Off to Walmart to buy a Maglight ?

[SFG2Lman]

nick45 i have written 2 huge responses to you, and deleted them both, I simply can't bring myself to jump headfirst into that beartrap lol,

maybe we should have a surefire vs. other brands thread where we can duke it out and the mods just make sure its all in good fun...

and op, regardless of everything else to do with the brand, surefire is the brand he will recognize, and know how much you thought about him and how he deserved the best, even if it isn't the best light, military generally accepts it as the standard for the best. He will feel more at ease than with a name he doesn't recognize that he may hafta explain to all his friends constantly instead of just saying "its a surefire" he would hafta say "its just as good as a surefire, just cheaper"

 

[Search]

nick45 i have written 2 huge responses to you, and deleted them both, I simply can't bring myself to jump headfirst into that beartrap lol,

maybe we should have a surefire vs. other brands thread where we can duke it out and the mods just make sure its all in good fun...

Head to the Underground. Everyone will post about how lame it is, but at least they can't kill it

 

[Outdoors Fanatic]

Personally, I think Surefire and other high dollars flashlights are nothing more than a poor man's Ferrari. Everyone wants to say they are are unique people with finer taste by buying these lights when Maglite would serve them just fine. Maglite has served many people just fine from 1955.

Maglite has been serving average joe's since 1955. Some people might need different tools for the job, have you ever thought about that? P-51 Mustangs served pilots just fine during the WWII, Mustangs have NO place in modern air combat...

 

[nick__45]

nick45 i have written 2 huge responses to you, and deleted them both, I simply can't bring myself to jump headfirst into that beartrap lol,

maybe we should have a surefire vs. other brands thread where we can duke it out and the mods just make sure its all in good fun...

and op, regardless of everything else to do with the brand, surefire is the brand he will recognize, and know how much you thought about him and how he deserved the best, even if it isn't the best light, military generally accepts it as the standard for the best. He will feel more at ease than with a name he doesn't recognize that he may hafta explain to all his friends constantly instead of just saying "its a surefire" he would hafta say "its just as good as a surefire, just cheaper"

So just like diamond, it is not the quality but rather the price tag that is a yard stick for how much one cares about another. I would say Maglite is more recognizable than any other brand in the world. I am not sure why all the hates on Maglite when it is obvious that the company produces very good products at very good price. Warranty doesn't mean crap when the flashlight blows up in your BDU thousands of miles away because you mix batteries. What if your flashlights dies and you only have on fresh battery and it takes two to run? Are you going to turn your flashlight into a grenade with the mismatch cells. That is actually a good idea, definitely a marketing point Surefire didn't think about.

By the way, Surefire is a good brand but it is by no mean the only brand worthy of purchase. And don't knock on Maglite.

 

[burntoshine]

Personally, I think Surefire and other high dollars flashlights are nothing more than a poor man's Ferrari. Everyone wants to say they are are unique people with finer taste by buying these lights when Maglite would serve them just fine. Maglite has served many people just fine from 1955.

true, maglite has served people well. but now there's much better things for the money. much better runtimes, brightness', beams, tints. i don't like surefire all that much. mostly because of the cost. i like fenix and nitecore a lot. i would not call them a poor man's ferrari, they're more like chevys or another general motors brand, except Fenix and Nitecore are not having business problems. and they're not high dollar. very reasonable. i'm not a huge brand snob or anything. it just surprises me how one of the biggest flashlight companies in the world ignored innovation for so long.

 

[burntoshine]

What if your flashlights dies and you only have on fresh battery and it takes two to run? Are you going to turn your flashlight into a grenade with the mismatch cells.

that's why i prefer single cell lights as every day carrys. my favorite light is the Nitecore D10. takes one AA battery. you can choose virtually anywhere between 3 lumens and 145 lumens. it's pretty nice. i keep a spare battery in a battery carrier that i made that stays in my pocket.

 

[nick__45]

Maglite has been serving average joe's since 1955. Some people might need different tools for the job, have you ever thought about that? P-51 Mustangs served pilots just fine during the WWII, Mustangs have NO place in modern air combat...

I wouldn't use the older Maglites now that there are newer editions. The older Maglite served me well for 12 years and I retired them last week when I pick up a package of Mini-Maglite and 3D Maglite with the new and improved 3W LED. With 3D batteries, I am sure run time would be pretty long and the Mini-Maglite has 4 useful mode that are accessed quickly through twisty.

I don't know how waterproof Maglites are but I have used them while fishing without wader and never had problem. I recognize that Surefire is great but want to defend Maglite because it is a good brand as well. It is the same as Mobil 1 oil being good and easily obtained but don't get the recognition from elitists who only want to use Royal Purple, Amsoil, and Redline which are not available at regular stores.

