Finally held a Surefire M3, I want one!!

[Schnotts]

I've been oogling the Surefire M3 combatlight with the cren. bezel for some time now. I'm a cop in Northern Ontario where it always seems to be dark and I'm still in search of the perfect work light. I had a Night-ops Gladius but I broke it one night (doing something stupid with it) and that was a great light. I've been using a P1D CE with the Leafy body on it and a 6V Falcata at work but I was down in the US yesterday and found a Surefire flashlight display.
For the first time ever, I actually held a M3. What a nice feeling light, nice and light yet easy to hold and use with a handgun and it appears to be nice and bright. It looks like you can beat someone up nice with it too with its size (a bit large) and cren. bezel. I also have an A2 but I never take it to work. What do you guys think...should I buy one. I don't care about changing batteries (don't want a rechargeable...already got one). I almost busted out the coin yesterday to buy one but I figured I'd ask on here first. What a fantastic looking light!
So is this a great cop light or what? I'll buy now..explain to wife later..heeee

 

[carrot]

Yes, the M3 really is a great light. I have the M3T which I am incredibly fond of. You can get a speed holster for the M3/M3T which can mar the finish of the light but makes carrying and using the M3 much more convenient and faster. I got my M3T from OpticsHQ and you can save a bit of money if you call them up and ask for their CPF discount.

 

[Schnotts]

Pregnant wife is having a nap right now. I should buy it...

 

[Optik49]

I like the Ultra Stinger and G3 with a P92 lamp also the new P3D Q5 is incredibly bright. I had a P9 and switched to the G3 because the tail cap on the P9 was getting too scratched up. These three lights have been my best line up so far. I also have a photon hooked to my bag and a Streamlight MricoStream inside. I recently picked up an A2 but it's a home light with my most favorite light EVER my Novatac 120P. If this does not help then by the M3 if it does not work out for you, put it on the BST. That's what I would do. Good luck and congratulations! Oh ya and if I were you, I would be using money she does not know I have. Just remember "deny till you die" "Honey this thing has been in my locker that's way you haven't seen it."

 

[leukos]

If I were an officer, I would probably carry the G3 since it is so durable, but the M3 is an extremely nice light. I really like how modular it is and the quality is outstanding. Here's my M3/M3T lunchbox:

 

[Tempest UK]

Great light. I own the M3T myself, which feels great in the hand and the throw is really very impressive. I can't speak from the point of view of law enforcement, but the M3 gets a big thumbs up from me

Regards,
Tempest

 

[Schnotts]

Woweee, I want a kit like that!

 

[Monocrom]

An excellent light.... But give consideration to how you'll carry it.

Surefire lists only one type of holster for it. And the kydex rig isn't all that great. The M4 is brighter, also has Surefire quality. You can't use it with a handgun grip, but it has better holster options.

You might have to try a universal, after-market, holster for it. But the M3 is a winner.

 

[jimjones3630]

Great light. my m3 is fs

 

[Patriot]

If I were an officer, I would probably carry the G3 since it is so durable, but the M3 is an extremely nice light. I really like how modular it is and the quality is outstanding. Here's my M3/M3T lunchbox:

Ok..........that's just flat out bitchin leukos! ....lol. Sorry, the term just popped into my head when I saw this pic.

 

[StainlessSteel]

Well. I have to respectfully disagree with everyone so far.

I would not buy an M3, unless you ALREADY own an M6. Because, I have noticed, people usually "work their way up the surefire ladder." And I would prefer that you just saved your money, and went to the top first.

I am serious.

If you would have told me three years ago, "You are going to buy an M6" I would have laughed at you. But after buying a 6p, and seeing what it can do, I started thinking about an M3... but then I said, FOOEY... just buy the M6.

I am VERY happy I did.

