The best underbarrel flashlights for 2022

Lanterns that can be mounted on the barrel or fore-end of a weapon are usually called grenade launchers (they are also tactical). They are considered a special weapon accessory and are used for more reliable aiming at night. In order to prevent breakage as a result of recoil from a shot, their bodies are made of highly durable materials, such as aircraft-grade aluminum. In addition, most models are characterized by increased brightness of the output light. The situation is similar with their range - it can reach several hundred meters. Also, they can be provided for other modes of operation, for example, "strobe" (flashing) - it is necessary to give signals to other hunting participants in conditions of poor visibility. You can also mount the flashlights on the weapon yourself, even if just by winding the device on the fore-end with adhesive tape or electrical tape, or you can use special straps.

Management and fastening of underbarrel lighting devices

The described devices are controlled in a special way. All significant functions are assigned to several buttons. As a standard, the power button is located at the end of the device, but it (the device) can be equipped with an additional remote button on the side, so that it is possible to use the lamp without changing the position of the hands. Among other things, underbarrel lights are usually equipped with a separate control (button, switch), which is responsible for controlling the brightness of the light. Usually it is located closer to the head.

Fastening, as a rule, is carried out using special strips. It can be:

• Weaver Plank;
• Picatinny rail (western standard);
• "Eight", etc.

The mounting method will depend only on the personal preferences of the user, the division into the worst and best options in this matter is unjustified.

Optimal parameters for the underbarrel flashlight

First of all, this device is a tactical device, and this implies that it is designed to work with weapons and should not impede the operation of the latter. The most common place for integrating this device with a gun is its installation under the barrel (attachment to the forearm), so underbarrel lights must have a special design that distinguishes them from general-purpose samples:

• The case diameter should not exceed 2.5cm, otherwise it will not be easy to install on the bracket;
• The diameter of the front part with a reflex cone should be no more than 4.2 centimeters, otherwise it simply will not fit in the underbarrel space or it will constantly experience the effects of high temperatures from a heated barrel when fired;
• It would be preferable to make the on / off control button separately on the forearm - this will allow you to control the device without changing the position of your hands;
• A standard hunting lamp should have sufficient range and brightness - 100 meters for winter nights and 80 meters for summer nights.

Composition of the best configuration

Due to the fact that the lamp fixture cannot be used alone, in addition to the device itself, the following accessories will be required for a complete set:

• Weapon mount - as a rule, most mounts are universal and are designed to be mounted on a handguard with any diameter. However, some can be mounted on a Picatinny or Weaver rack and pinion.
• A set of light filters - they are mounted directly in front of the lantern lamp, thanks to them you can give the light flux different shades of color, which will be very relevant in adverse weather conditions and a changeable level of general illumination;
• Remote button - thanks to it, the shooter is always ready to open fire, because such a button allows you to turn on / off the flashlight without removing your hands from the forearm;
• Protective cover - will allow you to safely transport the flashlight, preventing moisture, dirt from getting on it and protecting it from mechanical damage.

IMPORTANT! Any underbarrel flashlight should have one more additional quality - the ability to use it as a traditional lamp separately from the weapon.

Basic parameters of tactical flashlights

Any high-quality tactical illumination device, be it Russian or foreign, must have a number of technical characteristics that fully affect its effectiveness:

• Dimensions and weight - the device should not weigh more than 300 grams, otherwise it will significantly pull the barrel down. Such a situation will significantly tire the hands of the shooter, which will negatively affect accuracy. The diameter of both the body and the front cone must also be balanced.
• Increased reliability - the backlight must be able to withstand mechanical shocks and loads. It will inevitably take on the force of recoil after a shot, and, accordingly, there must be a shock-resistant case (preferably made of aviation alloys), and the mount is integrated with maximum reliability.
• Autonomy - in order to increase confidence that the lighting device will not fail at the right time, it is worth choosing models that have a declared period of continuous operation of at least one and a half hours.At the same time, it is worth making sure that the device does not work from scarce batteries, which are problematic to acquire. Also, it is necessary to pay attention to the possibility of replacing the battery without removing the flashlight itself from the weapon - this is how time is saved. Last but not least, keep a spare set of batteries with you at all times.
• Light quality - this category of parameters includes the brightness and range of the light beam. For hunting with smoothbore weapons, a range of 100 meters will be enough for any season. At the same time, it should be ensured that the reflex cone is very smooth and rather deep. The ideal option would be to have a flashlight with a focal lens, which will allow you to adjust both the brightness and range of the light beam;
• Light filters - you will need them to overcome bad weather conditions or to hunt certain types of animals. For example, a beaver needs a green or yellow filter, because the animal does not distinguish between these colors.

