I've just started a moon mode run time test on a SAFT 3.6v 14500 Li-SOCL2 2600mah primary on the same Quark AA (XP-E R2) that got 300+hrs on an Eneloop.
I tested current draw at the beginning - 1ma. Do the maths
If you're taking tail cap current readings, could you do all of the modes (moon, low, medium, high, max)?
--flatline