Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight Review
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight has a tail switch and side e-switch for a tactical interface. It runs one 21700 (included) and has a smooth reflector.
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a tracking link to the Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight product page.
Versions
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight product page lists a “White” and “Warm” version of this light. There are certainly other models of Barracuda, too!
Price
This version of the Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight sells for $140 and is available at flashlightgo.com. It does not appear to be available right this minute on Amazon through flashlightgo.com but it should be fairly soon. Here’s a referral link to Amazon for the Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight.
What’s Included
- Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight
- 5000mAh 21700
- Charging connector
- Pocket clip
- Nylon pouch
- Tactical ring
- Lanyard
- Spare o-rings (2)
- 18650 adapter
- Hard plastic case (seen below)
- Manual
Package and Manual
I’m still working on getting a good copy of the manual! Please standby.
Build Quality and Disassembly
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight has Armytek’s typical matte finish anodizing. That adds a bit of grip, which is good for a tactical light such as this. The build quality is good.
Again, as you’d expect and want on a tactical light, both the head and tail have robust springs.
The head does not come off the light, so this is the best view of that positive spring I can give!
The design and build of the Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight are very similar to that of the Predator Pro Max. This light should just throw a good bit better!
Size and Comps
188mm x 64mm x 25.4mm and 256g.
Here’s the light in hand:
Here’s the test light with the venerable Convoy S2+. The version below is a custom laser-engraved Convoy S2+ host by GadgetConnections.com. I did a full post on an engraved orange host right here! Or go straight to GadgetConnections.com to buy your Convoy S2+ now!
Also in the photo above, my Standard Reference Material (SRM) flashlight is the Hanko Machine Works Trident, an 18350 light. While I have not reviewed or tested the Gunner Grip version seen here, I have tested a Hanko Machine Works Trident Total Tesseract in brass. I love the Trident, and it’s a striking contrast to the inexpensive Convoy S2+, another great SRM.
Retention and Carry
Armytek includes a pocket clip and a tactical ring. Below, you can see the clip in place
I believe you can have the tactical grip and pocket clip installed at the same time, which is a nice little bonus feature!
A lanyard is included for attaching to the Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight. It can attach through this little loop on the tail.
Finally, there’s a hard belt holster. The light can not be used while in this holster.
Power and Runtime
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight runs a single lithium-ion cell. In this case, a 5000mAh 21700 is included. It’s a standard cell.
The cell goes into the light in the usual way – positive end toward the head.
Below are a few runtime tests. Output is nice and high for a number of minutes (impressive!), then steps down. High holds very steady even at the initial output, though.
The temperature lines in these charts are included as general context, not precise measurements. The values represent the range (min to max) during testing, but should not be taken as exact readings. A temperature sensor is not always attached to the bezel (or even the hottest spot, assuming that could be defined). Even with ideal placement, too many variables affect temperature to definitively state a specific max value.
Armytek includes a little plastic adapter so that you can use a single 18650, too!
I didn’t test it, but this light can use two CR123 cells, too. But do NOT charge those in the light!!
Charging
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight includes a proprietary magnetic charging connector. The standard cell can, of course, be charged in a bay charger, too.
The connector is quite secure, but it does cover the switch and prevent any use of the light while connected.
Charging takes around 3 hours and is moderately speedy, at around 2A (or 0.5C for this 5000mAh cell).
The charging connector has an indicator – when charging, it’s red. When charging is complete, it turns green. Unlike some other Armytek lights, to charge the Viking Pro, the parts need to be fully tightened.
Modes and Currents
| Mode | Mode Claimed Output (lm) | Claimed Runtime | Measured Lumens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turbo | 2800-1100 | 2m+1h27m | 2598 (0s) 2524 (30s) |
| Main2 | 630-240 | 3h+30m | 659 (0s) 658 (30s) |
| Main1 | 240 | 9h20m | 230 |
| Firefly | 5 | 10d | 7 |
Pulse Width Modulation
None of the modes use PWM.
Click here to see a “baseline” – a chart with almost no light hitting the sensor.
Then there’s the Ultrafire WF-602C flashlight, which has some of the worst PWM I’ve seen. It’s so bad that I used a post about it to explain PWM! Here are multiple timescales (10ms, 5ms, 2ms, 1ms, 0.5ms, 0.2ms) to make comparing this “worst” PWM light to the test light easier. That post also explains why I didn’t test the WF-602C at the usual 50us scale.
User Interface and Operation
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight is controlled by a tail switch and a side e-switch, too. In fact, I think both the switches are e-switches.