More about brackets

Mounting brackets must be selected depending on which weapon the flashlight will be mounted on - smoothbore or rifled. From here, the selected bracket must meet certain characteristics. There are the following types of brackets on the market today:

• Picatinny rail - it has appeared in our country since the beginning of the 90s, and was originally intended for installing various body kits on Western-style military weapons. Rarely seen on hunting weapons;
• Double-barreled - in this variation, all the tactical and technical parameters of double-barreled weapons are specially taken into account, whether it is "vertical" or "horizontal";
• Universal - suitable for most models of hunting, combat, service and gaming (imitation) trunks.First of all, it is worth focusing on the models of guns MP 153 or IZH 27.

IMPORTANT! The selection of the bracket should not be carried out "by eye", but with a clear knowledge of which mounting device is suitable for the weapon used. To do this, just read the manual.

The process and methods of mounting a flashlight on a gun

It (the process) is quite simple and does not shine with a variety of ways. A tactical illumination device is most often mounted on the forearm from below or from the side. However, there are also exotic types of fasteners, for example, on top of an optical sight. But here a matter of taste plays a big role. In total, there are two main options:

1. The simplest is two polyurethane plates tightened with a screw. A mounted flashlight is threaded into one hole, and the gun barrel itself into the second. Further, the entire device moves to the installation site and is fixed with a tightening screw. Everything, the installation process is completed. The price of such a mount will be in the region of 200 to 500 rubles.
2. The second method is even simpler and is designed for Weaver and Picatinny rails. However, to fix the flashlights, the skids already installed directly on the weapon itself are required. Then the tactical device is simply installed in the grooves and moves until it stops and clicks into place.

The design of tactical lights

Optical system

Regardless of the model, all underbarrel lighting devices have an optical system consisting of a reflector or TIR optics:

• The reflectors are made of a parabolic aluminum base and have a light efficiency of more than 80%. The range of their glow will directly depend on the diameter and depth, side illumination and the angle of divergence of the light beam in the center will also fall into dependence. Reflectors can be specular (smooth) or wrinkled (as if having a texture).The crumpled surface gives a smooth increase in brightness from the central beam to the side illumination. The mirror will not have a smooth transition, the central beam of light will be pronounced. The reflector-reflector itself is not only responsible for the formation of the light beam, but also performs the function of removing heat directly from the LED, which makes it possible to increase the brightness without causing overheating.
• TIR-optics - is a plastic transparent lens, also having the shape of a parabola, which operates on the principle of light refraction at the boundary of various media (air and directly vacuum optics), which is due to the difference in density. TIR-optics has a higher efficiency, which is at least 90%. However, by weight it is heavier than the reflector, weakly removes heat, gives the light a smooth increase from the central beam to the illumination from the side. Such optics have not received strong distribution in hunting flashlights and are more used on military weapons.

light source

The source is a powerful LED. In the existing flashlight market, LED sources have almost completely replaced halogen, xenon and incandescent lamps. The reason for this was their many times increased efficiency (weak tendency to overheat, increased working life), and in brightness they are in no way inferior to their "older brothers".

In current models of today's tactical lighting devices, 2 types of LEDs are used:

1. CREE XP-G2 R4 (yellow warm light), CREE XP-G2 R5 (cool white light);
2. CREE XM-L2 T6 (yellow warm light), CREE XM-L2 U2 (cool white light).

The differences between them are as follows:

• Cold light has a higher brightness, however, it dazzles more (although for a tactical flashlight this is more of a “plus” than a “minus”), objects contrast better with it.
• Warm light better conveys the natural colors of objects that fall under the beam. For example, blood on the ground will be more visible, which is important for a hunter chasing wounded game in the night forest. Also, this beam is better at "piercing" the fog.

IMPORTANT! For hunting purposes, it is preferable to use an underbarrel device with a CREE XP-G2 LED - it is easier to increase the detection range of objects with it.

