Anyone edc a surefire?

[Dicaeopolis]

I've been carrying my G2X Pro this week at work. I really like that light. If Surefire would make it to accept an 18650 I would carry it more. I use a 16650 in it.

 

[yazkaz]

Could you explain why they don’t maintain good focus with a tower module? Maybe show a beam shot of what you are talking about if it’s not too much trouble? You have me curious now.

The E2 head assy's (integrated) reflector does fine with focusing traditional incan tower modules as it should; just not the case with LED tower modules. And according to LF, no matter how hard they've tried in refining its LED towers, maintaining a decently tight beam profile (as with the incans) is just not possible.

I have two of such towers modules: one with 319a (4000K) and another one with XPG2 (S5). The latter seems to focus better than the former with the said head assy, but the same is not true with the former. Problem is, the latter module is custom made (BTO) only. So with the former, while the beam profile is very usable at short range, at long range the hotspot simply becomes too weak to cut through the distance, and hence rendered useless.

 

[Megalamuffin]

The E2 head assy's (integrated) reflector does fine with focusing traditional incan tower modules as it should; just not the case with LED tower modules. And according to LF, no matter how hard they've tried in refining its LED towers, maintaining a decently tight beam profile (as with the incans) is just not possible.

I have two of such towers modules: one with 319a (4000K) and another one with XPG2 (S5). The latter seems to focus better than the former with the said head assy, but the same is not true with the former. Problem is, the latter module is custom made (BTO) only. So with the former, while the beam profile is very usable at short range, at long range the hotspot simply becomes too weak to cut through the distance, and hence rendered useless.

Interesting. Thanks for the explanation.

 

[sween1911]

Could you explain why they don’t maintain good focus with a tower module? Maybe show a beam shot of what you are talking about if it’s not too much trouble? You have me curious now.

The light from an incandescent bulb originates from a single point, and shoots light in 360 degrees in a sphere, and the reflector gathers it from all angles and shoots it forward.

When we stick an LED on a little stalk and slide it into the spot where a bulb was, the little dome on the LED projects most of the light forward and not a lot is caught by the reflector unless the reflector is setup specifically to gather light from an LED instead of a bulb. Sometimes people use thin washers or shims to adjust the standoff so the tower module doesn't protrude as far into the reflector and more of the light hits the sides to project forward.

I got my hands on a Surefire Millennium Turbohead and tried it on my M3 (essentially making it an M3T) with a Lumens Factory LED tower module and was unimpressed. A setup like a Malkoff Hound Dog with its nice deep reflector is specifically made to gather and project the maximum amount of light forward. That's also why we see a lot of optics on LED lights instead of reflectors.

 

[Megalamuffin]

The light from an incandescent bulb originates from a single point, and shoots light in 360 degrees in a sphere, and the reflector gathers it from all angles and shoots it forward.

When we stick an LED on a little stalk and slide it into the spot where a bulb was, the little dome on the LED projects most of the light forward and not a lot is caught by the reflector unless the reflector is setup specifically to gather light from an LED instead of a bulb. Sometimes people use thin washers or shims to adjust the standoff so the tower module doesn't protrude as far into the reflector and more of the light hits the sides to project forward.

I got my hands on a Surefire Millennium Turbohead and tried it on my M3 (essentially making it an M3T) with a Lumens Factory LED tower module and was unimpressed. A setup like a Malkoff Hound Dog with its nice deep reflector is specifically made to gather and project the maximum amount of light forward. That's also why we see a lot of optics on LED lights instead of reflectors.

I am glad to know that since I’m acquiring a collection of incan e series and was assuming they would be just as good as anything modern with an led tower module. Now I’ll have appropriate expectations for that set up. Thank you for explaining.

 

[alpg88]

The light from an incandescent bulb originates from a single point, and shoots light in 360 degrees in a sphere, and the reflector gathers it from all angles and shoots it forward.

When we stick an LED on a little stalk and slide it into the spot where a bulb was, the little dome on the LED projects most of the light forward and not a lot is caught by the reflector unless the reflector is setup specifically to gather light from an LED instead of a bulb. Sometimes people use thin washers or shims to adjust the standoff so the tower module doesn't protrude as far into the reflector and more of the light hits the sides to project forward.

I got my hands on a Surefire Millennium Turbohead and tried it on my M3 (essentially making it an M3T) with a Lumens Factory LED tower module and was unimpressed. A setup like a Malkoff Hound Dog with its nice deep reflector is specifically made to gather and project the maximum amount of light forward. That's also why we see a lot of optics on LED lights instead of reflectors.

