Wild Little Ones from INFORCE – Review of WILD1 and WILD2 Flashlights

Just like in the review of the Inforce WMLx (Light It Up: Testing the Inforce WMLx Gen3 Weapon-Mounted Flashlight), today we’ll also take a look at the history of mounting flashlights on firearms – this time on handguns. Similar to long guns, soldiers and police officers, from the very beginning of having handguns in their arsenals, tried to make it easier to operate them in low-visibility conditions. The first recorded and patented attempt at such a solution was mounting one of the earliest handheld flashlights on a revolver. This took place in 1911, and the inventor, George A. Seely from San Francisco, referred to his creation as a “night sight for firearms.” The design later came to be known as the Seely Night Sight. The flashlight had to be internally reinforced with spacers and springs so that the fragile bulb could withstand the recoil of the, at the time, powerful .38 Special ammunition used in the experimental Colt Police Positive .38 revolver. The battery and switch were installed in the revolver’s grip.

Another iconic design, closer to our times, was created by the gunsmiths of the legendary Delta Force, who mounted a monstrous QXL flashlight onto a Colt 1911 in the early 1980s.

In a slightly more compact version, a similar flashlight was introduced by Laser Products (later known as SureFire) in the form of the 310R and 610R models, which remained in use on firearms until the early years of the new millennium.

The shape and size of modern pistol flashlights were undoubtedly defined by the invention of the Picatinny rail and its application in handguns. It was then that, alongside the previously mentioned manufacturers, INFORCE introduced the APL – Auto Pistol Light. Flashlights from this series gave rise to the protagonists of our review, the WILD1 and WILD2 models.

The Inforce WILD2 (Weapon Integrated Lighting Device), the larger of the two tested models, weighs 135 grams and utilizes two CR123A batteries as its power source. They provide up to 1.5 hours of runtime at 1,000 lumens with a beam intensity of around 25,000 candela. The flashlight measures 8.9 cm in length, with a bezel diameter of 2.8 cm. The WILD2 is constructed primarily from black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum. According to the manufacturer, its light beam reaches a distance of approximately 316 meters.

The user has three operating modes available – constant, momentary, and strobe. These are activated respectively by a single quick press of the switch, holding the switch for a longer moment, or a rapid double press. Naturally, the switch is ambidextrous, which is essentially the standard in this type of design.

The flashlight is mounted on pistols equipped with a 1913 Picatinny or Weaver rail – the manufacturer provides interchangeable inserts in the set to ensure a precise fit. Installation is made easier by a prominent, textured screw, allowing the light to be attached even without tools – almost identical to the WMLx flashlight. Unfortunately, the WILD2 does not feature a spring-loaded mount, which would speed up one-handed installation. The flashlight is waterproof up to 20 meters and, according to the manufacturer, resistant to dust, sand, and mud. The battery compartment is also well protected with a substantial gasket. Access to the compartment is gained by pressing a button located above the mounting screw, and the compartment cap opens automatically with the help of an internal spring.

The Inforce WILD1, the compact version of the WILD2, weighs only 83 grams, including a single CR123A battery, which provides up to 2 hours of runtime at 500 lumens with a beam intensity of around 5,000 candela. The flashlight measures 6.4 cm in length, with a bezel diameter of 2.4 cm. Similar to the previously mentioned WILD2, the WILD1 is primarily constructed from black anodized 6061-T6 aluminum. According to the manufacturer, its beam distance is approximately 140 meters, which seems sufficient given the flashlight’s intended use – namely, for compact pistols.

The WILD1 user has two operating modes, constant and momentary, which are activated respectively by a single quick press of the switch or by holding it down longer. The flashlight’s switch is, of course, ambidextrous and does not differ much from that of the WILD2.

The flashlight mounts onto frames equipped with a 1913 Picatinny or Weaver rail – the manufacturer includes interchangeable inserts in the set to ensure a precise fit to the pistol. Another difference between the WILD1 and the WILD2 is the lack of the prominent mounting screw found in the larger model. Instead, the WILD1 uses a flat screw that does not protrude beyond the body of the flashlight. This reduces the light’s profile but makes mounting impossible without the use of a tool – in this case, a flathead screwdriver.

The flashlight is waterproof up to 20 meters and, according to the manufacturer, resistant to dust, sand, and mud. The battery compartment is also well protected with a substantial gasket. The battery is installed by unscrewing the bezel – the most straightforward method possible.

To summarize this part, the conclusion is clear: the WILD2 is a flashlight better suited for full-size pistols, while the WILD1 is the apparent choice for compact or sub-compact pistols. Both lights offer the same method of operation, differing naturally in size, the number of batteries required, and, of course, light output. Unlike their predecessors, the APL and APLc models, the new WILD series is made of aluminum (instead of polymer), which ensures greater durability and should convince skeptics to put their trust in the INFORCE brand.

The Inforce WILD1 and WILD2 were tested on a Glock 17 Gen 5 pistol. The main aspects focused on were the ergonomics of the switches and the compatibility of the flashlights with the popular Safariland holster.

Let’s start with the larger model, the WILD2. As mentioned at the beginning, the flashlight features an ambidextrous switch, allowing both left- and right-handed shooters to operate it. The buttons are paddle-shaped and press inward toward the axis of the flashlight, which means the finger movement required is minimal – unlike switches from other brands, where a more deliberate thumb movement up or down is often needed to activate the light. The duplicated buttons allow the shooter to turn on the flashlight either with the thumb of the support hand or the index finger of the strong hand.

