Need help upgrading Surefire weapon light

[GLOCKshooter]

I have read most of the P60 drop in thread part II, but it is making my head spin!

I have a M952x. That's the throw lever mount 6v light with a pressure pad switch. I want to put it on a shotgun. For this application I would like a drop in LED. I need a really bright one with a lot of spill. I need good light out to 25 yards, but not much more than that.

With the tape switch I think I am limited to a single mode, is that right?

I need one that will take the recoil shock of a 12 gauge (the surefire does have a shock isolated bezel).

I don't know what the best battery/drop in combination would work best, and fit the light. I already have a charger that will charge 3.7 batteries of any size. Could I run an 18650? Is that better or worse than two RCR123's?

Thanks!

 

[divine]

I think you're looking for a M60F with a pair of AW Protected R123A's.

 

[PhantomPhoton]

I don't think there are very many SF weaponlights which can take a P60 type dropin. So if you do have one of the old ones that I believe do exist, you have an absolute gem.
Size15s will hopefully find this thread and advise you as he's one of our resident SF gurus.

Depending on what you get the tape switch won't limit you to one mode. After you've experienced the terrible switching/ cycling that must be done to use one of the multimode heads you'll never want to use one on a weaponlight.

The cream of the crop for P60 comaptable dropins is the Malkoff stuff. Which Malkoff to get would depend on your requirements for runtime and if you want a really floody beam or not. SF goes out of their way to insure that 18650 cells do not fit into their lights so I doubt an 18650 will work in your case. But then again I know very little about the light you have.

 

[angelofwar]

Your weapon light should use an L60 head, so yes, the P60L should work fine. I, personally, would stick with SF to keep your warranty in check. Although the Malkoff's put off more power, you void your warranty. Also, for a light on a boomstick, if you have any intention of using it for your job, home defense, whatever, I would stick with primaries and DEFINITELY NOT rechargeables. What type of shotgun do you have? I have the 918FA (9 volt dedicated fore-end) on my Remington 870. That might be another option for you, depending on your model of gun. I know SF makes them for the benelli's and mossbergs as well. The UI might be more user friendly for ya with one of those? Hope this info was useful!

 

[Monkiee]

Heres an idea, wait until Lumens Factory releases their IMR-9 and pick up some AW IMR cr123s. It will provide massive doses of light and the IMR batteries are safe to handle 5A discharges.

 

[Mercaptan]

I'm one of those people who doesn't choose max output on a weapon light for home defense.

Here's why:

In the middle of the night, your eyes will never be more light-sensitive. Within 5 meters, anything like a 200+ lumen light will blind yourself, from light bouncing back off the walls. You obscure your irons, you obscure your target, and what have you done?

Blinded both yourself and the intruder. No good. I think the P60L is about right for this. I have a 936FA forend on my FN TPS 12 gauge and I tried it out tonight. The P60L works fine and didn't have a malfunction in the 50 rounds I put through. Sure, not very stressful, but I down 20 slugs and quite a few 3" 00 buck magnums.

That being said - for shotguns, it's close work anyway. You don't particularly need 200+ lumens, at least from my experience.

Be safe.

 

[Policetacteam]

I use the exact same light on my entry rifle and I switched my lamp out for a Malkoff M60 drop-in. Gene's drop-ins are definitely as good as all of the hype! This lamp has breathed new life to my weapon light. Its worth the money! I have fired approximately 1,500 rounds with this lamp and it works perfectly! Good luck!

 

[Mdinana]

I use a stock 6PL on my shotgun. Worked fine with the 20 or so rounds of 00 I shot. Even at the stock "80" lumens, it's pretty damned bright when I've used it in the middle of the night. Didn't blind me from bounce back, but definetely a split second cringe if you're not expecting it.

 

[GLOCKshooter]

Thanks for all the replies!

The Malkoff stuff looks pretty good. I am looking for mostly spill in this application.

As to "too much light," I just don't seem to have that problem.

