In this SureFire X300 Turbo review, Richard Johnson brings a critical eye from his many years as a street cop and law enforcement instructor to one of the best-known brands in tactical illumination. He was determined to see if this weapon-mounted light could be relied on for self-defense and duty use. SureFire provided the X300 Turbo used in this article.
As a gun writer and former police officer, I’ve seen a great deal of innovation in flashlights during the past four decades. SureFire is well known in the firearms and law enforcement industries — and for good reason. The company built a solid reputation by delivering high-quality illumination tools that can take a beating.
I’ve tested and used more flashlights and weapon lights than I could possibly remember. Most were mediocre, performing at acceptable levels but not offering anything that made them stand out. More than a few were real dogs that failed to live up to their marketing hype.
However, a few companies repeatedly proved they could deliver products that equaled, and often surpassed, the marketing. SureFire is one of those elite few companies.
Today, I’m taking a look at the SureFire X300 Turbo. Also known as the X300T, this product is a weapon-mounted light (WML) intended for use on handguns. I had high expectations for this WML and was determined to discover if it was ready for hard use in high-stakes situations.
What Is the SureFire X300T?
The SureFire X300T is an extension of the company’s X300 line of weapon-mounted lights. The “T” designates this as a “Turbo” model, suggesting more intense light output than prior variants. This is where I need to explain some terminology to ensure we are on the same page.
What Are Lumens?
A lumen is a unit of measure for the total light output of an illumination source. The more lumens you measure, the greater the source’s total light output. It does not consider the light’s focus.
Consider that a bare light bulb can have the same lumen measurement as a tactical flashlight, but each light source is modified so that the usefulness of the light is entirely different from each source.
The bare bulb, for example, might provide good illumination for reading a book in your bedroom. However, it would prove to be utterly inadequate for seeing an animal getting into your garbage from across the front yard. Conversely, a flashlight that focuses the same amount of light can help you see the raccoon in your trash can, but would likely prove to be too intense for reading a paperback.
Total light output — or lumens — is an important metric, but it is not the only thing you should consider when looking for a tactical light.
What Are Candelas?
A candela is a unit of measurement that quantifies peak beam intensity. I liken this to the focus of the light. The higher the focus at a given light output, the higher the candela measurement.
Candelas and lumens measure different things, so there is no conversion from one to the other. Frankly, I think you need both measurements to have a reasonable understanding of a tactical light’s usefulness for a given task.
Let’s consider the bare bulb and flashlight from the prior example. Let’s assume they both have the same total light output. Since the bare bulb gives off equal amounts of light in all directions, it has a low peak beam intensity (low candelas measurement.) However, the flashlight focuses its light output in a single direction. It will have a higher peak beam intensity than the bare bulb.
Why Is This Relevant to the X300 Turbo?
The X300T is not brighter than SureFire’s existing X300U weapon lights in the way you might think. But, it is brighter. Let me explain.
The X300T outputs less total light (lumens) than the X300U lights. However, the X300T is highly focused to provide a peak beam intensity that is more than 5x greater.
Take a look at this chart comparing the two lights:
| X300T | X300U | |
| Total Light Output | 650 lumens | 1,000 lumens |
| Peak Beam Intensity | 66,000 candelas | 11,300 candelas |
You can see that the two lights vary significantly on both measurements. But what does this mean in practice? What role is the X300T intended for?
A higher peak beam intensity suggests the light output is highly focused to give you greater reach. This is reflected in the beam distance measurements of 514 meters for the X300T and only 213 meters for the X300U.
For situations in which you anticipate needing to identify a target at a longer range, the Turbo model is the clear winner. If you think you will only use the light inside normally sized rooms in your house, the X300U might be the better choice as it gives you a broader light spill.
Bottom line — neither is better than the other. Both lights are bright. The two differ only in how tight of a light beam you want.
Additional X300T Features
The SureFire X300 Turbo has a number of additional features that should be considered. First off, the light has instant activation via an intuitive switching mechanism. The switch is ambidextrous, meaning you can turn the light on from either side of the gun without breaking your grip.
