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Monstrum Tactical Flashlight Review

Black tactical flashlight

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If you’re looking for an affordable and high-quality weapon light, you have come to the right place.

We will discuss one of your best options in this Monstrum Tactical Flashlight review.

It includes rail mount compatibility, material, battery type, and other product details of the Monstrum F08.

Aside from the product description, we will talk about how to use it and what to expect in the box. 

After reading, you should be able to see why it is one of the best-selling tactical flashlights in the market today.

You can also use this information to choose an LED flashlight with more confidence.

Monstrum Tactical Flashlight Review

Black tactical flashlight

Monstrum started in 2008 designing and producing handguards for the AR-15 platform.

They pioneered making rifle parts more accessible to many by selling their products at half the market price.

This business strategy allowed them to enjoy immediate success.

Since then, Monstrum has diversified to optics, mounts, and a wide range of other accessory products.

The F08 is Monstrum’s entry-level offering from its extensive catalog of tactical lights, including the Monstrum FMK and FP45.     

While the FMK, like the Monstrum FP45/FP, is a bright flashlight designed for outdoor usage, the F08 shines most indoors.

It is also more affordable, which is understandable given the lower power output.

Who Is This Flashlight Suitable For?

The Monstrum F08 is designed for tactical situations.

It can withstand rough handling under high-stress situations.

This flashlight is for you if you’re in law enforcement or the military putting together your tactical gear.  

With the F08 mounted to your weapon, you won’t have any problem navigating dark areas and corners. 

It is a 90-lumen light, which is more than enough to enhance your sight without giving away your position.

It is also less likely to reflect and disrupt your vision. While it is best for indoor environments, it would also serve well in outdoor settings.

Aside from being a tactical gear essential, the F08 is also suitable for homeowners.

Its small profile, ease of use, and low light output make it ideal for home security.

It is compatible with a wide range of firearms from pistols to shotguns to rifles.

It mounts to a Weaver or Picatinny rail and just about any AR-15 system.

It even comes with a remote pressure switch for easy access.

All of these features make the Monstrum F08 ideal even for homeowners with limited training.

What’s Included?

If you order the Monstrum F08, you will get one ultra-compact flashlight and one Picatinny mount.

It also comes with one button switch and one pressure remote switch.

The F08 runs on one CR123 battery, which is included in the package.

It is not a rechargeable battery, but it has a high power capacity and long life.

Black tactical flashlight

Overview of Features

The Monstrum F08 is arguably the most affordable option among all the best-selling tactical flashlights in the market today.

It has many design features that make it a great flashlight with rail mount.

Let’s take a closer look at each one so you can have a better idea if it fits your needs.

  • Easy To Use

The Monstrum F08 is compatible with many rail systems, but it has a simple body design that is easy to use.

With a length of 3.7 inches and a weight of 2.5 ounces, it is very easy to handle.

It mounts quickly with any Weaver or Picatinny rail that you find on a wide range of firearms, such as shotguns, tactical rifles, and full-sized rail-equipped pistols.

The Picatinny rail mount allows you to attach the tactical light within seconds.

Even better, it won’t wiggle around after you attach it. It stays secure even after the recoil that comes with firing your rifles and shotguns several times.

It comes with a pressure switch button, but you can opt not to use it if you don’t want to.

Another interesting thing about the F08 is that you can use it as a stand-alone flashlight if you remove the flashlight mount.   

  • Compact Design

The F08 is Monstrum’s most compact flashlight model.

It is very easy to mount on rifles and shotguns, most of which use Picatinny rail.

You can also use it as a handgun light if you own a Glock, an M1911, a Springfield XD, or a Sig Sauer. Just make sure that it has a full-sized style rail on it. 

Also, you might have to clamp the F08 close to the end of the gun barrel.

With a weight of 2.5 ounces, the F08 won’t interfere with your aim, whether you use standard length shotguns, rifles, or handguns.

  • Solid Construction

The Monstrum F08 features a single-piece design, which means that it has very few vulnerable spots.

The compact flashlight casing is made from aircraft-grade aluminum, which is strong and durable but lightweight at the same time.

It is resistant to impact and other forms of stress. It can also absorb shock and withstand gun recoil.

These features are very useful in tactical situations, hunting applications, and other outdoor settings. 

You can count on it to work at any given moment, and it won’t fail you when you need it most. 

The F08 comes in black with an anodized finish and flat dark earth.

Anodizing gives the flashlight a somewhat glossy appearance, so the flat dark earth is better for camouflage.

  • Sufficient Illumination

At 90 lumens, the F08 is a bit of a step down compared to the Monstrum FMK or the Monstrum 150 Lumens Flashlight.

Still, it offers sufficient illumination for you to take a walk in the woods or even go night hunting.

This is especially true for the Monstrum FG08, which is another version of the F08 that uses green light.

Compared to a white light LED bulb, green light is invisible to some animal types.

The F08 features a Cree LED, which is bigger and has a wider PCB area than a traditional LED.

It is better at dissipating heat and consuming energy.

That is why most Monstrum tactical flashlights and even other AR-15 weapon lights use this technology today.

  • Long-Lasting Battery

The Monstrum F08 uses one CR123 battery, a high-powered battery that most security alarm systems use.

It comes free with the product package. It has a high capacity and long life, making it effective even if it is not a rechargeable flashlight.

On top of this, using Cree LED makes it last longer. Compared to conventional lighting options, this technology uses only 10% to 15% power.

Since the Monstrum F08 emits 90 lumens, you can expect the battery to last a long time.

Black tactical flashlight

Pros:

  • Has durable design
  • Very easy to use
  • Mounts in seconds
  • Battery lasts long

Cons:

  • Has low light output
  • A bit bulky for pistols

How to Mount Monstrum

The Monstrum F08 uses a Picatinny rail mount, which is fairly easy to install.

If you are not familiar with the Picatinny rail, it looks a bit like a train track.

It has grooves where the Picatinny flashlight mount goes and locks on to.

Here are the steps you need to take to mount this weapons light:

  1. Loosen the two bolts on the mount’s adjustable clamp just enough for it to clamp into the rail. Ensure that you do not loosen it too much that the bolts or the clamp will fall off.
  2. Next, position the mount over the rail such that the clamp sits snugly against the grooves.
  3. After this, tighten the two bolts lightly with your hands or use an Allen key.
  4. Do not tighten it too much, as you will still have to make sure that the clamp and the flashlight are in a perfect position.
  5. Once you are satisfied with the flashlight’s position and have made sure that clamps fit nicely with the rail, you can tighten the bolts.
  6. If you will use the remote pressure switch, remove the push-button tail switch and install the cap end of the pressure switch.
  7. Next, attach the controller to a part of your weapons, such as rifles and shotguns, that you usually grip with your hand that is not on the trigger.
  8. Make sure that the pigtail wire will not interfere as you handle your weapon.
  9. Check that it does not rest against the gun barrel, which heats up and could cause damage to the wire.

Alternative

Black tactical flashlight

This Monstrum tactical flashlight review is not complete until we suggest an alternative tactical light.

The Monstrum F08 is a great tactical flashlight, but its lumen output is a bit low compared to other products.

If you are looking for a brighter lumen flashlight, try the Monstrum FMK.

It uses the same durable aircraft-grade materials and the same type of power source.

What sets it apart is that it offers 400 lumens of light.

Also, it is compatible with M-LOK rails, which is another popular attachment system.

However, note that it costs almost twice as much as the F08.

Is the Monstrum Tactical Flashlight Worth Buying?

If you are in the market for an affordable weapon light, the Monstrum F08 Tactical Light is a great option.

It is durable, easy to use, and its Picatinny rail mount compatible with most rails, making it an excellent pistol light, rifles light, and more.

It even comes with a remote pressure switch for more convenience.

While it is not as bright as other models, this flashlight with rail mount offers enough illumination, especially for indoor environments.