SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT (Part 1)

[jumpstat]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

DM51,

Thank you Sir for your indepth review on this matter. Before this it was difficult to get the full knowledge on what are on offer for the SF M6. Now its very clear which path to go for a rechargeable solution.

I have invested with the necessary stuff to run a bi pin WA01185 which IMO every M6 owners should have.

I am currently using the LF HO-M6R 6xR123a and I can report that this is a capable setup. The beam profile is THROW! smaller hotspot than MN21 (primaries) but intense! The spill is even and useable also. It runs cooler than MN21 where extended runs can be employed. Construction of the LA is excellent.

To those on the fence about getting this, don't. Get an M6 !

 

[LuxLuthor]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

DM, seeing that collection and detailed labels & displays suddenly made me feel better about my own hoarding neurosis. Knowing the expense of those parts, that is quite a remarkable (& beautiful) collection.

I love the closeup comparison and comments of the bipin bulbs. Makes a very clear case. I could gush on and on over the quality of this shootout...but I will just give you the very best compliment I can think of:

Over the last 2-3 years, I have never seen the value of getting an M-6, given its expense and never using the M4 I got years ago. Your shootout now has me thinking I should probably buy an M-6. Notice I just bought requisite parts from FM's two threads.
​

Outstanding job, DM51. :thumbsup:

Edit: What is the run time of that HO-M6R for the $30 price?

 

[chimneycheck]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Very Nice DM51. And nice friggin collection. I have a mind to call you a showoff

Lux,

The HO-M6R runtime on 6 RCR123's is supposed to be 35 minutes. Based on my useage in the field I would say that is fairly accurate (maybe a bit less) with good batteries.

The 3 x 17670's should run longer but I have not noticed to be any brigher.

I have to disagree with the seemingly agreed upon opinion that this HO-M6R is a contender to the M21. In the field the M21 blows it away when I am looking in attics, crawl spaces and down chimneys.

The throw of the LF bulb is a good deal better though but output is singificantly less in actual application, based on my use.

There is no questioning the fact that the 1185 is significantly brighter than the MN21 but I certainly prefer the beam shape of the MN21. My 1185's have an ovalish beam when used with my M6 which irritates (yes, I know - nitpicky) me when using it (hence my recent "sale" of my M6 that I got cold feet on).

When I finally get the parts to use FM's 6 by 17670 holder and my 14.4 volt pack in the M6 maybe I'll try to figure out how to post beamshots of various bulbs as bright as or brighter than the 1185 (any less light and I don't see the point). Depends on time. You all must not have kids. Can't see where ya get the time to do these elaborte beam shots and then post them

Wow! That is dedication:thumbsup:

John

 

[Icebreak]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Tremendous work there, DM51. This is so much better than trying to cypher my own foggy imaginations derived from many descriptions. I like that it's all done in a really nice pastoral setting.

Integrating Tree. Love that terminology. Can I use it?


- Jeff

 

[Monocrom]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT



Wow! ..... That was fantastic!

Thank You.

 

[sb_pete]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

I can't get over that picture of the case with all those M6 parts in it. You could probably trade the whole thing in for a small car :nana:

LOL, that's exactly what I was thinking.

AWESOME REVIEW DM!:thumbsup: You have my vote for a sticky. This is very useful comparative info about options for a light that many people have and MANY MANY people drool over and dream of having. Well done, my friend.
-Pete

 

[DM51]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Many thanks indeed, to all of you, for your extremely kind words. My aim in this exercise was to answer a few commonly-occurring questions by way of illustrations and examples, and help people in their decisions about which M6R options might suit them. OK, it was fun doing it, too!

Lux: your complimentary words are very kind and generous indeed. Coming from you, the incan specialist par excellence who pioneered classics such as theVaporizer, Hyperblaster, Deathblaster, and other mega-output creations, they are especially nice to receive.

Your question about the run-time of the HO-M6R was answered by chimneycheck, but I am wondering if maybe you meant lifetime. If so, Lumens Factory rate the HO-M6R at 30 hours, which means overall running cost is actually not too bad when compared to some of the ~10 hour hotwire bulbs, and certainly a lot better than over-driven SF bulbs.

Chimneycheck: you raise an interesting point about beam shape. The thing about this shootout was that all the reflectors were identical, so how could the Lumens Factory bulb have a narrower beam and better throw than the Surefire MNxx bulbs?

