If one plans to use either the HDS or PD in rough duty with good drops, I suggest the use of the SF beam shapper and if not that, the MagAA filter kit, sans the filter. In other words a good rubber bumper on the front end. As Sbebenelli pointed out, the PD has a bezel ring that has been extended past the head to allow for full wall thickness in a single part which will receive the the force on impact. I expect that in many cases, the bezel "bumper" will be up to the impact and keep the head from experiencing permenant damage. I also opted for the less efficient sapphire window over glass in consideration of a bezel bump imparting stress to the window and causing unseen chipping or worse case, cracking of the window. In the event that the bezel were damabed beyond removal, it would be nice if the window were still in good shape to allow for continued use of the light unimpeded by poor light transmision and/or with the sealed integrity of the optic chamber compromised.
Regardless of the cost of these tools, proper care will insure better service and if the activity is prone to subjecting the lights to dropping, either a tether or rubber bumpers might be a good idea. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon3.gif
The low drive level of Sbebenelli's light is approximately 30 mA and the high is in the low 500 mA range. These levels are set with sence resistors that are accessible for exchange with the removal of a single #0-80 screw; certainly not something one can change in the field. Given the capacity of a CR123, the nature of the converter and the size and typical use of the light, there is no reason to change the stock levels, IMHO. BTW, I would hope that anyone unhappy with their lights or any other tools they might be using would either change the tools being used or seek happiness elsewhere if a tool change were not posible. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon15.gif
Yes these lights are expensive!!! From my point of view, I wish that they sold for 4x what they sell for. On behalf of the customer and their point of view, I wish they sold for 1/4 of what they sell for. Fortunately, any purchase is optional and no one is forced to buy or sell. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif