As the topic, is an MS18 blinding enough to deter an attacker and can you look straight into the source of the beam when it’s running at 20,000, 60,000, 100,000 lumens?
This topic frequently comes up with regards to lights; it was one of the very repetative topics which drove me away from the other forum.
There are too many variables to give an accurate answer, for starters, it depends how determined the attack is…
I’ll repeat the usual answer people get with these threads:
Bet a friend £/$/€/20 that you can ‘tag’ them on the shoulder and give them the light. Reverse the roles and re-try the bet.
I’m not following maybe you or someone can translate that in layman terms for me, also i was wondering about the blinding factor of the light i.e if its possible to look at the beam directly?
It’s useless. More effective is Maglite 6D
it seems the opening question may have been misunderstood, im referring to the blinding effect of the light not using the light as a blunt weapon
If it’s big and heavy enough, you can beat someone with it. For blinding it’s useless.
I think the general conclusion is flashlights are useless as blinding weapons. No matter how powerful the light is, they aren’t effective at blinding a determined attacker for more than a second or so.
MS18 at 100k Lumen turbo is throwing out an insane amount of light. Anyone looking directly into the beam will certainly be blinded initially.
I would say it’s a hefty piece of kit to be trying to quickly turn on someone and get onto turbo to try and blind them, especially if they are a determined attacker. If you are wanting a torch to have a brief blinding affect on someone I would say anything from 5k lumens upwards being ‘turbo’d’ at someone’s face (depending on range) would blind them initially, might buy you a few seconds.
Lumen count is not the only consideration, a light with a high candela aimed at someone is going to be completely blinding. I would not want to be on the other end of the beam of a Weltool W4 shone directly at my face that’s for sure.
If someone is determined to attack you for some reason, no amount of light shone in their direction is going to help as much as running/defensive manoeuvring. You might scare off an opportunistic attacker quickly turboing a light in their direction or just cause them to come at you even faster. All going to depend on the circumstance.
Human eyes are extremely good at adjusting to different light levels - it’s why anyone with decent eyesight and health can go from walking around in 100,000 lux sunlight, and then later on night lit only by a sliver of the moon and still able to see to a fair degree.
You know how it goes. The aggressor creeps up from behind, then stops and shouts: “Hey, I’m going to attack you now.” You turn around, pull your light out of the holster … “just a second please, Mr. aggressor” … and point your light towards him in full turbo. Only seconds later he’s ash. You know, villains always make some small talk, talk about their plans and so on. Plenty time.
I recall reading one anecdote on CPF years ago where someone successfully used a flashlight to defend himself.
He was walking along at night when he saw a group of young men approach him looking to perhaps mug him.
He pulled out his flashlight and shined it at them while asking “How can I help you boys?”
The would-be muggers instantly jumped to the (incorrect) conclusion he was a cop. They said “no problem” and abruptly changed changed course to get out of his way.
I’m no expert, but I think the fast paced strobes are more useful to disorientate someone than just a bunch of lumens trying to blind someone.
If they’re teeth look like this that might actually happen…
I’d ask for an autograph first.
Then burn him down. The autograph will be worth a fortune.
how “efficient”?
not very much.
in my opinion.
here is one positive opinion:
I don't think the light from a flashlight is very useful for defending yourself.
Depending on what is legal where you live, you're better off with pepper spray, a knife, or a gun.
I don't like the idea of carrying a gun, so I go with pepper spray and a pocket knife.
My pepper spray has tear gas and ultra violet ink in it, and that would be my first line of defense if running away is not possible.
If the aggressor happens to be on his way to the toilet in the middle of the night 20,000 lumens
should be enough to keep him from falling back to sleep after the attack
There are statistics you can look up. If it’s a random attacker your best bet is to run, unless you are carrying a firearm.
The only use for a flashlight in such a scenario is a weapon-light.
I agree, bet your friend you can tag them in the shoulder and hand them the light. See if it defends effectively.
Also, I’ve always said that the light source just tells you where to aim…
Efficient self defense tools were not designed for illumination, therefore they are extremely inefficient as illumination tools.
Efficient illumination tools were not designed for self defense, therefore they are extremely inefficient as self defense tools.
Form and function. One looks like an Underwood loaded G29, and the other looks like a MS18. I have both. I just don't confuse their form, therefore I do not confuse their function.
https://budgetlightforum.com/t/-/61143/3
That’s why I carry one of these with me every day.
