Best AR 15 Flashlights: Tested By A US Army Ranger In 2025
- Dave McGillivray
- May 8
- 11 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
A quality AR-15 light will improve your viewing range in low-light conditions and help identify targets. Here’s my ranking of the best options on Amazon.
FYI, prices and ratings are accurate as of time of writing.
1. Streamlight TLR-1 HL - 1000-Lumen AR-15 Light
Highlight: One and a half hours of constant battery life.
A weapon-mounted flashlight is most useful for clearing rooms and buildings. However, a gun-mounted light is not legal in most states for hunting, so keep that in mind and check your local laws. I have seen some competitions and training courses that use a weapon-mounted light in a training context, they look fun, and for full transparency, I have not attended one.
Streamlight has been the standard to which all weapon lights have been compared for a long time. I carried one on my duty belt for years, and they are amazing. The Streamlight brand is known for the brightness and durability the manufacturer makes all of their products. Streamlight flashlights are also known as battery-hungry. That makes sense, given the huge amount of light output, as that energy has to come from somewhere. The best way to feed a Streamlight is a rechargeable option.
For clearing buildings with a long gun like the AR-15, the light must be lightweight, so the muzzle end of the gun is not too heavy, making the shooter's hands and arms tired and shaky quickly. The Streamlight will have a switch on the end of the “tube” that is accessible with your forward hand/thumb to turn on or off as needed. The Streamlight TLR HL has a strobe effect; this is very disorienting to the subject on the other end of the gun. The strobe is not as disorientating for the shooters, but practice must be had to use this function, especially when a lethal encounter is happening.
The TLR HL has a large bell, or large for weapon-mounted lights, anyway. This allows the light to fill a room while keeping a focus of light on the intended target. A hyper-focused flashlight is great for identifying the target; a light that will fill the room is good for identifying the target and what lies beyond it. With the bigger bell, this light will not do well on a handgun. I am not saying it will not work on a handgun; it is not made for the size needed. On a rifle or a shotgun, this light cannot be beaten.
Get it from Amazon now: $171.97 & FREE Returns
2. OLIGHT PL-Mini 2 Valkyrie - 600-Lumen Tactical AR Light
Highlight: Magnetic USB recharging cable.
The first thing I love about his light is its magnetic charging ability; I don't think it's called a port. Olight is everywhere; they've reached out to all the influencers and made themselves available to talk to everyone. This light is made to mount in front of the trigger guard for a pistol built with an under-lug rail. The switches are positioned correctly to be pressed with the trigger finger when the finger is outside the trigger guard. With all of that said, this light will fit on any picatinny rail. So, if it has a rail and can reach the press buttons, it will fit there; it's tiny and very lightweight.
The mini Valkyrie features a quick mount or quick-release mount, depending on the actual terminology used. This makes it easy to attach to the gun and then remove it if needed for any reason. Since this light does not have a laser feature, it can be removed and replaced without any harm. I don't know why I would ever need to remove this light; it's tiny. I could cover this with a matchbook if I could find one to try it. For weight, I would have to dig out the box to see if it's listed. I'm having trouble estimating the weight, so I'll estimate it to be 1/5 of a pound, since no one really knows anyway.
I mounted this to the bottom of my AR on the front of the handguard, and the button press worked great for me, but not at all for my buddy, so this will likely be shooter-specific. To me, this tiny light does not change the profile of the gun. The Olight is very bright, and the charge lasts surprisingly long for such a small battery. This light spread is not huge; it is designed for pistols, and I placed it on the front of the rifle. To look around the house in the dark for folks who don't belong there, this light is on the money. Just make sure to put the charger on it before placing it in the safe.
Not sure how long it would last on a shotgun, especially if it is mounted on the slide grip, so the mount would have to survive the recoil and then racking the slide all the time. I would not hesitate to try it out. The light will survive it, but the mount would be the failure point. With the ability to remove the light using the quick disconnect, I can take it off, go bang the shotgun around, then put it back on for pest control and other nighttime activities.
Get it from Amazon now: $79.99 & FREE Returns
3. Streamlight TLR-1 - 300-Lumen Weapon Light For AR-15
Highlight: Parabolic reflectors focus significantly on the light beam.
The Streamlight TLR-1 is used mainly on handguns. The light profile is more suited and slim, so the gun and light combo can be holstered, most likely in a custom-built holster. The light is designed to attach to a picatinny rail on the bottom of the frame of the pistol. The switch for the light sits on each side of the trigger guard.
