SF X300 Vs X300 Ultra- Which to Get? Input From Users Wanted

Tactical Gear Tactical Lights, Lasers & Knives
1

So I’ve been meaning to invest in a good pistol light for a while now, and having stumbled across a little cash, figured now’s the time to strike while the iron’s hot! :smiley:

But I’m torn between the standard X300 and the new Ultra.

Right now, on G&R, therer’s only an 18 dollar difference between the two, so price is not an issue.
But holster fit sure will be- I’ve heard around I’m going to need to get a different holster for a 300U than a regular X300. I’m not sure I want to get into trying to play “find the correct holster” when there’s already a ton that will fit a standard X300 just fine- both kydex and dropped (Safariland/Bladetech/etc.).
In fact this is really the thing that’s making me reconsider this the most.

And of course light output- I was like, 500 lumens? Hellz yeah!:happy:
But then I’m also thinking that, mounted on a pistol, given the ranges said pistol is normally employed at will it REALLY matter that much?
I know many people in the shooting biz having used the higher output lights see a marked difference, but again, is it really SO big of a difference that I just cannot live without the extra lumens? I mean, obviously outdoors it’s going to destroy, but on the flip side, I have a cheapo little 10 or 20 lumen twist-head flashlight from walmart, and indoors, it’ll light up a fairly large room just fine…

Also- Runtime. How does the runtime of the X300 Ultra compare to a standard X300- I’ve heard 2.4 hours for the standard X300, but not to clear on the Ultra. I’m assuming the same? How long does the max. brightness last between the two?
I would assume given the higher lumens, the Ultra will have a faster initial drain than the standard 170 lumens, but then…?

So stumped.
Ideas?

For the sake of other input, I’m really not interested in the TLR’s. I’ve handled both the TLR-1 and X300, and I do not like the TLR.

As usual, if someone else has already covered this better, feel free to post up a link.

2

While it’s fun to “Ohhh” and “Ahhh” at today’s high lumen lights, I find my normal X300 with fresh batteries to be a little too bright for indoor use. If you’re going to use the light on a rifle I would go with the Ultra as I find the normal X300 to be perfect on a pistol.

3

Hey man, go big or go home :wink: eventually x300 will be phased out so if its a $18 difference go for the ultra, also eventually you’ll get used to the output. It’s like HID’s on a car, when you switch them at the beginning they are too bright but then you get used to it.

4

I guess if you don’t alredy have the support equipment for the X300, holsters etc. You might as well go for the X300 Ultra.

5

Pistol: X300
Rifle: X300 Ultra

Indoors: X300
Outdoors: X300 Ultra

Look at your intended use and try to decide which is going to work best for you using some sort of combination of the above. My stance, I am continuing to use the X300 on my duty pistol. On my Commando though, I will most likely transfer to the Ultra for use outdoors. I may keep the standard X300 that’s on it in the car in the event I’m deploying the rifle for entry into a small structure where the Ultra would be much too powerful for the area I’d be searching.

6

That’s a good point, seeing as how I don’t (yet).

But I guess my concern over the gear was more with the manufacturers providing compatible equipment, both for the kydex and Safariland-style drop stuff.

7

As for the Safariland duty/tactical type stuff, there’s enough room in the mold to accommodate an Ultra. Looks like most of the well known custom kydex makers are already offering versions for the Ultra also.

As for the “too much light” argument, that has been addressed by many more knowledgeable than me, so I’ll just say that the consensus of those who have actually used one seems to be that it is NOT too much light, and they don’t know how they got along before it. FWIW.

8

It’s not just about brightness. The ultra has a wider spill, much more effective than the standard to maintain peripheral awareness.

The spill is not a result of more lumens. Is their new tir lens.

9

Most of our swat guys are going to the X300U. I have two with 3 more on order to replace all my rifle and pistol X300’s and we’re ordering 28 for tac also. They are far superior to the X300 especially in light output as far as the throw of the light as well as beam width. Also they exceed the X300 at using the light for target ID at range. We are currently getting them on swat for all of our rifle lights. Some, like me, have already bought their own until the units gear gets here.

A lot of folks worry about the light output. 500 lumens sounds a lot brighter than it really is. Its not like its gonna melt your eyeballs. Just the guy your illuminating. White out is a non-issue as long as you increase your red dot sights intensity according to your lighting conditions. We did some testing on our rifle range between the M951, KM3 replacement head for the 951, the X300 and the X300U. At 100 meters…

M951 incandescent light - barely visible out to 75 yards, no good target ID, suspect looked like a shadow, could not see clothing color, race, etc. Suspect officer was not affected at all by this light and could not be ID’d in the slightest.

KM3 head on M951 - good throw out to 100 meter, with beam width approx 4 lanes wide (6 foot wide lanes), good target ID, race, clothing and extremities easily viz’d, suspect not blinded by the light output his direction but could only see the light and nothing else up range where we were located.

