When I was originally looking for a weapon light I was looking at reviews, ratings and advice from friends and the one that seemed to have the most consistently positive reviews was the Streamlight TLR-1. I finally picked one up after going back and forth for a while and I am extremely happy with the purchase. I have beat it up and soaked it and so far it has taken everything I have thrown at it and still works.
To start here are the base numbers and stats.
Lumens – 300
Run Time on Low – 2.50 hours
Battery Type – CR123A Lithium
Length – 3.39 inches (8.61 centimeters)
Weight – 4.18 ounces (118.50 grams)
CR123 lithium batteries claim to have a 10-year storage life. I have had light for about 5 years and they still going – not strong but they have seen a lot of use. I need to look into what companies have the best batteries and just pay for the best because they do last so long that the money is well spent. I do semi wish that the batteries were a more off the shelf that the CR123’s but its not a big deal I can find them on just about any gun website and on Amazon without any trouble.
When it is time to replace the batteries the battery door itself is a little hard to get open at first until you do it a few times. Because of how it latches down its a bit tricky to get the angles correct. You almost have to push it back to the closed position and “pop” it up to get the latch undone. Took me a second the first time or two but now its quick and easy.
In the TRL-1 is a C4 LED and it has so far been impervious to shock even with the accidental abuse during carrying it, as well as the hard hitting recoil of the 10MM and 9×25 Dillon rounds I shoot. The lifetime of the bulb should be around with 50,000 hours – thats just over 5.7 years running non stop – impressive life span.
The LED is rated to 300 lumens measured output and although I have no way to measure that I have no doubts its that bright. It has been great on dark nights. The reflector inside the light is a deep-dish parabolic reflector meaning it produces a concentrated beam with just the right about of peripheral glow. I like the beam pattern a lot and it suits self-defense situations very well.
To turn the TRL-1 on you do have to remember the On/Off switch is ambidextrous and it has two settings, if you turn the switch counter clockwise its a momentary light source and when you remove your finger it turns off again for quick illumination and will not stay on. If you turn the switch clockwise its a steady on/off with a positive “click” to let you know its engaged. The switch itself is large and easy to find without looking down, a feature I really like and find very easy to use. Its a better option to me than a sliding switch that may not be as easy to manipulate or find under stress. and would be hard to manipulate with gloves on. This switch is literally at you finger tip just by reaching forward, just like you would when keeping your finger off the trigger until your target is identified.
I like the rail grip clamp system with the thumb screw. I do wish the screw had a slightly higher ridge, my hands are on the larger side and I sometimes have trouble really cranking down on the screw. Not a huge deal though. It has a very positive attachment with no wiggle or rattle when its being knocked around. The Light will mount directly to handguns with Glock-style rails and to all MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) rails. It has so far mounted to my M&P40, 1911s, Glocks and free float AR15 rails. With the clamp system switching between weapons is quick and easy.
The TLR-1 is IPX7 rated design, meaning it is waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes. If your gun is in the water that long you may have a lot more to worry about, but the peace of mind is good to have. Nice that I can carry it on my weapon and not worry about rain when hunting, camping or backpacking. I have had mine in a bag that was soaked and there were no issues – as there shouldn’t be with most if not all quality lights.
There are a lot of positives to this light, its rugged, reliable and easy to use. I do wish that it was small enough to use on compact and subcompact weapons so I would not have to buy a second light, but for full size it is a great fit. On smaller weapons it sticks out in front of the barrel and effectively adds length to the weapon and by default the holster. If you want to use it on your concealed carry weapon this is something to remember, it can change your carry position. Below is an example of this on a Smith and Wesson M&P 40 and a full size 1911.
The use of the light also means you will need a new holster dedicated to carrying with the light mounted, there are many out there but it is an added cost.
The use of a different holster also means you have to plan ahead – do you want to carry with the light at all times? Or do you want to adjust by situation and activity. Not negatives just something to think about.
I would buy this again and will continue to use it until I find something better to use when carrying, and then it will most likely stay on what ever my home defense gun is. Its a great light and reasonably priced.
-Review and Pictures by Scott