The thing about people using flashlights not sold at regular stores is that they feel that they are now not "Regular Joe" and part of elite society or armchair brigade. Little that these armchair specialists realize that most "Regular Joe" use flashlight more than those who buy their flashlights for safe queen purpose.

Until Surefire adjust their price according, they won't be part of my inventory any time soon. As far as this guy wanting to get a light for his son, I highly recommend he gets a 200 or 300 dollars Surefire with the brightest beam, easily UI, and longest possible run time. However, I truly think it is the job of the military to supply such parts and having sent many care package that include everything from o-ring to batteries, I know the military supply people are the worst when it comes to distributing stuffs. There are guys that get fresh batteries even when they haven't used their older ones and there are guys who can't get new batteries after being out hours on late night guard duty. Everything has to be done by the book, which was written by idiots.

 

[SFG2Lman]

hahaha i'm sorry nick45 i phrased that all wrong, i wasn't writing posts knocking maglites at all, i love them, i love all lights equally, i'm not trying to get off topic or instigate anything, i just know that when its hot, and i'm in my uniform i don't want to carry a maglite, i want something smaller and lighter, with equal or better performance

please accept my apologies if i came across wrong, i simply meant that i was writing something and couldn't phrase it in a way that wouldn't seem inflammatory to you or the mods

 

[Search]

Let me fix this post. Too abrasive and we're at risk of having this guys thread closed.

I'm going to address batteries: It doesn't matter!

He is carrying a weapon light on his M4. If it was issued, it's a SureFire. Because the Military issues weapon lights that use cr123 batteries, they have plenty of batteries..

When your light goes dead, you unscrew it and drop the batteries. Then reach for two good ones. If you manage to mis match these, I'm going to have to ask why you put dead cells in pouch with the good ones.

Carrying a cr123 light should make things much easier. AND LIGHTER!!!

 

[nick__45]

I don't think you're knocking Maglite and I know I am not knocking Surefire. However, there are people out there seem to have enlisted themselves into some chairborne units and think if it's not Surefire, it's trash.

If I am the OP, I would get my boy a Surefire M6 as well as a weapon light. That should tally up to about $600 which is a small price to pay for life insurance. However, I wouldn't discount Maglite and probably would include a nice package from Costco for $30 for general use so he won't run down the batteries on the Surefire.

For the elitists, don't be so quick to jump in and claim I have backed away from my point of view. The point of view as been the same and that is Surefire is for people that use it in life and death situation due not only to their ruggedness and high lumen output but their compact design relatively to performance. For front line military (not depot boys in the rear with the gear), SAR, and some leos, I see applications for Surefire and other brands such as Streamlight and Blackhawk. For everyone else, I see Maglite which can be used to save life too but not the prettiest in fashion, just ask the guy whose face is bashed in when he tries a pocket knife to a 6D Maglite battle.

 

[SFG2Lman]

thanks search i agree with your post in its entirety


to the op: sorry about hijacking the thread, this subject is highly volatile but i want my brother in arms to be well equipped with battle-proven gear just in case he needs it,

 

[SFG2Lman]

I don't think you're knocking Maglite and I know I am not knocking Surefire. However, there are people out there seem to have enlisted themselves into some chairborne units and think if it's not Surefire, it's trash.

If I am the OP, I would get my boy a Surefire M6 as well as a weapon light. That should tally up to about $600 which is a small price to pay for life insurance. However, I wouldn't discount Maglite and probably would include a nice package from Costco for $30 for general use so he won't run down the batteries on the Surefire.

For the elitists, don't be so quick to jump in and claim I have backed away from my point of view. The point of view as been the same and that is Surefire is for people that use it in life and death situation due not only to their ruggedness and high lumen output but their compact design relatively to performance. For front line military (not depot boys in the rear with the gear), SAR, and some leos, I see applications for Surefire and other brands such as Streamlight and Blackhawk. For everyone else, I see Maglite which can be used to save life too but not the prettiest in fashion, just ask the guy whose face is bashed in when he tries a pocket knife to a 6D Maglite battle.

:rock: good post i have nothing more to add

 

[nick__45]

Let me fix this post. Too abrasive and we're at risk of having this guys thread closed.

I'm going to address batteries: It doesn't matter!

He is carrying a weapon light on his M4. If it was issued, it's a SureFire. Because the Military issues weapon lights that use cr123 batteries, they have plenty of batteries..

When your light goes dead, you unscrew it and drop the batteries. Then reach for two good ones. If you manage to mis match these, I'm going to have to ask why you put dead cells in pouch with the good ones.

Carrying a cr123 light should make things much easier. AND LIGHTER!!!