You can use both momentary and constant-on functions. I found the pressure pads on the rear of the switch allowed me to momentarily activate the light with my support hand thumb. Pressing down on the switch kicked it into constant-on mode.
I appreciated the compatibility with existing X300U holsters. It fit well into my Safariland 6360RDS duty holster with no modifications needed. For anyone considering adding a light to your gun, you know you have a multitude of options available for your consideration. For a law enforcement agency considering a swap to this light, you will not have to budget the costs of a new duty holster to go with the light.
Rugged Body and Durable Light
SureFire products are used by the U.S. military as well as law enforcement officers around the country. Mix in all of the hunters and other citizens who rely on the company’s gear, and you wind up with a large user base that can let you know if there are flaws in the product design or manufacturing.
Having used SureFire lights since the 90’s, I’ve had exceptionally good experiences with its handheld flashlights and weapon-mounted lights. In my SureFire G2X review, for example, I detailed the years of use and abuse I’ve put that light through, and it is still as strong today as the day I purchased it.
Although I’ve only had the X300T for about two months, it seems to be built with the same ruggedness as the company’s other products that I have owned or been issued. The X300T’s aluminum body has a mil-spec hard anodized finish to protect it against impacts and corrosion.
Water Resistance
The battery compartment has a tight seal with a rubber-like gasket. This is part of the reason the WML has a water resistance rating of IPX7, which means it is waterproof to one meter for up to 30 minutes.
I tested this by tossing mine in my pool’s deep end (roughly 1.5 m deep) for an hour. As expected, the X300T had no visible water intrusion and worked precisely as it should.
Impact Resistance
Although SureFire does not publish a specific impact resistance for the tactical light, I conducted drop testing to ensure it is as tough as it looks. If you imagine the light as a cube, I dropped it once on each side for a total of six drops. Drops were made onto a cured concrete sidewalk from a height of one meter.
After the drop testing, the light had a few minor blemishes to the finish. However, it functioned as if it had just rolled off the assembly line. There was no damage to the glass, batteries or switch, and the light worked normally.
Hands On — SureFire X300T and the Springfield Echelon
I headed off to the range to test how easily the X300T operated when shooting and ensure its reliability was unassailable. After all, a light that won’t work when you need it is useless, no matter how bright it might claim to be.
I mounted the SureFire light to my Springfield Armory Echelon for this testing, which is topped off with a Leupold DeltaPoint Pro. The Echelon is a striker-fired, semi-automatic pistol chambered for the 9x19mm Parabellum cartridge. I love the feel and reliability of mine.
Since the Echelon is designed as a duty pistol, I figured it would be the perfect test platform for the X300 Turbo light.
I ran a mix of ammo through the gun. About half were FMJ rounds, which many of us prefer for practice and target shooting. The balance was a sampling of duty loads with bullet weights ranging from 115 to 147 grains. The light just worked.
Through the range testing, I alternatively engaged the momentary-on pressure pads and the lever switch to get a good feel for the light while mounted to the Echelon. I found the system was easy to use without much of a learning curve.
Attaching the light to the pistol was dead simple. On either side of the X300T are serrated tabs. You pull down on both of them and then slide the light onto the pistol’s accessory rail. Once in position, let go of the tabs. The light will lock into place.
The tabs are about a third of the length of the X300T body, which gives you plenty of room to get your fingers on them. They are small enough, however, that they do not get hung up on anything.
Final Thoughts
Like other SureFire products, the X300 Turbo is a solid tactical light. I could find no flaws in it, and I am comfortable carrying this on my duty or self-defense gun. The primary consideration for me would be the difference in the beam pattern between this and the X300U.
If you are a law enforcement officer working in an area where the majority of your calls are in an urban area where you spend more time clearing rooms than chasing poachers through the woods, I think the X300U may better serve you. I think most homeowners fall into this category as well.
On the other hand, if you do work a more rural area or live where you have a fair amount of land, the X300T is an excellent choice. It allows you to reach longer distances and properly identify threats.
I’ve lived and worked in both environments, and I appreciate that SureFire is offering excellent weapon-mounted lights suited for either. Heck, you can’t go wrong with either if you need a high-quality weapon light that will deliver when you need it.
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