I received the Nitecore P16Tac from Nitecore for the review.
The Nitecore P16Tac is a new tactical 18650 sized flashlight, with a tailcap and a side switch.
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The P16Tac comes in this box.
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As you can see, Nitecore is pretty much straight forward with the purpose of this light: one hand operation, rifle mounting… The P16Tac is a light with a simple and intuitive interface for tactical operations.
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In the box there are:
- The light
- The sheath
- Clip
- Cigar ring
- Spare O-rings
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The sheath is in cordura, with a big metal D-ring, MOLLE capability, and a fix belt over loop.
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The P16Tac size (15 cm long, 4 cm wide at the head and 2,5 cm at the tailcap) is on the bigger end of the 18650 flashlights.
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The head, with the big knurled bezel and a smooth reflector, hosts a XM-L2 CW emitter.
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The U shaped tailcap allows tailstanding of the P16Tac, as well as a quick access to the tailcap mechanical switch.
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The threads at the tailcap (the only removable part of the light, the rest is glue) are anodized and triangular cut. Being anodized, they allow physical lockout of the light.
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In my medium hand
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The side switch protrudes and it is big, so it’s easy to locate and activate
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Even the tailcap switch is really easy to access, even with gloves on
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The battery tube is glued to the head, and can’t be removed. The positive contact point in the head is a spring with Nitecore patented mechanical polarity inversion protection system.
This means that this light will keep working even when mounted on weapons and subjected to recoil, and this light works only with button top batteries.
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UI
Click once the tailcap switch to turn the light on and off
When the light is on, click the side switch to cycle between low-medium-high-turbo modes, in loop.
When the light is on, keep pressed the side switch to activate strobe mode, press it again to cycle between strobe-SOS-beacon, in loop.
The P16Tac has memory mode for all constant output modes.
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I found that my P16Tac sample, if I keep pressed the side switch while I turn the light on, doesn’t turn on. You need to turn it back off and on, in order to make the light work properly.
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Beamshots at 1 meter from the wall
The XM-L2, paired with the big smooth reflector gives a focused beam without making it a laser. So the P16Tac is best suited for close-medium distances.
The tint is a bit on the green side on my sample, and on the NW side for all outputs except turbo mode.
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Output and runtime
Both tested using a Nitecore 3400mAh 18650 battery.
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My thoughts
The light is well built and finished.
There’s not much to say about this light. This is a light with simple interface, easily accessible switches and with few modes, and shortcut for strobe only.
The regulation is good, and I like that after the stepdown the output of turbo mode is a brightness significantly higher than the High mode.
I don’t like that you have to restart the light if you somehow manage to turn it on with the side switch pressed.
I’d like to see this light come in a NW version.
*Thanks *to: AntoLed for the camera and the luxmeter help.