31.7.2015

The Mag Tac represents Maglite's long awaited entry into the CR123A battery powered flashlight market.The Plain Bezel Mag-Tac uses Mag's “QuickClik” electronic switch to provide 3 modes: one click for momentary, 2 for constant on, (both at 310 lumens) and 3 quick clicks for a 45 lumen low mode (the Crowned bezel version has 12 Hz strobe instead of plain bezel's low mode on the third click). Your cadence does need to be quick, about as fast as you can say “click click click”. This does take a little getting used to access the third mode but after a few minutes practice it's easy. For a tactical light the ability to use momentary without inadvertently switching into some other mode is critical and the Mag-Tac's system is about as fool proof as it gets with a multi-mode light.It would have been nice if Mag designed this light to be user programmable with a momentary only option for tactical users who prefer that.ELECTRONIC SWITCH: The electronic switch is soft and easy to use, much like a mouse click or a shutter on a digital camera. It is recessed slightly to help prevent it turning on when being transported and to allow tail standing. There are no rings or other projections surrounding the switch to obstruct your thumb from getting on the switch in a hurry. The switch can be locked out by loosening the tail cap ¼ turn, this will also stop any parasitic drain common to electronic switches. Since CR123A batteries are not prone to leaks, it should be OK to leave them in the light when being stored with the tail cap loosened/locked out.HIGH POWER: The Mag-Tac uses a cool white tinted Cree XP-G LED for a maximum of 310 lumens and an ANSI beam distance of 182 M. While there are considerably brighter lights, for me, 310 lumens is almost too much for a tactical light of this size. The throw is very good for a light with a 1 inch reflector diameter. As with all lights, as a rule of thumb I consider the practical range of the beam to be the ANSI distance in feet instead of meters (in other words 182 FEET for the Mag-Tac for a practical beam distance instead of 182 METERS).FIST-GRABBABLE: Mag aptly describes the Mag-Tac as “fist-grabbable” with a straight 1 inch diameter body with a pineapple/grenade grip texturing, the Mag-Tac is very comfortable and secure in the hand in a ice pick grip. For me, the plastic clip adds to the comfort and security. The Mag-Tac is not well suited to the “cigar” grip in my opinion (due mostly to it's flat/slightly recessed tail switch – for the cigar grip you want an extended switch button that you can activate by pressing it against your thumb muscle/palm), but the clip does allow the light to be held in the cigar grip while activating the switch with the pad of your thumb.BEAM FOCUS: The Mag-Tac's head can be loosened to adjust the focus. This is much morefine tuning than a “spot to flood” adjustment, though you can remove the head completely for pure flood if you like. The screw threads on my Mag-Tac are not tight enough to hold the adjustment very well during normal use and carry so I keep it screwed down tight which is very close to the optimum focus anyway. Tighter fitting threads like on the old C and D cell mags would fix this.The beam pattern is smooth and clean with a well defined center hot spot.POCKET CLIP: The Mag-Tac comes with a plastic pocket clip along with a little hex wrench to tighten it's cam lock to the body of the light. The clip works well for carrying the Mag-Tac clippedto a pocket or belt. I don't know how easily the clip is to break since I normally carry the Mag-Tac in a nylon belt sheath (sold separately). I do know that I am fairly hard on clips and eventually break or bend metal clips and I am sure I would eventually break the Mag-Tac's plastic clip carrying it clipped to my pocket. One thing good about using plastic for the clip is that it's not as likely to scratch the paint on your car of the finish of your furniture as a metal clip might.The clip has functions beyond carrying the Mag-Tac in a pocket. One is that it serves as an anti roll device another as a lanyard attachment that will accept 550 (para) cord. The clip also helps keep the Mag-Tac from twisting in your hand.FIT/FINISH AND CONSTRUCTION: Maglite is well known for their fine aluminum machine work and (aside from the aforementioned threads on the head which should have been more precise) the Mag-Tac is no exception. The finish is a matte hard/type III anodizing which is thicker and more durable than Mag's usual type II anodizing. The reflector and lens are both plastic, which has never been a problem for me except that the lens can get scratched, which for a tactical light is preferable to a glass lens that can break, I suppose.IMPACT RESISTANCE: The Mag-Tac is currently (2015) rated to be 2 M drop resistant (formerly rated for 1 M). I do not believe it is rated as “weapons mountable” to cope with heavy recoil, which is unfortunate (if this is the case), since the Mag-Tac's 1 inch diameter would facilitate mounting on a weapon rail using a standard 1” mount.VALUE: I think the USA made Mag-Tac compares quite well with competing designs such as Surefire's 6PX (also made in USA, comparable build quality, higher priced) and Chinese made lights in the Mag-Tac's price category.RUN TIME: Mag claims 4 hrs of ANSI (down to 10% of peak output) runtime on high and 17 hrs on low. This seems about right for the high mode (never ran the low mode long enough to put the run time to the test). Note that the Mag-Tac (like many tactical lights) has a gradual step down to about 70% after a few minutes on high. This helps keep the LED cool and extend the run time (which would probably be about half of the Mag-Tac's 4 hrs without the step down). You can go back to full power at anytime by cycling the switch off/on, but the step down to 70% brightness is hardly noticeable.BATTERIES: CR123A batteries were first used in cameras and since the 90's by Surefire and others in flashlights. They are NOT rechargeable but they are very powerful with a self life measured in decades. And unlike alkalines, they normally do not leak or go dead in cold weather (in fact they are very resistant to both high and low temperatures making them ideal for use in a light stored in a vehicle). For these reasons, the CR123A battery is popular with Police, Military and other “tactical” users, despite their higher cost than alkaline batteries (although alkilines are not so cheap when they leak and destroy an expensive device!). CR123A batteries are not all that pricey if you order them on line. If you need to buy some locally Lowes sells Surefire brand batteries at a reasonable price.Due to reliability problems (including explosions), sticking with CR123A's made in the USA is strongly recommended. Brands such as Duracell, Energizer, Panasonic or Surefire are all good (and perform pretty much the same) as long as they are made in the USA. For safety never mix brands or new batteries with old/used ones.The Mag-Tac is designed to run on CR123A and will not work with most lithium ion rechargeable batteries such as the 18650's. Currently, the best rechargeable option for the Mag-Tac is the K2 Energy lithium-phosphate LFP123A's. These are the same size as the CR123A and nominally the same voltage. The catch is the LFP's give about half the run time/capacity as the non-rechageable CR123A's and require a special charger.WARRANTY: Limited Lifetime in USA/Western Hemisphere, 10 years elsewhere. Unfortunately, Mag now charges a $10 shipping and handling fee for repair or replacement under warranty.BOTTOM LINE: The Mag-Tac is excellent American made tactical light and a very good value.

