Have you looked at a Crimson Trace light lately? Weapon-mounted lights are a standard attachment nowadays, and just about everyone goes shopping for one at some point. The problem is figuring out which one to buy in a world crowded with lights. Crimson Trace was a big name in the light and laser world about a decade ago. After that, they started to fade from the spotlight for a time. But now, they’re starting to show up again with some great-looking products.
Even during the daylight hours, you never know where you could end up or when you may need a light. If the power goes out, a building can be dark. Parking garages, tunnels, retail stores, and other locations can be dark at any time of the day if there’s no power. This is often when criminals take advantage of people and attempt to mug, steal, and rob. The idea is to ensure you can see and identify your target before you pull the trigger.
About the CMR-208 Weapon-Mounted Light
I wouldn’t call this a compact light, but it’s not huge either. It’s larger than the Sig Foxtrot 1X but smaller than the Streamlight TLR-1. This light could be mounted on a full-size Glock or a compact weapon. Like many other lights, this one uses a paddle on each side to activate the light. This makes it ambidextrous and simple to work. It’s made of anodized aluminum and is impact-resistant up to 1 meter. You can program the light to turn on with one of three functions, which I’ll get to shortly.
Unlike the Streamlight TLR-1, the CMR-208 runs on one CR123 battery. On the high setting, the light provides 420 lumens, and 110 lumens on the low setting. It also has a strobe mode for those who like to use it, although I have never found that feature useful. I’ll talk more about that subject next. Crimson Trace provides a 1-year warranty on the CMR-208 and it can also be used on shotguns or PCC weapons.
Programming the CMR-208
The CMR-208 can be programmed to use one of the three settings at a time. When you push on the paddles, the light will turn on. Let go, and the light turns off. If you push the paddle quickly, it will click on and stay on until pushed quickly again. To cycle through the three settings, turn the light on and press both paddles at the same time. After a couple of seconds, the light will change to the next setting. The first is high, the second is low, and the third is strobe.
Perfect size for a compact weapon
Any type of light is better than no light, but having one mounted on a weapon is beneficial. The CMR-208 is a perfect size for CCW guns unless it’s a micro-sized firearm. I mounted this one on a Glock 19, CZ P-10 M, Walther PDP, and a few others. With shorter guns like the CZ P-10 M, it sticks out past the muzzle, but that won’t hurt anything. Holster compatibility will need to be checked if you plan to carry it concealed. I like having a light on just about every handgun I use for self-defense. This makes it a good option for those weapons I plan to leave in the car, throughout the house, or in a bag. Adding a high-end light to every handgun is not always an option.
I use this one for a home security gun in one of the rooms in my home. The run time on the CMR-208 is just over an hour, and on the low setting, it will run for nearly two hours. I haven’t used this light for very long, but I use the CMR-301 on my AR-15 a great deal. It’s been knocked around and used during training exercises without any issues. The warranty is shorter than Surefire or Streamlight’s, but you also pay more for that better warranty. For a cheaper light, this one would work great for personal use. If you’re looking for an affordable weapon-mounted light, give the CME-208 a try.
