We tested dozens of options and found the 7 best pistol lights. Our favorites include the Streamlight TLR-1 HL, Nightstick TWM30, and the Streamlight TLR-7x Sub.
One would think that adding a rail-mounted flashlight to a pistol would be simple. Just pick one and slap it on.
Well, it’s not.
There are a few different mounting standards, plus different sizes of pistol flashlights and different uses/purposes. Not understanding all the options can make a big difference in being able to see an attacker in the dark or fumbling around while the enemy is closing in.
Keep reading to discover which pistol flashlights are the best options and how to select one.
Table of Contents
Quick Summary of Our Favorite Pistol Flashlights
Other Pistol Flashlights we like:
- Surefire X300U – Best Duty – Click here to jump to review
- Olight PL-mini 3 – Best Rechargeable – Click here to jump to review
Save 10% off any Pistol Light at Optics Force with code “SURVIVAL”
Save 5% off any Pistol Light at Optics Planet with code “SURVIVALSTOIC”
Best Pistol Lights
Streamlight TLR-1 HL – Best Full-Size
- Size: Full-Size
- Fits: Handguns with Universal light rail or 1913 pic rail, Sig P320, Beretta 92, S&W 99
- Lumens: 1000
- Modes: Constant, Momentary, Strobe
- Battery: (2) CR123A
- Runtime: 1.5 hrs
- Weight: 4.32 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $199
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL is one of our favorite full-size pistol flashlights.
It will fit almost any full-size handgun thanks to the included light rail keys. It is also a popular light, so many holster manufacturers support it, which is one of the important things to consider when choosing a pistol light.
I like how bright this light is and the size of the beam. It works great indoors and out, but in very small rooms, it can be a little too bright, especially if the walls are a light color.
This light is on the larger side, so for some, it is too big for concealed carry. It is perfect for home defense or duty use, though.
The main thing I don’t like about this light is the switch. It is a toggle-style switch that turns on the momentary mode in the down position, and is constantly on in the up position. Flipping it down or up feels awkward to me. Some on our team don’t mind it, but for me, it slows me down and is distracting.
Overall, due to the popularity and the support from holster manufacturers, it is also one of our top choices.
PROS
Bright
Good Holster Availability
Robust
Decent Price
CONS
Toggle Switch
Nightstick TWM 30 – Best Budget
- Size: Full-Size
- Fits: Handguns with Universal light rail or 1913 pic rail
- Lumens: 1200
- Modes: Constant, Momentary, Strobe
- Battery: (2) CR123A
- Runtime: 1.75 hrs
- Weight: 4.5oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $140
The Nightstick TWM 30 performs just as well as other, more expensive lights, plus it has a few nice features that set it apart.
The overall size of this light is similar to that of other larger full-size lights. It may be difficult to put on a CCW depending on how you carry it.
The brightness of this light is a step above the others at 1200 lumens. In my opinion, it is a little too bright for close quarters. It was a noticeable distraction inside my home at night, and my eyes needed a few moments to adjust. It was perfect outside, though, and would be great for duty use as well.
What I really like about this light is the switches. Each side has an independent switch that has a distinct tactile feel to it. For momentary mode, I just press and hold one of the switches. For constant on, I press and then quickly release one of the switches. To turn it off, I just press and release one of the switches again.
I also appreciate that it comes with four different inserts, allowing it to fit on almost any full-size handgun, as well as some compact ones.
Holster availability for this light is not as good as some of the others, so keep that in mind.
PROS
Good Switches
Great Price
Adjustability
Brightness
CONS
Holster Availability
Brightness Indoors
Inforce Wild 1 – Best Compact
- Size: Full-Size (Compact)
- Fits: Handguns with Universal light rail or 1913 pic rail
- Lumens: 500
- Modes: Constant, Momentary
- Battery: (1) CR123A
- Runtime: 2 hrs
- Weight: 2.9oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $139
The Inforce Wild 1 is one of my favorite compact pistol lights. It fits great on CCW guns like my Glock 19.
I like the size of this light. It is not as big as some others, so it works much better for concealed carry. It also has a sleek and tangle-free design that not only looks great but is functional as well.
I really like the switches. They are large and easy to use. They take up pretty much the entire rear of the housing and overhang the trigger guard on my handgun just the right amount. They are intuitive, and I don’t have to fiddle with sliding something up and down. Pushing towards my other hand and not down is better for keeping a good grip on my gun as well.
