Starlight Tactical Torch

Initially I couldn’t help but think – looks like a clear case of bandwagon jumping – but once I began testing I soon thought differently. A tad ironic though that we should have Tactical LED Torches from an established night vision company but both the F6 and M3, though basic pretty much do what they claim on their specification sheets.

KIT & CABOODLE

Both kits have all the basic components you’d expect including tail and remote pressure switches, mains charger, cradle and re-chargeable battery plus two filters and two Fig-8 mounts for 1” And 30mm scope body tubes. Also, if they are to be used as powerful flashlights, they also have heavy duty carry pouches with belt loop.

Though the F6 is rated as one of the less powerful in the range, it still gives out 225 Lumens from the single, 3W LED. Both claim mil-spec construction using aerospace grade anodised aluminium for the body tubes. During test, the F6 showed it could give out an unfiltered beam to approximately 300-yds which it’s rated for and can clearly identify foxes up to 200. Obviously the rimfire and certainly airgun hunter needs use one of the filters supplied to diffuse the light, then you’ve got a simple to use lightweight self contained lamping kit.

The company describe it as having a ‘tight flawless beam characteristic.’ Not sure what that means but the bezel housing is specially shaped and front lens specially ground to be able to throw out quite a tight beam. A simple ON/OFF switching arrangement is all it offers and no strobe function, however some are of the opinion this function can lead to problems by way of interfering with the working cycle life of the LED. The 3.7V Re-Chargeable Lithion Ion Battery gives approximately 1hr 30min continuous full beam and is rated for approximately 1000 cycles!

ROBUST, RUGGED & RELIABLE

Granted it’s not the most feature-packed as it doesn’t even offer variable beam intensity or width but what you do get is a very robust, rugged and reliable ‘night piercer.’ The M3 is rated as having a 700 Lumen output. Obviously we’re now definitely getting into foxing territory. Its claim of projecting a brilliant white light up to 500-yds for observation and identify and target at 300-yds using the un-filtered beam I’d say was a bit on the adventurous side. But 400-yds for spotting and 275-yds for identification I’d say was more plausible. Strangely the M3 does have a strobe function.

The Kit comes with everything the F6 does but only one filter. Reason being, tests showed it performs best using green and it does seem to be more compatible with that colour. But any light powerful enough will project a beam to the quoted distances no matter what colour filter is used.

Obviously much longer in length than the F6 it can also run on CR123A batteries. An extender tube is supplied for this.