M6

[kakster]

I think the Maxabeam is $1800 RRP, a fair bit more than the M6.

 

[bwaites]

I misspoke and I apologize, I don't have a MC60 with the stock battery in it right now, so I charged a stocker up and compared with my MC60, with the 4000MAH NiMH pack from Ginseng.

The stocker has output similar to the pic above, my MC60 has a LOT more output with the new pack. I would guess at least another 100 lumens.

Maybe Ginseng can give us a better exact comparison.

Bill

 

[Ginseng]

It's easy to gloss over the benefits of a powerful battery pack but that would be a mistake in the case of the MC60. The 3.5Ah UMP and 4Ah NIMH packs provide, on average, 0.8V more than the stock pack. That equates to roughly 100-110 lumens. Nothing to sneeze at. Additionally, the MC60 is brighter than the M6 MN21 for the first 5 minutes and about the same for the first 10 minutes. It then continues to drop in brightness but is still brighter than the MN20 for the first 58 minutes. Total runtime is nearly 70 minutes. If you routinely need lots of light for extended periods, there is nothing to match the MC60 and MC85 for sheer bang-for-buck.

The MC85 runs with the Vector 2MCP 100W spotlight, demolishes any 6V55W spotlight and will be brighter than the 10X...until the 10X runs out of juice, at which point the MC85 will go for another 15 or 20 minutes. All for about $45-50 over the cost of a standard MagCharger.

Wilkey

 

[jtivat]

The picture above was useing the PowerStream pack. I now have the UMP and it is a bit brighter I will need to usdate my pictures soon. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif


What is the MC85? I must have missed something?

 

[bwaites]

I'll testify to Ginsengs post.

My MC85 compared with a 100 watt H3 bulb running at 14.4 volts in a Carley 1940 reflector shows the MC 85 puts out a tighter beam, the H3 puts out more light. Within 100 yards the H3 just flat lights the world up, but the MC85 throws a tight spot a little further.

The MC60 with a 4Ah pack is not quite as bright as the MC85, but is amazingly close for a 6 volt bulb!

Compare the Aurora, a Mag 3D based and sized light, with the the M6 and the world falls apart for the Surefire!

The M6 is a great light, but bang for buck goes to the MagCharger derivatives.

Bill

 

[glock_nor_cal]

I dont understand what color tempature means in. the 2 ways i understand light are: how long you can't see after looking at it, and how far away this works at.
My freinds would really think I had issues if i told them how much my M6 cost. i wouldn't ever consider a Maxabeam, plus I think the m6 is all i'd ever need for my purposes.

 

[Ginseng]

jtivat,
The MC85 is a MagCharger body, WA01185 bulb and 9xAA nimh battery pack. Two variants exist. One with a soldered pack and one using 3 of EL's 3-D adpaters and loose cells. A modified cradle and uprated wall-wart allows in-torch charging of the battery pack. A Mag85 can be made for even cheaper than the MC85. The UMP will still make the MC60 about 50-60 lumens brighter than with a PS pack. A marginally visible increment.

So Bill,
Did you just let out the secret of the "mule"? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif Yeah, the LOLA 1,700 bulb lumen (1,100 torch lumen) 20-minute runtime rechargeable blows the civilian offerings from SF, but it is quite a bit larger than an M6.

Wilkey

 

[bwaites]

Wilkey,

More on the "Mule" is posted in the "Mule" thread. I don't think the H3 is the best solution, but I have tried a variant of that. However, it is BRIGHT!

So far as size, yes the MC is bigger, but nobody said anything about size! Who said anything about 20 minutes?:)

Bill

 

[js]

In the defense of SF M6, it should also be mentioned that the M6 has a shock isolated bezel and a quick change battery holder. It's small size and light weight have already been mentioned. So while light output per dollar is nothing to sneeze at, SureFire certainly didn't have this foremost in mind when designing the M6. Plus, the M6, along with the M3T, is one awesome looking light.

 

[liteitup]

thanks for the beam shots! Looks impressive...

I see you guys talking about a H3 bulb, does that also fit in a mag charger?

 

[Dynacolt]

JTice, I don't think you're supposed to justify buying an M6, it's something you just do /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif.

I agree with js, the M6 is small and bright, you don't often need it on for more than a minute or so (I don't need to change batteries often), and most of us would have an alternative light if we don't need the extreme output of this one. Now, an HID in it would be nice. The Beast looks too big. I'm ordering the Dynaluxx as soon as it's available.

 

[glock_nor_cal]

dyna its true, i beat around the bush for a long time, wasted money on an M3T, i shoudl have just bought the M6 in the first place, ive wanted one since i first learned of surefire. i finally just laid down the cash, i have a feeling i'm not goign to be dissapointed.