Special controls

brightness control driver is responsible for a set of lighting modes and options for switching them. The best models of flashlights can even be programmed - in the given parameters it is possible to simultaneously change the brightness stabilization, blinking frequency, beam length.

Brightness change can be controlled in the following ways:

• By turning the head part - you need to quickly turn the “head” by about 5 millimeters and quickly twist it again, thereby fixing the desired degree of brightness;
• By pressing a specific button - the button is pressed until the user selects the appropriate mode, and the available modes are looped;
• By means of a magnetic ring - when the ring rotates, the brightness modes also change.

Voltage control driver – this control controls the battery power consumption, for example, when it is necessary to adjust the power supply when working in the cold (in cold weather, the batteries are discharged faster, thus, by reducing the voltage, you can increase the life of the lamp).

This driver works in three modes:

• Increasing - in this mode, the brightness does not decrease, because the voltage will only increase to the required one.However, this mode is very demanding on the types of batteries and it is possible that the LED will burn out when it is used. Rarely used for hunting.
• Step-down - it can use 18650 batteries and CR123 batteries. However, in this mode, the brightness will fall faster as the battery is discharged, especially in the cold. Due to the prevalence of the above elements, it has received the greatest use.
• Step-down (it is also called “with continuous brightness stabilization”) - the brightness adjusts to the type of power source used, and the number of sources that can be used is quite large. It is the optimal mode for any activity.

Other design features

Other significant building blocks include:

• Housing and Coating - The combination of an aircraft-grade aluminum housing with an anodized finish to resist corrosion is considered particularly ideal.
• Power sources are usually rare and expensive CR123 batteries. Therefore, it is better to use 18650 batteries. Firstly, disposable batteries, as a rule, will require two pieces at once. Secondly, they are consumed very quickly in the cold, if it is close to -30 degrees Celsius. In batteries, such problems are much less pronounced.
• The grip is definitely a comfortable thing to hold the flashlight with different types of grip. Moreover, with it, the device does not slip out of the hand, wearing a glove.

Pro Tips

Easily removable devices should not be used, because. everything that is weakly fixed will sooner or later be lost.It must be constantly remembered that power supplies do not have an infinite charge, so they should be changed if necessary and always have a charged set with you. The presence of light filters will also not be superfluous - for example, with a red light filter you can work perfectly at night.

The best underbarrel flashlights for 2022

Tactical models (for combat/service weapons and airsoft replicas)

5th place: Patriot BH-FLL01

A good compact model, which has a laser sight in additional equipment, which can be used separately. Attaches to the Weaver bar only. It is more suitable for short-barreled weapons, however, a remote button is immediately included in the kit, which indicates increased comfort.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	China
Power, lumens	200
Range, meters	200
Price, rubles	2500

• Budget price;
• Good equipment;
• Separate laser pointer.

• Low-strength body.

4th place: Olight PL-2 Valkyrie

Another multifunctional sample, suitable for both short-barreled weapons and submachine guns. The mount is designed for Picatinny and Weaver rails. In the event of a possible overheating in the device, the protection system is triggered and reduces the brightness of the light by half, which makes it possible to maintain the overall performance of the entire device. Control buttons are located on both sides of the case.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	China
Power, lumens	1200
Range, meters	235
Price, rubles	6000

• Waterproof body;
• Compactness;
• Capacious battery.

• It has a non-removable sled, it is inconvenient to use separately in the hands.

3rd place: FENIX TK45

This sample has a very futuristic design - it has three warheads instead of one. The manufacturer positions this flashlight as the most resourceful device in its segment - in ultra-weak light mode, it can operate up to one week without recharging. At maximum brightness - 2 hours. The case and twist-off parts have waterproof inserts and are designed to withstand mechanical shocks - the device can easily withstand a fall from a height of 1.5 meters. The design provides three LEDs independent of each other, so that if one fails, the other two will continue to work.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	China
Power, lumens	760
Range, meters	260
Price, rubles	6500

• Various operating modes - from continuous light to "strobe";
• Durable and waterproof housing;
• Failsafe.

• The weight is slightly higher than the recommended - 325 grams with a battery.

