Surefire X300 vs. Streamlight TLR-1s

Texpatriate · #1 04-14-11, 14:39

Has anybody done a real "let's beat the living crap out of these two lights" kind of side by side review on the X300 and the TLR-1s? Got a link to the review? I'm tired of reading these reviews that make comments that are the equivalent of "oh my goodness its just so bright and the beam is just so perfectly round, I just love it....." I want to see them reviewed side by side, with a thousand or more rounds fired with them mounted, dropped in the mud, buried in the sand, submerged in water, dropped on concrete from a height of 50 feet, etc., etc. I want to really know if the X300 is actually worth spending over 2x as much as the TLR-1s on.

wahoo95 · #2 04-14-11, 14:58

I have two of the TLR-1s's and have been nothing but happy with them. I also prefer the beam the TLR's put out as its more of a flood rather than a spotlight like the X300's. As much as I like my TLR's I'd fully expect the X300 to come out the victor if a comparison like you described took place.

Bimmer · #3 04-14-11, 15:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texpatriate

Has anybody done a real "let's beat the living crap out of these two lights" kind of side by side review on the X300 and the TLR-1s?

No, but a sampling of one of each wouldn't be enough, anyways... to have any validity, you'd have to buy ten of each, mount them on 20 guns, and then see how many of each fail.

Anyway, search, and there are complaints of TLR-1s falling off (I have one, and I make sure it's on really tight). I can't remember anybody actually breaking one or the other.

P2000 · #4 04-14-11, 15:42

You mentioned submerging in water. Per the manufacturers websites:

TLR-1 is waterproof at 1 meter for 1 hour

X300 is submersible to 22 meters.

infidelprodigy · #5 04-14-11, 15:51

In the retail stores I've worked at, I have sent back a few TLR lights with broken switches and/or fractured lens. Inversely, I have yet to have anyone bring me a broken X300.

In the effort of full disclosure, a very good friend of mine has owned a X200A for approx. 4 years and is now having some issues with the momentary pressure switch (has to push forward hard to activate). So nothing is completely indestructible. But I would side with the X300, I have 3 with no issues at all, plus a couple X200A that are still going on training guns.

toasterlocker · #6 04-16-11, 22:18

Unfortunately, there weren't any cameras running, but a fellow cadet I went to academy with personally witnessed a Streamlight rep take an unloaded Glock with TLR attached, and pound a nail into a board with the bottom of the TLR. Light worked fine afterwards. Take that for whatever it is worth.

toasterlocker · #7 04-16-11, 22:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by infidelprodigy

In the retail stores I've worked at, I have sent back a few TLR lights with broken switches and/or fractured lens. Inversely, I have yet to have anyone bring me a broken X300.

Not trying to stir the pot, but a part of me is wondering if this has something to do with the fact there are probably a lot more TLRs circulating out there as opposed to an actual difference in quality.

Spahr0311B · #8 04-27-11, 07:19

For what it's worth. Everyone in my department uses the TLR family of lights. Mostly TLR-1 and TLR-2, with a few 1s's mixed in. Haven't heard of any failures to date. Most of them were issued about 4 years ago.

Opposite side, I have no experience with the X300.

sammage · #9 04-27-11, 09:17

Have yet to have any issues with my sample of one TLR-1, but haven't done anything extreme to it neither. The only one of the TLR series I have heard of issues with was the TLR-3.

Alaskapopo · #10 04-27-11, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texpatriate

Has anybody done a real "let's beat the living crap out of these two lights" kind of side by side review on the X300 and the TLR-1s? Got a link to the review? I'm tired of reading these reviews that make comments that are the equivalent of "oh my goodness its just so bright and the beam is just so perfectly round, I just love it....." I want to see them reviewed side by side, with a thousand or more rounds fired with them mounted, dropped in the mud, buried in the sand, submerged in water, dropped on concrete from a height of 50 feet, etc., etc. I want to really know if the X300 is actually worth spending over 2x as much as the TLR-1s on.

I won't own anymore Streamlights due to bad experiences with the older M3 and crappy customer service on Streamlights part. But I will say the X300's I own have held up to thousands of rounds of .223 on my patrol rifle and the same on my duty handgun (was a 45 acp now a Glock 9mm) I don't take the light off at all when I am trianing or shooting matches. It stays on. That killed my former stream light purchases. So yes its worth the price.
Pat

toasterlocker · #11 04-27-11, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alaskapopo

I won't own anymore Streamlights due to bad experiences with the older M3 and crappy customer service on Streamlights part.

