Magcharger vs surfire,,,, which is brighter?

[voodoogreg]

I have been carrying a mag charger for 12-14 yr's, i love it's brightness, but i like the size of the surefire 8X. i have never compared the two, but many cops here in town have switched over to 8x's. i would hazard a guess that the mag is brighter, but i am hoping someone here can give me a general idea. since i have hung out here, i have learned lumuns and candle power aren't much to judge by.
anyone got both? could you rate them on a 10 scale mag charger with standard factory bulb, (not the new brighter one) being ten. and where the 8x falls? thanks bro's greg

 

[dano]

I think the 8X is a waste of a light. Poorly designed, lackluster output.

A Magcharger is brighter.

--dan

 

[Byron Walter]

I have a Mag Charger and an 8x. As much as I don't care for Mag I must say that the MC is damn good. It vastly out-shines the 8x. And that's from a SF fan...

...even after all these years the MC still does a great job. Oh, and make sure you have the "new and improved" bulb which should make the MC even better.

______

RATING: If the MC is a 8.5 with the old bulb then the 8x is about a 3 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[jtivat]

The Mag bulb is rated at 175 lumens and the output of the SF is 110. The Mag will out throw and put out more light than the 8X but also comes in a bigger package.

 

[jtivat]

I also like the charger on the Mag better than any rechargable out there just slam it in you don't need to worry about twisting or turning it or worse yet takeing the battery out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[FlashlightOCD]

The 8ax I have puts out a very nice fairly tight beam for 110 lumen [using a textured reflector]. The MagCharger will definitely out throw the 8ax, on the other hand I can throw the 8ax a lot further than I could throw the MagCharger [The point being the 8ax is much smaller and lighter]

I think we need a new unit of measure: Lumens Per Oz. I suspect the 8ax would beat the MagCharger in LPO.

 

[Unicorn]

The 8AX is a waste. For the same price I'd rather get a Stinger. Even though I really like most of SureFire's light,s I can't standthe 8AX or 8NX. It might be good for searching though a car or closet, but that's all IMO.

 

[arioch]

I have the original 8x, the 8nx, and the 8ax, as well as the Magcharger. I think that the Magcharger is not really comparable to the SF 8 series, as they are two different classes of lights. The Magcharger should be compared with others in its class, like the Tigerlight and the Ultrastinger, while the 8x is more in line with the SL Stinger series or TTL series.

I prefer my original 8x to the two newer versions, and had used it as my primary backup work light until I got my SNII (primary) and SL TL2led (backup).

I had also used the Magcharger as my primary work light for a while, but found it kind of heavy for constant carry.

To answer the original question on this thread, the Magcharger puts out a whiter and brighter beam with significantly superior throw, with either the original bulb or the new bulb. The 8x puts out a more uniform beam with a well defined hotspot.

That being said, I really found that the Magcharger with the original bulb produces a terrible beam. The new bulb along with some WriteRight improved things a lot. Really worth the $5.00.

 

[Blikbok]

I had a chance to see a real, live, well-worn MagCharger in the hands of a home inspector. I was almost slack-jawed at the non-MagLight output. So smooth and white. It spanked my freshly charged 9AN in everyway, but only beat my C3-P90 on Li-ion in the size of the hotspot.

Very, very impressed. However, the MagCharger's owner was quite impressed with the handiness of my C3. I showed him the E2e and he may get one.

If I could ignore the company's behavior, and go back in time five years, I'd have one.

 

[Byron Walter]

Based on my perception of Mag's behavior I gave away all my Mags except for my Mag Charger. Then again, that was only two out of three FL's (I'd already pitched several broken MiniMags).

Not long after the MC came out I bought one for my mother and sister who live together in the country. They have beaten the crap outta that MC... mother has even used it for a hammer! The thing still works fine. They've only had to replace bulbs, batteries, and rubber buttons (which are very inexpensive).

 

[tkl]

[ QUOTE ]
Byron Walter said: They've only had to replace bulbs, batteries, and rubber buttons (which are very inexpensive).

[/ QUOTE ] "only"? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

 

[Unicorn]

[ QUOTE ]
tkl said:
[ QUOTE ]
Byron Walter said: They've only had to replace bulbs, batteries, and rubber buttons (which are very inexpensive).

[/ QUOTE ] "only"? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

Depending on how long they've had it, and how much it's abused, that really isn't much. The same as for any other light. Bulbs are a given, they burn out, especially when the light is beat and used as a hammer. Batteries only last about five years of heavy use. The battery in my Stinger died in less than a year (my fault from over discharging a couple of times I think), and one of the P90's in my older 9N has a dead cell.
The rubber switch cover does seem a bit weak though.

 

[Byron Walter]

[/ QUOTE ] "only"? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thinking.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

TKL,

They've had that MC for maybe 15 years and that thing has been abused big-time. Believe me, my 86 year old mother and 45 year old sister are extremely hard on things. Their MC looks like its been subject to a tactical nuke. Much of the black finish is gone, there are gouges in the metal body, and the lens retainer is dented in several places. In fact I believe that they've managed to destroy nearly everything that I've ever bought them. For example, the last led light that I bought for my sister only lasted about a week. I'm sure not going to lend them my MC, Arcs or SF's! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[voodoogreg]

Thanks guys I am still real new to the highend flashlight companies. who makes the ultra stinger, and tiger light?
and are they rechargable? I love my MC, still kills, for a 11-14 yr old light. i just asumed that since i knew some cops using the 8ax, i figured it was similar, and i loved the size,(cool looking too!) after carrying a mag it gets heavy, that was my reason to look for a replacement. the 10x dominator looks smaller then a MC, but i don't like the bigger head on it.
any other rechargeables worth look into?

BTW, love this forum! got about 5 princeton techs eclise's i love, gave one to my mother and daughter, and have come in useful for such a small light!(really like my green one) I stated collecting LED "key chain" lights for fun and I bet this will become an addiction! i want an ARC triple AAA "P" and a ARC ALS LSH-premium, and an infinity ultra soon.
thanks guys think of anything let me know! peace Greg

 

[Size15's]

Streamlight makes the UltraStinger
TigerLight makes the TigerLight
Both are rechargeable.
I have both an UltraStinger and TigerLight 8".
I don't have a MagCharger though.
I have a few different rechargeable SureFires including the 10X.

There are a brand of rechargeable dutylights called Pila or Wolfeyes. I believe the "GL4" model is meant to be excellent against models such as the Stinger and 8AX/9AN.

Pelican make a "BlackKnight" line or duty rechargeables that have been discussed on CPF a bit.

Al

 

[Phaserburn]

voodoo, try a W/A 01160 in your M/C; if you think it's bright and throws now, you haven't seen NUTHIN yet! A $3 upgrade, and super easy as a regular bulb change. Runtime reduced to 45 mins, but the M/C turns from a great light to a Headlight On a Stick! 175 lumens to 375++.