SureFire P1R Peacekeeper Review

Built for patrol duty, the dual-output SureFire P1R Peacekeeper is a compact rechargeable LED flashlight that shares many commonalities with the popular two-cell P2X Fury. As an entry-level rechargeable light, the P1R offers simple and reliable operation at a more reasonable price point. The P1R can be powered by the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, as well as two primary 123A batteries, for a maximum output of 600 lumens on either power source. Like the Fury series, the P1R is available in both dual-output (Peacekeeper) and single-output tactical (Peacekeeper Tactical).

Key Specifications

• Output (Lithium-Ion): 600 lumens high, 15 lumens low
• Output (123A): 600 lumens high, 18 lumens low
• Intensity: 13,260 candela
• Runtime (Lithium-Ion): 1h 45min high, 46h low
• Runtime (123A): 1h 45min high, 30h low
• Battery: Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery or 2 x 123A
• Length: 5.5″
• Diameter: 1.4″ bezel, 1.0″ body
• Weight with Batteries: 6.2 oz.
• Colors: Black
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime
• MSRP: $250
• Actual Pricing: ~$175

Pricing & Contents

MSRP for the P1R Peacekeeper is $250, and the light is only available in black. Both variants, the dual-output Peacekeeper and the single-output Peacekeeper Tactical, have the same MSRP and similar features.

We received our P1R in pre-production packaging, but production models will come in a box with similar contents, including: SureFire P1R Peacekeeper, 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery, lithium-ion battery charger, AC cord, 12V cord, and user manual.

Batteries

Differentiating the P1R from the P2X is that the P1R is designed to accommodate a single lithium-ion battery (18650). If the lithium-ion battery is depleted, the P1R can also use 2 x 123A lithium primaries as a backup power source. Lithium primaries are slightly narrower than the lithium-ion battery so there can be some lateral movement, but this doesn’t affect operation other than a slight rattle when the light is shaken aggressively.

To charge the 18650 lithium-ion rechargeable battery, remove the battery from the P1R and insert into one of the two expandable bays in the charger. When the indicator LED turns green, the battery is charged to 90% capacity (which could take up to 5-6 hours). For maximum battery longevity, we recommend removing the battery from the charger once it reaches 90%.

Lithium batteries have higher energy density than regular batteries, so low-quality or counterfeit batteries can be dangerous to use. SureFire recommends using only quality lithium batteries from Duracell, Energizer, Panasonic, or SureFire.

The Light

The P1R has a length of 5.5”, which is only slightly larger than the P2X, and shares many styling cues from the R1 Lawman that differentiates the P1R as a rechargeable model. The aluminum body is type-III anodized for protection against scratches and corrosion.

Head
Behind the crenelated bezel are an anti-reflective coated glass window and a textured reflector. Flat areas on the head stop the light from rolling away on a smooth surface.

Body
The P1R has four small bands of knurling on the body, unlike the Fury series that can be slippery to hold.

Tail Cap
Ridges, which are similar in design to SureFire’s other rechargeable LED flashlights, provide grip for twisting the tail cap. On our dual-output Peacekeeper, the tail cap houses a typical forward clicky switch. On the single-output Peacekeeper Tactical (not shown), the tail cap is slightly shorter and houses a tactical “press for momentary, twist for constant on” switch.

To activate the lockout tailcap feature, unscrew the tail cap until the light no longer turns on (about a quarter-turn).

Modes

Two output levels can be activated using the tail switch on the dual-output Peacekeeper model.

High (600 lumens)
A single press or click will activate maximum output.

Low (15 lumens)
Two presses or clicks within two seconds will activate low output.

Performance

Using a Cree XM-L2 LED, the P1R receives a modest boost to 600 lumens of maximum output due to higher efficiency compared to the original Cree XM-L, which produces 500 lumens in the P2X Fury. The P1R produces a smooth and clean beam pattern, much like the wall of light that the P2X is well known for.

Runtime

If you haven’t read our article about runtime graphs and the ANSI FL1 Standard, please click here.

SureFire rates the P1R’s maximum output using tactical runtime and low output as total runtime until battery exhaustion. For the P1R, tactical runtime is essentially the same as ANSI FL-1 Standard runtime (50 lumens = 8.3%).

When using the rechargeable battery, the P1R maintains 95% output for 10 minutes before gradually dropping to 60% over the next 10 minutes. When using primary lithium batteries, the P1R maintains 95% output for 5 minutes before gradually dropping to 50% over the next 10 minutes. Due to this step-down regulation for power conservation, the P1R is able to provide nearly two hours of tactical-level output with either power source.

Conclusion

Given the popularity of the SureFire P2X Fury, introducing an entry-level rechargeable that combines high-output performance with rechargeable economics certainly makes a lot of sense for SureFire. Primary batteries are expensive, especially for professionals who operate their lights frequently and constantly need fresh batteries. The SureFire P1R Peacekeeper lacks some of the bells and whistles found on other SureFire rechargeable lights, such as being able to charge the battery in the light or having a Fuel Gauge status LED, but the P1R retains its compact size and has roughly the same dimensions as the P2X.

Without the ability to charge the battery in the light (which usually requires a proprietary connector that has both battery terminals on the same side), the P1R readily accepts regular 123A batteries in place of the lithium-ion battery. The convenience of being free from adapters makes primary batteries truly a viable alternative, and output regulation ensures long runtimes even on 123A’s. Another benefit of charging batteries outside of the light is that spare batteries (available late October 2014) can be rotated so that the P1R is never waiting for charging to complete. If price has been holding you back from owning a rechargeable light, the SureFire P1R Peacekeeper is an ideal choice because of its compact size, flexibility with battery types, and of course, affordable pricing.

Related Links

SureFire P1R Peacekeeper Product Page