With LED technology being the way it is, I personally, (just my opinion) prefer the Malkoff or Bug Out Gear USA drop ins in a Surefire 9p, or other 9 volt light. That way, you get output that is very close to an Incan, but also a LOT of runtime. If I need more output than a 9p with the BOG USA premium plus drop in has... i step up to the M6. Conversely, an M3 wouldnt really be a "step up" from that.

YMMV, & have a good one.

 

[Monocrom]

Well. I have to respectfully disagree with everyone so far.

I would not buy an M3, unless you ALREADY own an M6....

I can understand your reasoning, but there are a few things to keep in mind.

The thick barrel of the M6 makes it less than ideal for some folks. (One of the main reasons why I'll be getting a Surefire 10x Dom. or a Wolf-Eyes Thunder, instead of an M6).

Needs twice the cells of an M3, and tough to get a rechargeable option for the M6.

And finally, price considerations.

 

[Owen]

The M3 is a great light.
The factory lamps leave a lot to be desired, though. The LOLAs are extremely underwhelming, and while the HOLAs are very impressive, they draw an awful lot of current.
The M3, and particularly the M3T, were my "dream lights" for years, but I stayed away until the Lumens Factory M series lamps became available.
Now I've gotten rid of all my incans except my work light(SF Z3), a M3, and M3T.
The M3 with Lumens Factory HO-M3 is as perfect an incandescent as I've ever seen, and would be my #1 choice as a duty light.

 

[sween1911]

The M3 is truly a wonderful light. We played with one that our range officer had when we did a low-light course in IDPA back in the day. (Geesh, I haven't been to the range in too long).

As far as your toy budget allows for a $250 flashlight, that's up to you. Personally, you can snag a G3 or a 9P and find yourself a nice M2 bezel and you'd have a pretty nice P90 powered light and stay under or around $100. You'd lose the combat-grip. My favorite combo is the Z3/M2-bezel combo.

 

[BSBG]

I like my M3, but I don't use it a lot. I prefer the Turbohead, but that adds a lot of size to the medium sized M3 package. I do find myself reaching for my M4 with a Lumensfactory HO M3T lamp, or the mighty M6. I run Li Ion rechargeables in the M4 and find it quite handy slipped into a back pocket.

The M3 is a nice light, and if you want it, get it 'cause you can always add the turbohead later, or an M6, or....

 

[Russianesq]

a turbohead is great for throw :twothumbs

 

[Monocrom]

As far as your toy budget allows for a $250 flashlight, that's up to you. Personally, you can snag a G3 or a 9P and find yourself a nice M2 bezel and you'd have a pretty nice P90 powered light and stay under or around $100. You'd lose the combat-grip. My favorite combo is the Z3/M2-bezel combo.

I recall Al mentioning one time that the threads on the M series are not compatable with the threads on other Surefire models. More specifically, I had asked on CPF about the viability of using an M3 head with a 9P body.

Lighthound has a Leef adapter that makes it possible, but I'm not sure if they have any of those left.

 

[KevinL]

The M3 is a really nice light. Surprisingly, despite the hype attached to the M6 (and the fact that I've handled and used one), I never bought an M6, nor do I feel like, for some reason.. I appreciate the engineering that goes into it, just as I do for lights like the Titan and the Beast, it's just that I don't feel the need to buy one for myself. For those who need it of course, then that is up to them and it has my recommendation too.

If you are on a budget, the C3 is a great light with most of the M3's traits (except shock isolated bezel). It includes the enhanced grip, although it is square rather than round.

One of my other favorite lights is a D3 Defender with SRTH turbohead. mmmmm....

 

[Size15's]

The "M3" bezel can only be used on products that feature "Millennium Series" bezel threads. So this is flashlight bodies such as the M3/M3T/M4/M6/L6.

 

[jumpstat]

Get the M3 you can't go wrong.......M6 too expensive to run IMO but what an output.....then if possible get a M-C leef 2x18650 body for it and a couple of them 18650's and you can use the MN11 effectively for guilt free lumens.......
Its on the left of the picture.....