Inforce WML Issues

Matt Landfair · May 6, 2015

Aaron Cowan
March 27 · Atlanta, GA

Excellent design and controls, terrible execution. Oldest to newest top to bottom, two door frame contacts and one Recoil caused failure of the thread housing. Now the only lights I own that work are Surefires...just how it started.

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You, Matt Levi, Frank Woods, Nate Bliss and 62 others like this.
Mark EndyGuess I can cross that off the list
March 27 at 2:51pm · Like · 2
Rick YatesDid you give up on the little ProTac too?
March 27 at 2:51pm · Like
Aaron CowanStill use it.
March 27 at 2:52pm · Like · 1
Rick YatesMine is still going as well. That thing has earned my trust
March 27 at 2:53pm · Like
Jay Parki was really considering one for my HD Shotgun, but i'm having some second thoughts now...
March 27 at 2:56pm · Unlike · 1
Roland Deschaintull*sigh* surprised face....
March 27 at 2:56pm · Unlike · 7
Eric LavergneMine work fine and I abuse the shit out of em. I mount them on the top rail and use the extended support arm method when I shoot. Thumb sits right on the pad. No problems yet after 3 years knock on wood.

March 27 at 2:57pm · Like · 2
Andrew MoonDamn...three issues on three different lights....maybe I'll pass on these.
March 27 at 2:59pm · Like
Jay NguyenInforce, the EOTechs of flashlights.
March 27 at 2:59pm · Unlike · 13
Rick Yates Jay, your mileage may vary, but i tried running it on my shotgun and didn't like it. It wasn't as comfortable as I thought it would be
March 27 at 3:00pm · Like · 1
Andrew Moon Jay Nguyen I'm offended! Lol
March 27 at 3:00pm · Like · 2
Josh LinkousSounds like knocking on wood was the problem to begin withEric Lavergne lol
March 27 at 3:00pm · Like · 4
Andrew MoonLol, you said, "Wood."
March 27 at 3:18pm · Edited · Like · 2
Jeremy JohnI run the Streamlight TLR-1HL. Much brighter and less costly than its Surefire counterparts. It's on my duty gun and takes a beating pretty well. No problems thus far.
March 27 at 3:22pm · Edited · Like
Jay Parkdamn... 2 different Aarons have issues with this light system 2 days apart.
March 27 at 3:23pm · Unlike · 1
Rick YatesOn a slightly related note.. I have an Inforce WML for sale on EBay. Great deal on this light. Very reliable, just ask anyone...
March 27 at 3:31pm · Unlike · 3
Aaron CowanI'll trade you three WMLs for your one...
March 27 at 3:31pm · Like · 2
Matt Landfair Jeremy- not that much Streamlight love here either.
March 27 at 3:36pm · Like
David Merrill....and there's a reason why I'm a Surefire guy
March 27 at 3:38pm · Unlike · 3
Brannon LeBouefOperator error.... obviously.
March 27 at 3:40pm · Unlike · 1
Jeremy JohnWhy? I love all my Streamlight weapon lights and duty use flashlights. Never had a problem with them. They're cheaper than Surefire and they're click on instead of twist on, so they never accidentally activate in my BDU pocket or on my belt.
March 27 at 3:41pm · Like
Andrew MoonTLR-1 on my duty gun. Love it. No issues ever. Only battery renewal. But it is not pretty I will admit...
March 27 at 3:52pm · Edited · Like · 1
Sean LeonardI broke mine on the b pillar of a car...
March 27 at 3:42pm · Like
Matt Landfair Jeremy- it sounds like you bought the wrong versions of Surefire for your needs, if twist on is an issue, there are click options
March 27 at 3:44pm · Like · 2
Jeremy JohnMaybe...but I'm happy with what I've got. There's guys at work with Surefire. And aside from the price point I don't see much difference operationally. Just my own experience.
March 27 at 3:46pm · Like
Brannon LeBouefWhen it comes to any equipment, failure is not a matter of if, but of when. I like equipment that makes when happen tomorrow instead of today.
March 27 at 3:47pm · Unlike · 4
Matt LandfairA majority of the membership here and on the forum have converted to Surefire due to failures and insufficiencies with all the other brands - streamlight included.
March 27 at 3:48pm · Like · 2
Jay Park^ funny, that's the same slogan i have for getting things done at work.
March 27 at 3:48pm · Like
Rick Yates Aaron I have a question for you, I feel it's a pretty legitimate question that were all wondering. What made you, after 2 broken WML's, pick up the 3rd one and think "THIS one, this will be the one!"?
March 27 at 3:49pm · Unlike · 7
Jay Parklol
March 27 at 3:49pm · Like · 1
Jeremy JohnCool...maybe I'll switch one day too. But today's not that day.
March 27 at 3:50pm · Like
Brannon LeBouefProbably won't until what you have fails you. i just hope that failure happens in training and not when it counts.
March 27 at 3:51pm · Like · 2
Rick YatesI can honestly say the only issue I had with my TLR was the switch. Momentary was on the wrong side for a lefty..