14.6.2015

I given this little beauty as a present, at the time I was like, OK..its a torch..Thanks. But after I had time to remove it's from it's packaging and play with a little I was impressed, I was even more impressed after I found out how much it cost, thanks little brother!The Maglite MAG-TAC is quite a compact torch, but don't let this put you off because it is VERY bright and the beam shines for miles, its like a floodlight! But whatever you do not shine the beam into someones eyes because you are likely to melt their retinas! If I was a cop I would keep one of these with me at all times, shine this light in a bad boys face and you could easily take them down, same applies to burglars in your own home,

23.4.2014

People think I am joking when I say if you don't know what to get your husband or father for a birthday/Christmas then get him this flashlight. (to be honest any MagLite is a great gift but this one is special!)The power of the light is phenomenal, 320 lumens has such a bright and effective range it is hard to believe so much light comes from such a small thing.It is approximately 5 inchs long, uses LED, and has a great rugged anodized build which comes in black, grey, red and possibly other colors. I have 2 of these (I just seriously think they are brilliant) a grey and a black and could not say which I prefer.I also like the on off switch being on the base,

26.11.2014

This light is exactly what I needed. I have no complaints about the plastic lens because I have never broken a MagLite lens. The momentary on for this light is perfect and is exactly what I needed to be able to signal for work (Military). I have had difficulty finding a new light that still had a momentary on option that was usable. This one works perfectly and if you click is twice very fast than the light will stay on. The momentary on is the default setting, which is great because it prevents it from being clicked on and staying on while in a bag or being worn. It also allowed me to signal well. Three fast clicks gets me the strobe feature which is done well.

10.4.2013

I wrote down all the features I wanted in the perfect pocket flashlight and realized I had described a miniature version of a D-cell LED Maglite. So I went to Maglite and found this. It's near perfect and a fraction of the price of a comparable big name tactical flashlight.What this light is, bright at 310 Lumens, easy on your pocket and hands with no sharp edges or rough machining, very simple easy to use switch on the tail cap that allows momentary on or steady on without having to push the button a dozen times cycling through all the modes (that nobody ever uses) to get there, once on the next click is off. And it's made in the USA.You can buy a Chinese light that is just as bright for less money but it won't light up every time you need it without shaking it,

22.1.2014

I own several high end flashlights and always like to buy the good quality pieces. I needed a small flashlight because I thought I had lost one of my older MagLite LED flashlights (turned out it was just misplaced!). So by the time I found my old one this one had arrived. It was so nice I could not bear to ship it back!It throws off a strong light for its size (much brighter and broader than my old small LED MagLite) at 320 lumens. The finish quality and feel on the flashlight are excellent. I really liked the Coyote color too as it is different from the typical flashlight colors I was looking at.It comes with two Lithium CR123 batteries which are easy to install.

14.6.2013

One day I hope these flashlights get less expensive. However, right now the price is worth it. I would definitely get the non-crowned bezel if I purchased another MagLite Mag-Tac light. The reason is that the crowned light does not have a dim setting. Instead, it has a strobe setting. For self defense, this is great (aside from the fact that the crowned bezel would hurt if you hit someone with it). However, it would have been nice to use the light for normal use.It is so bright that you cannot use it as a regular flash light for up close viewing. However, I purchased it to carry with me at night to search for my horses in the pasture, check fence lines after storms, and other farm activities.

