Streamlight, of Eagleville, PA continues its development of the highly successful TLR family of weapon-mounted lights with the introduction of the new TLR-VIR™.
The VIR, so designated because it offers visible and infrared light sources, adds new capabilities to Streamlight’s TLR weapon-mounted tactical lights.
Needless to say, I am ecstatic to have an opportunity to check it out real-time and hands on.
Review:
CEO Ray Sharrah and his team have done a tremendous job of producing and delivering a combat ready weapon mounted light that is both durable, and extremely flexible. If you’re in the market for IR illumination that won’t break your department’s budget, I invite you to look very closely at Streamlight’s TLR-VIR. It is one heck of light.
Now, if they could only bring to market a TLR-VIR that includes an IR laser. Hum, maybe they will and call it the TLR-VIR 2.
FOG HORN 
Sal,
So far your review of the Streamlight TLR-VIR is the only one available. I would like to mount one of these lights on my AR-15 for use with my night vision gear, but I am concerned about the lack of windage and elevation adjustment on the IR emitter. Your review says that the IR beam is fairly tightly focused. Do you have a feel for the spread angle? For example at 50 yards or so am I going to have enough coverage to encompass a decent sight picture regardless of fine tuning the beam? I know for the visible light you said you had an abundance of peripheral lighting, I just wondered if it was the same for the IR as well.
Thanks,
Rob
LikeLike
Rob thanks for your thoughtful post. The TLR-VIR provides illumination only. At this point Streamlight has not added an IR targeting laser. In close quarters you could successfully and very quickly use the hot spot produced by the IR illuminator to successfully engage your target. Let assume that your M68 or EOTech sight went south on you. Using your An/PVS-14 and the TLR-VIR you would still be effective. Use your PVS-14 over your weak eye and your dominant eye on the muzzle.
The beam spread conforms to the inverse square law at 93 meters I was able to see a well-formed spot with a good amount of detail. This is a ballpark number but I’d say 40 to 50 feet across so at 50 meters you should see a well illuminated circle about 20 feet across with decent peripheral lighting.
Currently there is no way to manually or electrically change the beam width.
There is a good amount of peripheral lighting that’s provided by the IR LED.
I wish I could have tested it with an UNS sight like the AN/PVS-26.
I did make a suggestion to Streamlight that they include an IR targeting laser and a mechanical beam focus. The focus may be hard to achieve and still maintain an adequate degree of watertight integrity.
-Sal
LikeLike