However, this very well was also a training/practice issue.
March 27 at 3:51pm · Like · 1
Aaron Cowan Rick Yates i only paid for one. The other two are from Inforce
March 27 at 3:51pm · Like · 2
Matt LandfairHopefully that day it fails isn't the day you need it most.
March 27 at 3:52pm · Edited · Like · 3
Rick YatesAhh. Ok. You're off the hook then.
March 27 at 3:53pm · Like · 1
Andrew Moonboo yaa! Lol

March 27 at 3:55pm · Unlike · 7
Jeremy John^^^ nice!!! Department issued flame thrower.
March 27 at 4:03pm · Edited · Like · 3
Steve AryanAs confirmed in this thread most people buy stream light because it's a cheaper alternative to surefire. I don't know of anyone who bought a stream light because they felt it was made better than surefire. They may have felt it was close and that the price wasn't justifiable. Price aside, there is a clear winner in quality. Im speaking purely of weapon mounted lights.
March 27 at 4:05pm · Unlike · 6
Andrew MoonIs the mounting system on Surefire metal or plastic?
March 27 at 4:09pm · Like
Aaron CowanDepends on the light
March 27 at 4:10pm · Like · 2
Andrew MoonTrue^ shit that was a dumb question...
March 27 at 4:10pm · Like
Steve AryanThe x300/400 are "plastic". Granted that's like saying my knife is "metal".
March 27 at 4:11pm · Like · 1
Roland DeschaintullI thought it was a pointed question about the X300.
March 27 at 4:12pm · Like
Andrew MoonDear Surefire Scout...oh how I wish I had $250+ for you...but some how my wife knows when new goodies are on my rifle...
March 27 at 4:13pm · Like · 1
Steve AryanScout is a nice dedicated but the X300 ultra is also a good option the can convert to pistol carry as well.
March 27 at 4:14pm · Like · 1
Aaron CowanNever broken a surefire mount. Yet.
March 27 at 4:15pm · Unlike · 2
Steve AryanI broke a tailcap on a x300. It quit working right. Surefire sent a replacement
March 27 at 4:16pm · Like · 1
Brannon LeBouef Steve Aryan, did they tell you it was your fault for "pushing it too hard" or in the "wrong direction? LOL
March 27 at 4:17pm · Like · 1
Steve AryanNo. I would have laughed and asked for the model for hard pushers.
March 27 at 4:18pm · Unlike · 2
William PhebusAnd I have to spend a week alongside AM. Lord this is gonna be fun.
March 27 at 4:34pm · Like
Brannon LeBouefProbably still your fault though Steve Aryan
March 27 at 4:35pm · Like · 1
Eric JacksonStreamlight is my go to. Surefire has better quality control and customer support, but if 99% of the light for half the cost makes sense, then streamlight wins.
March 27 at 4:52pm · Like · 1
Sean LeonardStream light is good but I think surefire has better technology sooner
March 27 at 4:54pm · Like · 2
Aaron Marco Jeremy John isn't Surefire down the street from you??
March 27 at 5:24pm · Like
Eric JacksonI have a buddy that reps for surefire, so I get to see all the new and pre release stuff he gets for demos. Yes, sf is consistently better, earlier than other brands. Only downside is the price. Their main market are people with budgets, not wallets.
March 27 at 5:28pm · Like · 5
Matt LandfairYou get what you pay for.
March 27 at 5:29pm · Edited · Like · 4
Eric JacksonJust depends how close to the bleeding edge you feel the need to be.
March 27 at 5:36pm · Like
Matt Landfair$900 Rock River or $1,100 Colt - a huge difference in quality between those two for a small price difference
March 27 at 5:44pm · Like · 3
Eric JacksonThat's a no brainer in my opinion. That might be why I don't own any budget ARs. But between sl and sf, the price difference was a lot more last I went shopping.
March 27 at 5:50pm · Like
Andrew Mooncan I get some love for the Nitrolon...haha

