Need avice on a handheld lamp for foxing.

deeksofdoom

My self and my shooting partner have come into a bit of money from our predator control activities, we were thinking of reinvesting in a proper handheld foxing lamp. Was thinking of a lightforce or something ;ike that, will need lamp, ref filter, cords and cabels and a battery pack, need recommendations.

If you could just give the pros and cons of whatever bits of kit your using, where you got it etc... looking to spend around €200.

Thanks.

garv123

lightforce 170 wins hands down for most people, other lamps just can't compete with the light off it.
You can get them now for around the 100quid mark i think.
Some people have problems with the wiring coming loose because of a weak crimped connection inside the handle but this is simple to redo yourself because its only 2 wires in the whole setup. The crimp connection can come loose from over pulling on the chord.
If you wrap a thick loop of insulation tape on the wire inside the handle with excess wire inside the handle the tape is pulling against the handle and not the crimped connection so that solves the problem.


The connections you'll need will depend on the connections on the battery but will only cost 5-10 euro for the female cigarette-battery connector.

Lithium-ion batteries are the new thing and last hours and are light weight but they are over your budget for the battery along at 200+

Batteries in the kits you see in shooting shops are just over priced motorbike batteries and the shoulder straps are awkward for getting over ditches and fences, you'll pick up a battery much cheaper in a car shop and stick it into a backpack for easy carrying.

Filters are about 15euro i think.

You only get about 3 hours out of the non lithium ion batteries but 2 of them are still less than 1/4 the price of the lithium ion ones.

homerhop

I have 2 lightforce, the 140 and the 170. I do most my lamping with the 140 but thats a personal choice as I just prefer it.
As stated the biggest problems with the lightforce is the wiring. I resoldered the connections as I found when they got hot the wire seperated from them. I also taped up the flexi lead where it comes out of the lamp handle as it is a weak point where the wires tend to break.
Bullet connections, same thing resolder where the wire joins, i also soldered a 10mm piece of welding wire on the inside of the female connection as the nipple was not making good contact. Plug the male and female in and tape them up good and tight unless you are going to be using the lighter connection in your car.
Batteries is a whole different ball game. I had a deben battery pack and again the fuse holder was an issue, connection coming lose and eventually it melted. it was cut off and spade connections uses along with a 10amp car fuse. much handier.
Last year I bought a lithium ion battery and tbh i will never go back to an ordinary battery again. The weight difference alone is unreal and i am getting a far better lamping time than I was with an ordinary battery. Alot of the land here is tillage and you are not half dead at the end of the night lumping a heavy battery about .Downside I find with the ion battery is where the lamp plugs in, it is a moulded connection built into the top and has a habit of disconecting fron the lamp. I think this has been addressed on the newer batteries though.

My friend uses tractor lawn mower batteries or securtiy light batteries with his rig, just another battery option for ya.

garv123

How long are you getting out of that battery a night homer?

scuttlebutt

If your interested I am near Mullingar , I have a Lightforce 170 and Battery pack its been used a couple of times €200 . Like new , box a bit battered from being in the back of the car. Never got around to using it much. I can send you a pic , pm me

Nick

Nearly sure I've got single barrel , SxS mounts as well as scope .

homerhop

Winter time we could be out at 9 and not back till 1, unlike an ordinary battery the light doesnt get weaker as the battery drains, with the ion one minute you have light and the next minute there is none. There is a charge indicator on the top to let you know how much power is left in it.

4200fps

And keep away from the big faced one's. They are a pain in the arss and arm. If its windy out you will get tired holding it

deeksofdoom

scuttlebutt wrote: »

If your interested I am near Mullingar , I have a Lightforce 170 and Battery pack its been used a couple of times €200 . Like new , box a bit battered from being in the back of the car. Never got around to using it much. I can send you a pic , pm me

Nick

Nearly sure I've got single barrel , SxS mounts as well as scope .

If you could send me on a picture of it, please.

TriggerPL

4200fps wrote: »

And keep away from the big faced one's. They are a pain in the arss and arm. If its windy out you will get tired holding it

I have the biggest of the light force think it call the blitz , it the lamp 4200 fps is talking about , savage lamp but it is strictly one for the car , on windy night its a hand full to keep it steady , 4200fps arm has fallen off just looking at my lamp .

zlezlius

For me personally power wins over abit of extra size and weight.Have Lightforce 240 Blitz as well. Once you'll see the beam you get from it you'll never look back at the others.

4200fps

TriggerPL wrote: »

I have the biggest of the light force think it call the blitz , it the lamp 4200 fps is talking about , savage lamp but it is strictly one for the car , on windy night its a hand full to keep it steady , 4200fps arm has fallen off just looking at my lamp .

Its one great lamp but its like a para-shoot on a windy night

johngalway

deeksofdoom wrote: »

My self and my shooting partner have come into a bit of money from our predator control activities, we were thinking of reinvesting in a proper handheld foxing lamp. Was thinking of a lightforce or something ;ike that, will need lamp, ref filter, cords and cabels and a battery pack, need recommendations.

If you could just give the pros and cons of whatever bits of kit your using, where you got it etc... looking to spend around €200.

Thanks.

Lightforce 170 Striker. No cons, save for the possible wiring failure, easily fixed, great beam, light weight. Don't buy the Blitz, it's a pain in the hole, too heavy, catches too much wind.

Add a sealed lead acid rechargeable battery of your choice off ebay and a good charger for it.

You may want to put different connections on the end of the lamp for the battery. Those cigar sockets are crap.

Nick_70

email sent

Cavan duck buster

I use these cree torches on my shotgun/ rifle for foxes and rabbits.

http://wap.ebay.ie/Pages/ViewItem.aspx?aid=180877201001&emvAD=320x356&sv=cree%201600&emvcc=0

it great as you can change the spot light from wide (short range) to small (long range) so i can get my rabbits at short range and the foxes at long range

johnfaul

just giving this a bump as im in the market for a replacement for my deben lamp.
Where is the cheapest place to buy the 170?
Is a dimmer switch a worthwhile investment?
ATB John

TriggerPL

johnfaul wrote: »

just giving this a bump as im in the market for a replacement for my deben lamp.
Where is the cheapest place to buy the 170?
Is a dimmer switch a worthwhile investment?
ATB John

Dimmer switch is just another thing to go wrong , and the bulbs don't like been dimmed to much

johngalway

johnfaul wrote: »

Is a dimmer switch a worthwhile investment?

Invaluable IMO, usually have my lamp dimmed down really low. Probably spot eyes to four hundred yards maybe, but eyes is all. When I'm ready for the shot I'll turn up the juice to be 100% sure of what I'm shooting at. My battery lasts longer dimmed down compared to full output, means more time out and about.