SureFire X400 Ultra LED Handgun or Long Gun WeaponLight with Red Laser Sight

I got this for my G19 replacing a x300 ultra which will now live on my Franklin Armory SBR AR15.Something to consider given that you are likely still choking on the price if you are reading reviews is that this is a Surefire meaning there is no better one of these in the world. Yes, the  Streamlight 69240 TLR-4 Compact Rail Mounted Tactical Light with Laser Sight  is a good laser light, but for the same reason you choose high end optics, you know full well that when you need something like this, the price difference between the Surefire and all the others becomes insignificant. Plus, I am being polite to Streamlight since not everyone can afford Surefire quality.It mounts on my G4 G19 like it was designed specifically for the gun, which it might have been since many other pistols require an accessory to make the x400U fit.Regarding the light aspect of this x400U, I'm going to reuse my review of the x300U since it is very similar in performance and operation.So is this Surefire too much of anything? Only price, perhaps, but given that it works fine as a single-output 500 lumen flashlight, I guess that makes it about $50 more than a regular Surefire.There are a couple ways to judge the brightness since that is a question often asked. For starters, is there too much light? Is that possible? Of course it is, but in this case, unless you are staring into your own weapon light, or hit a mirror at point blank, the amount of light all good for several reasons, and an integrated light makes it even better. But keep in mind this light is ONLY 500 lumens. There are many far brighter lights out there, so while high lumens for a small weapon light, it is still just a flashlight.First, once you crank on a weapon light of any flavor, you are kissing your night vision goodbye. Once gone, you then need the light to see so the winner here is more light.Second, when someone is on the business end of this light, it helps prevent the good guy from being an easy target. I tried it myself. When facing down this light, you cannot see squat! Just a huge ball of light far larger than a person. And that's if you have good eyes. Add any maladies to the eyes and it only gets worse with flair etc. Lesser lights make nice targets for the enemy.Third, If you cannot see, you should not shoot. Lasers are great within their high level of limitations, but in the dark, you cannot see with a laser, only point with one so you have to have light. And lots of it!Forth, the light and gun are a combo. Pointing one points the other. Some think this is not ideal given that you have to point the muzzle towards anything in order to see it. To me, that's the point! However, the spill around this light is plenty to avoid muzzling people. But the real importance here is that I can easily imagine any number of reasons why you would only have one hand available. Got a crying toddler in the other, injury, operating windows, doors car keys, peering through small openings, sneaking around corners, clinging to something with one hand, dropping your stuff in a fall or fight (first you gotta find your flashlight before you can look for your gun), and always when under stress, having only one thing to locate and operate is much less than half what it takes to find and operate two things.4.5, Personally, I think much of the concern of having too much light is because experience with a flashlight often requires doing other tasks with a flashlight in hand. The close work under bright lights is a real problem. Trying to read a map under 500 lumens is impossible until you move the light far enough away, or putting a few fingers over the light (don't get burned), but I'd much rather have that problem then squinting into shadows. Remember, you are buying a weapons light not a map reading light. If you let your priorities get hijacked by failures that are secondary to the core purpose of the device, then perhaps you don't fully understand what it is you are buying. Just a little tough love from Mr. Practical.Fifth, if you have to hit someone with the light, it frees up your other hand for defense while preserving you ability use your last resort if necessary and with the same hand.And finally, take this baby outdoors and you've got an easy hundred feet or two of brightly lit up territory to survey. The lower lumen light might still be usable in confined urban areas, but beyond that, you need a car headlight or a Surefire x400 Ultra!My only complaint about this light is how easy you can pulse the light. It takes a soft touch pushing the switch in (not up or down) and I find I can easily do this accidentally and when removing the gun from a case.Regarding the laser, there are a couple things to consider. First, the color. Compared to green, red is a little harder to see since it is a longer wavelength and something the human eye is less sensitive to compared to green. But the drawback with green lasers is that the particular flavor of phased green light reflects off of water molecules in the air providing a highly visible trail of photons leading directly back to the operator of the laser. In the movies, it's a pretty cool effect, and could have a significant psychological effect on the unarmed perp, but in real life, the jury is still out. Of course if there is significant dust or smoke in the air, then the red laser will also print in the air forming a perfectly straight line between gun and target.Another thing to consider is that with this unit, you have four choices: neither light nor laser, light only, laser only, or both light and laser. Each choice has its place, and the Surefire x400 Ultra will quickly switch between all four options.Finally, some gun users think the bouncing laser gives the bad guy an indication of your fear (or caffeine level), or competency with the gun. Well, goody for the bad guy. The laser is an aiming device and nervous or not, the bullet does not care. If this laser light helps you hit your target, then its worth its weight in gold. If it does not help, then practice more.In the end, if you ever truly need this x400U, then the price will quickly dissolve into the background of the reality of the situation. The difference is you will be alive to deal with it.

