[FLASHLIGHT REVIEW] TACM 3 light
Dan O'Brien
REVIEW: TACM 3...Tactical Advanced Combat Mount: The Flashlight
INTRODUCTION
The last few years have seen the explosion of the flashlight industry,
especially with the advent of Sure-Fire's various mounting systems for
all sorts of guns, and now a new system, the TACM 3 and its light have
come upon the scene.
Briefly, the TACM system attaches to the floorplate of a pistol magazine,
and is turned on via a pressure switch. This article will look at the flash-
light itself, and not the mounting system. (a review of the mounting system
was in the Jan '96 edition of Guns and Weapons for Law Enforcement magazine.)
THE LIGHT
The TACM 3 system flashlight is available in three different versions:
model number 00000 is specific to the weapon mount, as it is equipped with
a remote pressure switch; model number 01000 has a combo turn/push
switch;
and model number 01001 which has a wrist strap, and is water proof to 300 ft.
All models share the following features:
30,000 candlepower (105.5 lumens)
use two 3volt lithium cells (DL 123 or equivalent)
constructed of black Delrin
1 hour 20 minutes of continous run time
light bulb draws 1.09 amps at 6 volts. Avg. life of 50 hours
physical size: 1 inch in diameter, 4.5 inches long
weighs 3.9 ounces with batteries
light designed to withstand recoil impulse of firearms
water resistant or water proof (model 01001)
CONSTRUCTION
The TACM is constructed of Delrin, a plastic which also used to construct
the Stealth Bomber. The light is made up of three main pieces, each
construcetd of Delrin: the body, endcap/switch, and head/lamp assembly.
The body is lined in steel to facilitate the completion of the circuit.
The bulb assembly incorporates springs to lessen the recoil impulse of
a firearm, and it also features metal construction with chrome plating for
the reflector assembly. (All of this is one piece). The lens is of poly-
carbonite/ impact resistant construction. Both endcap and head are screwed
on and sealed with O-rings.
LIVING WITH IT
When my light first arrived, I immediately compared it to Surefire's
6P. They are about the same size and weight. The TACM's switch incorporates
the entire endcap into the operating assembly, hence there is no rubber
button
that the 6P uses. The light is switched on by pushing on the endcap
(after it
has been loosened an eigth of a turn) or screwing the endcap all the way down
allows the light to stay on without further pressure on the endcap. The
Delrin
material has a slight roughness to it, which aids in wet handling.
I was sceptical of the avertised light output, but in comparison to the
6P, the TACM is indeed brighter, owing to its more concentrated beam pattern.
The pattern has three stages: the first is a wide somewhat dim flood effect
which melts into another focused point. This second focal point acts as a
corona of sorts for the very bright center of the beam. ThisArticle Unavailable
VT
dan...@crl.com (Dan O'Brien) wrote:
>
> REVIEW: TACM 3...Tactical Advanced Combat Mount: The Flashlight
>
<snip>
Very good review thank you. But you knew someone is bound to respond
to ask......
since you didn't indicate a price.
So how much is it?
> THE LIGHT
>
> The TACM 3 system flashlight is available in three different versions:
>model number 00000 is specific to the weapon mount, as it is equipped with
>a remote pressure switch; model number 01000 has a combo turn/push
>switch;
>and model number 01001 which has a wrist strap, and is water proof to 300 ft.
>All models share the following features:
> 30,000 candlepower (105.5 lumens)
> use two 3volt lithium cells (DL 123 or equivalent)
> constructed of black Delrin
> 1 hour 20 minutes of continous run time
> light bulb draws 1.09 amps at 6 volts. Avg. life of 50 hours
> physical size: 1 inch in diameter, 4.5 inches long
> weighs 3.9 ounces with batteries
> light designed to withstand recoil impulse of firearms
> water resistant or water proof (model 01001)
>
105 lumens is close on to ridiculously BRIGHT - this is I believe the
same brightness as a Sure-Fire 9P, but with only 2 lithium cells and
with a run time that is about 33% longer than the 6P or 9P.
The Sure-Fire prices are for discount:
6P - $45
9P - $60
So how much is the TACM 3, if you can get it at discount?
<snip>
> Diamond Products Marketing, Inc.
> 2300 Commerce Park Drive
> Woodlake Commerce Center, #6
> Palm Bay Florida 32905-2619
> (407) 726-0644 FAX (407) 726-0645
> Toll Free 1-800-530-0644
>
>URL: http://www.webimage.com/tacm3
>email: ta...@aol.com
>
I looked at this Web Site and phoned the 800 number. Their MSRP is
$85.95 - which obviously is a lot more expensive than the Sure-Fire
9P's discount price (but it is $4 cheaper than the 9P's MSRP)
So does anyone know if the TACM 3 "push and twist" flashlight can be
had a a good discount??
--
Vincent
v...@pipeline.com
Dan O'Brien
UPDATE:
i got my TACM directly from the company, and paid about $60.00 for it.
--dan--
Paul Rubin
In article <55pfcu$h...@crl5.crl.com>, Dan O'Brien <dan...@crl.com> wrote:
> light bulb draws 1.09 amps at 6 volts. Avg. life of 50 hours
Do you believe this 50 hour figure? Has anyone had to replace a lamp yet
and how long did it last?
> physical size: 1 inch in diameter, 4.5 inches long
> weighs 3.9 ounces with batteries
>
> When my light first arrived, I immediately compared it to Surefire's
>6P. They are about the same size and weight.
I think the Surefire is somewhat heavier, like 6 ounces.
> The durability of the Delrin has not been determined, but should be
>good enough for a good number of years of service.
Delrin is a very tough plastic, even used for ball bearings sometimes.
I played with a friend's Surefire and was amazed at how bright it
was, but found it way too heavy for a pocket light. I got a Buck 2L
dive light which is a lot lighter and more compact, and almost as bright.
It is really great, kind of a minimalist interpretation of the
Surefire concept. I had thought the xenon lamp assembly was basically
similar if slightly smaller and less fancy, but the blurb that came
with it says 3-4 hours life and not anything like 40 hours. Generally
I had thought that between small size, high brightness, and long life,
you could pick only two out of the three, so that these very bright
small lamps would probably burn out fast. I like the way mini-Maglites
have a spare bulb included but of course they're nowhere near as
bright as these lithium powered xenon bulb units.
Jude
Paul,
The blurb about 3-4 hours you read was probably burn time on a set of
batteries, versus actual lamp life. Chances are the bulb has a life around
20-30 hours, given the Buck's (Underwater Kinetics) similarity to the
Pelican bulb design, which typically have 20-30 hour lamp life ratings.
JUDE
The
Paul Rubin <p...@netcom.com> wrote in article <phrE0J...@netcom.com>...
> In article <55pfcu$h...@crl5.crl.com>, Dan O'Brien <dan...@crl.com> wrote:
> > light bulb draws 1.09 amps at 6 volts. Avg. life of 50 hours
Gadget Man
dan...@crl.com (Dan O'Brien) wrote:
Dan,
I called the number you provided for Diamond Products and they quoted me $85 and
$99 dollars for the push/twist model and divelight. Can you give more infor on
where to get one for $60? That is one gadget I would like to add to my
Gadgeteria. Thanks.
James
PS I tried to email you but my server or setup gave me problems. Thanks again.
Marty Godfrey
And please post this info as there are others interested in this.
Thanks
Marty