Torch for spot lighting

[Oldbloke]

I dont nornally spot light but I grabbed this today $28 LED torch 1300 lumens with adjustable focus. Takes 4 C batteries. Seemed pretty cheap.
Just want to use it on small properties walking around. Happy if its OK out to say 75 meters

What do you think will it do the job?

[Chronos]

i think that even thought the power seems high i doubt the reflector could be deep enough to create a reasonable reach beam, that said there's one way to find out and at worst it could be a very good ute torch


I ordered one of these today from Safari Firearms on their 12 days of christmas sale, i've seen them advertised from $129-$199 so $99 is a good deal for a gun mounted torch

Chronos

http://www.safarifirearms.com.au/xmas-s ... 125mm.html

[happyhunter]

.

[Oldbloke]

At $99 looks a good deal. Does it have a seperate battery pack?
I just took mine out the back yard and down a suburban street. Looks like it will be good for at the very least 120 meters. Happy with that for the price.
If the weather god is good to me I may try it out tomorrow night. I will just need to see if the old mount I have will do the job.

[Shorti85]

I have one of these and it's good for over 50m

[Oldbloke]

Wow, looks a good deal.
My mount is workable, basic but works, so may try the torch out tonight.

[wade06]

Just resurrecting an old thread so i don't start a new one.

I did some rabbit spot lighting last week with a cheap LED head lamp and it was surprisingly successful (put the lamp 20 degrees left of the middle of your head and it lines up perfectly with the scope ). However I'm now after a rifle mounted torch with a bit more light that's easier to use.

At the moment the Klarus FH10 is at the top of the list for about $150.

https://www.liteshop.com.au/content/klarus-fh10-adjustable-focus-long-range-led-torch-white-red-and-green
At 700 Lumens it isn't the brightest but it has a fully adjustable focus plus red and green lights.

The Olight m3x ($180) is certainly more powerful but it is bigger, has no adjustable focus or red and green light without attaching additional filters.

I have a mate who swears by red lights on rabbits and foxes. Apparently their eyes show up better and they don't get spooked as much?
On my 22 it will be mainly for rabbits or the odd fox. Down the track (when i get a centrefire) I will probably use it for roos, deer etc at longer ranges.
Any thoughts on the importance of a red light for hunting or any other torches you would recommend? Budget is to about $200 or so. Thanks

[tom604]

i find most claims to be a bit false and cut their distance by a third to a half, lux not lumen is a better indicator of light,saying that the torch looks like it ticks all the boxes,,red light on foxes and rabbits is the go,their eyes will light up and even if you cant see the rest of them ,you will see the eyes. once you have seen fox eyes under a red light you will never go back to white. haven't tried green yet (too lazy) but is supposed to work on their eyes as well.

[Gwion]

Red filters cut down effective throw by more than 1/2. If you plan using the filter regularly, factor this into the throw you choose. As above, most throw claims are based on how far light registers, not usable light range (as in how far you can identify a target) which is safe to call 50% of claimed throw.

So, if you are shooting a 22lr out to 80m, double that for usable light, then double it for it for your red filter. So, in this case you want a light that claims to throw a min of 320m to be useful out to 80m.

Moisture in the air significantly cuts down visibility under light as well.

[wade06]

Thanks guys, yeah i know those range figures are BS in the field.
I cant find any other hunting torch that has the adjustable focus plus red and green built in.
Unless someone has a better option I will probably order the Klarus FH10.

[wannabustbunnies]

For my .22 I got a Uniquefire UF-1407 from Aliexpress with high, mid and low brightness levels and flood to spot lens that works to 100+ metres. I got it with a white light LED and also got the red and green LED "pills" Its just a matter of unscrewing the head and putting in what colour you like.
The green has slightly less distance than the white and the red a little less again but better than using a coloured filter.
I got the torch, the coloured LED's and a pressure switch for $57 USD.

I also have the UF-1503 which has a bigger lens but with an 850nm IR LED that I use attached to my Aldi night vision monocular. That is also available with white, green or red LED's also. That was around $50 AUD
I found that when I was looking for a scope mounted torch some of the more expensive brand torches are just the cheaper generic ones rebranded anyway. Have a look on Alibaba etc, order enough of a quantity and they will put on whatever brand you like

[bigfellascott]

This is what the mate uses - we also used one that went 1km (around 700m of useable light) which was an awesome light too, but he reckons this one is even more powerful again, time will tell if the ferals sit still for it or not but it does have quite a few power settings so I'm sure he will fine one that keeps them still.

https://www.liteshop.com.au/content/ace ... arch-light

https://www.liteshop.com.au/content/oli ... unting-kit

[Mongrel]

This is what the mate uses - we also used one that went 1km (around 700m of useable light) which was an awesome light too, but he reckons this one is even more powerful again, time will tell if the ferals sit still for it or not but it does have quite a few power settings so I'm sure he will fine one that keeps them still.

https://www.liteshop.com.au/content/ace ... arch-light

https://www.liteshop.com.au/content/oli ... unting-kit

now thats a torch. that strobe effect could give u siezures

[Gwion]

I have an M3X olight. They must have seriously suped if up since I bought mine 'cause mine only really lights up out to 250m. At 300m, it silhouettes only and eye shine.

[bigfellascott]

I have an M3X olight. They must have seriously suped if up since I bought mine 'cause mine only really lights up out to 250m. At 300m, it silhouettes only and eye shine.