30.10.2014

This is a compact and powerful flashlight that is an ideal everyday (everynight?) carry item.It is extremely bright for its size and is capable of producing enough illumination for the vast majority of applications. The beam will easily dazzle somebody across the street and thus is an excellent tool for security applications.The small size of the flashlight means that it can be easily concealed and can be comfortably carried on the belt even while driving.The body is made from steel and the flashlight has a built to last feel. The belt clip is strong and slips over the end of the flashlight and is then tightened. This makes it very strong and eliminates any chance of it coming off while being carried.

13.9.2013

This is a great value for the money. I've been using it since July 2013. It uses 2 - 123A 3volt batteries. The flashlight has an on/off button on the back (bottom). One click (press of the button) is a temporary light for as long as the button is pressed. Two clicks and the light is on until clicked again to turn it off. Three clicks and the light becomes a strobe. The light output of 320 lumens does not have a reduced setting as some other models have - however - that said I purchased it as utility for everyday use and emergencies. It has been used around the home, in my truck and carried in the field for two months. It has endured rain and hot weather and continues to function flawlessly.

7.11.2013

Easy to operate, feels great in your hand, very rugged, beam focus is fantastic. Much brighter than even the 2D or 3D. You could easily disorient someone with this, especially on the strobe mode. It's also small enough to be placed into an everyday bike light mount. The clip included if made of a reinforced plastic and is fairly bendable but I can assure you than it won't break any time soon.The batteries for this are pretty expensive and they don't last all that long. So I don't know how many of you would want to use this as an everyday torch because it will quickly become cumbersome having to constantly replace the cells. You can buy rechargeable but these will of course be inferior to proper lithium ion cells by Duracell or alike.

20.5.2015

So far so good. Have used it quite a bit since I received it a few weeks ago. 100% reliable so far.Pros:Clip - large and has a defined curve to place your fingers.Large knurling, which will not tear up your clothes, but provides a good grip surface.Scalloped head for sitting on it's head to light a small area or I guess some sort of tactical use.Good gaskets provide fine sealing.Lifetime warranty and excellent customer serviceIt's a thrower, not a wide spread beam, which I prefer. Good enough for close and distance use.Strobe at 12hz is good for signalling, checking timing on engines and disorienting strange animals.The momentary switch is a nice feature and one I use quite frequently,

8.2.2014

This is exactly what you'd expect. Its a solid little flashlight, great for one handed use while holding a pistol in the other, as in a home defense scenario. Its not weirdly bright with 8000 lumens or whatever but its definitely blindingly bright if shined in the eyes, and will illuminate an entire room quite adequately. This is a mostly US made item from a quality US company at a relatively affordable price. Similarly specced flashlights made in the US are quite a bit more expensive, though I dont have enough experience with surefire and the like to know if theyre worth the high price they command.The light is intuitive to use and ergonomic to hold. Comes with a kind of cheap plastic pants clip but it does what its intended to do,

8.11.2016

This is one of the best items the company has ever made. It has a bright LED 300 lumen light, serrated front edge and multiple modes of operation. It can be used to clip on weapons, used by police and military personnel as a tactical light. It's great for hunters, hikers and others because of the multiple light modes. It has a strobe for emergency use, momentary on for Morse Code. If you go out in the woods alone a lot this is the item you want. If you get attacked you can bash the attacker with the serrated edge and defend yourself. The casing is tough anodized aluminum that will not slip out of your hands and doesn't pick up a lot of oil. The texture and coating makes it drop resistant.

3.12.2014

310 lumens on high setting, 45 lumens on low. 4 hours of batter life on high, 17 hours on low. Fully adjustable focus. Solid, durable, lightweight. Excellent purchase. Anyone who is familiar with tactical flashlights will immediately realize and appreciate the quality of this tool.An excellent quality tactical flashlight that even stacks up against other high quality brands. I've tested it indoors and out and got a pretty decent feel for it. Outside in the woods at night the light illuminates an immense amount of landscape in front of you with amazing clarity and detail. In an open field I was able to see very well out to several-hundred yards. This particular light has a bluish color to the light,

3.10.2016

I've had a police issue mini maglite for about 20 years and it is still working after all those years. However on seeing how powerful the LED ones are these days, I thought it was high time for an upgrade. I got the Mag-Tac Coyote for an amazing price on a lightning deal. I am extremely happy with the purchase. For such a small torch the power of the light beam is amazing. I previously owned a large 5 x D cell Maglite, which I unfortunately left the batteries in over a lengthy period of disuse. Fatal consequences unfortunately! The Mac-Tac is even a lot more powerful than that was. As I expected, it is really well made and robust with a very sturdy belt clip.

Maglite Mag-Tac - Reviews

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