Finding the best handgun light has never been easier

A handgun light is a crucial accessory for any gun owner, especially for those who want to ensure their safety in low-light conditions without the use of night vision or other equipment like a headlamp. Handgun lights will help the shooter to identify the target and prevent accidents, so you don’t end up needing a first aid kit because you hit the wrong target. The best handgun lights are designed with durability, reliability, and brightness in mind. They are easy to install and use, making them perfect for both novice and experienced shooters. A good handgun light should be powerful enough to illuminate even the darkest corners, allowing you to see your surroundings clearly, whether you are in a CQC situation, or even in a more open environment. Whether you're a law enforcement officer or a civilian gun owner, investing in a quality handgun light is an important step towards ensuring your safety and the safety of those around you, you are in charge of your own survival.

In a world with no constraints, we could simply say that when you are looking for the best handgun light, go for high candela (hot spot) in a reliable package and be done with it. Due to mission needs as well as individual budgetary constraints, it’s worth exploring a few different options that are currently available to find the best handgun light.

The team at Core Vision Training has tried and tested several different options to bring you a list of the best handgun lights of 2024, so you know what to put on your pistol. Let’s check it out.

What to Look for in a Handgun Light

The first thing to address is what exactly to look for in the best handgun light, because you do not want to be left in the dark when shopping for a light (pun intended).

Lumens

For any weapon light, especially the best handgun light, you want something that is at least 500 lumens, however 600 lumens or more is preferred.

Candela

5,000 candela is the lowest you want on a weapon light, but ideally you should look for an option that is over 15,000 candela.

Switches

Keep in mind the switches on the weapon lights. For example, rotating switches are a good bet.

The Best Handgun Lights

Now that we have established what to look for, let’s take a look at the options for the best handgun lights. Typically, handgun lights are broken down into two different categories based on the handguns that they are best suited for, which are full size, and subcompact.

Full Size Handgun Lights

SureFire X300 Turbo

Surefire is a popular brand that produces high-quality handgun lights. The SureFire X300 Turbo is a highly reliable handgun light with a rating of 66,000 candela, which greatly exceeds the suggested 15,000 candela minimum, and makes it a top choice for military and law enforcement, and also easily puts it on our list of best handgun light. Having this high of a candela rating is incredibly effective both indoors and out, while bringing the potential drawback of light bounce diminishing one’s natural night vision.

The X300 Turbo uses the same housing as the previous X300 models, which makes it compatible with legacy X300 holsters. This pistol light projects a tightly focused 66,000-candela beam pattern out to 100 yards, which can illuminate your targets with spill to help maintain situational awareness outside the hot spot.

The X300 Turbo also has ambidextrous push/toggle switches that allow instant activation without altering your shooting grip and affecting your accuracy. Not to mention, it is water proof, which ensures durability. Combine that with a 1.5 hour run time on two CR123A batteries, and you have a great option for a handgun light.

The biggest complaint with the X300 series is the paddles, which can be replaced with Phlster ARC switches to alleviate any difficulties manipulating the light. This is our recommended product for individuals looking for the best handgun light, but are not concerned about the size of their choice.

SureFire X300 Ultra

Next on the list of the best handgun lights is the Surefire X300 Ultra. This is a powerful weapon light that first hit the markets back in 2018 as the successor to the popular Surefire X300. The X300 Ultra is compatible with a wide range of firearms.

Emitting a yellowish-green spectrum of light that is easier on the eyes, the SureFire X300 Ultra also has a maximum output of 1,000 lumens and 11,300 candela. Ambidextrous push-in paddles that can be programmed for momentary or constant-on function control the light.

The SureFire X300 Ultra has a runtime of 1.25 hours on just two 123A lithium batteries and it is water-resistant enough to survive 30 minutes underwater at a meter depth. It is a powerful and versatile weapon light.

The main complaint of the SureFire X300 Ultra is that it is relatively expensive and more aimed at open carry, not ideal for concealed carry. However its compatibility with a wide range of holsters and firearms, strong output, and water-resistant design make it easy to overlook the complaints, and an ideal choice for those needing a dependable weapon light, and it could not be left off of our list of the best handgun lights.

Streamlight TLR-1 HL

The Streamlight TLR-1 HL makes the list of best handgun lights with ease, as it is a highly recommended accessory for gun owners who prioritize accuracy, visibility, and ease of use. This is a full-size pistol light designed for full-sized handguns.

The TLR-1 HL is packed with 1,000 lumens, a candela rating of 20,000, and has a run time of 1.5 hours. Aside from that, the beam can go 283 meters. The rail grip clamp system securely attaches and detaches quickly and safely with no tools and without putting your hands in front of the muzzle

Subcompact Handgun Lights

Streamlight TLR-7

The Streamlight TLR-7 makes our list of the best handgun lights easily, as it is a compact pistol light that is designed for use with compact as well as sub-compact frame handguns. The TLR-7 features a lightweight construction and is also available in the TLR-8 model, which includes a laser.

The TLR-7 is equipped with a brightness of 500 lumens and runs on one CR123A battery, lasting for about 1.5 hours. This handgun light is made of durable, anodized machined aluminum and has an IPX7 waterproof rating.

The Streamlight TLR-7 also has an impressive design and build quality. It has a slim and compact design that makes it an excellent choice for concealed carry, and the rail grip clamp system securely attaches and detaches quickly and safely without tools, and it fits a wide range of compact and sub-compact handgun sizes.

The TLR-7 is also equipped with an ambidextrous on/off switch and user-enabled strobe function to add to its versatility.

Unfortunately, even though it is on our list of the best handgun lights, the TLR-7 does have a few drawbacks, such as its odd battery size may be a disadvantage for some users, and it is not well-suited for full-size model handguns. Also, the brightness of only 500 lumens may be lower than other modern pistol flashlights.

Overall, the Streamlight TLR-7 is an effective and reliable compact pistol light that is perfect for use with compact and sub-compact frame handguns.

SureFire XC1

The final entry on our list of the best handgun lights is the SureFire XC1 is SureFire’s smallest and lightest weapon light, designed to equip compact railed handguns, it is perfect for concealed carry weapons. The XC1 features a high-performance LED, powered by AAA batteries, with a light output that is shaped by a special multifaceted reflector into a wide, smooth 200-lumens.

The XC1 has a robust, compact body that is constructed of lightweight yet strong aerospace aluminum that is hard anodized with a tough Mil-Spec finish. In simpler terms, the XC1 is rugged enough for everyday carry.

While offering SureFire reliability, this option has a major drawback as it greatly lacks in output, offering only 820 candela.

Training

Buying a good handgun light is great, but if you are not properly trained then it is pretty much useless. That being said, hit the gun range, familiarize yourself with it, and be prepared. To further prepare yourself you can head right to Core Vision Training and choose from plenty of different courses to stay on top of your safety.

The Best Handgun Lights Wrap Up

Overall, handgun lights are good to have, no matter the mission. Pair one these with a good optic, or even other attachments like a suppressor, and you have a pretty great setup. The only issue is finding the right one to buy and equip, as there are so many options for handgun lights. There are many things to look for and take into consideration when purchasing one of these products.

Do you agree with our list of the best handgun lights?

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The 4 Best Handgun Lights for 2024