2nd place: LED LENSER T7.2

A branded model with the best price/quality ratio. The design implements an innovative lens system that allows you to focus the light spot with high quality. Extremely easy to operate - just turn the magnetic ring to adjust. Has three operating modes. It is characterized by relatively low weight - only 175 grams with a battery.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Germany
Power, lumens	320
Range, meters	260
Price, rubles	7200

• Innovative technology applied;
• Simple control;
• There is a turbo mode of brightness.

• Protection is implemented only in the 4th class - it is extremely afraid of water.

1st place: Armytek Partner C4 Pro v3 XHP35

The optimal solution for any application. Differs in brightness, reliability and comfort of application. The lens used in the design diffuses part of the light spot, helping to overcome the effect of "tunnel viewing". The body itself and its head part are made in a subtle variation, so problems with installation under the barrel are not expected for almost any weapon. It has waterproof gaskets in the case - the device can not only be immersed in water, but also left there for a while. Withstands drops from 10 meters.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Canada
Power, lumens	2140
Range, meters	210
Price, rubles	8000

• It has a “warm” light mode, it breaks through the fog well;
• resource intensive;
• 8 operating modes.

• Quickly overheats when working at elevated temperatures (from +30 Celsius).

hunting patterns

5th place: Bailong BL-Q1812

A very budget model, but still able to please with small dimensions and relatively good performance. Focusing of the light beam is possible, but in a very small range, while the beam itself becomes very thin. The design is suitable for any gun mounts and allows you to support a remote button (supplied).

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	China
Power, lumens	1000
Range, meters	550
Price, rubles	1000

• Light weight;
• Increased brightness;
• Good range.

• Weak body.

4th place: JetBeam JET IIIM PRO

This sample has a stylish futuristic body, coupled with an expanded range of features, which makes it far from a mere souvenir.The rugged housing is ribbed to prevent slipping. The control system is implemented without buttons - for adjustment, you only need to turn the ring. The structural elements are made of durable materials and are able to withstand a fall from a height of one and a half meters.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	China
Power, lumens	1100
Range, meters	320
Price, rubles	6000

• Turbo mode is designed for 40 minutes;
• Comfortable management;
• Good beam range.

• Relatively heavy - 265 grams with battery.

3rd place: LED LENSER MT14

Excellent multifunctional and versatile device with a good package. It is possible to recharge the internal battery without separation from the gun via a USB cable. The mount is universal - it can even be integrated with a bicycle handlebar. It has sufficient resource intensity - in the minimum brightness mode it works up to 192 hours. Capable of reproducing both scattered light and a directional beam.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Germany
Power, lumens	1000
Range, meters	320
Price, rubles	8000

• Stylish design;
• Small dimensions;
• Versatility of integration;
• USB charging.

• Weak protection of the 4th class (afraid of moisture).

2nd place: Fenix ​​TK15UE

A traditional hunting model that has gone through several modifications and is still in demand among professional hunters. Lightweight - only 140 grams without battery, maintains water resistance to a depth of 2 meters. The manufacturer provides an extended warranty period up to 5 years. The output light is very concentrated and bright.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	China
Power, lumens	1000
Range, meters	325
Price, rubles	6000

• Reliability;
• Light weight;
• There is moisture protection.

• There is no way to get a diffuse light spot.

1st place: Armytek Predator v3 PRO

A device manufactured by a well-known Canadian brand. It is distinguished by the longest range of light (in its segment) to date, LEDs work both in cold and in warm mode. There are 9 modes of operation: 7 for brightness, 2 for "strobe". The degree of protection of the case is implemented according to the 8th class, the guarantee for the device itself has been extended to 10 (!) years. The device is lightweight - 135 grams without battery. The design has protection against overheating. Diffusers are not included.

Name	Index
Manufacturer country	Canada
Power, lumens	1700
Range, meters	451
Price, rubles	9000

• Reliability and versatility;
• Extended warranty;
• 9 operating modes.

• Not found (for their segment).

Instead of an epilogue

In our time, using an ordinary flashlight, albeit a tactical one, may seem completely outdated, especially when there are enough glasses, monoculars and sights of various kinds of night and infrared vision on the market. At the same time, the flashlight is a classic, reliable and efficient device that will come in handy not only in the game or hunting, but also in combat. The flashlight is able to blind the target in time, and will be useful when a night vision scope is not appropriate, and there are not enough financial resources for a high-quality thermal imager. In addition, some categories of the light spectrum are not distinguishable by animals, which is extremely useful during night hunting.