It is not dead cells I am referring to. There are times when it is just as important to tac-load your batteries as it is to tac-load your weapon. If your weapon light has been on for a few hours and you know the night isn't over yet, you may want to consider putting a fresh set in. The two batteries you take out may still have 30% of life left so you aren't going to throw them out right away. If this is your bad night and a firefight does happen and you end up needing to replace again, there is that small chance that you may end up mixing those partially used batteries with other fresh ones, if they issue you more than 2 spares. Having dealt with supply boys on this base, I know some commands require that used parts be turned in before new parts are given out; therefore, people have to keep their partially used or dead batteries if they want to be issued new ones. Being part of a firefight exempts that but most guys on guard duty don't get into firefight.

Beside, having your flashlights going off on you because you mix partially used batteries with fresh batteries is a clear indication of poor design. Surefire and others may blame it on end users but it is still a poor design. That is the same as Firestone blaming drivers if one of the tire is 2 psi lower than the rest. A good tire can run on lower psi comparing to the rest, only gas mileage of handling suffer. And your car should not blow up if you mix 93 octane with 87 octane; anyone telling you that is just a big fat liar.

 

[burntoshine]

i believe i'm also guilty of bringing this thread off topic; my bad. my brain can be my worst enemy sometimes. but the thread subject threw me off.

and yeah, the 6D maglite is pretty much a baseball bat AND a light.

lxhunter, i wish your son the best!

 

[DimeRazorback]

I'm not stirring the pot here, but I have a 4D mag next to my bed at night aswell as a fenix TK11 (or 6P w/M60, E2DL, ehatever is there!) and I have to say, I never grab the mag! It's too big and not as bright as the others...

I think debating brands is silly, as I go by "each to their own" but I much rather carrying around a smaller and brighter light than lugging around a big mag

:shrug:

On topic, I would recommend an LX2 :thumbsup:

Or maybe even a Z2 with a Malkoff drop in

 

[nick__45]

and yeah, the 6D maglite is pretty much a baseball bat AND a light.

Actually, the light is a bonus. Some day I like to convert it to LED and get 30 hrs run time on high with 6D cells. After seeing what 3D cell can do with LED bulb, I think Maglite should upgrade their bat according.

 

[nick__45]

I'm not stirring the pot here, but I have a 4D mag next to my bed at night aswell as a fenix TK11 (or 6P w/M60, E2DL, ehatever is there!) and I have to say, I never grab the mag! It's too big and not as bright as the others...

I think debating brands is silly, as I go by "each to their own" but I much rather carrying around a smaller and brighter light than lugging around a big mag

:shrug:

On topic, I would recommend an LX2 :thumbsup:

Or maybe even a Z2 with a Malkoff drop in

Are you using new Maglite LED or older incandescent Maglite? There is a big different. I retired my 4D incandescent Maglite last week as well as the Krypton Mini-Mag. A lot of people are comparing older Maglites with new Surefire technology and that is not fair. I personally used to rely on my NcStar weapon light when someone goes bump in the night because of the firestick it is mount on. That little bugger is super bright and has precision laser as well. However, I now reach for the 3D Maglite after upgrading my locks as there is absolutely no chance someone getting inside UNLESS THEY POWER-SAW MY WALLS and I'll reach my 12 gauge at that point or run like hell or both depending on how big their saws are.

 

[Search]

I can agree about the battery deal. Not something I would personally care about, but other might.

However, I would never recommend anyone carries a large light like a Maglite + extra cells into combat with all the other gear.

 

[DimeRazorback]

Are you using new Maglite LED or older incandescent Maglite? There is a big different. I retired my 4D incandescent Maglite last week as well as the Krypton Mini-Mag. A lot of people are comparing older Maglites with new Surefire technology and that is not fair. I personally used to rely on my NcStar weapon light when someone goes bump in the night because of the firestick it is mount on. That little bugger is super bright and has precision laser as well. However, I now reach for the 3D Maglite after upgrading my locks as there is absolutely no chance someone getting inside UNLESS THEY POWER-SAW MY WALLS and I'll reach my 12 gauge at that point or run like hell or both depending on how big their saws are.

I'm using an older one :thumbsup:
I'm not sitting here saying x brand is bad or anything, I'm just saying that I rather a more compact design :thumbsup:

Hence why I have so many "tactical" lights.
The newer models may well match my lights output (which I think is awesome because I've always loved them!) but I would still use my more compact lights

:thumbsup:

Now lets not all get this thread closed on the OP!

 

[nickanto]

I have a best friend leaving for Afghanistan in September and I purchased an Olight M20 and a will be ordering a Fenix TK11. So far I think the OLIGHT would be a superb light to take over seas, but I wan't to compare it to the TK11, which is supposed to be a very tough light. The one advantage the OLIGHT has is a low setting that can be run for 100 hours plus. In a survival situation I would think that would be a HUGE factor. I may give him an E01 to take as well.