ML300LX 3-Cell D Flashlight

I'm writing this review more or less in reply to another negative review I saw. Review had said about the flashlight head not being threaded onto the body.This light deserves the 5 stars. As for Duty lights there are more updated products, more state-of-the-art, less size but more power, better options all around. One thing though that Maglites are really good for is Security work, not only lighting up the night but as a means of self defense. Now of course you should always check your local laws, use proper use-of-force. Maglites are solid built and always handy. A lot of time a Security Guard isn't allowed to carry any other means for self defense other than a Maglite for nighttime use. With that in mind I put in a fair amount of research in my next duty light.If you are looking for a full sized light for on the job work this light shines (no pun intended.) One thing right off the bat is I will point out the battery usage. Once the batteries start to grow weak the flashlight will no longer keep the Full power active past a second or two. It's a good indicator to change the batteries soon. It will still turn on and still shine for a long time on the dimmer settings so do not let that fool you into thinking the light is busted, change the batteries first. My light flicked off from the Full power setting, I turned it back on and it would dim after a second or two. It kept doing this for a week of nightly use. I changed the batteries and now the light works Full power just like from day 1 when I opened it. That's a good example of the battery usage of the light.As far as another review pointing out the flashlight head isn't threaded onto the body like the older incandescent bulb Maglites I'm attaching a picture so you can see for your self. Truth is it is attached in some degree while still being Mag-tough. On the top of the flashlight body they have attached a small metal ring. This ring is thin but it's really strong and it's sank into the body even lower than the threads. I've tried to pry this sucker off and it isn't coming off easy. Not that it can't be removed, I'm sure if you wanted to complain you could use some pliers and eventually get it off but for standard use this ring isn't going anywhere. On top of that they have a heavy duty plastic ring deeply threaded onto the flashlight body. This plastic ring lowers all the way down on top of the metal ring. This plastic ring is your adjuster, when you turn the flashlight head this is what adjust the LED. The reflector is put over this and the cap then screwed onto the top of the flashlight head. All in all it makes a really solidly built body.As tough as it is the only way I can see you having issues with this light is if you leave it for extended times in a car. Cars can reach 350 degrees in the heat, anything cooked for hours in that heat will degrade and not only that but would explode almost any battery.That or if you are hitting something as hard as an ox and even then if by some off chance you crack the lens the body is still solidly built that it isn't going anywhere. If you really fear the cap detaching I would change your grip. Good grip to have with a Maglite is to grip just above the flashlight head, I normally put 3 fingers over the head and my pinky resting on the cap using my middle finger to flip the switch to turn it on.(Pin shown on the pic for size comparison.)

I was a little skeptical about buying this one because of the mixed reviews, but I decided “what the heck!”. I hope the photos will be helpful while you read the rest of my review.First impressions: Awesome Maglite! Feels just as heavy duty as the old ones and looks amazing! It’s real bright, a bit brighter than my old 3-D Cell LED Maglite and the button feels up to date and not springy, but I actually like the spring feeling button on the older versions, but the new one is just as nice. This new one is a bit shorter than the old one and the head of the flashlight is a bit different too. Taking it apart was a new bit for me, slightly different design, but keeping the toughness.New features: I like the capability of choosing a lower light setting, but it does take a little playing around to get used to the button switching(it’s like the toy sonic screwdrivers lol). Some questioned the strength in the head because of the plastic gear inside, but it doesn’t seem to be a weak spot much at all. Though when opening the flashlight out of the package, I would suggest taking it apart just in case to make sure the plastic ring is bottomed out so when you put it back together, the head will adjust normally(the gear teeth touch the bottom of the reflector and there’s an edge inside the head that bottoms out with the edge under the plastic gear which limits how far you can twist the head). Oh and you have to unscrew the top cap of the head first then pop the bottom half off and slide it off the flashlight, then when putting it together, you will have to slide the bottom half of the head up the flashlight then slightly pop it in to completely close it together and screw the top cap back on. When the light is on, the head doesn’t adjust the same way that the old one does, but it’s easy and shorter in the twisting. The battery end cap is different, so there’s no swapping parts with the old ones. It’s a new Maglite nearly all together, but it’s great!Overall: It’s a Maglite! I currently have no cons to bring out. The biggest pro in my opinion, is that it’s a bit lighter than the old one and brighter, which is a big thumbs up for me! Great job!! It’s a perfect piece in my Maglite collection!!!