should be able to get them for under $40 delivered

BTW to get cheap 18650 batteries, buy the power tool battery packs from ALDI and pull them apart for the batteries.
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