March 27 at 5:53pm · Like · 2
Eric Jackson^^^ wtfit?
March 27 at 5:54pm · Like · 1
Andrew MoonThink the Nitrolon is freaky...and this is an updated version of this light.

March 27 at 6:04pm · Like
Sean LeonardFor those of us that still use handguards like that
March 27 at 6:09pm · Edited · Like · 1
David MerrillI don't mind a TLR for pistol use (which is good, given the number of WML holsters I have). Rifles all get Surefire all the time.
March 27 at 6:09pm · Like · 2
Sean LeonardI think the APL is crap too
March 27 at 6:10pm · Like · 2
Roland DeschaintullEric, and you know that the sales reps have a process to lessen the financial hardship of dudes who use their shit for a living.

My little brother is a broke ass cop (starting pay 19,500.00), when I see him with a "shit bird 9000" pistol light with the plastic housing made out of recycled vitamin water bottles and who's brightness is expressed in candle power, I get fucking pissed off.

Did he ever reach out to a surefire LEO sales rep and ask if they could do anything for him?????? Nope!

If you are a "shooting enthusiast"', sorry brother save your shekels and find some discounts on-line, BUT if you strap it on and go slay Dragons for a living, at least TALK to a mil/LEO sales rep and find out if they can help you out before you settle for a shit bird 9000.
March 27 at 6:14pm · Unlike · 9
Andrew MoonGod bless your brother Roland Deschaintull. I know a lot of these guys are under paid and their gear is shit.
March 27 at 6:16pm · Unlike · 2
Roland DeschaintullHe got a raise.... poor bastard is making like 25,000.00 now since he got promoted. I bought his whole duty belt, plate carrier, plates, free floated patrol carbine, light, optic, trigger, sling, pistol sights, pistol light, IFAK, etc etc etc. That kid has an easy 6K of kit in that charger.

If he dies it's because he wasn't a fucking gunfighter and God was watching, it will have nothing to do with an equipment shortfall.
March 27 at 6:21pm · Like · 8
Sean LeonardThe bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
March 27 at 6:24pm · Unlike · 8
Aaron CowanI hear they fixed the mounting problems on the new shit bird 9000
March 27 at 6:27pm · Like · 7
Roland Deschaintull"But the internet says that it was a good compromise".... now you guys know why some us come off as dicks here on primary and secondary. Not everyone's opinion holds the same weight when an officer has scraped up enough money behind his wife's back to buy a light for his pistol and he gets lost in internet static and white noise.

That honorable young man risking his life every night when he goes 10-8 deserves to get the straight scoop.

