DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
November 30, 2011
Last updated on 12/01/11.
A company called Emmissive Energy Corp. (EEC) is manufacturing a cool-looking minimalistic and ergonomic visible/IR (Infrared) tactical weapons light (tactical white light) called the INFORCE White/IR Multifunction Weapon Mounted Light (WML) tactical white light, and there’s an interesting thread discussion going on about it on ARFCOM (AR15.com) about it in response to “sgwlower’s” hands-on review of it that was posted yesterday. As it turns out, EEC/INFORCE is located right down the street from where “sgwlower” works. Pretty convenient.
A quick rundown on the light: the INFORCE WML (Weapon Mounted Light) is a compact (4.1″x1″ bezel diameter), lightweight (3 oz. with batteries) desert tan-colored white/IR combo LED (Light-Emitting Diode) weapon light designed to compete against other white/IR weapon lights like the SureFire RAID WeaponLight, except the INFORCE WML is reportedly significantly less expensive at $175 than the SureFire RAID WeaponLight, which comes in at $800 MSRP. It features a nicely-designed and unique forward-angled momentary on/off manual thumb button/pressure switch for gunfighting in both the visible and IR light modes, and can be strobed. There’s even a flip-up safety bar that can be snicked up to block the button from being activated.
The WML’s visible/white light output is 125 lumens (max output) vs. the RAID M720V’s 150 lumens (max output). The INFORCE WML’s infrared light output is 850 nm. The WML’s white light can run for 2 hours on the high setting and 10 hours on the low setting. It can run for 3 hours 30 minutes or 17 hours in the high and low IR settings, respectively. The WML utilizes a 1 x 123A Lithium battery.
“sgwlower’s” was “incredibly impressed” with the INFORCE WML, and you can read his review at the link provided below
However, before we get to that, a few ARFCOM members made some interesting points in response to the review that INFORCE may have have to address. For example, “abinok” wrote the following:
I wonder what led they are using…125 lumens is less than 1/4 of what lights this size are currently capable of. Even conservative choices are available that are close to 300 lumens, and for less than half that price.
That said, the mount, and lockout features look nice.
He then followed up with:
Just off the top of my head… The jetbeam bc-10 running from one cr123 delivers 270 lumens. From a imr 123 (a rechargeable lithium chemistry the same size as a cr123) will deliver 450. This light is smaller, lighter and only $40. Several mounting options exist to mount it to a 1913 rail. All this on a led that is several years old… the xpg. The newest leds like the xml will deliver the same brightness with longer runtime. A xml direct driven will easily break the 500lumen mark in a light this size.
Don’t misunderstand me the thing looks sexy, and I like the flipdown switch cover, but getting excited about this level of performance is silly.
“abinok” finished with:
I’m all for American design and build quality… but use the good parts Dang it! The difference between a 6 year old xre emitter and a new tech xml is only a couple bucks!
The jetbeam mentioned above does have a dimmer mode more suitable for close work.
“UncivilEngineer” countered with:
Not every situation calls for paint peeling levels of light. Looks like this is a great alternative to the TLR-1 for long gun use. The switch and lockout lever look great.
Perhaps the most interesting post was by “Az_Tibor”, who wrote:
The hardware looks fantastic. Small, ergonomic, nice rail attachment. Output is fine for cqb/home defense distances. But the software – the selection of output – is a big problem. A weaponlight should never select the output level using the same method that turns it on. Same problem with using multi-mode handheld flashlights like Fenix(LD/PD series)/4Sevens(non-tactical quarks)/Solarforce and even the Surefire E2DL/E2L/6Px/G2x lights. It limits the capability of the light based upon the modern thought of weaponlight use.
The modern technique holds that you flash-and-move, flash-and-move, etc. You do not leave a weaponlight on, you use it only momentarily until threats are neutralized. But with lights like this, when you flash it the second time, it will change modes depending on the passage of time. If it’s too soon, you’ll flash high and then flash low. If enough time has passed, you’ll get high-output both times. If you haven’t disabled strobe, you might mean to flash it twice or turn on low mode, and end up with a continuous strobe. It also seems to use an electronic switch rather than a mechanical switch – that would also mean that the light drains battery power even when “off” unless you loosen the head to disable the light.
Here’s my test: flash the light 5 times as fast as you can – did it flash the exact same chosen output 5 times? If not, it should not be used as a weaponlight, it’s a utility light. And I have nothing against Inforce, I apply the same test to Surefire, Streamlight, Fenix, 4Sevens, etc. The Surefire E2DL is NOT a proper weaponlight despite its popularity, because flashing the light too quickly changes outputs. The Streamlight TLR1-s is NOT a proper weaponlight, because flashing too quickly changes modes. The Streamlight TLR1 without strobe is a proper weaponlight, and so is the Surefire VTAC L4, because you KNOW you will ALWAYS get the same high-output no matter how quickly you flash the light.
He ends with:
So you can’t flash the light for less than 1/2 second (that’ll turn the light on, not flash it), nor can you flash the light on high more than once every 2 seconds. Also, the conditions for activating low and strobe seem to overlap – what’s the difference between “press … twice in two seconds” and “two quick presses?”
So, is the INFORCE WML ready for prime time, i.e. good to go? It might very well be. In fact, it might already be fantastic. We just don’t know, yet. DefenseReview (DR) hasn’t run the WML, yet, but we’re in agreement with “Az_Tibor’s” general point about it being a problem if the shooter/operator can inadvertently change light modes (high/low output, from momentary on/off to constant on, strobe, etc.) by the frequency with which he hits the button. It’s a cogent point. The WML may indeed be able to pass his simple and straightforward test of flashing the light 5 times as fast as you can using the momentary on/off button/pressure switch without the light switching modes on you. However, if it can’t, INFORCE/EEC may have to modify the WML’s controls a bit. But, again, maybe it can.
DR looks forward to getting our hands on an INFORCE WML test sample when we can so we can run it at the range in low-light conditions to see what’s what. The WML does look good, but looking good and actually being good are two separate things. Again, the WML may indeed be ready for prime time right now. But, even if “Az_Tabor” is right and the WML isn’t quite good to go for for gunfighting, i.e. dynamic CQB/CQC (Close Quarters Battle/Close Quarters Combat), it’s important to keep in mind that it’s a new product being made by a new company on the scene, and it’s very difficult to get a product exactly right immediately out of the gate. Most products have to be tweaked a bit before they really get dialed in for optimum utility in a gunfight. Whatever the case, the INFORCE WML looks like it has good potential.
Click here to read the complete thread at AR15.com.
Company Contact Info:
EMISSIVE ENERGY CORP. (EEC) / INFORCE
135 Circuit Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852
Telephone: 401-294-2030
Fax: 401-294-2050
Email: info@inforce-mil.com
INFORCE WML Page: http://www.inforce-mil.com/wml-ir.php
General Website: http://www.inforce-mil.com
Matthew S. Wolfe
VP Military & Government Sales
Telephone: 401-294-2030
Email: mwolfe@inforce-mil.com
Michael Strickland (USAF Ret.)
Military & Government Sales Manager
Telephone: 912-823-2247
Email: mstrickland@inforce-mil.com
INTERNATIONAL:
Michael J. Vogel
International Business Development
EMISSIVE ENERGY CORP. (EEC) / INFORCE
Email: mjvogel@inforce-mil.com
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