Review for 5.11 Tactical UC3.400 P1 Flashlight, Black Color, Default Programming with AC Adapter 53000 019

Author: Doc Blase {!} , Inveswtigator, Exec. Protection professional, from Tacoma, WA on Dec 28, 2009
Pros:  Solid, 1-piece case, hot spot with spillover beam, strobe really works.
Cons:  I'd also like a constant-on for the high beam... overlapping sections are not uniform.
Would recommend:  yes

Doc Blase wrote:

I have been using a 130 LED flashlight (powered by a single CR123 cell) and just wanted to get away from the battery addiction and the periodic trips to the sporting goods store every time I accidentally left it on. The UC3.400 fills that requirement handily. What's more, the so-called "low beam" on the Light For Life is just about as useful as the full-on "130 Lumens" of my weapon light. Center beam is a good 3' diameter at 20' distance, with useful secondary spill for general area illumination. For some people the size of this unit (about the length and diameter of a 4-"D" cell Maglight) may be off-putting. Frankly I'd hoped it'd be nice and big and not too lightweight, since there are times when your flashlight might be all you have in your hand when the &^%$ hits the fan. The solid construction, reach and heft of this UC 3.400 will not disappoint those with similar concerns. On the other hand, if you're looking for a compact pocket light to tuck into a suit jacket, this is not the unit for that purpose. This will be a nice solid tool for foot patrols and a big asset for those who are out there working unarmed security jobs. The strobe actually made my brain throb when I looked into the flashlight head from 10-foot distance. People will definitely have a hard time looking at you, and as hard a time seeing you to shoot you with that strobe running. It actually makes thinking more difficult, as it triggers a sympathetic brain pulse. I like the feature that you can shift from strobe to high steady and back to strobe just by pushing in and holding the button. If 5.11 would add a constant-on high beam mode and this would be close to perfect. It is accurate that 5.11 recommends a 4-hour initial conditioning charge and a periodic 1-hour charge to keep the unit in peak charging condition. The AC charging adapter is highly recommended for this purpose, since most cars need to be running in order to run the DC charger, where are you going to drive to get that kind of time in? Just buy the AC adapter and save the gas, it'll cost the same and the charger will last forever. You'll want one to keep your 3.400 charging next to the bed anyhow. Maybe 5.11 can come up with a switch upgrade which us early adopters can install to retrofit to get that constant-on high beam.