Mounted to a quality handgun like the Taurus 24/7, the X 300 light offers a considerable improvement in utility.

Last year Taurus introduced the 24/7. I tested the long slide 9mm and found it an interesting handgun. However, I am really a 1911 person. While I may make allowances for polymer-frame pistols, the handgun really has to be a .45 ACP to get much interest.

As an armed citizen I may choose any handgun I wish, and the 1911 certainly is the one I choose most often. But there are simpler types that sometimes get my attention. On any Tuesday when you have a cold, a hammerless automatic that weighs less than 30 ounces can be rather handy.

The main problem I have had with the double-action-only (DAO) pistols is the lack of a manual safety. An automatic pistol without a manual safety abrogates many of the advantages of the type, in my opinion.

The 24/7 features a safety that is easy to manipulate quickly. I like that. Once the pistol proved reliable and easy enough to shoot well, the safety really gave me confidence.

The Taurus line of service pistols is gaining acceptance in the police field, based on performance and value, the author says.

Now, with the 24/7 available in .45 ACP, I am warming up to the type. The pistol isn't large, but then it is not a lightweight either. It has sufficient heft to allow the piece to be shot well. With the ribbed rubber grip the pistol is comfortable to handle and fits most hands better than either the Glock or the Smith and Wesson Military and Police. It is among a very few polymer frame pistols that is honestly user friendly in the same manner as the 1911.

There are a couple of advantages that are worth noting.

The extractor protrudes when the piece is chamber loaded, giving a visual and actual indicator the chamber is loaded.

The frame features a rail for mounting the latest weapons lights. I have included a review of the Surefire X 300 at the end of the pistol review, and this light just wouldn't be possible without modern gun rails.

The sights of the 24/7 are good examples of combat sights that work well for most of us.

The Taurus 24/7 delivered good results with Black Hills ammunition.

The slide group is stainless except for the black sights and the frame is of course polymer.

I have fired the 24/7 extensively and find it fills the bill for a certain group of people.

These are the good folks who wish to be well armed but aren't really gun people. You know, they realize the .45 is a good defensive cartridge but they are not up to mastering the 1911. They wish to use a handgun with low maintenance requirements.

A double-action first-shot pistol with a manual safety is a good choice. The 24/7 Pro features a double-action first shot. After the first shot the slide recoils and the following shots are fired single action.

At moderate range the 24/7 proved capable against this Law Enforcement Incorporated target.

The double-action press is about 10 pounds or less, the single-action press is a very smooth 3.75 pounds. That is a good combination for most of us.

Shooting

I used inexpensive Wolf brand ball ammunition in the initial firing tests. This is a good resource for training. Like many slide-heavy pistols in my hands, I had a tendency to pull the shots low. This is true of the 24/7 and also the H and K USP. But the pistol proved completely reliable and I grooved in after a short acclimation period.

The combination of a good trigger action and credible combat sights gave good results. The Wolf ball is loaded to the generic hard ball specifications and worked well in the 24/7. At moderate range the pistol would send a full magazine into a tightly clustered group. It was no mean feat to connect with dirt clods and other bric-a-brac at the range well past 20 yards. The pistol performed well.

I performed a number of hostage rescue drills with the 24/7 using Law Enforcement Targets Incorporated targets. Results were excellent.

At 10 yards we were able to keep all the shots in the cranium of a hostage taker.

Fit and finish of the 24/7 are excellent.

I elected to try the 24/7 with several defensive loads. The Black Hills 185-grain JHP is a solid favorite, with high velocity and ease of control. This load gave good accuracy and proved controllable in the 24/7, in fact more comfortable to fire than 230-grain hardball. The 230-grain JHP also fared well. The 24/7 is comfortable even with this full power loading. Results were again good. There were no failures to feed, or other malfunctions during the program.

After a few weeks with the 24/7 I find the pistol is accurate, reliable, and light enough for constant carry.

This is a good handgun with no flies on it. Perhaps a slight complaint is the lack of an ambidextrous safety. The pistol has performed as advertised.

The pistol field strips easily enough and the all steel magazines are well made and durable.

There are certain touches, such as the ribbed grip and manual safety, that I applaud. Overall, a good pistol with many good points. I think that anyone in need of a good defensive pistol should give the 24/7 .45 ACP a hard look.

Surefire X 300

Lighter, smaller, but stronger. That is not an easy list of improvements. A 10 per cent increase in operating efficiency is a pretty good improvement.

Recently I have tested and evaluated the Surefire X 300 Combat Light. The X 300 replaces the X 200 version of Surefire's combat light. The goals in the improvement program included an extra hour of running time and illumination of 110 Lumens versus the 100 Lumens of the original.

The Hienie sights on the 24/7.

As we all know, we have enough on our belt and back without additional weight. The Surefire X 300 is slightly smaller and lighter than the X 200 but fits all previous holsters.

As lights are rate, the X 300 is impressive. The 110-Lumen output drops to about 65 lumens after 144 minutes, with 2.4 hours being the rated limit of battery life.

Considering the proper tactical use of the light is to apply the light in spurts, the light has an adequate reserve of power. Mundane chores such as searching may be accomplished with a hand held light and the weapon light may be saved for more serious operation.

The X 300 may be quickly deployed by snapping into the rails, or simply permanently affixed to a long gun's light rail. A special latch is supplied that allows securing the device to long gun rails in a more fixed manner.

In order to check the proper fit and function of the piece I went through several thorough test programs.

What an assailant would see if confronting a capable citizen armed with the 24/7 with X 300 light mounted on it.

I checked the proper fit and function and quickly deployed the light to my personal Taurus 24/7 pistol. I also tested the piece on several other pistols. Fit is always good. The controls are positive with clear indents that allow rapid manipulation.

Since the Taurus, like most of my personal handguns, is a big bore, I elected to test the X 300 in firing several hundred rounds of ammunition.

Momentum is high in a lightweight .45 caliber pistol. This would be a fair test, but more difficult than some. I fired over 200 rounds of the Black Hills 230-grain FMJ bullets. I did not fire aimlessly, I used this time to engage in combat practice with the light attached. Even in dim light the light works well and in true darkness the light is a welcome companion.

I finished off the test with a few magazines of the carry load, the Black Hills 230-grain JHP. I also fired a half box of the Black Hills 230-grain +P. This +P load is especially interesting in that it jolts a full weight bullet to over 900 feet per second from the 24/7 and is a bit faster from the five-inch Kimber pistol.

With the threat of wild animals and even zoo animals faced by peace officers, the option of loading the .45 with this load is one that should be considered. This load features penetration on the long end, a good thing in many scenarios.

The X 300 was just as bright, just as well secured, and just a efficient after this test. I think that is all we can ask. At present the Surefire X 300 is the premier weapons light for me. l