The Surefire XSC was a bit of a surprise as far as I was concerned. The little gun world is notoriously underserved, and companies producing crap-tier lights like Olight were sadly dominating it. Luckily Surefire and Streamlight both stepped in to provide little guns with big power. Surefire did it through the XSC. The XSC is certainly a new option and one that’s extremely compact.
Surefire builds several models of the XSC designed for the SIG P365, the Hellcat, and Glock 43X and 48 series. It’s tough not to compare it to other models on the market, and when we talk purely size, the XSC has an advantage. It’s small enough that it sits nearly flush with the end of a standard P365 and is certainly flush on a P365XL. The XSC is 1.94 inches long and weighs only 1.7 ounces.
The Power!
That little light packs a healthy dose of power. It’s no OWL or Modlite, but with 350 lumens back by 2,000 candela it’s good enough for most indoor’s usage. In urban environments, it will light up enough of the environment at close range to establish PID. Inside the home, it’s well suited for lighting up a dark room and making sure it’s a bad guy and not a noisy cat.
This level of power isn’t going to overcome other bright lights. Those Photonic barriers would have to be quite weak for the XSC to beat out. It’s also not a light you can use beyond 25 yards. At 25 yards, I feel like I have complete confidence in my ability to identify what I am aiming at. The beam itself is more spill than focus. This creates a beam that fills your vision and does excel for close-range use.
It really fills rooms with light and provides your little gun with the means to establish PID in most environments. It’s not a light you’d mistake for a duty light. For the average Joe, the Surefire XSC shines bright enough to cast a bright and vivid beam at any potential threats.
Ergonomics and Setup
The XSC uses a rechargeable battery. I imagine they had to create a battery to keep the light this small. The battery lasts 30 minutes at peak output. The battery comes with a cradle to recharge it, and the battery can be removed from the light without needing to remove the XSC from your weapon.
The charging mount has a slot for an extra battery, so you can have two charging at the same time, and spare batteries are about 40 bucks. The charger uses a USB design, so it can be charged anywhere without issue. Surefire even includes 3M tape to secure the charger where you want it.
An onboard battery gauge with blinking lights lets you know your charge status at the press of a button. The little flashing lights come in a set of three, and how many are flashing relates to how charged your light is.
The controls consist of a pair of paddles that are low profile and easy to use. Press them inward, and you have all the power in your hands. One quick press triggers the constant on mode, and a long press activates the momentary mode. It’s simple and very workable.
Tiny and Mighty
The Surefire XSC isn’t going to blow you away with its power. In an era where Modlite kind of rules, the XSC seems dinky. I’m personally impressed that a light this small can offer this much power. For close-range self-defense, use the XSC shines, and I intend my pun. The XSC offers micro-sized guns, a micro-sized light made by a company that produces quality products. It’s a tool for the box, and if you carry a little gun, the XSC gives you one more option.
