Surefire X300U Review: Hands-On Tested!

Looking for an Ultra-High-Output LED Handgun WeaponLight? Then the Surefire X300U should be high on your list!

Check out our review below to see if it’s the right weapon-mounted pistol light for you.

Surefire X300U Review

The quick overview goes a little something like this: As far as weapon-mounted lights go, it’s hard to get better than anything ‘Surefire’. I can attest to them being light, bright, durable, waterproof and long-lasting.

The Surefire brand story began in the late 60s when the Cal Tech-trained engineer, Dr. Matthews decided to pursue his interest in lasers for industrial applications. Eventually, he combined this interest with his love and passion for firearms. To cut a long story short, Surefire has continued to innovate and provide tactical Weaponlights to both law enforcement and the military as well as the everyday shooter.

Today, Surefire sets the standard when it comes to illumination tools and if I had to pick one WML (Weapon Mounted Light) for the rest of my time, this would win, hands down. 

One thing I love about the X300U is that it’s insanely bright, as the specs state it’s technically 1000 lumens with a peak beam intensity of 11,300 candelas. In the dead of night though, not a lot can hide from this little beast. On the back of the light, there is a rocker switch that gives you the option of momentary on, or constant on, and the toggle is easily accessible just in front of my trigger guard.

Surefire advertises this light with a 1.25 hours battery life, and I find it typically lasts longer than that, well ‘technically’ longer than that – although I feel that the intense brightness is not quite there anymore after about an hour and a quarter. If I’m relying on this light on my home defense pistol, I’m going to try and keep it at a decent charge level because I’m not wanting it to die on me if my life depended on it. 

The light has an intense center point, and it also throws a good amount of peripheral light so that your situational awareness is always on point. Catching you off guard due to poor lighting would be difficult with this WML.

As mentioned above the ambidextrous switching provides one-finger control of momentary-on or constant-on activation and what that means for you is that you can decide in a moment how you want to light up the space you’re heading into by just pressing the toggle forward for momentary light, or flicking it down to be constantly on.

It’s a little pricey but if your budget allows, you won’t get a more robust, armageddon-proof weapon-mounted light.

For more reviews, be sure to check out our Best Pistol Lights article.

Surefire X300U Pros and Cons

Surefire X300U Deals

Surefire X300U FAQs

What is the difference between surefire X300U-A and X300U B?

The Surefire X300U-A uses a quick attach system with two pull-down tabs on the body of the weapon light. The -B model attaches with a more traditional screw fastener on the right side of the light.

What are the surefire X300U waterproof specs?

The Surefire X300U is IPX7 waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes.