Best lamp?

westwicklow

Need to replace Deben lamp... what's the best recommendations based on experience, durability important to me and will be used with .223 for foxes.

bunny shooter

I use Lightforce 170. Find it good

meathstevie

+1 Bunny but get rid of the cigarette lighter plug on it and do crocodile clips jobby straight onto battery terminals.

westwicklow

will lightforce work on 12v deben battery?

meathstevie

Don't know the Deben stuff that well, I just use a motorcycle battery for the Lightforce but I can't see no reason why not. The worst case scenario is probably a few modifications involving a pliers a bit of automotive wiring cable and some insulation tape.

westwicklow

excellent.. googled your recommendation and it looks like good stuff.
If you use your lamp mounted on your gun, how do you rate it? This was my problem with deben... very weak setup imho!

meathstevie

Mine is hand held. One of my friends has the scope mounted version and hasn't had any problem with it except the plug which was replaced with a DIY job.

westwicklow

Sounds good. Thanks.

Double Barrel

Lightforce 170, and a 240 on the Rover. Sturdy .. going on 4 years or is it 5. Worth the money.

bunny shooter

I use mine with a Deben battery pack. I have the gun mounted version find it excellent. I've used it 'unmounted' too with no hassle.

Meathstevie do you find you get better or longer use from the motorcycle battery?

I have a new one at home doing nothing and now you have me thinking

I reckon the Deben lamps are underpowered and only suitable for short range work possibly for rabbits with the 22lr

clivej

Lightforce 170 BUT get the dimmer version it will give you a longer battery life out in the fields. I have a 7AmpHour and get about 2 1/2 -3 hours run time from it

jwshooter

lightforce 170 with the amber filter. some foxes dont even get a chance to look up.
i have a cigarette adapter for the battery pack so i can use it in side and out side the landrover.

john lambert has a good price on them .

westwicklow

jwshooter wrote: »

....has a good price on them .

speaking thereof, what's the guestimate on how many €'s the 170 will set me back and the dimmer switch?

clivej

Bottom of the page, £129.29 + postage

http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/products.asp?cat=Rifle+%2F+Scope+Mounted+Lamps

westwicklow

I'm on it.... thanks!

bunny shooter

clivej wrote: »

Bottom of the page, £129.29 + postage

http://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/products.asp?cat=Rifle+%2F+Scope+Mounted+Lamps

+1 dealt with these guys too, good & efficient service

fish slapped

I have both the Deben and the light force.

The deben (promax tracer) is a good light for what it 's for, I've taken foxes out to 200 meters with it. It's biggest problem is lack of adjustment on the lamp itself, at 200 the target is in the top rim of the light beam , so to counter act this a small wedge is placed into the connecting clip. I use the stock mounted dimmer switch with it and once a fox is spotted the lamp is turned right down, so I can only just see his eyes...I then either call him in or stalk up on him... when in position and range for the shot the lamp is wound up and BANG.

The light force 170 is excellent lamp. With so powerful lamps I find the the body shape of charlie can be lost in the reflection from his eyes (by this I mean his eyes shine back so bright its hard to make out his body) , But not with the lightforce, the light seems to be well spread and always a perfect sighting view. Again I use it in conjunction with the Deben dimmer switch and Battery, there is a connection for them.

The light force 240 is not available as a gun mounted lamp, only as a hand held. This light is the mother of all lamps and will light Charlie up at around 800 - 900 meters away but again can be used with a dimmer switch. Its big lamp face can be a little awkward in strong winds as it acts like a sail. But it is an excellent lamp.

My advice is the light force 170 and the dimmer switch for the foxer and the Deben promax for the .22lr lad after bunnies as it s a beautiful small lamp with big power when needed.


if your on a budget try here but its not the dimmer:

http://www.shootingshack.com/lightforce-170-scope-mount-133-p.asp


Hope this helps

FS

westwicklow

Thanks for all the information and have made contact with a supplier here in Ireland for a 170 and a few other bits.

meathstevie

bunny shooter wrote: »

I use mine with a Deben battery pack. I have the gun mounted version find it excellent. I've used it 'unmounted' too with no hassle.

Meathstevie do you find you get better or longer use from the motorcycle battery?

I have a new one at home doing nothing and now you have me thinking

I reckon the Deben lamps are underpowered and only suitable for short range work possibly for rabbits with the 22lr

I get about 2 hours out of the battery on a full charge without a dimmer switch which I don't have. The best way to make a carrier box is the bottom 3/4 of a gallon engine oil container and a good lenght of seat belt as a carrier strap ( nice and wide = good weight distribution ). If you're up to it you could use a car battery in a backpack ( make sure it's one with a frame ).

fish slapped

Just mind you don't spill the acid down yer back!! eh Stevie :D

kerryman12

+1 to Clives post have the same setup its great. Try to keep the car adaptor as JW suggested makes it a very flexiable setup.

ormondprop

did anyone here have any trouble with there lightforce lamps, me and d father use a blitz and it blew a lot of fuses and the little plastic fuse holder on d battery pack even melted 1 night so we cudn take out d fuse 2 put in a new one, but as there was another fuse in the lamp we just bypassed the fuse on the battery pack, a wire broke inside d cigarette lighter also i soldered that back and i'm thinkin maybe it was that that caused all the fuses to blow i've never heard of anyone else having this trouble so i'm thinkin i must hav got a lamp made on a monday morning:D other then all that its a brilliant lamp

touchyie

had the same trouble with my own 170, re soldered the wire and its working a treat. Anyone now where to get spare bulbs, went to 2 dealers, one was looking for €27 the other € 20, seems very pricey to me??