For momentary mode, I just press and hold one of them. For constant on mode, I quickly press and release, and then press again to turn it off.
With 500 lumens, it is great for indoor and close-range use. It is not so bright that it is a distraction when I turn it on in a very dark room in my home.
This light also just feels robust. The housing and switches are all anodized aluminum, and the shape is solid and sturdy.
It will fit any full-size or compact pistol with a standard or Picatinny light rail, and it comes with two different keys for each one.
PROS
Compact, Sleek Design
Large Switches
Robust Housing
Brightness Indoors
CONS
Brightness Outdoors
Surefire X300U – Best Duty
- Size: Full-Size
- Fits: Handguns with Universal light rail or 1913 pic rail
- Lumens: 1000
- Modes: Constant, Momentary
- Battery: (2) CR123A
- Runtime: 1.25 hrs
- Weight: 4.0 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $379
The Surefire X300U has been the gold standard of pistol lights for many years. Unfortunately, it almost costs as much as gold.
At nearly $400, it nearly costs as much as some pistols do.
Many have chosen this light for the Surefire name and the legendary durability. Certainly, if I were in law enforcement and my life depended on this light, it is the one I would choose.
This light comes with two mounts. One is a lever latch system that allows me to easily take the light on and off of my pistol without any tools. The second is a rail lock system that locks the light into place on my pistol and is more robust than the lever latch.
It is not quick and easy to switch between the two. It takes tools and exchanging various parts under the light. So, it is best to pick a mount and stick with it.
The light is large, so it is best suited to full-size handguns and not for compact concealed carry ones.
I do like how the switch operates. It is a toggle-type switch, but it also acts like a simple button.
For momentary on, I simply press in on the toggle switch. I don’t have to move it up or down like the Streamlight. For constant on, I rotate it either down or up.
This light has 1000 lumens, and it is plenty bright for outdoor and duty use. We found that it isn’t too bright indoors as well.
PROS
Proven and Robust
Good Switches
Flexible Mounting System
CONS
Price
Viridian C5L – Best Features
- Size: Full-Size or Compact
- Fits: Handguns with Universal light rail or 1913 pic rail, adjustable
- Lumens: 650
- Modes: Hi, Medium, Low, Laser on/off
- Battery: Rechargeable
- Runtime: 1 hr
- Weight: 3.1 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $229
The Viridian C5L is a unique pistol light that includes features that most others do not.
The light has three different brightness levels. 650, 300, and 200 lumens.
It also has a green laser that I can use to aim without using my gun’s sights.
I can program which brightness level I want and if I want the laser on or off, there are 6 possible combinations. It is not easy to switch between modes on the fly, so it takes some forward thinking and practice in real-world conditions to determine which is best for me.
This light has a built-in rechargeable battery and includes Viridian’s “Safe Charge” technology, which I like a lot.
Safe Charge is basically a solution to charging the light when it is inside my safe. It comes with a rechargeable power bank that I leave in my safe, and a cable that connects to the light magnetically. It comes off the light quickly and easily if I need to retrieve it in a hurry.
When I take my gun out in the morning, I can recharge the power bank during the day if it needs it.
I like that this light is compact and has a nice sliding key feature. It allows me to set it exactly where I want it on my gun.
Another cool feature is the Instant-On functionality. When I use one of Viridian’s holsters, the light and laser automatically come on when I draw my gun. I really like this since I don’t have to remember to press a button.
But there are a few drawbacks. There is no momentary mode on this light. I have to press and release the button to turn it on, and then press and release it again to turn it off.
I don’t really like the buttons. They are small and recessed, and it took me some practice to find them every time quickly.
The size and features of this light make it great for home defense and concealed carry.
PROS
3 Brightness Levels
Includes Aiming Laser
Rechargeable
Includes “Safe Charge” Battery
CONS
Small Buttons
No Momentary Mode
Olight PL-mini 3 – Best Rechargeable
- Size: Full-Size or Compact
- Fits: Handguns with Universal light rail or 1913 pic rail, Springfeld Hellcat, Adjustable, Other mounts available for Sig P365 and Glock 43X/48
- Lumens: 600
- Modes: Constant, Momentary, Strobe
- Battery: Rechargeable/Removable
- Runtime: 1.25 hrs
- Weight: 2.4 oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $99
The Olight PL-mini 3 is one of our favorite rechargeable pistol flashlights.