The switch for the Streamlight TLR-1 can have some training issues that need to be worked through. One side of the switch will activate different functions than the other side. For everyone who plans to use different functions at various times, you must create or attend a comprehensive training course. After the course, you will need to practice often on what side of the switch does what, and when to use that function. For folks like me, if I turn on a flashlight in the dark, I can see the bad guy or critter, and they can see me. Make the necessary moves and end the fight, IF that is what is needed.
Using light for multiple functions will destroy your night vision; once that light comes on, your pupils will react, and the cones (color receivers) in your eye will be flooded with information. When the cones are activated, the rods (black and white receivers) are overrun, and your night vision suffers. Along this line of thinking, once that light hits a white wall, the “splash” back of light will magnify this effect. Move and investigate until you find the problem, turn on the light, and take care of business.
The TRL-1 throws out a large amount of light, which is done with the parabolic or “deep dish” reflector. Other lights throw out large amounts of light by using a wide and shallow reflector.
For an AR-15 mounted light, the penetrating light from the parabolic reflector in the TLR-1 is the right choice for this setup. I mounted one of these on a Ruger 10/22 for cabin use and removing pests that get into stuff at night. It was an easy adaption, just screed on a picatinny rail to the bottom of the wooden stock, and I was done, and so are the raccoons that find it necessary to get into the trash cans and make a mess, used to make a mess anyways.
Get it from Amazon now: $144.99 & FREE Returns
4. OLIGHT Baldr Mini - 600-Lumen Green Beam and White LED Combo
Highlight: Green laser sight and white flashlight are in one unit.
This is the style of light I love because, as Dr. Evil says, it has a laser. The laser beam is contained behind the lens of the flashlight. The Baldr light is designed for large-frame pistols, so it may not work well on a CCW gun. However, for a sidearm, they are amazing. For a fit and function on an AR, this outfit works pretty well.
This light combo features a green beam laser, making it easy to see during daylight. However, it will consume batteries nearly twice as fast as a red laser; everything has a trade-off. The light features a quick-disconnect mechanism for the pistol mount. The reason I say 'pistol mount', not 'Picatinny mount', is that if I take the light off a pistol, the laser will likely still hit the center ring on a practical pistol shot. If I remove it from an AR and shoot 100 yards away, I have no idea how far off the laser will be. Now, for proper use of a laser, especially on a long gun, the laser dot should be right where the sights are on the target. If the light dot is off, then turn it off.
If this is mounted on the foregrip of an AR, there is a chance the laser will be off due to the way the foregrips are made and mounted. If this is used to laser targets from a distance, the laser must be mounted on the gun's frame. Pistols and shotguns should pose no problem, but a rifle requires more planning.
The power of this flashlight is massive. The 600 lumens from a tiny light is mind-blowing, but it's also battery-consuming. As with all Olights, it is a magnetic charger attachment and easy to use. Even if I have to pull the gun out of the safe suddenly, and the charger is still hooked up, the magnetic attachment will pop off, and I won't even notice it was there. The outside lighting power is somewhat weak, but indoor areas will be flooded with white light, and if I have the fiber optic sights on the gun, they will appear to glow.
For an ultimate light and laser combo for protecting the home front, this is hard to beat. Please keep in mind that this is placing a pistol light on an AR, so it will have limitations in terms of distance and whole-yard illumination. However, it will also be so lightweight that you won't even notice it's there, and they are built like a tank.
Get it from Amazon now: $124.95 & FREE Returns
5. Feyachi FL11-MB - 1200-Lumen LED AR Flashlight
Highlight: 4 hours of battery life, and 200 meters of beam.
I have a customer who wants to install a light on her 20-gauge Mossberg, which she uses for home defense. She has children at home and wants the additional safety of a mounted flashlight. This customer also does not have a lot of extra money, so I got to work researching lights for her application. The Feyachi FL11-MB is the right combination of simplicity of use and affordability.
The Feyachi FL11 comes with a picatinny rail mount and looks like a perfect fit to place on an AR-15 rifle and a simple M Lock or other picatinny adapters set on the foregrip. The way I got it to work on the Mossberg was to add a barrel/magazine tube adapter mount and put the light on that way.
The FL11 comes with two end caps, one that is a push button on and off switch; the other one is a cap that has a momentary on switch on the end of a wire. The wire cap is excellent because the remote switch can go anywhere and is easy to activate at any point on the button. The end cap works great when turning the light on and stays on. The Feyachi is a Mini Mag light with two different end caps. The FL11 does not have strobe, high and low, or focus beam adjustments and functions; it is an inexpensive flashlight with a gun mount.
