Images by the author
Regular readers of this website will know that I am a fan of HiLight Tactical, from Sheridan, Wyoming. They make some very effective pistol lights, many of which feature integrated lasers. There are lights for just about any purpose and budget… check them out here. I own several of them… some not only have very bright lights, but also sport some interesting lasers in colors like cyan, blue, and purple. in addition to the “standard” colors of red and green. Those blue and purple lasers stand out in daylight, and positively pop in the dark.
I have been in contact with the company’s owner, Joe, and he kept telling me about the P4X light that was coming out. I wanted to add it to an earlier review I did on their lights, but it wasn’t available. My interest in the light was piqued when I read a print review of it in a national gun magazine. So, I was anxious to receive one.
It came in a short while ago, and we’ll look at it now.
Here are some specifications and features.
Colors Available: Black, OD Green, Flat Dark Earth
Image: hilighttactical.com
- Power: 1,100 lumens/22,000 candela
- Chip: SST25 fromLuminus Devices
- Body: Aircraft-grade aluminum, shock-resistant
- Battery: Rechargeable via magnetic port/USB cable
- Runtime: 55 minutes on high and three hours on low
- Switches: Two, rear-facing, not mounted on the side
- Power Levels: Two. One press for high, two presses for low.
- Waterproof: IPX4
- Operating Temperatures: -20C to +50C
- Mount: Almost any pistol with at least two slots… the Infinity Rail System will adjust
- Warranty: Free replacement for 12 months; replacement with a $20 processing fee for 5 more years
- MSRP: $120
A Few Thoughts
I am no stranger to weapon lights, whether mounted on long guns with a remote switch or added to a pistol’s dust cover rail. This one has a few things going for it that I really like…
- It’s BRIGHT! This thing can really “light up the night”. Its 1,100-lumen-22,000-candela power is amazing. Plus, if you are sensitive to bright light bouncing off white interior walls, you can dial it down… it has two power levels.
- Mounting system. The sliding rail plate makes mounting this light easy on many pistols.
(Hint: you might have to reverse the sliding plate in its slot in order to fit your pistol. Just loosen the set screw and flip the plate around. This will move the rail forward, which will fit many more slots.)
- Size. This light puts out as much or more light than many larger, bulkier (and more expensive) lights.
- Colors. It comes in three colors. You should be able to find one to match your pistol’s finish easily. Here is where this light has an advantage over many others, with its multiple color options.
- Switches. The switches are located at the rear of the light, not on the sides. They are easily accessed from either side, by either of your hands.
- Charging. You do not have to open the light to replace the battery… simply stick the magnetic charger on its corresponding steel “dot” on the bottom and plug the other end of the cable into a USB port.
There are other technical numbers and jargon I could throw at you, but I’ll keep it simple… this light is amazing. I have used it, off the pistol, as a stand-alone flashlight of sorts. It works well in that capacity, but of course, it’s best at its intended purpose of hanging off a pistol.
Holster/Light Combos
I thought I’d mention something novel that HiLight Tactical does… they sell holster/light combos. Along with a high-quality holster made in New York by the JustHolsterIt company for your specific pistol, you can get a light that fits both.
This is a new service, and I tried it out… I got a holster for my S&W Bodyguard 2.0 .380 and the corresponding weapon light. Look for that review here soon. If you want more information about the holster/light combo, go here.
Summing Up
Weapon lights are necessary. My good friend Ed, a former deputy, said that 70% of defensive shooting situations occur after dark… he should know. His EDC pistol has a light on it… ‘nuff said.
Here’s something else to think about… I have, sitting on the desk beside me, my 10mm Springfield Armory XD Elite 10mm pistol. This gun is deer-legal in Indiana. I can see the advantage of having a light on the gun for those dusk-or-dawn situations. Again, that’s just me, but I think it would be helpful. Most 22,000-candela lights can project a beam 250+ meters in dark conditions… that certainly would be enough.
Common sense tells us that, if we are going to mount a light, it needs to be sturdy, bright, and have different power levels. Also needed is an easy way to turn it on and off with either hand. The P4X fulfills those criteria. Plus, you get to choose one of three colors and then mount it to almost any pistol you own, with its sliding mounting rail. For a street price under $100, you will have a light that throws a 1,100-lumen beam and can recharge without coming off the gun. I think, for these reasons, the P4X deserves a hard look.