What is the main issue with rechargeable batteries? I forget to charge them!
This light takes care of that issue since the battery is removable and can be charged when not attached to the light. It also comes with a spare battery, so I can just swap them out. It’s quick and easy, and I don’t always have to remember to charge it.
It also comes with a magnetic charging cable. I like this over having to plug in a tiny USB cable; it is much more durable and reliable over time.
I also like how this light fits a lot of different guns. Everything from full-size to some of the compact concealed carry guns that are hard to find lights for. I also found there are separate mounts available for the Glock 43X and the Sig P365.
The mount is also adjustable on the light rail of my gun, so I can move it into the perfect place for me and my gun.
I like the buttons on this light. There is one on each side, so I can turn it on with either hand. For momentary mode, I just press and hold the button. When I release it, the light goes back off. For constant on, I just hit the button and release it quickly. It stays on until I press the button again.
The only negative with this light is that the available holsters are not the best. (Tier 1 concealed is about it). The PL-mini 3 is slightly larger than the PL-mini 2, so keep in mind that it may not work in the same holster.
PROS
Good Price
Rechargeable/Removeable Battery
Buttons
Available Mounts for smaller pistols
CONS
Holster Availability
Streamlight TLR 7X sub – Best CCW
- Size: Compact
- Fits: Handguns with 1913 pic rail, Glock 43X/48, Sig P365/XL, Springfield Hellcat (all separate part numbers)
- Lumens: 500
- Modes: Constant, Momentary, Strobe
- Battery: Rechargeable or CR123A
- Runtime: 1.5 hrs
- Weight: 2.5oz
- Warranty: Lifetime
- MSRP: $169
The Streamlight TLR-7X Sub is the best light we have found for compact concealed carry handguns.
The main issue with finding a light for these smaller handguns is that they don’t all have a standard light rail. Streamlight has designed the TLR-7X sub to be able to interface with all of the popular CCW handguns.
However, keep in mind that there are different models depending on the handgun you want to pair it with. Make sure you are selecting the right one!
I like the buttons on this light. There is one on each side, and I simply press down with my thumb to activate the light. The buttons are curved so they fit the curve of my thumb.
This light has two different switches available, a HIGH and a LOW version. This gives two options depending on your grip style and the size of your hands. If you have bigger hands, go with the LOW version. I prefer the HIGH version.
This light is compact and fits perfectly on my Sig P365. There are also plenty of holsters available for this light.
The only real negative is the confusion when ordering this light. While it is nice that they have so many options, it takes some study of the different part numbers to make sure I am getting the right thing.
PROS
Compact
Good Switches
Fits Popular CCW Guns
CONS
Confusing/Many Part Numbers
How We Tested the Best Pistol Lights
Over the past 8 years, we have been training with various pistol lights, including the ones above plus a lot more. We used them at the range and during “low light” matches as well. While using them, we considered the brightness, placement/function of the switches, ergonomics, mounting robustness, and flexibility to fit multiple pistols. Price and value is also something we strongly consider.
We then tried them with the Walther PDP, a Glock 19 Gen 5, a Springfield Hellcat Pro, and two different Sig P365 pistols. We have fired at least 50 rounds with each, with some seeing well over 1,500 rounds over the years. Plus, a lot more repetitions from dry fire practice.
Our top picks included input not only from our team but also from many others in our community, both in person and online. We considered everyone’s experiences and opinions over the past 5 years to achieve what we think is the most balanced and comprehensive review available.
Tips for Choosing the Best Pistol Flashlight
There are a number of benefits to having a weapon-mounted flashlight on my handgun.
- It helps me to identify my target in dark conditions – one of the top gun safety priorities.
- It allows me to have both hands on my handgun. I can shoot more accurately vs holding a separate flashlight in one hand and my handgun in the other.
- A pistol-mounted flashlight is always there when I draw. I don’t have two things to get out and worry about. Plus, I am faster as well.
- The added weight to the front of my handgun reduces recoil, although the effect is minimal.
So, there are a lot of good reasons to have a pistol-mounted light, but I still carry an EDC flashlight. There are times at night when I need light, but drawing my handgun is not appropriate or safe.
I found that getting the right flashlight for my handgun was not so easy. With different mounting solutions, switches, and light/battery combinations, it took a few tries to get it right.
Here is what I learned.