X300 - exactly the same output and results as the KM3 on the M951 body

X300 Ultra - excellent throw out to 100 meters and beyond, beam width all 10 lanes across and then some (almost 50 yards wide), excellent target ID, race, clothing, extremities easily viz’d. Suspect (fellow officer) blinded by light output at 100 meters, he had to cover his eyes, stated that it was painful to look at.

These simple tests were done at night on an open range in complete darkness with only ambient starlight. No weapons, just weapon lights hand held for pointing at the suspect officer. Plenty of night shooting done with the lights mounted to the rifles. The X300 Ultra could light up the range enough that all 10 target could be seen even at CQC distances and the other 9 shooters could use its light for target ID and firing their weapons without using their weapon lights.

So far we haven’t had any issues with holster refitting or the need for new kydex. All of our department currently use the Safariland ALS or ALS/SLS weapon/light combo holsters. Quite a few are going to the newer X300U and haven’t had any issues. I use both my older X300 equipped Glock’s and my newer X300U equipped Glock’s in the same holsters without any issues. I have even used my G17 and G19 in their DSG Arms Alpha holsters (similar in look to the RC holsters) with either light and they still fit.

I know with certain holsters it will be necessary but I’d give it a try before just out and out mod’ing or selling and looking for new holsters right off the bat.

10

Pistol: X300
Rifle: X300 Ultra

Indoors: X300
Outdoors: X300 Ultra

Setup same here.

11

Ross- it sounds like you guys have been using the Ultra’s quite a bit.
What’s the runtime like?
(or anybody)

How about Vs. the standard 300, if anyone’s done a side-by-side test?

12

Ross - outstanding review

13

The standard X300 works fine for most situations. Being that I already have x-300s I wont be switching them out for new ones. I find the likely hood of me shooting bad guys past 50m(or at all) at night severely decreased upon my exiting the Marines. If I were buying another I would consider the ultra, but since I have seen reg x-300s as low as $150 I would likely go that route again. Its the kind of cool thing around the camp fire but I dont think its necessary…

In Iraq I zip tied plastic 6ps to my rails and it worked fine, the x300 is a vast improvement for me

14

My understanding is that Safariland X300 hlsters should still be compatible with the X300U. Custom fit kydex may need either a new holster or some heat gun love, depending.

I don’t buy into the “its too bright for indoors” argument; its a cousin of the “we only do CQB” mindset. Unless you can predict that the building you’re in doesn’t have a long hallway, or a garage or storage bay, I’d rather bring enough light in case I have a larger indoor space that I didn’t anticipate, or if the job takes me back outside to a larger open air space(I also don’t like having to switch out lights at a moment’s notice). As long as you don’t flashbulb yourself in front of a mirror, white walls don’t seem to be as bad as most think they are.

Again, I’m standing on the shoulders of giants on this one.

15

This is where I’m at - the standard X300 is such a great pistol light, and they’re so cheap used right now because of some folks upgrading, it’s almost silly NOT to get one of them if you have something that works with it.
I did finally get to see the Ultra - those 500 lumens cover a lot of angular width, but the throw is still impressive because that emitter is just spewing photons.

16

500 lumens is overkill indoors but perfect for outdoors. White walls in my experience illuminates the light even more. Don’t even get me started at a mirrors. :smiley:

If you want a good indoor light, get a light with a generous flood.

17

I work at night and carry a gun for a living and have gone into a ton of structures with an old x300 and now my x300 ultra. I used to also carry a g2x 200 lumen hand held but now carry a fury tactical. If do not have one already get the Ultra. All that its too much light inside a house with white walls blah blah. Thats utter internet gun forum bull shit (sorry if you are offended). Also the “I blinded the bad guy with my light” yeah doesn’t phase a lot of people at least perps. What the ultra wins at is it is bright and has good flood. It lets me id my target better and see a whole lot more of the structure/room I am clearing and or searching.

For example: a structure me and four guys had to clear a few night’s ago was a five story old College building. The structure was huge and we went floor to floor all the way to the bell tower. There was lots of white walls and objects strewn about (looked like it was an evac not that the college lost its accreditation and basically shut its doors). I was running the ultra and other other guys were using handheld issued streamlights. The ultra allowed me to asses so much more of a room compared to the 200 lumens of the other guys lights. I also was using my handheld fury for parts which is 500 lumens.

18

You are 100% right and I agree with you. One thing I do like is making them blind just to give me an extra few seconds if the sh*t is about to hit the fan, you are also right about the stream lights, since I started law enforcement I always had a SL and the area that covers when flashing is not very good.

19

Haven’t actually done a runtime test between the two but I have been using mine a ton and havn’t seen any realtime noticable decrease in runtime.

It seems to be lasting just as long and during the same types of uses as my X300’s were.

20

I bought an sl20x for work and swapped the bulb out with a malkoff device unit. That thing rocks now. 600 lumens otf rated by malkoff. Throw is on par with the patrol car spot light while providing excellent flood. People do not like being in front of that light.

http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/malkoff-md20x-to-fit-streamlight-sl20x-p-119.html

Run time is roughly two nights of usage on 8 hour shifts without recharge.