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The Glock 19 is one of the world’s bestselling civilian handguns, maybe even the bestselling handgun.
It’s particularly favored for personal and home defense. To do that in the dark, however, you need a light for the Glock 19. This allows you not just see your target when you’re actively in danger, but also your surroundings while you investigate a possible threat.
At A Glance: Our Top 5 Picks For Lights For Glock-19 in 2022
- Editor's Choice: Streamlight TLR-7
- Best Brightness: Streamlight TLR-1 HL
- Alternative #1: Streamlight TLR-6
- Alternative #2: Streamlight TLR-8
- Premium Choice: Surefire X300 Ultra
But not all weapons lights are created equal.
In this guide, we’ll review our top seven picks for the best lights for Glock 19. We’ll also go over how to install the light, how to choose a light, and a couple of other things.
Our favorite light for the Glock 19 is the Streamlight TRS-7 thanks to its middle-of-the-road beam strength and price range, plus the compact size.
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | |
|---|---|---|
Editor's Choice  | Streamlight TLR-7
| VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON OPTICS PLANET → |
Best Brightness  | Streamlight TLR-1 HL
| VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON OPTICS PLANET → |
Alternative #1  | Streamlight TLR-6
| VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON OPTICS PLANET → |
Alternative #2  | Streamlight TLR-8
| VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON OPTICS PLANET → |
Premium Choice  | Surefire X300 Ultra
| VIEW ON AMAZON →VIEW ON OPTICS PLANET → |
Here Are the Best Lights for Glock 19s (Our Picks)
1. Streamlight TLR-7
Our first and top recommendation is the Streamlight TLR-7.
The TLR-7 is a 500 lumen light, so it’s right in that sweet spot for being bright enough to blind an attacker without being so bright it will blind you too in a small space with bright walls. It has a strobe function, but honestly, I don’t think a strobe gives much utility.
It has a narrow beam, which gives you consistent illumination across the width of the beam, but doesn’t light up your periphery as much. With the 500 lumen count, though, it’ll still light up a room for indoor use. The TLR-7 has a 140-meter range, which is plenty for most situations.
You can control this Streamlight with the ambidextrous side switches, so it’s good for left and right-handed users. The controls have a low profile so they won’t snag on your clothes or anything else.
The 1.5-hour run time is on the higher end of average for a weapon light. The “Safe Off” feature prevents accidental activation to help preserve that battery life for when you need it. The TLR-7 uses a single CR123A battery, which is pretty easy to find cheap online or at your local Walmart or electronics store.
The sight is pretty compact, measuring 2.15 inches long and weighing 2.4 ounces. It’s durable though, with an aircraft aluminum body and an anodized finish. It’s IPX7 waterproof, which means it can be submerged up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The TLR-7 also has impact-resistant glass to help stand up to drops and hits. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Takeaway
The Streamlight TLR-7 is an excellent general-purpose weapon light for indoor or outdoor use that’s also a nice, middle-of-the-road price range.
2. Streamlight TLR-1 HL
If you want an even brighter light for your Glock 19, then Streamlight TLR-1 HL is your guy.
It has a 1,000 lumen, wide beam with a 283-meter range to brightly illuminate a large area. It’s a great option for outdoor use, but I definitely wouldn’t pull it out inside. Your attacker might be blinded, but you will be too, especially if you favor white walls as a decorative choice.
Like the TLR-7, it has a strobe function, but again, I don’t find strobes too useful. There’s a reason you don’t see military and law enforcement using them. I suggest just using the option to disable it altogether so you don’t confuse yourself by accidentally turning it on.
Related Article: 5 Best Night Sights for Glock Owners
To provide all that power, the TLR-1 HL requires 2 CR123A batteries, and to provide space for those batteries, the TLR-1 HL has to be a good bit bigger than the TLR-7. It weighs 4.32 ounces and measures 3.39 inches long. Like the TLR-7, this light has a 1.5-hour battery life.
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL has an ambidextrous power switch at the rear, so it’s even easier to access the controls on the TLR-1 HL than on the TLR-7. The switch allows for both momentary-on and constant-on options.
The Streamlight TLR-1 HL is also versatile. It mounts directly to Picatinny and Glock rails, but also comes with keys that allow it to attach to many other weapons. If you’re looking for a light that you can use with not just your Glock, but other handguns too, the TLR-1 HL is a good option for that.
In terms of durability, the TLR-1 HL is basically the same as the TLR-7. It has aircraft-grade aluminum housing with an anodized finish. It’s IPX7 waterproof and has impact-resistant glass. And, of course, it comes with Streamlight’s limited lifetime warranty.