Yes, after mod dozens of lights from bulbs to leds, i can confirm, most bulb reflectors do not work with leds, there are few exceptions however, (lucky for us maglite has one of those reflectors that do work ok with leds,), my attempt to convert e2 to led failed, the beam was horrible.

 

[bykfixer]

One of the things I like about the Tana singLED is the placement of the LED is such that it picks up the light reflected sideways and adds it to the reflector.
Now of course it does not cast the light like the incan SureFire bulb does in a drill bit fashion but it does a better job at mimicing the beam of a light bulb.
One day I was sent an E with a Tana to compare to my incan E and the difference between the two was pretty subtle indoors. Now outdoors, yeah the light bulb out threw the LED but not enough to change my mind about going LED in my E2D.
Not trying to endorse one brand over another but to me the Tana was well worth the cost if for no other reason, the beam is pretty nice.

Some pix:
Up close the apples and oranges thing shows they are similar

But add some distance and you see the bulb is so much more throwey as the LED hot spot begins to show how less reflected light affects the beam.

Pics are from an E1 incan head with a SureFire bulb and an LED module from an E1 incan head set to about the same output.

The Maglite LED reflector works because they locate the module where 100% of the light that comes out of the LED hits the reflector. So even though the LED "bulb" puts light out at 180 degrees all 180 degrees hits the reflector. Some others recess the LED bulb slightly or worse, place it a bit out front.

Type of LED matters too just like the shape of the bulb globe used to. I'll let others who know way more than I do discuss which LED's are better at throw.

 

[scalpel_ninja]

These clips make daily carrying a 6P a lot easier.

Works on an MD2 as well!

 

[sween1911]

That's pretty snazzy! What clips are they? I could use one for my 6P.

 

[scalpel_ninja]

That's pretty snazzy! What clips are they? I could use one for my 6P.

LPC, or Low Profile Carry made by Thyrm.

It comes with an aluminum washer and O-ring to fit different models. It actually fits the MD2 the best, using no extra parts or spacers.

The 6P needs an O-ring to take up the slack in the gap between the tail cap and body.

 

[bykfixer]

A Maglite XL clip and Elzetta speed clip work too.

But I still prefer the anti-roll 6P to be clipless.

 

[TMedina]

LPC, or Low Profile Carry made by Thyrm.

It comes with an aluminum washer and O-ring to fit different models. It actually fits the MD2 the best, using no extra parts or spacers.

The 6P needs an O-ring to take up the slack in the gap between the tail cap and body.

Ah well - it's not like I needed to save money this month anyway.

 

[3_gun]

I did for about 4 years, a stock L2. Used it for work & as an EDC. Great light, still is as it's tied to my EDC backpack as I type this. It often finds it's self on/in my GO bag depending on my mood & needs. It's on the pack now because of the 123a batteries being more consistent as a power source in cold (freezing) and below temps. Not a true EDC as it's only with me if I have the pack w/me which is often but not always

 

[sween1911]

I did for about 4 years, a stock L2. Used it for work & as an EDC. Great light, still is as it's tied to my EDC backpack as I type this. It often finds it's self on/in my GO bag depending on my mood & needs. It's on the pack now because of the 123a batteries being more consistent as a power source in cold (freezing) and below temps. Not a true EDC as it's only with me if I have the pack w/me which is often but not always

The Surefire L2 is awesome! I had one for awhile. Great light to keep in your bag as it's good at just about everything. My work bag used to be a Maxpedition Sitka before I took to carrying my laptop all the time (now it's a Hazard4 Switchback, same sling-style, but larger and with a built in laptop compartment), and I'd always have the L2 in the outer pocket. At one point, I had an L2, A2 and L1, the 2-stage trifecta. The A2 and L2 have long since been sold. Great to hear the old Surefires still getting love.

 

[bla2000]

Does the Thyrm LPC allow a light having a z41 to tailstand?

 

[scalpel_ninja]

Does the Thyrm LPC allow a light having a z41 to tailstand?

It doesn’t. As seen in the comparison photo below, the LPC does not completely shroud the button.

 

[bla2000]

Thanks for the photo. Too bad it doesn't allow for tailstanding. I thought the clip part on the side may have been enough to allow it to tailstand.

I think a version that allows for tsilstanding would be useful. And if they had that then I'd also want a different version compatible with an e series.

 

[nosuchagency]

 

[chip100t]

View attachment 25047

Hi, is that a max vision and did the switchback fit without using washers?

 

[nosuchagency]

yes and yes; however, it does need the provided o-ring to seat properly.