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Need a weapon light for a nightstand pistol? The Olight PL-2 Valkyrie puts 1,200 lumens on a standard Picatinny rail.
I’ve been so impressed with Olight products that I picked up the PL-2 Valkyrie for one of my pistols. It’s a traditional-shaped weapon light with 1,200 lumens that fits a standard Picatinny rail. If you have a nightstand gun, being able to see in the dark is probably when you’ll need it, if you ever do. Here’s the unboxing, mounting it on my HK VP9 and a test in the dark. My original link went to an Amazon search page, so the button now goes straight to the PL-2 listing.
- Seriously bright
- Momentary and constant-on from the same switches
- Both sides work; my index finger lands right on it
- Tool-free quick-release rail mount
- Feels very high quality, down to the rubber on the switches
- Gasketed battery compartment
- Gets hot; there is a caution label
- CR123A batteries are not rechargeable
- Battery door latch takes a second to figure out
▶ Watch the full review on YouTube
Unboxing
It comes in a well-sealed box with a caution label that it gets hot. I always like seeing that, because it means there’s a serious LED in there. There’s a lightly frosted lens over the LED element, a release you tighten against the Picatinny rail, and a little pop-up bar that fits into one of your T-slots.
Batteries and the battery door
Pull open the battery compartment and there’s a protective plastic strip to keep the batteries from discharging. They’re Olight 3V 1600 mAh CR123A lithium batteries, made for high-drain devices; don’t recharge them. There’s a gasket around the bottom, so it should be nicely sealed.
To close it, lift the latch, which pulls in a little tab, close the door and flip the switch down to lock it.
The switches
There are two switches, one on each side. Push in on either side to activate the light. Hold it down and release for momentary light; a quick tap turns it on and keeps it on, and another tap turns it off. That’s great if you need to move your finger to the trigger and still keep the light on. And it is really freaking bright.
Mounting on an HK VP9
I tried it on my HK VP9, one of my favorite guns (cleared and unloaded). Flip open the release, find a slot it fits in (I had to go to the very end of the rail), tighten it down, and it’s on.
Even with my small hands, my index finger falls right where it needs to be to tap the switch, then go to the trigger, and tap it again to turn it off.
In the dark, and verdict
Out in a dark room, sweeping the house, I felt like I was in a video game. Without the light, you can’t see anything; with it, no problem. The light is right where you need it.
I’ve had tactical lights of suspect quality in the past. This Olight is top-notch. You can feel the quality when you take it out of the box, right down to the rubber around the toggle switches. Spend a couple of bucks and get something that fits right and won’t damage your gun.
FAQ
How bright is the Olight PL-2 Valkyrie?
1,200 lumens.
What batteries does it use?
Two CR123A 3V lithium batteries (Olight 1600 mAh were included). They are not rechargeable.
Does it have momentary on?
Yes. Hold the switch for momentary light, or tap quickly for constant on.
What rail does it fit?
A standard Picatinny rail. It has a quick-release clamp and a pop-up bar for the T-slot.
Did it fit an HK VP9?
Yes, at the very end of the rail, and the switch fell right under my index finger.
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