I previously had the earlier generation of the Surefire light/laser combo with the Xenon bulb. That was a very good product and survived several thousand rounds without any adverse impact. The new generation with an LED is much brighter and in theory should be even more robust as LEDs are far less sensitive to shock.Point of aim during indoor use is critical - there's so much light from the unit that any bounce-back off light surfaces can cause the operator's pupils to contract, thus diminishing visual acuity somewhat. But clearly the target's visual acuity will be far more impaired. Outdoors at night there's sufficient light and throw to permit 50 meter shots with no ambiguity about target area and content.I use this Surefire unit in conjunction with the remote grip-switch assembly so that I have finger-pressure control over off/on, which under combat conditions makes utilization far easier than trying to manipulate the ambidextrous rocker switch.The only demerit is that this new series of light/laser doesn't have the integral elevation/windage adjustment key that the old one had. The new adjustment key is large and cannot be attached to the unit, so if your unit goes off-center after a dismount/mount then unless you're near your toolkit you're stuck. The old unit was superior in this one regard and I'm puzzled as to why Surefire discontinued the old approach of having a small adjustment key screw into the unit itself.Other than that this is a very nice piece of kit and I highly recommend it to anyone who may need to use their firearm in dark or semi-dark conditions.

Upon receiving the SureFire X400U-A-RD Laser light for my 40 cal Glock 24, I was impressed with the distance white light extended at night, much further than you'll want to shoot varmints in the dark with a pistol (~100+ yards?). Universal mount fit gun rail securely. I purchased a Sitelite SL-500 Ultra Mag Green Laser Professional Boresighter and aligned the lasers per my 180g load ballistics at desired 50 yard zeroed range. I was punching bulls at 50 & matched holes at 25 with factory loads. Wasn't doing that with open sights. After 50+ rounds I rechecked laser alignments with boresighter and X400 was still dead nuts on (I may post again after 250?)!! The only downside besides the price is even that this red laser is bright, the red is difficult to see on a black target in daylight at those distances. I would prefer Sitelite make the X400U-A-GN Green laser light at a reasonable price in bright green 532nm instead of turquoise 505nm or dull green 515nm. X400U-A-RD is definitely the best quality, brightest red laser light on the market today!!

Outstanding weapons light and laser. Light, tough, and bright. My only quip is that the tightening wheel isn't user friendly to quickly add or remove the unit, meaning it takes a few seconds to attach it and then tighten it, or to loosen it via the wheel.

The controls operate smoothly. Would buy again. Beware that most companies are wrong when they claim to have a holster compatible with this. I have not found any commercially available holsters that fit this.

Wish I could give a great review as the light and laser are great, but the main screw snapped in half when I tried to mount it....the broken off part of the screw is still stuck inside the other side of the light....so not sure what to do, I sent an email to surefire, haven't heard back in over a week... so I have a $500+ flashlight that I can't use. Kind of annoying.

Attached to Sig 226 9mm, solid and snug fit.Laser easily seen at 25 yd range. Simple and quick to use.