In this article, Richard Johnson reviews the Streamlight TLR-7 X Sub USB weapon mounted light. Tactical flashlights have gotten brighter and smaller. But is all of that extra light actually useful? Does shrinking a full-size tactical light to something small enough for a micro-compact pistol impact durability? Those are just two of the questions he sets out to answer here. The light was provided for testing by Streamlight.
Tactical flashlights have come a long way. When I first pinned on a badge, incandescent bulbs giving less than 100 lumens of pale yellow light were considered state-of-the-art in handheld lights. Weapon-mounted lights were pure fantasy for us patrol cops.
In the passing decades, lighting technology leaped forward in breathtaking strides. LED emitters and lithium rechargeable batteries put truly blinding lights in the hands of every citizen who wanted one. As one would expect, the same technology turned the hope for lightweight weapon-mounted lights into a reality.
Streamlight is well-known for making powerful flashlights and weapon-mounted lights. When I got started in police work, our department didn’t issue flashlights. I took an off-duty job working the parking lot of the biggest bar in the county specifically to earn the cash for the Streamlight SL-20 flashlight. It was big, but bright — at least compared to everything else available at the time. It was the first, but not the last, Streamlight flashlight I purchased and carried on duty.
Today, I evaluate the Streamlight TLR-7 X Sub USB. This is a weapon-mounted light intended for compact pistols including the Springfield Armory Hellcat line of pistols. A few years back, I transitioned from another brand of pistol to the Hellcat for every day carry. When Springfield introduced the Hellcat Pro, I bought that, too. Those two Hellcat pistols cover about 99% of my concealed carry needs, and I hoped the new Streamlight would be just the thing I needed to complete my CCW package.
What Is the TLR-7 X Sub USB?
Fundamentally, the TLR-7 X Sub USB is a weapon-mounted flashlight designed for small handguns equipped with an accessory rail. It is designed to be small to keep your defensive pistol compact and light. Yet, it is intended to be bright enough for addressing deadly threats.
Streamlight’s TLR line of weapon-mounted lights has proven itself to me. From the TLR-1 I carried on my issued duty pistol to the TLR-1 HPL currently on my Springfield Armory SAINT, I trust the lights to help me defend myself and my family.
The TLR-7 X Sub USB is rated for a total light output of 500 lumens and a peak beam intensity of 5,000 candelas. In common terms, the lumen measurement is a sum of all light emitted by a flashlight, while the candela is a measurement of the spot beam’s brightness.
In my experience, the 500 lumens output is a lot of light to work with. A peak beam intensity of 5,000 candelas suggests that the flashlight gives a wide beam of light that is perfectly suited for encounters at 20 yards or less. Since you are unlikely to use a defensive pistol at longer ranges, the design choice of a bright, wide flood of light makes a lot of sense to me.
Mounting the TLR-7 X Sub USB
After clearing my Hellcat Pro, I mounted the light to the gun’s accessory rail. It mounted easily using the same basic technique used throughout the TLR line.
On the left side of the light unit is a screwhead. Streamlight includes a multi-tool that fits the screwhead slot perfectly. Use this to loosen the screw so it will fit onto the rail of your Hellcat or Hellcat Pro. I’ve also used a U.S. quarter instead of the multi-tool. The slot is concave, which allows the coin to fit perfectly. However, the multi-tool is still encouraged as it is non-marring, and a quarter can leave marks.
Once loose, a spring retains light tension on the rails. Press the screwhead with your thumb to release the tension and slide the unit onto the pistol’s accessory rail. Once in place, release the pressure and the unit should be loosely fixed on the gun. Use the multi-tool to tighten the screw and test the unit to ensure it is secure on the gun.
Using the Streamlight on My Hellcat Pro
Working some basic room clearing drills while the family was out of the house allowed me to see what kind of light I could expect from the emitter. As I expected, the Streamlight gave me an abundance of white light, easily filling each room I entered.
While there is an obvious hot spot to the beam at close distances, the beam quickly widens the farther from the emitter you get. In a large room, there is still a brighter center, but the spill was bright enough to positively identify everything in each corner of a room without having to shine the light directly at it.
This light is designed for self-defense with a pistol, and the beam pattern makes a lot of sense for this. It is not going to be a great match for anyone needing to light up a potential threat across a field.
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A pair of activation switches at the rear of the unit allow you to get both momentary and constant “on” light. They are ambidextrous, allowing shooters to use whatever digit they like to activate the light. You can push forward or down on the switches to activate the light.
Streamlight includes a second, low-profile set of switches with the TLR-7 X Sub USB. I did not find the normal switches caused any issues for me while carrying the gun. However, if you have any issues, the lower-profile switches can be swapped in.
Torture Testing the Streamlight Weapon Light
I’ve tested more than 100 flashlights in recent years. Based on my experiences, I have become very skeptical of manufacturer claims when it comes to things like durability and output ratings. However, a handful of companies seem to be straight shooters when it comes to reporting lab data. Streamlight has been one of those companies.
During this evaluation, I found that the TLR-7 X Sub lived up to all of Streamlight’s promises…and then some.
Streamlight does not provide any specific durability specifications such as drop test data. But I tested it anyway. I replicated the one meter impact resistance test by dropping the unit — with the battery installed — onto a cured concrete sidewalk. The drop was repeated a total of six times, once for each side and end. After each drop, I checked the function of the light. Each time, the TLR-7 X Sub worked exactly as it should.
Streamlight does offer a water resistance rating of IPX7. This indicates that it is submersible (waterproof) to a distance of 1 meter for 30 minutes. So, after the drop testing, I tossed it into my pool. It sat at the bottom — slightly more than one meter in depth — for 43 minutes before I retrieved it. I could find no water intrusion into the unit, and it worked normally.
My unit proved to be as durable as I could expect, and more durable than Streamlight claimed. Lest you feel that these tests are tame, I’ve had many lights — including several of the popular ones that seem to get a lot of attention — fail the testing on the first drop.
However, should you ever have a problem with your TLR-7 X Sub, Streamlight backs it with a limited lifetime warranty.
Battery Power
The TLR-7 X Sub USB is powered by the included SL-B9 battery. This is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery rated for 3.6 volts and 850 mAh. It has an integrated USB-C port for charging and is rated for 300 charging cycles. It does have an internal safety control circuit to prevent overcharging and reduce the possibility of a fire.
You can charge it via any standard USB connection. An indicator on the battery shines red to indicate charging. When it turns green, it has a full charge.
The TLR-7 X Sub USB light can also be powered with a standard CR-123A battery. According to Streamlight, CR-123A cells offer increased runtime when compared to the included SL-B9 battery: 90 minutes for the CR-123A vs 60 minutes for the SL-B9. However, the SL-B9 is rechargeable, which potentially offers a great economic advantage over the lifetime of the light.
Streamlight designed the battery compartment so that it is accessible from the front. In practical terms, this means you can access the battery without removing the entire unit from the pistol.
My Final Thoughts
The TLR-7 X Sub USB is an outstanding light. It offers a great deal of light in a very compact package. When mounted on a Hellcat or Hellcat Pro, it does not add very much bulk or weight to the package, yet it offers a blinding amount of light tuned for typical self-defense distances.
In my testing, the unit met or exceeded all of my expectations for brightness, durability and ease of use. The included rechargeable battery makes this light a no-brainer for me. It is now affixed to my daily carry Hellcat Pro and will remain there for the foreseeable future.
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