The popularity of the P365 has guaranteed it will have a massive aftermarket. The P365 series has dominated the concealed carry market, and the numerous models of the gun have instituted a new level of modularity. The P365 features a proprietary rail that has been a popular option with various light manufacturers. The most popular is the Streamlight TLR-7 sub, but an unlikely competitor in the form of the Nightstick TCM-365.
At first glance, the lights are very similar. The TCM-365 looks a lot like the TLR 7 SUB but does differ inside and outside. The TCM-365 is also seemingly the most powerful of these subcompact weapon lights on the market. The TCM-365 utilizes an aluminum case with some polymer and is powered by a single CR123A battery. The TCM-365 weighs 2.25 ounces and is 2.51 inches long.
On the XL slide model, it does stretch past the end of the barrel ever so slightly. From pictures on Nightstick’s website, it seems like the light goes a bit past the standard P365’s slide and barrel. This isn’t an issue other than adding length to a compact gun.
The TCM-365 – Light it Up
What first caught my attention was the lumens of the little light. I’ll be the first to admit that lumens aren’t everything, but they are still important. The TCM-365 throws 650 lumens of bright white light outward. That’s 150 more than the TLR-7 SUB. It’s tough to squeeze extra light into such a small light. The run time is two hours on a premium-quality battery.
The candela is a very specifically listed 4,612. That’s fairly standard for a little light but is about four candela short of the TLR-7 SUB. That’s one of the problems: when you brighten up the lumens, you often sacrifice some candela. The TCM-365 is IPX-7 waterproof, so you can splash it, but don’t go swimming with it.
Run and Gun
The TCM-365 has a set of ambidextrous buttons on either side of the light. A quick press on either button results in an instant on. The buttons are nice and tactile and presented for an easy press. With this light, we have both a momentary and constant on mode. Constant on is just a press, and the light fires up. A longer press is momentary, and the light shuts off when released.
The control is programmable. You can press both buttons five times to enable a strobe mode if you like strobe modes. You can also turn the life off entirely. Hold both buttons for three seconds, and it’s off and won’t come on until you hold both buttons again for three seconds. This is great for storage and transportation to avoid killing your light.
Through the Darkness
The TCM-365 packs an interesting beam. It’s actually well-tailored for a compact, concealed-carry weapon. The center hotspot is very distinct from the corona and casts out fairly far. A TIR lens does a great job of creating a very wide beam that fills your vision with light. It casts a wide beam that’s tailored for close-quarters use. It really does a great job of filling your vision with light.
The hotspot carries itself out very well to 25 yards. At 25 yards, I feel pretty good about being able to identify a threat and deal with it. Beyond 25 yards, the beam still carries far enough to spot potential threats, but being able to determine if that target is a threat might be tough if they don’t have a long gun.
The TCM-365 activates quickly and does a great job cutting through the darkness. The beam is cooler than most and more of a white-colored light rather than a yellow light. It’s effective for sure, especially indoors. If it’s being used in the home, a parking garage, or an alley, you have quite a good bit of light to deal with a threat.
Rough and Tough
Recoil certainly isn’t an issue for the light. The mount locks the light to the gun, and it doesn’t move. It’s tough and durable enough to resist falls for up to two meters, according to Nightstick. I tested that by dropping it from head height at different angles. The only thing I achieved was getting my gun dirty. The light fired right back up and on.
The TCM-365 is a great tool to turn your carry gun into a capable home defense gun and night fighter. You can argue your carry gun doesn’t need a weapon light, and I wouldn’t argue back. To me, it’s another option. However, where this light and other P365 lights work best is if you use your carry gun for home defense. While most of us have specific guns for specific purposes, the average gun owner likely only has one gun.
Home defense guns should most certainly have a weapon light, and the TCM-365 is tough to beat if the P365 is your go-to gun.