So if we are a little heavy handed with the Derp around here, it's because we are leaning towards the side of caution.
March 27 at 6:32pm · Edited · Unlike · 16
Aaron CowanToo much derp.
March 27 at 6:32pm · Like · 3
Sean LeonardI hate the switch on the APL it's momentary but if you use if for to short of a moment it stays on....genius
March 27 at 6:32pm · Like · 1
Sean LeonardWhat's derp?
March 27 at 6:33pm · Like
Aaron CowanThe first gen WML was the same way. I was part of its beta testing. In fact it's the top light in that photo.
March 27 at 6:33pm · Like
Sean Leonardi didn't like the HSP light to much either. mix the 2. want a good momentary but the ability to have constant when i want it but not on accident. boom
March 27 at 6:36pm · Like
Roy OrlovI was a huuuuuuuge fan of Inforce at first: it's just such a great value.

Was about to sell a bunch to a well funded PSD team, but they wanted a durablity test. Dropped my rifle with the M300A Scout onto the concrete 5 times from shoulder height, the Gear Sector mount got a little loose (tightened it back up, no prob)

From the rifle with an Inforce once and that's all she wrote.

I'm sure Inforce is away of these issues: hopefully a new design comes out soon. I don't think the material is the issue, since the Surefire polymer body lights are also plenty strong.
March 27 at 6:43pm · Like · 6
Jeremy JohnYeah Aaron. They're in Torrance or somewhere like that. About 45 min. If you ever have an issue. Send me ur stuff and I'll take it in to them directly. They'll usually fix on the spot and you don't have to wait in the maintenance, shipping line.
March 27 at 7:16pm · Edited · Like
Eric JacksonSf is fountain valley iirc.
March 27 at 7:19pm · Like
Aaron MarcoJeremy, we may have to road trip up for the tour next time I'm out there also there's a uspsa club in norco I need to go shoot at...
March 27 at 7:31pm · Like · 1
Ryan AndrewThank you for posting this. I've been running a new one for just a little while for my job. Guess I'll be putting my x300 back on. Was unaware of this issue and wish I did about 2 months ago!
March 27 at 8:58pm · Edited · Unlike · 1
Kevin BolandSureFire is the only name in weapons lights.

And they showed a massively cool new micro pistol light this week in Bragg that screams 'buy me'
March 27 at 8:39pm · Unlike · 3
Matthew SharonI have been using streamlight tlr-1s for a couple years now and they seem to hold up well
March 28 at 12:53am · Like · 1
Matt LandfairA lot of us did to, until they didn't.
March 28 at 12:55am · Like
Daniel Luna Tom
March 28 at 12:56am · Like
Eric JacksonPerhaps some sl failure stories or common ways they break to enlighten those of us that haven't broken one yet?
March 28 at 1:00am · Unlike · 3
Roland DeschaintullFair point Eric Jackson rhetoric can run both ways.

Streamlight failure stories should be posted for perspective, we don't support urban legend. The rules apply to everyone.
March 28 at 1:06am · Unlike · 3
Matt LandfairOne I run into is caused by end user neglect - mount falling apart and light falling off.
March 28 at 1:08am · Like · 1
Jeremy JohnI will say, the way in which my TLR mounts to the rail is kind of a pain compared to my old dept issue Surefire. I believe it's the x200. The SL tension screw must be properly adjusted to keep it from loosening. Maybe an end user issue Matt is mentioning if the operator is lazy with it. Whereas the Surefire slides/snaps on clean.
March 28 at 1:18am · Like
Roy OrlovAnother common failure point on SL is the aperture.

The TLR-1 is a great deal, don't get me wrong. Just if you have a weapon that is a tool and has to work day in day out, Surefire is definitely the best bet....See More
March 28 at 1:20am · Unlike · 2
Jeremy JohnRay forgive my ignorance, but can you explain what you mean by aperture. I frequently shoot mine and haven't noticed what I would consider an aperture issue. Do you mean the way in which the internal reflectors / mechanisms focus the beam? (I'm not being sarcastic...I really am ignorant to aperture being used in that context)
March 28 at 1:24am · Edited · Like
Roy OrlovThe window through which the light shines: it's been known to break when mounted on pistols with enough rounds through as it's right there in the muzzle blast.

Surefire uses thick-ass tempered glass.
March 28 at 1:25am · Edited · Like · 2
Roy OrlovThis is an issue I've heard from my SWAT customers though, with weekly/monthly training requirements.

For the average joe, it's not a problem
March 28 at 1:26am · Edited · Like
Matt LandfairI have had SF lights' lenses shot out by sims/utms - SF was able to repair without issue - I understand they are further reinforced now as well.
March 28 at 1:26am · Like
Jeremy JohnOkay cool...I figured it had to be something like that. I don't think I've ever seen one bust. But I've only shot my Surefire and TLR. That would be some significant shock.
March 28 at 1:26am · Like
Jeremy JohnRoy Are they shooting three round burst?
March 28 at 1:27am · Edited · Like
Roy OrlovDoubtful. They were thinking about ditching automatic capability altogether to make paperwork and requisition speed faster. Don't really need automatic fire for a vast majority of CONUS LE work
March 28 at 1:28am · Unlike · 2
Jeremy JohnI agree. Our SWAT rifles had the capability, but it is just never used so the powers-that-be did away with that headache.
March 28 at 1:29am · Like
Matt JamesShit happens, people eat shit going in to cover/doorways/rooms at 100 MPH under NVG's, or slip and fall climbing or going down hills in rocky local's. It happens. Weapons hit the deck, no matter how hard we try to prevent it happening, sometimes with the 200+ meat eater attached to it. Been there, done that, quite a few times actually. What matters is what survives that fall, retains its zero, and keeps chugging after repeated abuse.

Streamlight and Inforce never passed that smell check for me. If the casing or lens doesn't break, the circuitry inside is sub par and may fail. SF all the way.

Only issue so far I have had with a SFer was the V head series of the M3, the tan ones, issued to use before Iraq 2010-11. The lights worked fine at first, then started flickering and eventually quit working. It was random and sporadic, not something I could tell was limited to one batch or another. SF fixed the problem... god help you if you have an issue with a light because they will throw up the bat signal, blackhawks will be en-route to your house, and they will secure that faulty product with a quickness. Thats a company that stands by its products. Sorry, but if Inforce is aware of its issues, and has yet to fix them, thats not a company I trust with a piece of kit for work.

I have broken a scout light lens, but that was a 1 in a million perfect falls were I ate shit and a corner caught it. Swap the head... done. If it can be broken, I will likely find a way.
March 28 at 5:50am · Edited · Like · 3
Michael BronsonSurefire and LDI (now Steiner) for me.

I tested the WML on a breaching shotgun as it seemed to fit the low profile and illumination requirements. Recoil impulse killed it. NO GO. I should have known better.
March 28 at 6:02am · Like · 2
Kevin BolandI'd like to admit I've broken a SF WML. Two actually.

They snapped/fell right off the host weapon.

The failure point was the ARMS mount
March 28 at 9:58am · Like · 2
Roland DeschaintullYou had me at ARMs. Are they even a thing anymore?
March 28 at 10:16am · Edited · Like · 2
Matt JamesUnfortunatly for me... yes
March 28 at 10:25am · Like
Haji ModoFor real? I don't think so, but they're still out there and HUGE numbers of shooters don't know any better and see them as the mount that the armed forces use, so they must be good in their mind. They surely don't have the market share that they once did when they were the only thing going, but I don't think they're shuttering the place anytime soon...unfortunately.
March 28 at 10:26am · Like · 1
Matt JamesI don't have a choice in the matter, combine with an Eotech its the unholy duo.
March 28 at 10:28am · Unlike · 2
David MerrillI did this one. Didn't catch it right away since the light was still operational.

Think it's still waterproof? ha

March 28 at 11:36am · Like · 1

Inforce WML Issues

Matt Landfair

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