Evaluating the 500 Lumen Steiner TOR Fusion Light & Laser

Steiner has a reputation for high-quality optics and lights, with products known the world over for rugged, reliable performance. I recently decided to upgrade my home defense pistol’s capability by adding an integrated light/laser system. The Steiner TOR Fusion seemed a likely choice. I’ve been running the TOR Fusion for a couple of months now, and here’s what I’ve found. Steiner did not provide this unit for testing.

The Steiner TOR Fusion

Steiner products are engineered for the rigorous demands of combat environments while delivering precision and reliability. The TOR Fusion is so named because it combines a weapon light with an integrated laser aiming device. Steiner offers the choice of a red or green laser.

The TOR Fusion is a mid-sized unit that is compatible with Surefire X300 holsters. The housing is high-quality Type III anodized machined aluminum. Correspondingly, the inner workings are ambient sealed, dustproof, and splashproof to IP54 standards.

The Steiner TOR Fusion weapon-mounted light/laser.

The maximum white-light output is 500 lumens, with three brightness settings. However, Steiner does not provide a candela value. The controls are ambidextrous and operate both the light and the laser. The user determines whether to engage the light, the laser, or both. Additionally, the TOR Fusion has a user-enabled “Auto-On” feature, similar to the popular motion activation capability on red dot optics.

A single CR123A lithium battery powers the unit, but battery life information is not provided. The TOR Fusion has an automatic shut-off feature after 10 minutes of inactivity if the Auto-On is enabled. Likewise, 30 seconds on the brightest light setting will automatically trigger a reduction to the medium setting to conserve battery life, whether or not the Auto-On is enabled.

Light/Laser Settings

I got the TOR Fusion for my home defense pistol, an IWI Masada. The unit is installed easily, with two screws and an adjustable rail bar to set it to the appropriate slot. My trigger finger easily engages the large, textured control buttons.

The downloadable TOR Fusion manual provides simple instructions for setting your preferred mode using the buttons: light only, laser only, or both. I chose both for reasons I’ll get into momentarily.

Pushing either button once turns the unit on in whichever mode has been previously set. Holding down either button cycles the light through its three brightness settings and the strobe mode, which functions as one of those settings.

The light has ambidextrous buttons on the rear for easy operation.

Releasing the button keeps the light on that setting. Pushing the button once more turns the light off. The light will remain on its last setting when turned back on. If you turn it off from the strobe, it will turn back on in the strobe.

The Auto-On function is user-enabled and works quite well. The unit turns on when it moves, making it ready for instant deployment. Pointing your pistol straight down at the floor turns the unit off. Raising it turns it back on.

Using the TOR Fusion

I use the TOR Fusion in the home defense role. I don’t generally like lasers on my handguns because I prefer to rely on proper shooting fundamentals. But a home defense scenario seems more likely to have me shooting from cover, possibly unable to gain a proper sight picture.

Having a laser makes sense in that situation, hence my choice to set it for light and laser when it turns on. I’ve also heard that lasers can intimidate intruders, though I suspect that depends on the intruder, and I would never rely on it for that. The laser is a targeting mechanism for me. Nothing more.

The 500-lumen light, to me, is perfect for inside a house. It lights up the rooms very well without reflecting back at me, as I’ve had more powerful lights do. My vision isn’t the greatest, and my eyes are susceptible to being dazzled at night.

For a home defense scenario, a light/laser combination makes sense.

I don’t use the strobe function for that reason, but it works very well, and I certainly understand why many people like it. A strobe can disorient an intruder. My problem is that it can also disorient me. My advice is to see how you react, if at all, before relying on the strobe.

The green laser is crisp and very visible. The laser is pre-zeroed to work with an average 9mm pistol. I only had to tweak mine to get it perfectly dialed in for my Masada at seven yards. That’s a nice touch that saves a little ammo.

Auto-On Functionality

Though it works as advertised, I’ve chosen not to use the Auto-On. I want full control over when I use my light and when I don’t. I don’t necessarily want the light to turn on when I pick it up from the nightstand.

My low-ready stance is also higher than the angle needed to turn off the light. And a high ready would not turn the light off. The buttons are large and easily manipulated, so I’ll control it from there. But having the option is nice, and some folks may like it.

The Steiner TOR Fusion includes an auto-on feature.

However, I might consider using the Auto-On if I put the TOR Fusion on a carry gun. I can see some positives in that role, especially since the light would remain off when the pistol is pointing down. But I suspect I would still default to controlling it myself.

I noted that the control buttons are large and easily operated. My one small complaint is that they are mushy and not tactile. I’d like to have a positive “click.” But they work, and the light turns on when I push them. So, that’s a minor thing.

A Quality Product from Steiner

The TOR Fusion is clearly a quality product, as you’d expect from Steiner. It’s solidly built, has nice features, and works as advertised. The Surefire X300 holster compatibility is a big plus. It’s exactly what I wanted for my home defense gun, and I’m certain it would be just as reliable for a carry gun.

If I hear the proverbial “bump in the night,” I want a dependable firearm with quality accessories. I have that with my Masada, its Meprolight red dot, and now the Steiner TOR Fusion. I hope that never happens, but I’ve got the good stuff ready to go if it does.

For more information, please visit Steiner-Optics.com.