Pest Control Diary: Cluson Trio-pro

As always it’s happened again, when I think I have the equipment I need someone brings out something better! Not being a collector of every bit of kit that comes out, much like some people changing their mobile phones, but if it makes my life easier then it’s worth putting it through its paces. This is what happened when I asked the staff on the Cluson stand at the CLA if there were any new products and came away with their Trio-Pro gun light?

Though a compact it’s capable of picking up eye shine up to 300 meters away and has a low and high beam. Not much to brag about there, as there are a lot of kit out there that will do the same! However, this is not just a lamp but a whole kit with a guarantee. The package comprises of a small compact gun torch with remote and tactical switch complete with a non-memory lithium rechargeable battery which has a built-in management system. Add in a battery charger and a gun mounting system which is easy to fit, adjust, and lock into place. It will also run on 2 x CR123 disposables too.

DIFFERENT STROKES

However, instead of the usual flip up filters that tends to dull down the light the Trio-Pro has interchangeable, coloured LED heads allowing you to keep 100% power so you don’t compromise effective range. Admittedly it’s not as quick to change as a filter as the lamp will need realigning, but how often do you change from one filter to another if you have a lamp shy fox or rabbit?

I will either turn it down to half power or turn it away catching the eye shine on the edge of the beam. If your intended quarry is that shy it will beat a hasty retreat as soon as the beam hits it, despite the colour of the light you use! If you talk to as many people as I do you soon realise it’s more to do with personal preference than trying to outwit your intended quarry by using a different colour. I fell for this in my early foxing days, buying every coloured filter there was! Back then everything was extra, if you wanted it you had to pay for it, these days everything you buy seems to be all-inclusive.

OUT AND ABOUT

My first few outings with any new bit of kit is usually on rabbits rather than fox, so I can get familiar with the product. It’s not as critical messing up a few bunnies as it would be Charlie! Also it gives me more opportunities to check out the maker’s claims - like the effective range. My first outing was on a farm I’ve been going on for years that has been up until this year devoid of rabbits. I found due to the effectiveness of the LEDs and the distance I was shooting at it was better on low beam. I was only out for an hour after dark and accounted for four well grown rabbits, that might not seem a lot, but there’s more to testing a lamp than just switch on and shoot.

To test effectiveness and the range I will check by looking for the faintest glint of an eye shine on the limits of the beam. Then try to walk up to a distance to where I can make out clearly what it is and to see how close I can get with the lamp on full before the rabbit darts for cover. Then the same on low beam. I know some will think it too extreme and if I can’t tell what I am looking at is a rabbit I should pack it in!

But when you go from rabbits to fox and the lamp isn’t up to it whether due to power output or filter you could have problems. Equally telling the difference from a fox eye shine to a sheep’s in a situation like that is essential. The point I am trying to make is you need positive identification as early as possible while the size and weight of the lamp may affect the balance of the rifle.

ON-GUN

The wires and gun mounting system can cause problems, catching on clothing or coming loose there is a lot more to field testing than you might think. Plus if I am going to give it the thumbs up it’s got to do the job. Mounted on my 22 Brno it proved a great hit, but I have tested near identical lamps before and they all come up with their own problems. One I regularly come across and this one was no exception is light reflecting back off the barrel and rear face of the moderator! This causes it to glare back through the scope blinding me, not ideal when out foxing!

Just because it was ok on your .22 rimfire does not mean you won’t get problems when fitted to another rifle hence the rigorous field testing. This problem is easy to rectify I found by covering the bottom part of the lens with a piece of insulating tape masks off that portion of the beam that would otherwise be reflected back.

OK it works though no one wants’ to have to put tape on the lens to be able to use it. But as I said not the fault of the design as light comes out as it should and bounces off the moderator. Maybe the solution is for manufacturers to make smaller diameter suppressors, or with a gradual slope on the rear surface.

That aside this is a cracking design that takes some of Cluson’s tried and tested concepts and blends them with the new coloured LEDs, which to my mind is a massive step forward from the old and light-robbing fold-down filters. The Trio-Pro is well suited for any form of work – airgun, rifle and shotgun and given the fact you get three LEDs included along with mount etc it’s a bargain indeed!

NAME: Cluson Trio-Pro Gun Light kit
PRICE: £110
CONTACT: Cluson Engineering, 01730 264672 www.clulite.cluson.co.uk