The shotgun this is going on is a Saiga 12 cut down to 8" by WWW.TROMIX.COM with a LaRue F.U.G. vertical foregrip. The light is mounted port side and the tape switch is on the F.U.G. I have an O.T.A.L. laser on the other side, also with a tape switch.

Why not run rechargeables? Because of sudden drop off?

What is this Lumens factory IMR-9?

I am not concerned about the SF warranty or keeping the light OEM or stock. I do not prefer the yellow tint, throw over spill that the SF incan bulbs give. I prefer white or even bluish white, lots of spill.

 

[Policetacteam]

Your shotgun sounds good to go! The Malkoff has perfect white light. Not the weird LED glow that some used to have. This drop in is perfect. I specifically purchased this one because it not only has has excellent flood but it has incredible throw as well. In my opinion it is the perfect combat drop-in!!! You will not be disappointed! Post pics of that thing when you have time. If you're running Larue gear I've got to see it! Good luck!

 

[angelofwar]

Why not run rechargeables? Because of sudden drop off?

Yep...I've had several r/c's get fidgety voltage after sitting 2 or 3 days after a charge (new ones at that). I've also had some primaries do the same. But I haven't had SF primaries do it. I just think R/C's should limited to "playing with your lights"/EDC, or a "night shift job" (including L.E.), w/ primary back-ups. I couldn't see anyone using the light on there boom stick on a regular basis...cause if ya need it (the attached light and aforementioned weapon), it's too late to realize your R/C's got crazy and died for no reason...I'd put $5 in batteries in it, and feel safe.

 

[Sgt. LED]

OLD M951C using a P60 sized LED drop-in and 2 primary cells. It did not want to take the led with it's large heatsink but my Dremel persuaded it to. Took 10 minutes with a heavy sanding drum and a wet towel to hold it.

I could not ask for a better rifle light.

 

[GLOCKshooter]

Your shotgun sounds good to go! The Malkoff has perfect white light. Not the weird LED glow that some used to have. This drop in is perfect. I specifically purchased this one because it not only has has excellent flood but it has incredible throw as well. In my opinion it is the perfect combat drop-in!!! You will not be disappointed! Post pics of that thing when you have time. If you're running Larue gear I've got to see it! Good luck!

Pics are here. http://forum.saiga-12.com/index.php?showtopic=31450&st=0&gopid=280581&#entry280581

 

[Policetacteam]

I couldn't get the pictures to pull up. What did you decide to go with!?! My Malkoff M60 will literally drown out, from our indoor range (25 yard lines) all of the other lights on the line to the point that everyone else will just shut their lights off and go off of my light! I've been extremely satisfied with Gene's work. It is the only P60 drop-in I will ever use!

 

[GLOCKshooter]

I am going with the Malkoff wide angle, but do not have it yet.
Sorry about the pics. I guess I could try to post them here, but I would have to figure out how. It seems every board is different.

 

[Dead_Nuts]

The M60F is an excellent choice for a shotgun. I switched mine to this same setup recently and think it is the best I've seen yet. I also would use only primary cells on anything you trust your life to. Good luck!

 

[mdocod]

Good choice on the M60F.

For practice shooting you can run it on a pair of 3.7V protected RCR123s, for night-stand and home defense I agree that a pair of primary cells will provide the highest level of reliability.

Eric

 

[GLOCKshooter]

OK, I have it in hand and installed! Very durable, solid looking unit. Excellent flood, good for close in indoor work. Tint is what you guys call cool, which I like- a lot. Puts out a lot of light, but not bad on the bounce back. A definite winner. Well worth the $50+ I would not have been as happy with a narrower beam, and looking at the thing before I installed it, I don't think any other drop in would be as likely to withstand the repeated heavy recoil as well.

For this particular application you guys have hit it out of the park with your recommendation. Right now I am running primaries. I'll get some rechargeables soon. I've had good luck with 10440's in my LOD-CE and 18650's in my P7.