Nitecore NPL25 GL Weapon Mounted Light
When it comes to weapon mounted lights, miniaturization is the name of the game, and the Nitecore NPL25 GL has some very interesting features
The Nitecore NPL25 GL is a new Weapon Mounted Light (WML) that offers an integrated laser pointer and some very interesting features in a very compact package.
One of the first packages to offer illumination (in that case IR illumination) and laser pointer in a single package was the well known and appreciated Insight Technology ITPIAL (Integrated Target Pointer/Illuminator/Aiming Light), aka the AN-PEQ 2, according to the US Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS).
It was appreciated for its ease of use, light weight and compactness: it was a somewhat lumpy box of 4.6” (122 mm) x 2.8” (71 mm) x 1.6” (41 mm) weighing just 7.5 oz (213 grams) and, back then, it was breakthrough military tech.
Being intended for use with NV Goggles, that made aiming with traditional sights difficult if not impossible, it had a tight beam laser pointer and, in lieu of a light, a wide beam IR laser for illumination.
Fast forward 35 years or so, to our brand new Nitecore NPL25 GL. Designed for the civilian and LEO market, specifically for handguns, it has a white light led illuminator as a main light source (more useful to the general public than IR illumination), capable of 900 lumens. While in this modern world of LEDs with extraordinary output 900 lumens may seem nothing to write home about, there are other factors to consider before going down the super-brightness rabbit hole.
First, power comes at the expense of battery life, and to get decent battery life from very powerful WMLs, you must pay a price in terms of size and weight.
Second, as professional users of WMLs know, you don’t want such bright light that it blinds or dazzles you should you get splashback from bright or shiny surfaces, and handguns are short range weapons.
Third, lumens are not all that matters in terms of flashlight useability: how the lumens are projected has a very strong relevance in terms of performance, and the NPL25 GL tight beam reflector offers an 11900cd beam, with 216 meters of stated maximum range, more than enough to engage any target within pistol range (and much beyond).
While the beam is tight, it also has enough halo to perform well as a close-range searchlight, albeit the wisdom of using a WML as a searchlight is always questionable, given how wherever the light goes, the muzzle goes as well.
Then there is the second light source of the NPL25 GL which is indicated by the GL suffix: a compact adjustable green laser pointer. Due to civilian safety regulations the laser power is limited to 5mW, but with a 520 nm wavelength, where the human eye has maximum sensitivity, it appears much brighter than it is.
Use is very simple: momentarily push either activation button for permanent on-off; keep either button depressed for at least a second for momentary on. Keep one button pushed and actuate the other to cycle between operating modes: light only, light+laser and laser only.
The laser pointer is clearly visible within pistol range, and much beyond, and it can be easily adjusted by means of two small hex screws, with the provided Allen wrench.
The adjustable rail allows you to adapt the longitudinal position of the flashlight, depending on the weapon
Even detaching the light from the handgun and reattaching it, the laser zeroing is retained within more than reasonable tolerances, for handgun work.
The light can be activated either high (900 lumen) or low (120 lumen) power, with a battery life of 43 or 90 minutes. The laser can be activated either alone or together with the light, and the duration is 10 hours or 43 minutes respectively.
This is a pretty good autonomy, particularly considering the NPL25 GL diminutive size: just 2.2” (56mm) x 1.3” (33 mm) x 1.2” (32 mm), weighing just 2.6 oz (74 g) with the replaceable battery. Yep, you read that correctly: replaceable battery.
Where most ultra-compact WMLs use an integrated battery, which requires sending the light to the manufacturer at the end of the battery life, and puts the light out of commission while the battery is recharging, the NPL25 GL has a replaceable battery pack, designated PLB500, that can be recharged with the provided magnetic USB cable.
Nitecore NPL25 GL Weapon Mounted Light
You don’t need to detach the unit from the gun, as the battery can be removed by simply actuating the latch on the unit’s bottom and sliding it out sideways.
Another well thought out feature is the integrated battey check system: after removing the battery, you can press a button on the battery itself, and 4 LEDs will indicate the charge status of the battery pack. By buying more battery packs and the new, 2 slot PLC500 USB-C dual slot battery charger, one can always have the light ready.
At an MSRP of 17.95$ for each battery and the same for the battery charger, this is a very interesting option for Law Enforcement agencies and private security firms, that are not required to buy multiple lights to have them ready, just the batteries and some chargers.
Overall, the Nitecore NPL25 GL is a very compact, very well thought system, which offers great features in a form factor that adds minimal encumbrances even in a compact handgun, even if it still needs a dedicated WML holster, though.
The light is rated for impact from 2 meters and IPx6 rated.
For information about price and availability check the Nitecore Store
by David Recchia
As one of the products in the range with a more distinctly tactical/operational focus, it's surprising that the Nitecore NPL25 GL flashlight doesn't feature a "strobe" option for the visible/white light mode (for temporarily stunning/disorienting a potential threat), unlike other products from the same company, which even offer variable frequencies.
From a functional standpoint, however, the choice of switching logic between the different operating modes—from "visible/white light only" to "visible/white light + laser" to "laser only"—does not seem appropriate without the option to perform these function changes in "stealth" mode. For example, an operator in a patrol vehicle who must intervene on a barricaded target or in a confined space, moving discreetly and unnoticed by any potential threats. To select the most appropriate function, the Nitecore NPL25 GL forces the operator to rotate the various functions, activating them cyclically, inevitably emitting light, with the high risk of being identified by the opponent. It's worth noting that some would prefer a red laser.
The decision to make the rail mount longitudinally adjustable for attachment to both Picatinny and Glock rails and to better adjust the distance from the trigger guard is commendable.