It’s a proud and domed switch, and it does prevent tailstanding. It’s a great tactical switch, though.
A more standard e-switch is on the head.
Here’s a user interface table!
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Off | Click tail switch | On (Memory if enabled, Turbo otherwise) |
| Off | Hold (half press) tail switch | On (Memory if enabled, Turbo otherwise) |
| On | Click side switch | Mode advance (ascending, excludes Firefly) |
| Off | Hold side switch, click tail switch | Firefly |
| Off | Half press then click tail switch | Strobe |
| Firefly | Click side switch | Turbo then ascending main modes |
| Off | Hold side switch, half click tail switch | Activates momentary Firefly (next press of side switch will be Turbo) |
| On | Hold side switch for 5 seconds | Iterate Strobe mode enable/disable (blinks to notify of change) |
| On | Hold side switch for 10 seconds | Iterate automemorization enable/disable (blinks twice to notify of change) |
| Any | Loosen tailcap 1/4 turn | Lockout |
| Lockout | Tighten tailcap fully | Unlocked |
LED and Beam
I don’t believe Armytek states what emitter is used in this light, but I think it’s a Luminus SFT70. It’s cool white and has a smooth reflector.
LED Color Report (CRI and CCT)
This light ranges from cool white to very cool white and has low CRI. The beam profile is very tight and throwy, though, so we often forgive cool white low CRI output on tactical lights like this. Turbo is so intense it saturated my meter, so it’s not displayed below.
CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) refers to the measurement of the color appearance of light, expressed in Kelvins (K), which indicates whether the light is warm (yellowish) or cool (bluish). A lower CCT (below 3000K) is considered warm light, while a higher CCT (above 5000K) gives cooler, bluish light.
CRI (Color Rendering Index) is a measure of how accurately a light source renders colors in comparison to natural sunlight. Scored on a scale from 0 to 100, higher CRI values indicate that colors appear more true to life and vibrant, similar to how they would look under the sun.
Beamshots
These beamshots always have the following settings: f8, ISO100, 0.3s shutter, and manual 5000K exposure. These photos are taken at floor level, and the beam hits the ceiling around 9 feet away. This is “mode order” too – if you start in Firefly.
Tint vs BLF-348 (KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b version) (affiliate link)
I keep the test flashlight on the left and the BLF-348 reference flashlight on the right. These photos are taken around 18 inches from the door.
I compare everything to the KillzoneFlashlights.com 219b BLF-348 because it’s inexpensive and has the best tint!
Summary and Conclusion
The Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight is a great light in all the same ways the Dobermann Pro Max and Predator Pro Max are great lights. I love throwy flashlights, and this one is certainly throwy! The whole package is nice, including the nylon case, pocket clip, and tactical ring. I’m pleased that it uses a standard cell, so I don’t have to fuss about the proprietary magnetic charging. The build quality is great, and I would expect it to be great for tactical usage! Throw is incredible, and I’m very pleased that the initial output of Turbo is maintained for minutes! That’s impressive!
The Big Table
| Armytek Barracuda Pro Max Searchlight | |
|---|---|
| Emitter: | Luminus SFT70 |
| Price in USD at publication time: | $140.00 |
| Cell: | 1×21700 |
| Runtime Graphs | |
| LVP? | Yes |
| Switch Type: | E-switch |
| On-Board Charging? | Yes |
| Charge Port Type: | Proprietary magnetic |
| Charge Graph | |
| Power off Charge Port | No |
| Claimed Lumens (lm) | 2800 |
| Measured Lumens (at 30s) | 2524 (90.1% of claim)^ |
| Candela per Lumen | 115.1 |
| Claimed Throw (m) | 1000 |
| Candela (Calculated) in cd (at 30s) | 7760lux @ 6.142m = 292740cd |
| Throw (Calculated) (m) | 1082.1 (108.2% of claim)^ |
| Claimed CCT | – |
| Measured CCT Range (K) | 6000-6200 Kelvin |
| Item provided for review by: | Flashlightgo.com |
| All my Armytek reviews! | |
^ Measurement disclaimer: Testing flashlights is my hobby. I use hobbyist-level equipment for testing, including some I made myself. Try not to get buried in the details of manufacturer specifications versus measurements recorded here; A certain amount of difference (say, 10 or 15%) is perfectly reasonable.
What I like
- Great build quality
- Complete package
- Fantastic throw
- Good user interface (can disable memory, and essentially make this an EDC light)
- Cool white, but maybe not terribly cool white
What I don’t like
- Proprietary magnetic charging
- Getting quite pricey
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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