It works every time the button is pushed, and it does the exact same thing every time the button is pushed. Repeatability and ease of use were precisely what my client needed, and that is what she got. The Feyachi also comes with rechargeable batteries and a recharger, so it is easy to keep batteries ready and installed when light assistance is needed.
By mounting the Feyachi FL11 behind the muzzle, the blast does not foul the light's lens when she takes it to the range for some target practice. When she practices in low light, the flashlight illuminates the front sight so she can very clearly see her sight picture and target.
Get it from Amazon now: $34.99 & FREE Returns
6. OLIGHT Odin Mini - 1250-Lumen Rechargeable Mlok Mount AR light
Highlight: Mlock mounts included.
Made for the AR-15 from the moment a pencil touched the paper, the Odin Mini is as much an AR-15 accessory as it is a magazine. This thing is machined like it's part of a jet fighter, and it feels smooth and perfect. The threading is so smooth that I am sure they have to use a laser to mill this unit.
The mount that comes with the Odin Mini is an M-lock mount, and it is well-made. The light can be removed from the mount to clean and inspect for field cleaning or after a trip into the dirt, leaves, or a quick drop in the water. Putting the light back in place smoothly and quickly. If the light is in the way for some reason, take it off and stick it in your pocket; then put it back when needed.
The light also comes with two end caps, a push button, and a remote button. Now, here is some thinking by the engineers: the caps do not thread on; they are held in place by super magnets. What that means, of course, is no cross-threading and easy use at night, if I need to swap the caps and remove them from the gun for some reason. The thing that got my attention was that changing end caps in dark and quiet places is silent. There are no threads for the aluminum threads sliding past each other, making that strange noise. Nothing is heard, no attention from anyone, or anything.
Speaking of magnetic, the charging cord magnetizes to the charging area, and takes care of the battery. The greatest thing I like about that is that if the wire is charging the battery and I grab the gun to move it, all the wire does is pop off and fall to the ground, making it easy for me to retrieve.
The remote wire button is large and easy to push. I like the end cap button more myself, as the coiled wire is always in my way. To me, the tape switch is always hard to place and turn on, and that may be my perception, so take that for what it's worth. I had a pretty nice tape switch that mounted to the pistol grip of a shotgun, and that worked great so long as my need for the light was minimal, the minute I grabbed the gun.
Get it from Amazon now: $138.00 & FREE Returns
7. OLIGHT Odin - 2000-Lumen Rechargeable Weapon Light
Highlight: Purpose Built for AR Platform rifles.
This is like taking a light off my old gun belt and mounting it to my rifle, and I love it. The mini lights are cool, and I like to see how much potency they have in such a tiny package. However, for a full-size gun, I prefer the full-size light. The mount will quickly detach, so I don't have to carry the weight of the rifle around, and that makes it even better. I learned this a long time ago: never pay attention to price tags and brand loyalty; pay attention to the build and quality of manufacturing. Some folks talk trash about this maker as a cheap flashlight; I am not too sure what they measure it against. All I have ever seen from Olight is powerful lighting and high-quality build and machining.
This light emits 2000 lumens and will illuminate an area as far as I want to shoot in low-light conditions. When I shine this across the park behind the house, it appears to be sufficient to identify a problem or opportunity out to 250 yards. I couldn't read the logo on a T-shirt with the light power, and to be honest, I can't see it when the sun is up, so I think it works out the same.
I had this at the cabin, and one of the guys at the range was interested in how the light worked on the gun. We spent some serious time shooting the BS, as is required in rural Utah, especially at the gun range. What he wanted was a light that he could use to shoot the coyotes and raccoons that were harassing the innocent chickens and sheep living on his farm sanctuary. Being a diligent custodian of these animals, I mounted the light to his AR-15 because loaning him my AR was not an option. The mount switch at the range was easy, like everything dealing with Olight is, and he went home to protect the critters.
A few days later, the gentleman called me and bought the light right on the spot. And from the calls and people talking to me at the grocery store when they recognize me or see my shirt, it seems that everyone needs one. My neighbor is getting one custom-mounted to her mountain bike to light the trails at night. Having the ability to take the light off and put it in her pack seems to be her favorite part. Let's see what she says when that 2000 lumen light works like high-beam headlights on her truck.
Get it from Amazon now: $159.95 & FREE Returns