Takeaway
For a moderately priced, ultra-bright weapon light, the Streamlight TLR-1 HL is an excellent choice.
3. Streamlight TLR-6
I know, another Streamlight? Hey, it’s not my fault they make so many good weapons lights.
The Streamlight TLR-6 is a great option if you’re just looking after enough visibility to make accurate shots and aren’t fussed about blinding attackers.
It has a 100 lumen light with an 89-meter range, but what really helps with those shots in the dark (heh, get it?) is the integrated laser sight. That’s right, the TLR-6 has a built-in 640-660nm red laser sight to help you make those low-light shots with accuracy.
Just remember that using the light and the laser at the same time means that the laser will be washed out. The TLR-6 is only 100 lumens, though, so that effect won’t be as bad as with a brighter light.
There are push-button controls on either side of the TLR-6 for ambidextrous operation of both the light and the laser.
Since it doesn’t need to be as powerful as the TLR-7 or TLR-1 HL, the TLR-6 uses two CR-1/3N batteries. These batteries provide a 1-hour runtime if you’re running the flashlight or flashlight and laser together, or an 11-hour runtime if you’re running only the laser.
These batteries also allow the sight to be much more compact. The TLR-6 weighs just 1.16 ounces and is 2.2 inches long.
This light has windage and elevation adjustment screws that allow you to zero the laser sight. The batteries can be changed while the light is still mounted to your Glock, so you don’t have to re-zero the sight every time you change the battery.
The Streamlight TLR-6 has a polymer body rather than an aluminum one. It’s shock-resistant and impact-resistant up to 1 meter. Because of the laser, it’s only IPX4 water-resistant, which means that it can stand up to splashes, but isn’t submersible.
Like other Streamlight weapons lights, the TLR-6 is protected by a lifetime warranty.
It comes in Black and Flat Dark Earth color options.
Takeaway
The Streamlight TLR-6 is a great little light if you don’t want a very bright light or want to be able to use your light and laser together.
4. Streamlight TLR-8
Alright, alright. The Streamlight TLR-8 is the last Streamlight weapons light I’m recommending, but I couldn’t possibly leave it out.
The TLR-8 is almost identical to the TLR-7, but with the added benefit of a handy red laser sight.
Like the TLR-7, it has a 500-lumen narrow beam with a 140-meter range. The TLR-8 also has a strobe function and the same battery-saving “Safe Off” feature as the TLR-7. Ambidextrous, low-profile side switch controls are used to operate both the light and the laser.
Remember that since the TLR-8 has a brighter light, it will wash out your laser significantly more than with the TLR-6, so this is more of a “light or laser” situation than a “light and laser” type of thing.
Related Article: 9 Best Budget Red Dot Sights
The CR123A battery provides 1.5 hours of battery life while using the light or 18 hours if you’re only using the laser.
The TLR-8 has an anodized aluminum case and impact-resistant glass. It’s IPX4 water-resistant and comes with Streamlight’s lifetime warranty.
In terms of size, it’s almost identical to the TLR-7. It’s 2.15 inches long and weighs 2.64 ounces.
Takeaway
If you like the Streamlight TLR-7 but want to be able to use a laser sight as well, then the Streamlight TLR-8 is the weapon light of your dreams.
5. Surefire X300 Ultra
Alright, that’s enough Streamlight. Sure, they’re my favorite light manufacturer, but they’re not the only one.
The Surefire X300 Ultra is a great higher-end option for those with the ability and willingness to invest more in a weapon light for their Glock 19.
The X300 Ultra has a precision TIR lens that focuses the 1,000-lumen beam for a large center spot, plus additional peripheral illumination. The beam has a 213-meter range.
You can operate the light with ambidextrous, one-finger controls that you push for momentary-on or toggle for constant-on.
The X300 Ultra gets 1.25 hours of runtime from two 123A batteries. It’s 3.6 inches long and weighs 4 ounces (with batteries), so it’s heftier than the other lights we’ve talked about.
The light’s aerospace aluminum body is hard-anodized to military specifications for resistance to scratches and corrosion. The whole thing is sealed for weather-proofness. It’s recoil-proof and IPX7 waterproof.
The Surefire X300 Ultra is available in black or tan to match your Glock’s finish.
Takeaway
If you have a bit more money to invest in a weapons light, the Surefire X300 Ultra is definitely worth the extra expense. It has a powerful beam with a long range and offers excellent durability.
6. Olight PL-MINI 2 Valkyrie Tactical Light
If you’re interested in the Streamlight TLR-7, but need something even more budget-friendly, then Olight PL-MINI 2 Valkyrie Tactical Light might be your jam.
This 600-lumen weapon light has a 100-meter range but costs less than $100.