Can't speak for the customer service because I haven't needed it, but I can say the TLR and the M3 are completely different animals. And don't mistake me for some sort of Streamlight apologist, as you will have a hard time finding someone who HATES their Stinger line more than me. In fact, the TLR is pretty much the only Streamlight product I would recommend.

I think most of the Surefire's "advantages" are merely personal preference. I can't stand the beam profile/color and the switches on the X300, while others I know love 'em.

Don Robison · #12 04-27-11, 22:46

It's a personal preference, but I hate the switches on the TLRs. No push function like the X300 and to me they don't have a positive feel when activating them.

titsonritz · #13 04-27-11, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by donr101395

It's a personal preference, but I hate the switches on the TLRs. No push function like the X300 and to me they don't have a positive feel when activating them.

This^^^

misanthropist · #14 04-28-11, 00:10

I use a TLR-1 but like most users, I don't really ask that much of the light.

However, I figure "good enough for Defoor, good enough for me".

http://www.kyledefoor.com/2010/06/streamlight.html

ARin · #15 05-04-11, 03:27

the tlr's are great lights and Id like to say that they are just as good as...

but they arent. surefire really does have it wrapped up with the x300 line. nothing comes close.

scottryan · #16 05-04-11, 09:45

The switches on the back of everything besides a X300 suck ass. They either feel like crap, do not have a positive feel, don't have momentary, or the way the switch is attached to the light is trash.

DaBigBR · #17 05-04-11, 12:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by infidelprodigy

In the retail stores I've worked at, I have sent back a few TLR lights with broken switches and/or fractured lens. Inversely, I have yet to have anyone bring me a broken X300.

In the effort of full disclosure, a very good friend of mine has owned a X200A for approx. 4 years and is now having some issues with the momentary pressure switch (has to push forward hard to activate). So nothing is completely indestructible. But I would side with the X300, I have 3 with no issues at all, plus a couple X200A that are still going on training guns.

Early X200s had a leaf spring on the switch that would wear out over time. Newer X series (200, 300, 400) have a coil spring. Surefire will replace for free.

Amontgomery · #18 05-04-11, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by infidelprodigy

In the retail stores I've worked at, I have sent back a few TLR lights with broken switches and/or fractured lens. Inversely, I have yet to have anyone bring me a broken X300.

In the effort of full disclosure, a very good friend of mine has owned a X200A for approx. 4 years and is now having some issues with the momentary pressure switch (has to push forward hard to activate). So nothing is completely indestructible. But I would side with the X300, I have 3 with no issues at all, plus a couple X200A that are still going on training guns.

Just curious, is your X200A (the one that has problems) a 4-screw or a 6-screw model?

Dos Cylindros · #19 05-04-11, 23:03

I have an older X200 (four screw mount) that I bought when they first came out many years ago. It has served as both my duty handgun light, and was retired to my bedside light after my agency issued us new X200's. After untold rounds, duty abuse and numerous qualifications, trainings and live house clearings on search warrant and partol entries I finally wore out the switch early this year. It had the old leaf style spring. I called surefire expecting to be charged as I figured it was a "wear item." They sent me a new updated switch for no charge.

The light is still going strong, and is now relegated to the center consol of my vehicle as I have a new X300 for my nightstand gun. The X series of light are the best in my opinion. I have used the older insight lights and one stopped working after one day at the range. I know the X series lights work, and despite their expense I will stay with what I know what works and has good factory support.

Followthehollow · #20 05-13-11, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by infidelprodigy

In the retail stores I've worked at, I have sent back a few TLR lights with broken switches and/or fractured lens. Inversely, I have yet to have anyone bring me a broken X300.

In the effort of full disclosure, a very good friend of mine has owned a X200A for approx. 4 years and is now having some issues with the momentary pressure switch (has to push forward hard to activate). So nothing is completely indestructible. But I would side with the X300, I have 3 with no issues at all, plus a couple X200A that are still going on training guns.

I had the lens break free in the housing on my X300.
No abuse or anything, I was just shooting it on my TRP.
Looked at it after shooting and could see glass fragments inside, and it would spin in the housing. It seems to be a 2 layer lens or something, and the outer layer would move.

The light still worked, and of course Surefire fixed me up very quickly, but just throwing it out there as having happened.