[sideKahr]

A lot of manufacturers put a strobe mode on their lights, ostensibly to blind and disorient your attacker. I've experimented with this, having my wife put the strobe on me with my brightest light. It's dazzling for sure, but I had no trouble remembering where her COM was before the light went on, and easily pointed my finger at her. A light wouldn't be my go-to defense, especially against a gun.

Anyone have any other opinions?

 

[paraquack]

Don't forget to yell, "pew, pew, pew," after turning on the strobe.

 

[Robie]

My "go-to" flashlights also have high-intensity strobes.
My feelings are...if you can get it activated in time and it disorients the attacker long enough to deal a swift kick to his nuts....I'd rather have the strobe than not have it.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

A three or four D-Cell Maglight makes an excellent baton and can split someone's skull.

 

[Camel923]

The baton angle is useful. And if the stobe buys you a second to determine friend or foe prior to pulling the trigger it did it’s job. Light is a two way street like a laser. It lets all around you know where you are.

 

[MaterielGeneral]

The way I was taught is that the light will instantly give away your location. You don't use it unless you think you know where the offender is. Once you are sure where the offender is you then blink the light just for a second to verify. You can then side step a couple paces turn the light on and then neutralize the target.

You want to sidestep or move slightly because once you tap that light the offender knows where you're at and then can shoot at that direction. By side-stepping you're moving out of a kill zone.

Keep in mind you're not going to do this in one sitting you need to practice and train.

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[paraquack]

On second thought, this light looks pretty good.
And you don't have to yell, "pew, pew, pew."

 

[Lunatic Wrench]

The strobe could buy a precious second or two if you got your finger on the button, but that's probably not going to be the case in most instances.

As stated, a big ol' Mag light is handy, but even a small, say 6" light can inflict some damage if your getting hammered in the head and face with the lens end a few times. I'm starting to see some of the Tac lights with some gnarly looking lens bezels that would do some damage.

 

[paraquack]

Ok, maybe it's just my flashlites. I have to press the button multiple times to get to strobe. Anyone else have this???

 

[MaterielGeneral]

Ok, maybe it's just my flashlites. I have to press the button multiple times to get to strobe. Anyone else have this???

Yeah I don't like that kind of feature. I recently bought a dozen or so led flashlights with red light only LED's just to avoid scrolling. I don't want a white light to accidentally come on and ruin my night vision or give me away from a distance.

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[Lunatic Wrench]

Ok, maybe it's just my flashlites. I have to press the button multiple times to get to strobe. Anyone else have this???

Well now that you mention it, all my lights with strobe are like that.

 

[Back Pack Hack]

A lot of my flashlights have a strobe function. Even if I could instantaneously turn the strobe function on, I personally don't think it would do any good.

 

[patrioteer]

The strobe feature on a flashlight is a tactical option and under the right circumstances can be very effective. Plus they are far more effective on a person who's adrenalin is pumping and fight/flight/freeze response is about to engage or has has already engaged. It's all about messing with their optical senses and disorienting them. That being said I don't use them. Nor am I a a weapon light sort of guy. I much prefer a handheld flashlight and not a 3,400 lumen super light either. I prefer a light that has a low and high option of around 10-15 lumens and 60-120 lumens, then it stays on low most of the time. I am also more of a turn the lights on versus sneak around in the dark person. A few decades of building clearing and chasing down criminals has taught me it's better to turn night into day then play hide and seek with only some of your senses engaged. That's not cool in the movies but it is far more effective in real life. If I do have to use a light it is only for very basic navigation and threat identification and only when absolutely needed.

 

[Old SF Guy]

Tough questions with no easy answer. I think no one wants to accidentally kill their own child/spouse so definitely be sure of what your engaging.

As far as strobe lights...better left to slow motion disco skating effects than as an offensive action....or if I'm trying frantically to send my neighbor into an Epileptic fit.

Flashlight for night shooting???.... bright enough and focused enough to allow me to see an hit what I shoot at, but still retain some night vision capacity.

Don't telegraph your moving location by scooby flashing every door your getting ready to clear through.

It serves two functions....it can give a bad guy knowledge of where you are so they can shoot you if they want to, it also gives them knowledge of where you are to allow them to escape if they want....I guess the point is....walking around with a flash light on and waving it around, gives the bad guy all the options on the decision making.


Strobe lights? Cool effect, especially with stage fog...if you want to look good doing the robot.

Also as far as Lumens...I only judge on three levels of bright.. "Hmmm"......"Damn".....and "Holy Shit"....I'm more a "Damn" sorta guy.

 

[MountainGirl]

All our flashlights up here are of the "Holy Shit" variety, leaning towards WTF??, but our defense problems are coyotes & cougs and they dont shoot back. Their eyes do glow up nicely though...until Tom closes them.

 

[StratMaster]

All our flashlights up here are of the "Holy Shit" variety, leaning towards WTF??, but our defense problems are coyotes & cougs and they dont shoot back. Their eyes do glow up nicely though...until Tom closes them.

Yep, I routinely jacklight ***** after our chickens.

 

[23897]

A three or four D-Cell Maglight makes an excellent baton and can split someone's skull.

This type of Maglight was issued to our military police. They used it to persuade people to behave. Then some bright spark decided well if 4 cells are good , 6 must be better. For a while after that whenever there was an altercation you'd see the copper on his hands and knees picking up the cells off the floor as the weight was too much when the Maglight baton was used. They soon went back to 4 cells.

Fangfarrier

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[hawgrider]

A three or four D-Cell Maglight makes an excellent baton and can split someone's skull.

Ah yes the infamous Rodney King beater. Everyone should have a couple of those.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Ah yes the infamous Rodney King beater. Everyone should have a couple of those.

In Miami it was McDuffy.

 

[MountainGirl]

In Miami it was McDuffy.

Aw Jeeeezusss.... are there two of them now???
@hawgrider - you must really like the McDuffy thing.