Question for Surefire gurus..M3 & M4

[Hog]

I am looking for throw & rechargeability.
Can the body be bored to accept RCR or 18650's?
If so what lamp would you run, drop in without modification preferred.
Is the turbo head a great thrower.
I'm after bright & throw but rechargeables are a must.
Thangs..Hog

 

[KeyGrip]

If you're looking for rechargablility, it's best to start from the ground up with a purpose built 18650 tube and go from there. There are multiple lamp options available depending on how many cells you run. The turboheads are good throwers by design.

 

[Monocrom]

If you're getting an M4, no need to bore out the barrel. You can just drop in two 17670 cells, and it'll work. Not sure about the M3 though, as the barrel might be too short.

 

[Hog]

Can you educate me on the 17500's.
I have never used them, how do they compare to the 18650's.
Thanks

 

[depusm12]

If you're getting an M4, no need to bore out the barrel. You can just drop in 17500 cells, and it'll work. Not sure about the M3 though, as the barrel might be too short.

Actually the M4 will take 2 17670's (4 Cr123's) the M3 will take 2 17500's (3 Cr123's). You can alway's get a 2x18500 Leef body from Lighthound or a 2x18650 Leef body. Make sure you get the M head to C tail body though.

 

[Hog]

As far as building up with a body, head ,tail switch ,etc:
What turbo heads come on the M4 & M3's?
I looked at Surefire & there were alot of options.
One question still unanswered, what L/A?
Surefire or something from Lumems factory.
I would like 350 to 500 real Surefire rated lumens out the front.
I don't mind carrying spare batteries.
Thanks

 

[Monocrom]

Actually the M4 will take 2 17670's (4 Cr123's) the M3 will take 2 17500's (3 Cr123's). You can alway's get a 2x18500 Leef body from Lighthound or a 2x18650 Leef body. Make sure you get the M head to C tail body though.

Oops.

You are correct good sir! I have edited my post, accordingly. Thanks!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To: The Topic-Starter -

Sorry, my experience with rechargeable cells is limited.

 

[Calamityville_Horror]

I typically use 17650's in the M4 with a MN15 LA (from the M3T). Works great.

EDIT: I guess this is not bright enough for you. The 450 lumen Lumens Factory bulb is brighter but I am not sure if it reaches 350 torch lumens. Also, it is approaching the edge of comfortable 17650 performance imho. The M4 body does have enough meat to be bored for 18650s if you want to go that route.

 

[pete7226]

The mn16 is closer to about 450 lumens out the front overdriven with 2x18650. If you want to use the mn16 for some serious light you need to bore them out for 18650's unless you don't mind double clicking. I use the mn16 mostly, I also have Fivemegas mn bi-pin adaptor and have a surefire setup with the wa1111 lamp for slightly brighter output than the mn16. Run-time is about 30-40 minutes.

 

[Hog]

Thanks for the info on the body thickness.
I may want to look at the leef bodys then.
Is there any other place to buy the turbo heads besides direct from Surefire?
Thanks

 

[Monocrom]

Well, if you have your heart set on using 18650s; here's the lazy man's solution....

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2610

 

[cfromc]

Well, if you have your heart set on using 18650s; here's the lazy man's solution....

http://www.lighthound.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=2610

They are not in stock at this time.

 

[Hog]

Thanks..Monocrom
I was actually eyeing that body on Lighthound.
As I sit & ponder this the building it sounds kinda cool, even though it may cost a little more. Now to figure out the right battery & l/a combo.
I hope that the finish on all components match.
Sooo many options.
Any suggestions ya'll.

 

[Hog]

I ran across this in a sticky & thought thats it but then see that a leef 3x 18650 is oos.
Bummer

Cell Configuration: 3x18650

Bulb Options:
SF MN60: 20W, 455 - 275 lumen in 72 minutes (bulb life very short, but incredible)
SF MN61: 32W, 760 - 455 lumen in 40 minutes (bulb life very short, but incredible)
LF HO-M6R: 23W, 524 - 350 lumen in 58 minutes (best drop-in solution available for this config)

Body Options:
Leefbody 3x18650 w/C tail and head, +SF compatible tail-cap, +KT1/2 +(unavailable hypothetical configuration)
Leefbody 3x18650 w/C tail and M head, + SF compatible tail-cap, +KT4 ++

 

[KeyGrip]

It's worth a try to post in the market place in case someone has what you're looking for, both the body and the turbohead.

 

[mdocod]

I would suggest holding out for the leefbody option, 2x18650..

As for the turbo head... What I would do personally, is keep your eyes peeled for either a C-C leefbody, or C-M... and whatever you can get, grab it up, just make sure it is a 2x18650 length... If you get a C head model, then use a SureFire Turbohead from the KT1 or KT2 kits, if you get a M head, you will need a Millennium Turbo found in the KT4 kit(which will include a MN16 to run). Run a MN16 in there It will run in the 300 lumen range (SF ratings) on those cells. If you really want a true "350" Surefire lumens, (400+ torch lumen) then you might want to consider going with a Wolf-Eyes M90 13V system with the EO-13 from LF, or a M6 loaded with RCR123 and the HO-M6R, or some other method of getting a 3x18650 or 3x18500 size cell driving a 13V lamp...

Having said all that, I think you might be better off just building a 2C ROP with AWs C size li-ion cells. You can build the whole thing for probably less than the cost of the Surefire build, and be dishing out more lumens.

 

[BSBG]

The mn16 is closer to about 450 lumens out the front overdriven with 2x18650. If you want to use the mn16 for some serious light you need to bore them out for 18650's unless you don't mind double clicking. I use the mn16 mostly, I also have Fivemegas mn bi-pin adaptor and have a surefire setup with the wa1111 lamp for slightly brighter output than the mn16. Run-time is about 30-40 minutes.

Sorry, but the MN16 is nowhere near 450 torch lumens, no matter what you drive it with. 300 is closer, as mdocod notes. The MN16 fires up just fine with AW 17670s in my M4 on one press.

 

[DM51]

I am looking for throw & rechargeability.
Can the body be bored to accept RCR or 18650's?
If so what lamp would you run, drop in without modification preferred.
Is the turbo head a great thrower.
I'm after bright & throw but rechargeables are a must.
Thangs..Hog

If you bore out an M4 (or an M3T with detonator) to take 2 x 18650, you can then use a drop-in Fivemega MN bi-pin socket to run a WA 1111 bulb.

With the 2 x 18650 this will give you ~750 bulb lm, which is ~500 torch lm. The bulbs are cheap (~$9 each) compared to SF LAs. And yes, that turbo-head throws!

 

[pete7226]

My Fivemega FM11 which IS just over 500 torch lumens is only slightly brighter and whiter than my MN16 on 2x18650, so, Yes, 4-450 out the front is pretty accurate. W could argue about it all day long, but thats what my eyes see. Definitely more than 350 lumens. Surefire lamps are very under rated, and overdriven give another 100 or so lumens output. Take the mn21, its close to 800 torch lumens on primaries, 5761 which is about 850 torch lumens is barely brighter.

 

[Hog]

Thanks for all the info & recomendations.
I now need to decide which way to go.
I am even considering the options now avaliable with AW's c cell & leef bodies.
Hog