Didnt see much end user feedback on this light or substantial information beyond a few SHOT pics, so here's a bit of insight I wish I would have had.
I opted to try this guy out as a compromise between my trusty X300 which had ample output but was hardly slim/IWB-friendly and an XC1 which would have certainly disappeared easily in pants, but not met consumers' ever-increasing output expectations, and possibly involved shadow in the beam when mounted on this particular blaster due to its totally necessary comp. I am slowly coming around to believing in building separate guns for separate purposes, as compromises rarely seem to satisfy me. This is certainly the case here, where this turned out to be a far bulkier light than I anticipated. Thats the key point Id like to convey: This is not much of an improvement over an X300U size wise- and it puts out barely half the light.
At this honeymoon stage in my relationship with this light, I find myself wanting to discuss its purpose with Surefire's designers. I say that as a decade-long Surefire fanboy. It is neither compact nor nearly as powerful as its very similarly sized big brother. Im left to guess that they prioritized design objectives like compatibility with their Masterfire holster, which I will never use, or host weapons other than a smallframe Glock, which also is of little importance to me and, I think, the majority of the defensive handgun community.
It is slimmer than an X300, I dont mean to be putting it on undue blast.
The lack of the X300s telltale corners at the front of its battery compartment helps immensely in smoothing out the overall package- but its switch is the same width and it actually sits further down and forward on this gen 3 17 frame than an X300 and certainly further than necessary. It could be tucked tighter up against a Glock frame enough to make a difference in ease of carry. It puts me in mind of 80's style optics, lights and lasers: attached, but far from integrated. Much as I dont believe in being nit picky with a weapon's feel, (theyre tools first and foremost, if function followed form we wouldnt be adding lights to them at all), as any 1911-advocate will tell you, a weapons feel is important, and in this day and age of streamlining and optimization, the XH15 makes me feel like blasting Whitesnake in a boxy hatchback with a massive neon decal on the side declaring "TURBO." That is, its spacing away from the weapon feels fairly outdated. Check out this sweet gap between the trigger guard and switch. Unfamiliar wasted space.
In short, I dont feel its unreasonable to be underwhelmed by a slimmed-down light that is not actually compact. And if it wasnt meant to be compact... Then, Im sorry, but what was the overall project goal again?
Its switch is held on by a very X300-style hinge at the rear and bottom of the light- but the switch does not swing open at all. The crenelations on the bezel are engaged by an included flat wrench which unscrews the LED assembly and the battery goes in the front. So, again. What was the purpose of this minor extra material forming the hinge? There was no other way to attach the switch assembly to the light body? The mounting screw for the light could not have been countersunk? These may be mountains out of molehills, but taken together there just seem to be a few things they could have easily done to make this slim light actually slim.
Speaking of its switch, it is constant-on only. No X300 style momentary press functionality. Additionally, it is, at least now in its fairly new state, stiff enough to require the use of two hands to operate: one to brace the weapon, one to operate the light switch, however you prefer to work that out. On the positive side, light discipline will be good, I suppose... That said, as a long time X300 user Im not particularly happy with the technique shift. And on that note, Surefire now offers the X300 with momentary and constant on functionality, the XH15 with constant on only, and the XC1 with its crossbar switch. I understand its a bit verboten to question industry experts and all, but again, why such inconsistency?
XC1 for comparison:
Beam pattern comparison:
Malkoff MDC with Cree XP-G2 rated at 250 lumens OTF:
XH15 rated at 350 Lumens:
Malkoff:
XH15:
Overall I dont mean to be too caustic. Its a Surefire. It will work hell or high water. Thats what matters. Ill deal with the marginal bulk and wait for them to develop something smaller and brighter in the next few years.
This weapon's grip is in the middle of being prepared for laser engraving.
Bookmarks