Back in the day, if you wanted to see in the dark while holding a handgun, you had to juggle a flashlight like a circus act. Thankfully, the 1990s brought us the first practical handgun-mounted weapon lights, which back then were a revolutionary invention.
Today, these lights are standard for most law enforcement, military, and even civilian defenders. Handgun-mounted lights are becoming more popular with compact pistols, but they are especially useful on full-size duty pistols.
One of my instructors in the police academy always said, “You can’t shoot what you can’t see.” You also must factor in that the bad guy can also see you once a bright light turns on. And so, we learned to use short bursts of light to see momentarily before turning the light back off.
Because of this mindset, most companies use switches made to provide both momentary, constant light, and often strobe.
Like most of my other gear lists, this one is made up of lights I have personally used and carried on my guns. There are plenty of other great lights on the market, but these are some I personally like and trust. And so, in no specific order, here are my favorite top five handgun-mounted lights for full-size handguns.
1. Nightstick TWM-30
Nightstick, a brand under Bayco Products, has been making some great products since 1984. The TWM-30 handgun-mounted light is one of my go-to lights for duty guns.
This light has an impressive 1,200-lumen output with a beam distance of 194 meters. When you want a blinding bright light, this one will do the trick. It doesn’t have a low-light mode, but it does have lock-out and strobe.
It’s constructed from black anodized aircraft-grade 6061-T6 aluminum, which is standard for high-quality lights these days. Mine has held up great to holster wear and everyday use.
When I first use an optic or light, I like to put it through some simple tests at home to check for basic durability. This light was soaked in water, frozen overnight, placed in the oven at 150°F, and then thrown in the dryer. I’ve performed the same test on all the weapon lights in this article, and they have all held up great.
TWM-30 Specs
- Lumens: 1,200
- Runtime: 1.75 hours
- Battery: 2 x CR123A (non-rechargeable)
- Material: 6061-T6 aluminum with glass-filled nylon polymer battery door
- Modes: Momentary, constant-on, strobe, battery-safe
- Mounting: Fits standard Picatinny rails
2. SureFire X300 Turbo
SureFire has earned a name for itself in the tactical world for durability in high-performance situations. The X300T has a high-focused center for those wanting a handheld light with an intense beam.
It is only a 650-lumen light but has 66,000 candelas for exceptional long-range illumination. Its TIR lens creates a tight beam with minimal spill, which again, is ideal for identifying threats at a distance. The X300 Turbo’s durable aluminum body and ambidextrous switches make it a reliable choice for professionals
The only thing I don’t care for with this light is that the rocker-style switches are a little hard to push. This is just a preference, but compared to other brands and models, it’s noticeable.
Surefire is also the most expensive light on this list, so it really comes down to how much you want to spend and what your setup is intended for.
X300 Turbo Specs
- Lumens: 650
- Candela: 66,000
- Runtime: 1.5 hours
- Battery: 2 x CR123A
- Material: High-strength aerospace aluminum
- Modes: Momentary, constant-on
- Mounting: Universal and Picatinny rail compatibility
3. Streamlight TLR-1 HL-X
Streamlight has been a go-to for reliable lighting since 1973. The TLR-1 HL-X is their latest offering, combining high output with multi-fuel capability. A TLR-1 was my first handgun-mounted light to carry on duty and continued working until the day I upgraded it.
This light has jumped far beyond most other WMLs and produces 1,500 lumens. It uses Streamlight’s 10-tap programming to activate a strobe option.
Streamlight also added a rechargeable battery to this newest model. It uses an SL-B9 USB-C rechargeable battery pack, and I will mention, this battery must be used to get the 1,500 lumens. You can use a standard CR123A battery, but the light will only produce 1,000 lumens.
Like most other companies now, Streamlight uses high-quality aluminum to construct the body of the light.
The most recent, and best, upgrade Streamlight has made to their newest light is a front-loading battery. This was an upgrade I was excited to see. The old TLR-1s required the light to be removed from the gun because the batteries were loaded from the back.
TLR-1 HL-X Specs
- Lumens: 1,500 (SL-B9), 1,000 (CR123A)
- Runtime: 1 hour (SL-B9), 1.5 hours (CR123A)
- Battery: 2 x SL-B9 USB-C rechargeable or 2 x CR123A
- Material: 6000 series machined aircraft aluminum
- Modes: Momentary, constant-on, strobe
- Mounting: Rail grip clamp system for quick attachment/detachment
4. Steiner TOR Fusion
Steiner is not as popular in the US, but they make some great products. Like Surefire, they can be a little on the pricy side, but their quality is top-notch.
The TOR Fusion is a light and laser combo. I didn’t select it for the list because of its laser, but because of its durability. Most of the other brands on here also make light/laser combos.
This light is not as large as the others, but I wouldn’t call it compact either. It fits nicely on a Glock 45 or any of those full-size guns with a 4-inch barrel.
Steiner made the TOR Fusion with 500 lumens, and the side activation buttons are extremely easy to push.
Because it runs on one CR123A battery, the light is a bit slimmer than the other full-size weapon lights we have talked about. The battery loads from the front, so it’s simple and easy. You can switch from light only to light and laser, or just laser only.
As you would expect, it has an aluminum body with a durable finish on the outside. I’ve used this light on a lot of different handguns and PCCs.
For those wanting something a little different than everyone else, this is a good choice. If you like this light, you can also check out my full review here.
Steiner TOR Fusion Specs
- Lumens: 500
- Laser: Green
- Runtime: Light: 1 hour; Laser: 5 hours; Combined: 45 minutes
- Battery: 1 x CR123A
- Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum
- Modes: Light only, laser only, light and laser
- Mounting: Adjustable for various rail systems
5. Glock GTL II
The GTL II is Glock’s proprietary tactical light and it’s also on the smaller side for a full-size light. This again is preference, but I’m not a believer that every full-size gun must have a monster-sized light on it.
This light is probably more in the compact size category, but we are starting to see more “full-size” handguns with 4-inch barrels. The Glock 45 is a perfect example. For someone wanting a full-size set-up that’s a little more low-profile, this is an awesome light.
I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of the first Glock light that came out. My opinion of this light changed, however, as I started using it. For those who carry a Glock pistol, you won’t find a better-fitting light than this. It was made by Glock for Glock pistols, and creates this somewhat square look to the gun, which I like.
The side activation paddles are easy to push, and the battery loads from the front as well.
The GTL II provides 600 lumens of illumination and has interchangeable ambidextrous controls for user preference.
Glock added the same style serrations on the bottom of the light to match the slide on their guns. It’s not super bright, but it works great for most applications.
Glock GTL II Specs
- Lumens: Approximately 600
- Runtime: Not specified
- Battery: 1 x CR123A
- Material: Hard-anodized aluminum
- Modes: Light only, strobe
- Mounting: Designed for standard frame Glock pistols
Which one is right for you?
Choosing the right weapon-mounted light depends on your specific needs and preferences. Do you prioritize brightness, beam distance, battery versatility, or other factors?
In some cases, you may want to light up the countryside to clearly see one or multiple targets. Other times, you may not want such bright light. When you are in small areas, a bright light tends to reflect off the walls and blind the user.
Regardless of your preference or needs, these five weapon lights offer a variety of options, and they are all of great quality.