One of the light’s most stand-out features isn’t shared with the TLR-7 though. The Olight has a built-in lithium polymer USB-rechargeable battery, so there’s no swapping out batteries. Just pop the light on the charger every so often between uses. You get about an hour of runtime from each charge.
You don’t even have to plug the charging cord into the light though: the magnetic charging cable makes recharging super easy, even without taking the light off your Glock 19.
Related Article: 12 Best Pistol Red Dot
Speaking of which, you can use the Olight PL-MINI 2 Valkyrie with Glock or Picatinny rails, though it comes Glock-ready out of the box. The quick-release mount allows for quick swaps from one gun to another.
This weapon light is pretty compact at 2.57 ounces and 2.07 inches long.
Skipping a strobe function helps Olight keep the cost of this light low, but you don’t miss out on more essential features like a TIR optic lens and ambidextrous, fingertip operable controls.
The Olight PL-MINI 2 Valkyrie is available in Black, Desert Tan, and OD Green.
Takeaway
For the budget-conscious shopper, the Olight PL-MINI 2 Valkyrie is a good alternative to the TLR-7, but with the added advantage of a magnetically rechargeable battery.
7. Viridian C5L
Our last pick is the Viridian C5L, another two-in-one weapon light and laser sight. It’s available in two different models, one with a red laser and one with a green laser.
Green lasers are brighter than red lasers, so you get a longer range from the green laser than you do from the red. The green can reach 100 yards in daylight and a whopping 2 miles in the dark. The red, in contrast, has a 25-yard daylight range and a 1-mile nighttime range.
The trade-off is the battery life. The green light only has 4 hours of battery life with a constant beam, 7 hours in the strobe mode, and 1 hour when using the laser. The red blows that out of the water with 20 hours of battery life with a constant beam, 35 hours with strobe, and 75 minutes with the laser.
One final difference is that the green has an aluminum body, while the red’s body is made of polymer.
Other than that, the two lights are the same. Each has a 100-lumen constant beam and 140-lumen strobe beam, and Radiance technology that helps create a wider beam. Each is also covered by a 7-year limited warranty.
One final neat feature of the Viridian C5L is Instant On, which allows for automatic activation when you draw from a TacLoc holster. That way you don’t have to fuss with turning on the light yourself in a combat situation while also not having to worry about a light that’s already on giving away your position.
Takeaway
The Viridian C5L is a high-end alternative to the Streamlight TLR-6 in that it’s a laser sight and 100-lumen weapon light in one. It comes in two different lasers: the green provides better range, while the red provides more battery life.
How To Install Glock 19 Gen 5 Tactical Lights
The instructions that come with your light should always be your first resource for installation guidance. With that said, sometimes the instructions can be confusing or you might lose them altogether.
Always start by making sure your Glock is unloaded. Remove the magazine and confirm that the chamber is empty. Using a chamber flag is a useful way to have visual confirmation of an empty chamber.
Next, take the time to clean your Glock’s rail. Apply rubbing alcohol or whatever you normally use to clean the exterior of your gun to a patch or soft rag and remove any oil or debris from the rail. Afterward, give it a few minutes to dry.
While you wait, you can go ahead and make sure your light has a battery installed. To access the battery compartment, simply twist the head of the light where the bulb is. Once you’ve loaded up fresh batteries, replace the head of the light.
You’ll need an Allen wrench or similar tool for this next part. Check your manual for exactly what tool you need. If it’s a specialty tool, it’ll probably be included with the light.
If your light comes with multiple keys to allow it to fit on different guns, make sure you’ve got the right one for the Glock 19 on your gun. There will generally be a screw on the side that needs to be unscrewed and replaced to swap out the key.
Once you’ve done that, it’s time to actually mount the light. Loosen the mounting bolts. Then slide the light onto the rail. Make sure that your light is in the right position by making sure you can easily access the light’s controls while your hand is in a shooting position.
Once the light is in the position where you want it, retighten the bolts.
It’s that easy!
Buying Guide: Things To Look for The Best Tactical Flashlight for Glock 19
Let’s talk about what you need to keep in mind when choosing a tactical flashlight for your Glock 19.
Compatibility
You can’t just use any light with any gun, so you need to make sure that the light works for the Glock 19. Some lights come with multiple keys so you can use the one that works with your gun, but others come in different versions and you need to choose the right one.
All the lights listed here come in versions that are compatible with the Glock 19, but some come in other versions as well. Follow the link we’ve provided to make sure you’re getting the right one.
Brightness & Range
Tactical lights for the Glock 19 are generally used for close-quarters defense, so it’s important not to get something too bright.
