Maglite vs. UltraStinger

[jnc36rcpd]

I've carried a Maglite since the mid-eighties. I've always been happy with the quality of the light, but unimpressed with the shadows and the fact that the head never seems properly focused when you first turn the light on.

A couple of our troops have the UltraStinger. It seems like a very impressive light. The UltraStinger keeps its focus and is long enough to be used as an impact weapon (authorized in our directives).

Any opinions on these flashlights? Thanks, be safe, and power with light.

 

[SCOTT THE BADGER]

Hey, John, Welcome to Candlepower Forums. I ordered an UltraStinger two weeks ago from the Sable Company. I will let you know how well it stands up against my SureFire M4. How was the SureFire Instructors class? Did they let you play with any 10X Dominators? I talked to Jeanne at Streamlight Customer Service last week, and she told me I will be very pleased with the UltraStinger, and also said there is a ten week backlog in orders. If it is as good as they claim, maybe I'll send one to Bunny Sandy, and corrupt her into being a Light Fiend, I've already got her hooked on short Norweigen cops that look like Sloth Bears. Again, glad to see you here, my friend, you'll like it here, there are no trolls to be found, unlike a another forum we both go to.

 

[Dizney]

I've only had my Ultrastinger for approximately one week, but so far it's performed quite impressively.....much brighter than the city issued SL20 I received many years ago. It doesn't outshine my M6, but it also doesn't burnup six 123s in 20 minutes. I would've been able to compare the Ultrastinger to an M4 but I gave it to my brother as a birthday gift. In hindsight I should have given him an Ultrastinger.....much less $$

The best thing about the Ultrastinger is it's cost vs performance ratio......I paid $65.00 for the light (no charger). On another thread, I recalled that someone made a nicad pack for the Ultrastinger which gave it a 90 minute runtime.

Take care and be safe out there.

 

[jnc36rcpd]

Thanks for the replies, guys.

The Surefire Institute school (Officer Survival in Low Light Comditions Instructor course) was a tough, demanding school. We worked nine to eleven hours everyday except the last one.

Surefire emphasizes force-on-force training using paintball pistols and rifles. There were also daily defensive tactics classes. The classes were Eastern martial arts-based. The skills were very practical, but also counter-intuitive to some of us. Everyone ended up pretty banged up by early in the week.

They did emphasize some of what they saw as positive attributes of their products, but the class was certainly no sales presentation. The course included an extensive instructor's manual, CD rom presentation, discount on products, and a CombatLight and holster.

We were allowed to examine various Surefire products during the week. The only "sales" presentation was the last day when one instructor went through the various products available. While we could examine the super high-powered lights, we did not use them in any of the exercises. I actually think that might have been helpful for an instructor level course, allowing us to see what's available in street conditions.

It indicates what a tool that the Internet has become that I "knew" several attendees from NTOA, legun-instructors, or other boards.

Well, this is a bit astray of the UltraStinger question. Good to see you on a non-troll board, Scott. Be safe.

 

[Unicorn]

How does the Ultrastinger compare to the MagCharger?

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Unicorn:
How does the Ultrastinger compare to the MagCharger?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I carry a MagCharger and several guys I work with have recently gotten the UltraStingers. The UltraStingers do seem to have a slightly brighter hot spot and are a bit smaller and lighter. However, while the UltraStinger does have a brighter hot spot it is also a smaller hotspot than that of the MagCharger.

 

[Gandalf]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Unicorn:
How does the Ultrastinger compare to the MagCharger?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I own both of these lights. As pointed out before, the UltraStinger has a tighter, and better defined hot spot, and therefore, somewhat more reach. But shining a new Maglite, and a new UltraStinger at the wall, side by side, shows me that there is not much difference in light output. The UltraStinger has a slight edge, but it's not very large, not nearly what the claimed 75,000 CP(Cr*p Power?) vs. Maglight's 30,000 CP would make you think. The UltraStinger is significantly ligher in weight; I believe that is it's biggest advantage. My gut feeling, with no data to back it up, is that the Maglight is likely to hold up to hard use better than the UlstaStinger. Maybe because the Maglite simply has more mass, and feels more substantial. Both lights put out a lot of lumens, (although I don't know the numbers), as a cost significantly below what the better SureFire rechargeables are. But the SureFires are even smaler and lighter than the UltraStinger; that's part of the cost of small size and ultra high output. One thing I like about the UltraStinger is the fact that you can build your own battery packs out of standard sub C NiCad batteries.

 

[JB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>One thing I like about the UltraStinger is the fact that you can build your own battery packs out of standard sub C NiCad batteries.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yup, someone posted about using the Sanyo RC2400 (gives another 600mAh). This means the charging time goes up by a third right?

I've also seen new 3000mAh Ni-MH sub C batteries out. Any idea how well these will work in the UltraStinger?

 

[PeLu]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JB:

I've also seen new 3000mAh Ni-MH sub C batteries out. Any idea how well these will work in the UltraStinger?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Then you will need another charger. You may use your old charger, but don't expect a long battery life.

 

[JB]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Then you will need another charger. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Dang! This means we'll be stuck since the holder for the UltraStinger is proprietary. Oh well, at least we still have the 2400mAh Ni-Cd alternative.

 

[lightlover]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Gandalf:
I own both of these lights .............. the claimed 75,000 CP(Cr*p Power?) vs. Maglight's 30,000 CP ........................ Both lights put out a lot of lumens, (although I don't know the numbers)............. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Gandalf, I read in some reliable place that the Mag-Charger puts out 155 Lumens.

A big Plus, the Mag-Charger is much more beautiful than any Streamlight.

(Thank you for listening ...... )

lightlover

 

[JB]

The Magcharger would be a lot more attractive if it wasn't so big. I don't fancy carrying a 12.6", 32oz light. The UltraStinger at 11.75", 17.6oz is much easier on the arm.

Still, it's nothing compared to using a 6D Maglite (19.5", 50oz) or the SL-35X (17.5", 44.8oz). Those are massive!

 

[Velcro]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by *something ridiculous:
Gandalf, I read in some reliable place that the Mag-Charger puts out 155 Lumens.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

? I read somewhere on a website that the MagCharger puts out 330 or 390 lumen, not sure which of the two it was.


Greetings,
Velcro