Help finding a thrower under $200

[TheGame]

Well, I am not really 'new' to the site, but this is my first post(I think). I am also more of a knife guy, but I do appreciate the flashlights as well.

With that said, the following is what I am looking for.

- Around $150. (Can push to $200)
- Max throw possible that will allow for a little flood. (Doesn't need much, just a tad)
-Battery type can be anything I can readily get at a Walmart. (Or internet if need be)

That is all I really want.

I was look at the Olight M31 Triton at first, because it looked cool, too. But I figured I would see what others though, and possibly find something more appealing.

 

[joe1512]

How much throw do you expect to need?

I'd recommend an aspheric lens light. The cheapest of these is a Romisen for 22 bucks! It is very bright (relatively speaking) and you can adjust it so that all you see is a small Square shaped emitter which has a pretty tight beam.
I can easily see stuff from 100 yards away where the square is about the size of a car by that point. It uses simple AAA batteries, or you can use 2 CR123s if you have em.

http://www.shiningbeam.com/servlet/the-215/**NEW**-Romisen-RC-dsh-C8-II/Detail


Otherwise, you need to check out the marketplace here and search for aspheric. Many have homebuilt SST-50 emitters and put really nice aspheric lens on them which gives you awesome throw and little to no spill beam.

 

[Nasty]

Check the M*g85 being offered by mrartillery right now.

I'd buy it I hadn't just built a M*g11.

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=298783

:hitit:

 

[qwertyydude]

I would go for a Solarforce L2 and then buy the masterpiece pro-1 xr-e head for it. This light can use up to 4 cells with a battery extension. If you need batteries cr123 batteries are available in most big box stores and radio shack, but I recommend rechargeable batteries like 18650's for maximum runtime.

The nice thing is you can buy different modules so you're not stuck only having a thrower, you can also buy a p60 drop-in for general use, the xp-g p60 module is pretty throwy and you may be happy with it because for us here throwy lights here mean a thin pencilbeam and they have only a limited usefulness. My p60 xp-g easily throws to 200-300 feet.

The nice thing is even kitting the whole L2 system up you can come in under $100 and solarforce is a more trusted brand and lighthound is a cpf supporter and will stand by their products, can't say that about DX. Even if a majority of my lights come from there.

 

[Belstaff1464]

Check out the Malkoff MD2 with hi/lo or the Elzetta ZFL-M60. Both are Malkoff hosts. The ZFL-M60 comes with a M60 drop in which uses a TIR optic (235lumens 350ft throw). I bought mine from Flashlightsngear for $126 for the hi/lo version after the CPF discount. The MD2 can be bought just as a host or as a turn key light with the M61 (260 lumens 350ft throw $129). You can get the M60 drop in from Oveready if that's your preference, but I think the M61, and in particular the warm version, has a more useful beam.

 

[bkumanski]

How about a gently used Catapult V2...Maybe someone is selling one in the Marketplace :sssh:.

 

[grumbler]

Surefire's TIR lights are incredibly efficient throwers. My LX2 will on low (15 lumens) throws nearly as well as my stock incandescent A2 (50 lumens).

I didn't know that other companies make TIR lenses. As long is it's TIR, you're set for throw.

 

[funkymonkey1111]

malkoff hounddog with an MD3 body can be had, with shipping, for under $200. you needn't look any further.

 

[HKJ]

Might I suggest you take a look here, I have compared many of the larger lights. There is also a list of prices (searched on the internet the day before I published the beamshot).

 

[pwatcher]

I recently bought a Tiablo A10, and I think it is the reigning champ of non-aspheric throwers currently.

Do some google searching on cpf threads, and see if you don't agree!

 

[jcalvert]

I went through this process recently as well, and ended up with the Tiablo A10-G (gun mountable version) and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

My second choice probably would have been the Catapult V2, so you might want to consider the one for sale on the Marketplace suggested by bkumanski.

Another strong contender for my hunting needs was the modularity of the Solarforce L2p or L2x host with the Masterpiece Pro-1 head as sugessted by quertydude.

Based on my experience, a couple of questions you should ask yourself is, 1) what is your intended target? (i.e., for deer hunting),
2) what do you think would be the actual max distance you would truly need?,
3) how much useable spill might you need at the point it reaches the target (i.e., for deer hunting, do you want to just light up the target deer [an aspheric] or focus on the target, but also see what else is within a certain range of the target for the spill to illuminate?)

John

 

[kengps]

4) how large in diameter do you want to go. That is the most important first consideration for throw. After that you have many choices in each size range.

 

[TheGame]

I went through this process recently as well, and ended up with the Tiablo A10-G (gun mountable version) and I couldn't be happier with my choice.

My second choice probably would have been the Catapult V2, so you might want to consider the one for sale on the Marketplace suggested by bkumanski.

Another strong contender for my hunting needs was the modularity of the Solarforce L2p or L2x host with the Masterpiece Pro-1 head as sugessted by quertydude.

Based on my experience, a couple of questions you should ask yourself is, 1) what is your intended target? (i.e., for deer hunting),
2) what do you think would be the actual max distance you would truly need?,
3) how much useable spill might you need at the point it reaches the target (i.e., for deer hunting, do you want to just light up the target deer [an aspheric] or focus on the target, but also see what else is within a certain range of the target for the spill to illuminate?)

John

To answer these questions
1. Yes, it is primarily for spotting deer.
2. 200-300 yards is the furthest I would be able to actually see without a woods or a hill being blocking my way.
3. It would just need to be about the size of a deer. Larger would be fine, but preferably not smaller.

As for all the suggestions, thank you for them all. I am quickly realizing I will soon be buying as many flashlights as I do blades. And that is not good. :faint:

I am constantly looking out. I have some time to make my decision, and all of the things considered, I know I will end up with more then one.

 

[jcalvert]

To answer these questions
1. Yes, it is primarily for spotting deer.
2. 200-300 yards is the furthest I would be able to actually see without a woods or a hill being blocking my way.
3. It would just need to be about the size of a deer. Larger would be fine, but preferably not smaller.

As for all the suggestions, thank you for them all. I am quickly realizing I will soon be buying as many flashlights as I do blades. And that is not good. :faint:

I am constantly looking out. I have some time to make my decision, and all of the things considered, I know I will end up with more then one.

The Game,

Wasn't that a movie with Ice-T as "the game"?

I should have added as a question in my last post, "will the light be strictly for tracking movement patterns unattached to your gun or will you also be mounting it to a gun and using it with a scope while firing?"

In Michigan, we can hunt deer 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunet. So having a 1" barrel, gun-mountable light would be useful although I won't be using mine on my gun. Does bear hunting have similar "daily hours of hunting" laws and if so, will you need your light mounted? You'll need to consider that when choosing your light.

Anyway, based on your needs, if you think you'll definately be taking shots within 200 yards due to natural obstructions, which was a strong consideration for me, and you would prefer to utilize a standard, round, relatively focused beam, then the Tiablo A10-G would be my "personal" recomendation. Of course others will offer more choices to consider.

If your target bear would be beyond the 200 yard range, while using a scope, an aspheric will put an actual spot of light right on a bear. The only thing I wouldn't care for, is the spot will be an actual projection of the square emitter and probably be blue in color. But then as long as it gets the job done, then who cares. I believe some aspherics are more pronounced projections than others.

So if you think aspheric-lens lights would best meet your needs, you would have to get that particular advice from those with that experience.

I really hope I helped a fellow hunter. Best of luck and stay safe! :thumbsup:

John