Streamlight TLR RM 2 Weapon Light: The Do-Everything Gun Light

I’ve always been a “have your cake and eat it too” kind of guy – which is why I really love the Streamlight TLR RM 2.

Cake and tactical lights? Sure, why not. The cake in this instance is the 1,000-lumen emitter on the TLR RM 2, while the icing is the included tape switch.

Confused?

Let me explain.

HK 93 556 Trijicon ACOG Streamlight TLR RM 2
The author’s C93 HK93-clone carbine with a Trijicon VCOG and the Streamlight TLR RM 2. IMG Jim Grant

The majority of tactical weapon lights are either made exclusively for a handgun or a long-gun. Meaning that a shooter needs to buy two separate lights if they want to have weapon-mounted illumination on both. But what about the cash-strapped shooter who needs something he can put on a handgun when he hears a bump in the night but can serve double duty on a home defense shotgun or on a carbine when hunting hogs?

Streamlight TLR RM 2
The ultra-versatile Streamlight. IMG Jim Grant

Streamlight TLR RM 2

You guessed it, the Streamlight TLR RM 2 is the answer to that question.

Essentially, the TLR RM 2 is a hybrid of the older TLR-1/2/3 style pistol lights and their ProTac Rail long-gun lights. Where the beam throw is sufficiently wide and bright for solid use on either, and the capability to be user-configurable to function VIA either a pressure switch at the back of the light itself or a quick-detach included tape switch. It’s actually brilliant, and really begs the question of why other companies haven’t thought of offering something similar at a reasonable price point (I’m looking at you, SureFire!).

Streamlight TLR RM 2 Outdoors
The Streamlight TLR RM 2 projected at 75 yards with outdoor spotlights illuminating from the left. Notice how the beam not only throws far but also fills the area. IMG Jim Grant

Bellowing out 1,000 lumens of retina-searing bright white light from its LED emitter, the Streamlight TLR RM 2 is powered by a pair of CR123A batteries that keep the party going for up to 90 minutes. Not bad given the brightness and relatively compact size of the light. That said, this version of the TLR RM is the larger of the two available models, and really only works on long-barrel handguns like railed long-slide 1911s or Glock competition guns. The RM 1 is roughly 40% shorter, uses a single CR123A, and only produces 500 lumens, but is still a capable light.

Stream light TLR RM 2 Indoors
The RM inside a dark garage lit only by an open door behind. The wall is roughly 12 feet away. IMG Jim Grant

Evaluation

Since I lack a proper photometer, I have no way of independently verifying the brightness of the Streamlight TLR RM 2, but I can say it is absurdly bright. On my property in the woods of South Carolina, the TLR obliterates the inky darkness of the forest at night. Since in the country we lack any sort of street lights, having a quality bright weapon light is a big deal if you’re checking your property for predators or uninvited guests.

As far as that goes, the light is excellent and powerful enough for outdoor use. As far as interior use, it’s not quite so bright to blind the user indoors, but it would certainly disorient any would-be attacker dumb enough to stare at the bezel.

Overall, a very capable light with excellent performance for half of what competitor’s alternatives cost.

TLR – Everything But The Kitchen Sink

Like all Streamlight TLR series weapon lights, the RM 2 features multiple inserts allowing it to be mounted on a wide variety of guns. This includes Glock rails, Picatinny rails, and even odd-ball stuff like the Beretta 90-two polymer handgun. And if by some miracle your gun’s rail isn’t supported, an existing insert can be trimmed to fit it.

As far as the included tape-switch, it too comes with multiple mounting solutions.

If a shooter wishes to mount the light on a Picatinny rail, it features two flexible polymer shoes that snap on to the rail and act as a supporting bracket for the tape. If a shooter doesn’t have a rail to mount on, it also includes zip ties and two small channels to weave them through to wrap around a handguard or barrel. And if that’s not an option, the switch features two small holes and wood screws to permit mounting directly to a gun. Oh, and it features a two-sided adhesive pad allowing the switch to be basically glued to any part of a gun a shooter wants. (Though you should avoid anything that gets too hot, as it would presumably melt the glue.)

Verdict

The Streamlight TLR RM 2 is a do-everything weapon light that includes everything you’d ever want from a weapon light. With a myriad of mounting solutions, solid construction excellent performance, and a price point that anyone can afford, it’s more difficult to find a reason not to pick one up, than to justify buying it.


Check prices on the Streamlight TLR RM 2 Weapon Light:


About Jim Grant

Jim is one of the elite editors for AmmoLand.com, who can wield a camera with expert finesse in addition to his mastery of prose. He loves anything and everything guns but holds firearms from the Cold War in a special place in his heart. When he’s not reviewing guns or shooting for fun and competition, Jim can be found hiking and hunting with his wife Kimberly and their dog Peanut in the South Carolina low country.Jim Grant

Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, Ammoland will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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Bill

This is way tooo large for my EDC pistol!

Xaun Loc

Sounds like a decent light, which is a lot more than I can say for this article. I wasted 5 minutes watching the video, learning nothing that I had not already read in the article. Why did I watch the video? I was hoping that Jim just might have the good sense to show us the performance of the light in a dark or low light situation — something the article absolutely failed to do. Yes, I know, the article has a couple of photos that are supposed to show us something about the light’s performance, but what the hell… Read more »

Matt in Oklahoma

Your looking at surefire well quit looking cause they’ve got the contracts and every wanna be sealdeltarangersf that’ll drop that wallet and on top of it it’s a good product.
I love my TLRs so I dunno about this one but I’ll check it out

ashort

great article & review however I just cannot see paying $150.+ for a light that only runs for 1.5hrs, honestly I would expect allot more for that much money, for it to run at least 6 to 8 hrs minimum, before needing batteries replaced or recharged. I would end up in a divorce if I spent that much for a flashlight that only runs for 1.5hrs, and why are consumers enabling these light manufacturers, to charge such a high MSRP for a flashlights that costs pennies on the dollar to make..

linkman

A do-everything weapon light would also have a laser pointer, preferably in green. If it were really good the laser pointer would also have an infrared-only option (not that I’ve seen any like that yet).

Chuck

I haven’t tried the Streamlight TLR’s, but I’m very pleased with the other Streamlight products I have. I use the Politics on my AR’s. They’re affordable, durable, and will run off either CR123’s or AA’s.
I buy a buttload of the Streamlight Nano’s to hand out as Christmas Gifts. Brightest and smallest flashlight you can buy for under $10.

Finnky

Do cash strapped individuals keep one light and “slap” it onto their pistol in the middle of the night after hearing some bump-in-the-night? Just pick your interior defense tool and keep a light on it. Being able to change your mind is a plus, but if one has to constantly switch it is time to buy multiple. In any case my pistols all seem to require specific mounts – and holsters are only available for particular gun-light combinations. Heck safariland does not even make a light mounted holster for my glock! I routinely walk at night in suburban environment where… Read more »