Choose SureFire if you want the best-built light with the longest-throwing beam and are happy to pay for it: its Turbo Scout Lights publish up to 100,000 cd. Choose Streamlight if you want strong output for the money, the widest choice of mounts and hosts, and USB-C rechargeable options across the range. Both are proven, and for most British rifles and shotguns the deciding factors are budget and the beam shape you need.
On our own range at the time of writing, every SureFire weapon light sits at or above £299.99, while half of the Streamlight weapon lights come in at £239.99 or less. The sections below cover what that difference buys.
Key takeaways
- SureFire is the premium option: aluminium bodies, excellent optics and Turbo heads publishing 66,000 to 100,000 cd.
- Streamlight covers far more hosts and price points, with 82 weapon lights in our range against SureFire's 26.
- Both brands now make rechargeable lights: SureFire's DFT dual-fuel Scout Lights, and Streamlight's X, HL-X and ProTac 2.0 models.
- Compare like with like: SureFire's X300U-A and Streamlight's TLR-1 HL both publish 1,000 lumens, but 11,300 cd against 20,000 cd.
- No SureFire weapon light in our range comes in under £250.
SureFire: the premium benchmark
SureFire built its name on hard-anodised aluminium lights with very good optics. The Scout Light Pro family is the rifle line: the compact M340 and the full-size M640. The X300 is the compact rail light. The Turbo versions give up lumens in exchange for extreme throw. The M640DFT publishes 700 lumens and 100,000 cd on its SF18650 rechargeable cell, and 600 lumens and 90,000 cd on two CR123As (SureFire M640DFT). The X300T publishes 650 lumens and 66,000 cd in a compact body (SureFire X300T).
The other SureFire strength is modularity. Scout Lights accept a range of tailcaps and remote switches, so you can set the light up exactly as you want it. The line-up is in SureFire weapon lights, and the switches and caps are in weapon light accessories.
Streamlight: breadth and value
Streamlight makes lights for almost every host and budget. The TLR-1 HL is the standard full-size rail light at 1,000 lumens and 20,000 cd (Streamlight TLR-1 HL). The TLR RM 1 and RM 2 are purpose-built long-gun lights. The TL-Racker replaces a pump-shotgun forend. The ProTac 2.0 Rail Mount HP puts 2,000 lumens and 85,000 cd on a USB-C rechargeable pack, which is a genuine rival to SureFire's Turbo heads for reach.
Streamlight has also gone furthest with multi-fuel: the X, HL-X and HP-X models run on its SL-B9 rechargeable pack or a CR123A. Our Streamlight TLR comparison guide works out which TLR fits which host. Browse the TLR range or all rechargeable weapon lights.
Output: compare candela, not just lumens
Lumens measure total output; candela measures beam intensity and so sets reach. The same lumen figure can hide very different beams. For example, the SureFire X300U-A and Streamlight TLR-1 HL both publish 1,000 lumens, but the X300U-A publishes 11,300 cd (213 m) and the TLR-1 HL 20,000 cd (283 m) (SureFire X300U-A). The "SureFire throws further" stereotype only holds for the Turbo models. The lumens and candela chart converts any figure into beam distance.
Head to head
| Factor | SureFire | Streamlight |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Premium, hard-use | Value to professional grade |
| Weapon lights in our range | 26 | 82 |
| Our entry point (time of writing) | £299.99 | £119.99 |
| Highest published candela (models we list) | 100,000 cd (M640DFT, on SF18650) | 85,000 cd (ProTac 2.0 Rail Mount HP) |
| Rechargeable options | DFT dual-fuel Scout Lights, XC3 | X, HL-X, HP-X multi-fuel; ProTac 2.0; USB models |
| Shotgun-specific | Via rail and remote switch | TL-Racker integrated forends |
| Modularity | Interchangeable tailcaps and remotes | System kits with remote switch included |
Which should you buy?
- Choose SureFire if you want the longest-throwing beam in a compact body and a light you can reconfigure with different switches, and the budget allows it. A Turbo Scout Light on a lamping rifle is the classic case. If that's the job, read our guide to optics for fox and night vermin control first.
- Choose Streamlight if you want the most output per pound, a light made for your exact host, or USB-C charging. That suits most rimfires, straight-pull carbines and practical shotguns.
Working to a budget? Best weapon lights under £250 covers the half of the range below that line, which is Streamlight, Holosun and SIG Sauer only. For picks across both brands, see best weapon lights.
UK note
Both brands sell much of their range as pistol lights. In England, Wales and Scotland most handguns are prohibited under section 5(1)(aba) of the Firearms Act 1968 (legislation.gov.uk), so in Britain the X300 and TLR-1 usually go on rail sections of carbines, straight-pulls and shotguns, or on airsoft replicas.
Frequently asked questions
Is SureFire worth the extra money over Streamlight?
If you need the longest throw from a compact head, or a modular switch set-up, yes. For a light on a range rifle or a shotgun used a few nights a year, a Streamlight gives you most of the performance for much less.
Does SureFire make rechargeable weapon lights?
Yes. The DFT Scout Lights run on SureFire's rechargeable SF18650 or SF18350 cell, or on CR123A primaries. The XC3 runs on a rechargeable SFRCR123 or an SF123A.
Which brand throws further?
It depends on the model rather than the brand. SureFire's M640DFT publishes 100,000 cd, but Streamlight's ProTac 2.0 Rail Mount HP publishes 85,000 cd and out-throws SureFire's own X300U-A by a wide margin.
Can I use a SureFire remote switch on a Streamlight?
No. Remote switches are brand- and model-specific, so buy the switch made for your light.
Shop this guide
- SureFire weapon lights: Scout Light Pro, X300 and XC3.
- Streamlight TLR weapon lights: the widest host coverage.
- Weapon light accessories: SureFire tailcaps and remote switches.
- Weapon light and laser combos: both jobs in one unit.
