Have you heard of Streamlight’s TLR RM 2 Long Gun weapon light? It’s not your everyday long gun light, but it has some cool features worth checking out. Back in the day, Streamlight was known for their rechargeable handheld flashlights. The first light I ever carried on duty was a heavy 3-cell MagLight that was nearly indestructible.
But the price of those big C-batteries added up, and the light wasn’t really that bright. When I purchased my first Streamlight, I thought it was a toy. It was small and light, which equated to junk in my mind. I was sure it would break in no time, and I would be back to carrying the metal torch.
I’ll admit that it was much brighter than any light I had used before, and it slowly grew on me. I could even wear it in a belt holder, and it didn’t swing around every time I moved. That light lasted for years before I gave it to my kids and replaced it with a newer model.
Now, Streamlight is known for making top-of-the-line weapon-mounted lights. Of course, they still make great handheld lights, but all the buzz in today’s world revolves around handgun and rifle-mounted lights. And that brings us to our topic of conversation, the TLR RM 2. This light is compact and easy to use but also includes a green laser.
Streamlight TLR RM 2 Light and Green Laser
Lights tend to keep getting brighter as time goes on. Once upon a time, 500-lumen lights were the bomb, and everyone thought you would go blind if it were shined in your eyes. Now, the new standard for long-gun lights is 1,000 lumens. Even though this light is smaller than many long-gun-mounted lights, it still meets that standard. It has 1,000 lumens of bright white light.
It will run for 1.5 hours on two CR123 batteries, which come included with the light. CR123A batteries are also the current standard in weapon-mounted lights. They are easy to find and relatively cheap for the power they produce. I keep a set of CR123 batteries in my range bag and the grip of my rifle.
Made from machined aircraft aluminum, the TLR RM 2 is rugged but only weighs 4.6 ounces with batteries installed. It is designed to be mounted on the Picatinny rail of the rifle and uses a rear power switch. One thing I like about the TLR RM 2 is the tail switch rests at an upward angle. This makes it perfect for your thumb to rest on while gripping the handguard.
A selector switch is on the side of the light allows you to select one of three operational settings, which include:
- Green Laser Only: Selector switch in the top position
- Light Only: Middle position
- Light and Laser: Bottom position
Remote pressure switch and mounting kit included
The box includes a remote pressure switch and everything you need to mount it to your rifle, including double-sided tape, two remote retaining clips, and zip ties. Another great feature is that the tail cap switch still works when the remote switch is plugged in, providing redundancy for the light and laser.
Because of its size and shape, you can mount the TLR RM 2 in multiple places. Where you decide to mount it will determine if the remote pressure pad is needed. I like to mount mine on the right side of the rail with the remote pressure pad on top of the rail, but that’s just a preference based on the grip I use.
With the angle of the power switch, you can also mount it on the same side as your support hand. You can control the power and settings quickly without changing your grip on the rifle.
I wanted to add a light to my 10mm Stribog, so I decided to try the TLR RM 2 in a few different locations. I placed the TLR on the side, bottom, and top of the rail. The top of the rail is not a place I normally think to mount a light. But I was surprised to see it didn’t block my optic. I haven’t decided if I like this location yet, but it does make it easy for my thumb to work the settings and power switch.
What is the “HPL” face cap on the TLR RM2 light?
In January of 2024, Streamlight upgraded the TLR RM 2 light by replacing the face cap. The HPL (high performance, high lumen) cap is designed to provide 1,000 lumens and 22,000 candelas. The idea behind this is to improve beam distance. This design directs more light on targets further out instead of lighting up a short, wider area.
The new version of this light provides a reported beam distance of 297 meters (324 yards) compared to the older one. This may not be my first choice of light for indoors, but it works great outdoors. Surprisingly, such a high-powered beam comes from a small, compact light like this one.
When it comes to the laser, you can choose between red and green (I chose green). Red is labeled as “RM 2 Laser-R”, and Green is labeled as “Laser-G.” Windage and elevation adjustments are both located on the left side of the light for zeroing the laser. According to Streamlight, the TLR RM 2 Laswer-G houses a 510-530nm green laser.
Does quality and durability match the price?
I have carried the TLR-1 handgun light for more than a decade on duty, and it has never failed me. Over the years, I have owned, tested, and reviewed many of their lights. Both their handgun and long gun lights appear to be made of the same quality. Because the housing is made from machined aircraft aluminum, the body of the light is durable. I have never had one of their lights burn out on me, and I use them a lot at work and during training.
This is my first time using the TLR RM 2 light, but it appears to be a solid light. During other reviews, I have put their lights through multiple reliability tests. These include dropping them on concrete, freezing them, submerged in water, etc. At some point, I will put this light through the same tests, but I have no doubt it will hold up just fine.
I like the shape and size of the light. Even more, I like having a remote pressure switch that works without deactivating the main switch. Depending on the model selected, the TLR RM 2 retails from $200-$240. This isn’t a bad price for the quality and features that come with it. This light would work great on any sized rifle.
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