Re: NiteCore SR3 (1xCR123A/RCR) Review + 18650 Extension: RUNTIMES, BEAMSHOTS, & More
I decided to go for the SR3 as my first 18650 light as soon as the body was posted on the 4sevens web site. I received 5 out of 100. I already had some AW 2600 mAh cells and a charger for another light that has yet to show up (after months of waiting), but the flat top on these cells does not play nice with the polarity protection setup on the head contact of the SR3. And, worse, a magnetic spacer on top of the battery plays havoc with the magnetic switch. However, I contrived a fix; I trimmed a small gold coated spring off of an old broken switch I had in my hobby box, and placed that on top of the cell. Works very well, but it's still kind of a kludge. I may resort to soldering a bead onto the positive contact of the cell.
I don't consider that a problem with the SR3, however, merely the cell. The light itself is very well constructed, and filled with thoughtful features. The threading is very well done, with lead ins machined into the flat surface on the ends of the very thick battery tube, and these make screwing on the head or the switch much easier. It is very grippy even though there is minimal knurling with the 18650 tube on, and it's got a bit heft without being too heavy. It doesn't make my pockets sag, for instance. The holes in the grip ring handle not one but two strands of paracord each, which is unusual and nice. And the ring switch works excellently, allowing for the selection of light levels while the light is off without any issue. While it is on, one can sometimes accidentally activate the 'mode switch' if you are flicking up and down light levels quickly. Decisiveness is the solution for this bug, I think, but it is a minor bug nonetheless. In the woods, it throws very well too; finally I have a light that out throws the my similarly sized 27LT.
Overall, I'm not sorry I dropped the dough on it, though the 18650 tube really ought to come with a sheath that fits the light with the tube installed if they are going to charge over 30 bucks for it.