Mounting/Size
The first important consideration is making sure the flashlight will actually mount to your pistol.
For full-size handguns like the Glock 19 and Sig P320, it is fairly easy. The vast majority have either a pic rail or a “Glock” rail. Most pistol-mounted lights are compatible with either of these.
For compact carry guns like the Glock 43X and the Sig P365, it gets a little tricky. Most of the larger full-size flashlights will not fit them. Even the smaller compact flashlights may not fit depending on what type of light rail your handgun has. Check our recommendations above and the manufacturer’s cross-reference to be sure.
Brightness and Intensity
It is easy to just say the brightest light is the best. If you are hunting outdoors, at night, with a handgun (which is probably illegal in a few different ways), you probably need a really bright light. I am guessing that is probably not the case.
My primary purpose for a pistol-mounted flashlight is for self-defense, either on my home defense handgun or on my concealed carry handgun.
Self-defense scenarios should always be at close range. There are a lot of legal considerations here that I won’t get into, but it is unlikely that I will need to defend myself at 50 yards with a handgun.
Also, self-defense scenarios can occur inside. If I shine a very bright flashlight inside my home at night, it will likely blind me temporarily, even if I am behind it from the “Splashback” off the walls.
Because of all of these reasons, I recommend a flashlight with around 500 lumens. 1000 lumens can still work in some conditions, but more than that gets to be too much.
I should also mention that lumens and candelas are not the same. Lumens are how bright the light is, while candela is how focused it is. We can get into a huge technical discussion here, but it really isn’t necessary.
Switch Activation
This seems obvious, but is often overlooked until after the pistol-mounted flashlight is purchased.
If the flashlight is hard to turn on with my hands in the normal shooting position, it will be an issue in a stressful situation. I prefer switches that I can press with my support hand thumb.
Some have to be pressed toward the front of the gun, some towards the support hand, and others have to be pressed in the downward direction. I prefer to press towards my support hand, as it helps me maintain a good grip. I find that on the downward press, it can bias my aim somewhat.
I prefer switches that are ambidextrous. This is especially important if you are left-handed. Even if you are right-handed, there could be a situation where you will need to shoot from your weak hand. A switch that works the same way in both hands is ideal.
Switches that have both a momentary and a constant-on function are also preferred. There could be situations where I want the light on just for a moment and then back off again when I release the switch.
Battery Type
The main debate here is rechargeable or replaceable.
Rechargeable batteries are nice since I don’t have to buy new ones, but they require the discipline to charge them periodically.
With replaceable batteries, I just pop a new one in periodically, assuming I keep some extras on hand.
Personally, I still prefer replaceable batteries, but the rechargeable ones are growing on me.
I really like the Pale Blue Earth Rechargeable A123 batteries. They are the same size as the replaceable ones, but I can recharge them. I just keep a spare set charged and ready to go.
Holster Availability
Another big consideration for pistol-mounted lights for my concealed carry handgun is holster availability. Not every holster manufacturer makes holsters for every combination of handgun and light.
Check this before you purchase a flashlight, or you may end up with a combination that you can’t find a holster for.
Our favorite holsters that support pistol mounted lights are Hidden Hybrid Holsters and Tier 1 Concealed Holsters. You can read more about them in our Best IWB Holster guide plus our other holster reviews in our Self Defense Guides and Reviews.
What is the Best Pistol Light for You?
Now that you know how to choose the best pistol flashlight, which one is it going to be?
- We like the Streamlight TLR-1 HL and the Nightstick TWM30 for full size handguns.
- The Inforce Wild 1 is a good choice if you are carrying a full-size handgun concealed.
- The Streamlight TLR 7X sub is a good choice if you have a compact CCW handgun.
Don’t forget, you still need an EDC flashlight. You can find our favorites in our Best Tactical EDC flashlight review and guide.
After you choose a pistol light, be sure to stay up to date on all of our content by joining our Newsletter. Each week, we include tips on how to stay mentally prepared with actionable ideas and strategies. We also include any good deals we have found, plus updates on our content.
We would like to thank AmmunitionToGo.com for providing the ammo that we used to test these lights at the range. We used Blazer Brass 124gr 9mm for most of our testing since it is affordable and shoots very similar to our self defense ammo.
Now, be sure to check out our full Concealed Carry Guide. It has everything you need to know about handguns, holsters, ammo, and more.