Sounds like it and this latest one my mate has sounds even more impressive again, may actually be too bright but with 6 diff brightness settings I'm sure we can find one that won't up set them. I was amazed at have well the Javalot performed compared to my HID Spotlight, really didn't give much away to it to be honest.

[bigfellascott]

A ****** of light to use, I actually think the K60 might be better for tracking moving game, what do you guys think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fgl-kHuhDa0

[Gwion]

I think if you can't track moving game with the k70 there's something amiss!

I also think both those lights would have a pretty short time before getting dangerously hot on max power.

[bigfellascott]

I think if you can't track moving game with the k70 there's something amiss!

I also think both those lights would have a pretty short time before getting dangerously hot on max power.

I would only use max power when needed - probably run it on half most of the time, for my needs whistling foxes it would only be turned on a min or two after the whistling stopped which is what we do now and works well.

[Gwion]

Fair enough. Good looking lights, anyway. Put most dedicated spotlights to shame in a very potable unit.

[wade06]

Thanks for the different ideas. The K70 looks great but probably overkill for rabbits with a 22

Still leaning towards the Klarus FH10 with reasonable weight, adjustable beam and red, white green LED.

Cheers

[bigfellascott]

Thanks for the different ideas. The K70 looks great but probably overkill for rabbits with a 22

Still leaning towards the Klarus FH10 with reasonable weight, adjustable beam and red, white green LED.

Cheers

you could use it to blind em

[wade06]

I used a m2x last night (1020 lumens) and i'm rethinking my original idea which was only 700 lumens.
I like the size of the m2x but the m3x (1200 lumens) seems to be a lot brighter in videos for when i get a 243
Thoughts on the m3x or other similar are welcome.

[Gwion]

My M3X is great. Perfect for me and my 223. Also good hand held spotter for the 22lr when you have a buddy to spot for you.

People make the mistake of looking at lumens only. Other things factor into throw and beam density.

Look up candlepower forums for all the obsessive discussions by torch fanatics.

[wade06]

Cheers Gwion, thanks for the advice.

I notice that the max 1200 drops to 720 after 5 minutes. Does turning it off and on re-set this back to 1200?
Is heat an issue?

The M2X just runs at 1000 for 60 minutes.

[Gwion]

It is a heat protection feature to stop the thing exploding in your hand!!!

Not sure how long it takes to reset but I rarely run the torch for more tan 5mins at a time, anyway.

[wade06]

I ended up ordering a Klarus FH10 torch for my 22.
Not as bright as some but the adjustable beam plus red, white and green LED won out in the end... also i can also use it as a normal torch .

I will look at a Olight M2X or M3X for a centrefire down the track.

[happyhunter]

For a 22LR and shooting bunnies anything brighter than the $20 torches from Jaycar just spooks the cunnies. Anything that throws a tight spot out to 100 meters is more than gonna do the job.

[wade06]

My Klarus FH10 torch turned up yesterday. Initial impressions are that it is very well built, compact and not too heavy (300g with battery). It works great on a 22LR and would be equally at home on a centrefire. There are dual springs on the battery so recoil should be fine on a centrefire.



The red, green and white LEDs are on a slider and the light can be focused in and out as required. At the tightest the beam is about 0.6m wide at 10m while the widest the beam is about 2.7m wide at 10m.

The white LED, as a spot light, lights up the hill 280m away and there would be no problems identifying a roo or deer at this range without a scope. At 280m the beam is about 15-20m wide (square edges) with no spill. Usable hunting range (white LED) is probably about 330-350m max.

The red LED let's you identify targets at around 100m but would show eye reflections a lot further. The green LED lets you identify targets a bit further but eyes don’t light up as well as on the red LED.

There is an on/off button at the back plus a tail switch to toggle between low, medium and high beams. Klarus claim 2.5 hours run time on max with the white LED using the standard 2600mAh battery. The bigger 3400mAh battery I ordered should push that to 3.3 hours.

The only complaint at this stage is that it took nearly 4 weeks to arrive

[bigfellascott]

Looks great mate, it should do the job nicely I reckon.

[Mongrel]

My Klarus FH10 torch turned up yesterday. Initial impressions are that it is very well built, compact and not too heavy (300g with battery). It works great on a 22LR and would be equally at home on a centrefire. There are dual springs on the battery so recoil should be fine on a centrefire.



The red, green and white LEDs are on a slider and the light can be focused in and out as required. At the tightest the beam is about 0.6m wide at 10m while the widest the beam is about 2.7m wide at 10m.

The white LED, as a spot light, lights up the hill 280m away and there would be no problems identifying a roo or deer at this range without a scope. At 280m the beam is about 15-20m wide (square edges) with no spill. Usable hunting range (white LED) is probably about 330-350m max.

The red LED let's you identify targets at around 100m but would show eye reflections a lot further. The green LED lets you identify targets a bit further but eyes don’t light up as well as on the red LED.

There is an on/off button at the back plus a tail switch to toggle between low, medium and high beams. Klarus claim 2.5 hours run time on max with the white LED using the standard 2600mAh battery. The bigger 3400mAh battery I ordered should push that to 3.3 hours.

The only complaint at this stage is that it took nearly 4 weeks to arrive

Good review mate, look forward to seeing some footage while using it too