The answer may lie in the fact that the SF MNxx bulbs all have pointed and frosted tips, whereas the Lumens Factory HO-M6R is rounded and unfrosted. The MNxx frosted section captures a lot of the bulb's output and becomes extremely bright, and light from it is gathered by the reflector and emitted in a slightly more "fuzzy" (smoother overall) pattern, at the expense of throw.

With the HO-M6R, all the light is emiitted from one small point, the filament, with no frosted part getting in the way, and this light is gathered by the reflector efficiently, projecting it further overall. I think it is probably as simple as that.

Icebreak: LOL! Yes, of course you may use the expression Integrating Tree. A while ago c0t0d0s0 told us about his Integrating Bathroom, which was extremely funny, and other people have used Integrating milk cartons and other objects. There's a thread running somewhere about a Glo-Toob on an Integrating Dog-collar, lol.

 

[generic808]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

DM, thanks to you, I just spent a bunch on FM gear (battery holder / Bi-pin socket), 1185 bulbs, and more AW cells :shrug:

Thanks a lot! <---- insert sarcasm there :laughing:

:nana:

 

[LuxLuthor]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

I did mean bulb life, DM, and that last linked chart answers that. Thanks!

In the decreasing unlikelihood of finally getting an M6, I wonder where one would find the best M6 purchasing deal that could be had at the present time.

(I just had a flashback of my grammar school teacher, Mrs. Kring, telling me to now diagram that last sentence!)

 

[CLHC]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

OpticsHQ

 

[jumpstat]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

OpticsHQ

Is there a special CPF discount?

 

[DM51]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

OpticsHQ

Agreed.

 

[DM51]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Is there a special CPF discount?

PM sent.

 

[Icebreak]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

DM51 -

I was looking at your histogram. I was trying to figure out the color setting. It says sRGB. Is that some kind of raw setting? I have a fairly new Canon IS 850 point and shoot and am realizing that it's smartness kind of turns out to be a dumbness. Anyway, I was trying to figure out how to replicate the same settings. I'm using Daylight but can't seem to find an sRGB mode.

Your 12 meg Canon G9 looks like a fine camera.

TIA

- Jeff

 

[DM51]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

It's amazing how much info is stored with a digital pic. A lot of it is way over my head, I'm afraid, but the photo was not shot in RAW, it was jpg (then psd when I added the text overlay, then saved finally again as jpg.)

I'm sorry - I don't know what sRGB is. There are lots of highly skilled photographers here, and I'm sure one of them will know.

I selected manual, dialled in the settings, which (IIRC) were ISO 200, 13 sec at f3.5. Flash was obviously forced off. I don't think I actually set anything else, but I think white balance was auto.

There are so many possible settings on that camera you would need a PhD to use them all, lol. It's a very nice camera - it was a used one, previously owned by someone who had "traded up" to a EOSx (whatever) model.

 

[Icebreak]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Thanks, David. Sounds like about as neutral as possible. (I don't know much about photography). Really nice shots.

You know, I thought I had got a drop or two of raspberry preserves from Sunday breakfast biscuits on my keyboard because it's all tacky feeling. My browser seemed to keep navigating to the same page. On closer inspection I found that the keyboard is clean. The problem, it seems, is this thread. It's very sticky.

 

[LumenMan]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Thank you for this very informative thread ! I'm a huge M6 fan (I have 3... soon to be 4 !) :naughty::thumbsup:

 

[djans1397]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

AWESOME review! Thanks!:thumbsup: Great to know that the HO-M6R that I'm building with my Leef 3x18650 and M4 head will be all that I expected!

Dan

 

[signal 13]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

DM, thanks to you, I just spent a bunch on FM gear (battery holder / Bi-pin socket), 1185 bulbs, and more AW cells :shrug:

Thanks a lot! <---- insert sarcasm there :laughing:

:nana:

Where can I pick up FM gear? Namely the 3 x 17670 holder?

You guys have me wanting to get the M6 now!

I thought I was complete with an M3, M3T, and M4...

 

[brunt_sp]

Re: SureFire M6 rechargeable options – SHOOTOUT

Where can I pick up FM gear? Namely the 3 x 17670 holder?

Here you go.
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/203705