Surefire Z3 Combatlight Upgrade?

[bklyn_irish]

I have an old Surefire Z3 Combatlight that I've have for a number of years that I'd like to (again) upgrade. It's currently wearing a Surefire KX4 head and surely there are brighter offerings available.

Recommendations?

 

[thermal guy]

Malkoff 😁

 

[Kestrel]

Tough to power competitively with lithium ion rechargeables the last time I checked, though. Back in the day we'd use 2x17500 or 2x18500 LiIon for more watt-hours than a single 18650, but the revolution in power density for the 18650 was never applied to those other cells.

Unless things have changed, it made more sense to put in a modern 16650 and a spacer, essentially making it into merely a rechargeable Z2 that's 50% longer.

Which is unfortunate; I have always liked the 3-cell Surefires. :-/
Years ago I gave up on powering my SF C3 with LiIon rechargeables; now I merely load it with 3xCR123 primaries for backup, to my superior 'two-cell' 1x18650 lights.

Edit: Well, there is still the 2xAA implementation, but that's just for people one cell shy of a full load. ;-)

 

[F89]

Malkoff M91B and keep using 3xCR123.

 

[bklyn_irish]

Herein lies the rub- I cannot find the original head to accept the drop-in.

 

[ampdude]

Herein lies the rub- I cannot find the original head to accept the drop-in.

You'll probably just have to locate one in the B/S/T of this forum or watch some auctions. They're not too difficult to find and Malkoff is really the best option these days. I'm mostly incan myself though still with the 3 cell lights.

 

[NH Lumens]

Check Lumens Factory, Mark has a nice selection of Z44 style bezels. I agree a M91B would be the drop-in of choice, and it will take up to 12v so three 16340 Li-ion cells could also be used.

 

[bklyn_irish]

Check Lumens Factory, Mark has a nice selection of Z44 style bezels. I agree a M91B would be the drop-in of choice, and it will take up to 12v so three 16340 Li-ion cells could also be used.


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Thanks for the steer on Lumens Factory, as I was also looking to upgrade two Insight Technology M3 weapon lights, and they had the kits for it.

I've also located a K44 head elsewhere and will go with the M91B.

 

[bklyn_irish]

WOW!!! M91B

 

[ampdude]

You'll never be disappointed with a warm Malkoff.

 

[Monocrom]

Sell it.... Buy a SureFire P1RZ-B-DFT.

 

[ampdude]

Sell it.... Buy a SureFire P1RZ-B-DFT.

Uh... NO. We normally agree on most things, but we're gonna have to agree to disagree there.

 

[Monocrom]

Buy the latest and greatest one. You know you want to. 😁

 

[bklyn_irish]

Buy the latest and greatest one. You know you want to. 😁

Always tempting!

 

[Monocrom]

Uh... NO. We normally agree on most things, but we're gonna have to agree to disagree there.

I will agree that the older sureFires from back in the day were better, in terms of build quality.

 

[ampdude]

I will agree that the older sureFires from back in the day were better, in terms of build quality.

I just think that Malkoff has old school Surefire quality still.. and Surefire doesn't anymore.

 

[F89]

I just think that Malkoff has old school Surefire quality still.. and Surefire doesn't anymore.

They're both good still. Recently bought from both.
The Surefire EDC2-DFT is very good indeed.

 

[ampdude]

They're both good still. Recently bought from both.
The Surefire EDC2-DFT is very good indeed.

Are they still using circuit board contacts on the LED heads, or did they move back to springs for reliability?