You want something bright enough to illuminate the area but not so bright that you’ll blind yourself, especially in a house.
150 to 400 lumens is plenty for most situations. There are good lights outside of these ranges but in general, this is a good rule of thumb to stick to, especially for your first light.
However, the brightness of the light isn’t the only thing that matters. The intensity, meaning how far the light can stretch, also matters. Technically, intensity is measured in candela, but most manufacturers will also just give a distance measurement that’s easier for the layman to interpret.
There’s no overall “right” amount of range. Just think about how far you want to be able to illuminate and choose a light with specs that match. If you’re not sure, somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 candela is good for most purposes. Like with lumens, however, there are good lights on either side of this range too.
Battery Life and Type
The more battery life the better. That way you’re less likely to run out of battery while you’re in the middle of using the gun. A low battery indicator is very helpful for knowing you need to change the battery before you experience a light failure.
Most weapons lights use CR123 batteries because these batteries are small but powerful enough to operate the light. Particularly bright lights might require two of these batteries which does require the light to be bigger but the light can still stay pretty compact overall.
Some lights use other types of batteries, like CR1/3N or CR2 batteries. There’s nothing wrong with a light using these battery types, but they can be a bit trickier to find in stores. Fortunately, with online shopping, you can easily get them ordered to your house. Just don’t wait to order spares until after your current battery is dead.
If you carry a flashlight with you normally, you may want to get a weapon light with the same type as your EDC flashlight so you can use the same batteries for both. This isn’t essential though, especially if your EDC light uses a larger battery like AAA.
Some lights have a rechargeable battery, which means you don’t have to bother with replacing batteries. All you need to do is connect the light to the charger every so often while you’re not using or carrying your gun.
Especially nice are the rechargeable batteries with magnetic chargers. These chargers don’t have to plug into your light, just stuck to it, so you don’t have to remove the light for charging.
Weight
The weight of accessories, including lights, is very important with handguns. Lights add weight to the front end of your Glock, messing with the balance. The less the light weighs, the less it interferes with the balance of the weapon.
Ease of Use
The light’s controls should be easy to access and intuitive to use while you’re holding the gun in a shooting position. Consider which hand you shoot with. Most weapons lights have an ambidextrous design, but you’ll want to double-check to be sure, especially if you’re a southpaw.
You do still need to plan on training with the light though, no matter how easy to use it is. You can’t expect to be able to figure out how to use any light in the middle of a combat situation.
Durability
You want your weapon light to last for as long as possible. It needs to stand up to recoil, drops, and inclement weather. Choose a light that’s waterproof and impact resistant. Like with the Glock itself, a polymer casing is incredibly durable. Plus, it blends in with your Glock for a nicer appearance.
Laser
Some lights have built-in laser sights to help you aim in the dark. If you really want a laser sight, a two-in-one laser and light gives you that option, even with the limited rail space on the Glock 19.
If you’re happy with your red dot or pistol sights, you can stick with a light that’s just a light and save some cash.
Do you need a holster for your Glock 19? We’ve compiled a list here.
FAQ’s
Now let’s tackle a couple of frequently asked questions about the best lights for a Glock 19.
There isn’t really an objective way to determine what handgun is the “best.” There are a lot of different purposes that one might use a handgun for and everyone has their own expectations for a pistol.
However, in my opinion, the Glock 19 is absolutely one of the best civilian pistols ever sold. The fact that it’s one of the most popular handguns says that I’m not alone in thinking that. It’s also my concealed carry weapon of choice and one of my favorites to use at the range.
The Glock 19 is easy and comfortable to shoot, is highly reliable, and offers excellent durability.
In general, 150 to 400 lumens is a good range for a pistol light to fall into. However, even 60 lumens will illuminate an area well enough for you to see.
On the other hand, if you want to use your weapon light to reliably blind an attacker, 300 lumens is the absolute minimum you’ll want to go with.
I don’t recommend going any higher than 1,000 lumens and you should only go this high for outdoor use in an open area. Inside, this brightness will certainly blind your attacker, but it’s also going to blind you.
Final Verdict
That’s about all there is to say about the best lights for the Glock 19.
Our overall top pick is the Streamlight TRS-7 because it has a balanced brightness level, decent range, and affordable price tag. It’s also easy to operate thanks to the ambidextrous controls.
However, no light is best for all situations.
Some of these lights are better for investigating large areas outdoors. Others are better for simply illuminating small indoor spaces. You should also check out our list of best tactical lights for Glock.
There are also more high-end options for those who are willing and able to spend more, and a budget option for those who can’t shell out a ton of cash for a light.
But with all of the options we’ve recommended here, you’re sure to be able to find one that suits you just right.