I put a wtb to see if there were any more reasonable price to be had. Most of the used prices I saw were just 20-30 bucks less than buying brand new. I guess it's good to see high resale value but at those price points it makes more sense to buy from the company.
The drill hole, not conjecture, common sense. Tell me, what is a stronger, and a more integral design. An HDS with a drill hole, or one without? Don't need an engineering degree to figure that one out.
As admirable as HDS is, the idea that one was forced to buy a small body then buy the 18650 body to get a longer running tool was too much. For an item to be carried, weight is a factor and the added HDS thickness is not needed for me. I don't own a shotgun so no chance of shooting my flashlight.
Finding myself guilty as well, let's get back on topic, gents.
How about any alternatives to the Executive? The more I research the more I realise that I think that is more suitable for me. The pocket clip setup seems more usable less cumbersome.
Fairly different aesthetics ... but Peak QTC Logan ? ... SureFire T1A ?
I also missed Archimedes post, the Surefire and Peak are very good, low cost suggestions for the OP that are very well made and reliable.
If you choose "Custom-built" under HDS Products, you can pick a specific battery compartment. If you want only an 18650 configuration, no problem, just order it. Want only 2xAA, no problem, just order it.
Just make sure to preprogram the strobe mode of your choosing (can HDS do that :thinking or you'll get a beacon.
Yes. In addition to 24 brightness levels, each of the 4 HDS presets can be configured as FastStrobe, SlowStrobe, Pulsating Strobe, Beacon Strobe, or SOS (46CFR161.013-7 compliant).
Although more difficult to source, OP might consider a MD1 or MD1.5 battery tube made by CPF member Martin White mated to a MDX22.3 head with a Malkoff M361 (or, if you can find one, a P60 with Drjones Lucidrv2). Unlike the short-tube HDS, the MD1 will take an 18350 or 16340.