First Look: Nightstick TCM-550XL Weaponlight

Having an illumination tool mounted to your firearm can be useful for a variety of scenarios, particularly when it comes to home defense. Of course, these weaponlights have to be compact, easily mounted and intuitive to use to get the most out of the illumination capability, and that's what the Bayco Products Nightstick TCM-550XL and TCM-550XLS are designed to do, thanks to feedback from professionals across the country.

"Based on feedback from major law-enforcement agencies nationwide, we heard the need for a compact, single CR123-powered handgun weaponlight that provided intuitive rear-facing switches for easy reach and activation," said Russell Hoppe, marketing director for Nightstick. "Leveraging the robust construction and high performance of our LED-equipped TWM-350 and TWM-850XL models, we created these two new weaponlights to provide law enforcement and handgun owners [with] a smaller, lower-profile and lighter weaponlight solution for target and background identification when life depends on light."

Built with a 550-lumen LED, the Nightstick TCM-550XL features a Total Internal Reflection lens design similar to those seen on other weaponlights on the market. However, the work that went into this particular design ensures that the 550-lumen output of this light can be thrown farther, giving shooters an enhanced ability to familiarize themselves with their environment. The high output mode of this light allows users to recognize objects up to 446 feet away in darkness. What distinguishes the XLS model from the XL model of the Nighstick TCM-550 weaponlight is that the XLS model provides users with an additional strobe mode, if desired.

Each Nightstick TCM-550XL weaponlight is built with an all-aluminum housing and is certified as IPX-7 waterproof. One of the unique features found on the Nightstick lights is the addition of a bezel ring "Safe Mode," which allows users to lock out the battery during transport and storage. This prevents inadvertent bumps from turning the light on and draining the battery when not in use. The light comes with four modular rail inserts, each one designed to aid in getting a perfect fit on a range of duty pistols. Thanks to these specific inserts, handguns from more than 23 different manufacturers are accommodated in the design.

Each TCM-550XL is powered by a single CR123A battery, which powers the 500-lumen light for up to 2.5 hours. The light measures 2.5 inches long, 1.1 inches wide and weighs 2.5 ounces. The suggested retail price on the unit is $155.54.