The switch ‘click’ is distinct and tactile, yet quiet enough not to reveal the shooter’s position to a potential opponent when using the light. The WILD2 is slightly larger than competing flashlights in this segment, such as the Streamlight TLR-1 or the SureFire X300. Unfortunately, it is not fully compatible with the Safariland 6354DO holster, which usually accommodates the lights mentioned above.

A Glock 17 with the WILD2 does fit into the holster, but only with difficulty, and drawing the weapon quickly is hindered by the added friction. Moreover, carrying and using the light this way may cause it to become scratched. Adjusting the Safariland holster, despite its wide range of settings, does not provide any relief. However, there are dedicated holsters from the same manufacturer that do fit the Glock 17 with the WILD2 – namely the 6360RDS and 6390 models. The WILD2 is also heavier than its direct competitors mentioned above. So, where’s the advantage, one might ask? The answer is that the competitors cost twice as much as the device being reviewed…

The 1,000 lumens of the Inforce WILD2 are something of a standard for pistol flashlights. They are more than sufficient for solid illumination, target identification, or blinding an opponent. These features, combined with a reasonable price and intuitive operation, suggest that this flashlight is almost ideal for home-defense applications, should the need arise.

When it comes to the negative aspects of the design, there are only a few. The drawbacks include the flashlight’s size, which exceeds the informal X300/TLR-1 standard. This makes the weapon heavier and reduces the likelihood of finding a perfectly fitting holster among the more popular options on the market. The size of the flashlight also means that when mounted on a smaller-frame pistol, the light will protrude noticeably beyond the outline of the weapon. Once again, this can be a significant factor when selecting a holster, or simply a minor aesthetic issue.

The WILD1, the second model described here, is, as already mentioned, an excellent solution for compact pistols, such as the Glock 19 or CZ P10C. However, due to technical limitations, it was tested with the previously mentioned Glock 17.

Does a small flashlight look good on a full-size weapon? That’s a matter of taste, but such use is possible, and it works. Naturally, the flashlight takes up less space on the rail, is lighter, and has a lower output, specifically 500 lumens. Due to its smaller dimensions, it fits into a standard Safariland holster designed to accommodate a Glock 17 with a TLR-1 or X300-type light. The weapon is well-secured in that holster; it won’t fall out on its own and can only be drawn by releasing the ALS lock. Unfortunately, the test pistol with the WILD1 light rattled loosely inside the holster, which in a ‘tactical’ situation is unacceptable, but for a weekend shooter, it doesn’t have to be a disqualifying feature.

The only negative design feature I managed to identify is the way the flashlight mounts to the Picatinny rail, which unfortunately requires a flathead screwdriver. I believe adapting the screw design from the WILD2 would have been very appropriate. However, this could increase the overall profile of the flashlight, raising the risk of snagging on clothing or gear, which goes against its intended purpose of being used with compact pistols designed for concealed carry and quick draw. Compact versions of the TLR-7 also use a similar mounting solution. Well, it’s a trade-off, either a low profile or quick mounting/dismounting. On the positive side, I appreciated the ease of installing the battery by simply unscrewing the bezel. It’s a simple feature, but it allows for replacing the power source without removing the flashlight from the weapon, something that cannot be said about the WILD2 or the previously mentioned TLR-1 and X300.

The Inforce WILD1 and WILD2 are models that can compete with both full-size and compact flashlights from SureFire and Streamlight. They offer a good price-to-quality ratio, considering the materials they’re made from, their light output, and the decidedly user-friendly design solutions. Inforce products are often used by law enforcement. It’s fair to say they are the ‘third option’ when choosing a pistol light, offering as much, or even slightly more, than the competition at a significantly lower price.

Once again, Inforce managed to surprise me positively, as a declared fan and user of Streamlight and SureFire products. Both tested INFORCE models won me over with their paddle-style switches, a solution that has been used by other manufacturers for some time as well, but one that was new to me. The switch design allows the thumb and index finger to naturally fall into the correct position when drawing the weapon from the holster. In my opinion, learning to operate the WILD flashlights properly is quicker than with the TLR-1 or X300 models.

My clear favorite is the compact model, the WILD1. Even though it has only half the output of the WILD2, its dimensions and the ease of battery replacement make it, in my view, an extremely versatile accessory, one that can be successfully mounted on a broader range of pistols than the powerful, dedicated WILD2. The larger model, on the other hand, offers the advantages of greater output, faster mounting, and, subjectively, a sleek, futuristic, angular design that clearly stands out from the classic, round pistol flashlights and is characteristic of INFORCE products.

So, off to the stores, pick your Wild one!

Many thanks to Inforce (Sellmark) for providing the WILD1 and WILD2 flashlights for testing.

Sponsored collaboration. Product testing is carried out independently; the opinions expressed are solely those of the author. The advertiser has no influence on the content of the review.

The MILMAG editorial team would like to thank the president of the TG Sokół club in Lublin, Wojciech Mielniczenko, for making the shooting range in Urzędów available for the photo session and testing of the Inforce WMLx flashlight.

Official TG Sokół shooting range page on Facebook