Scout KL4 have known reliability issues?

[oregonshooter]

I bought a second hand Scout light for my AK and dropped the gun from a 3ft stool to a wooded floor with the light mounted and the KL4 head quit working.

I sent it to SF and they replaced it but did not tell me what was wrong with the light.

Are these LED heads a weak link or did thee earlier ones have ruggedness issues that I had not heard of?

I figure a weapon mounted light (LED) whoudl be able to handle an easy fall from 3ft to a wooden floor, or am I asking too much?:thinking:

Thanks in advance for any info or experiences with this model you might share!

 

[270winchester]

the KL4s run hot. since it was used there is no telling how much and how long the previous owner(s) had used the light and what impact it has seen. LED heads are just potted electronics with wires to an LED and it is not going to take abuse forever.

I bought a second hand Scout light for my AK and dropped the gun from a 3ft stool to a wooded floor with the light mounted and the KL4 head quit working.

 

[Size15's]

The KL4, though usually on the L4 flashlight has a good history of performance over the years with few issues ever being raised (other than it gets hot to touch)

 

[Illum]

The KL4, though usually on the L4 flashlight has a good history of performance over the years with few issues ever being raised (other than it gets hot to touch)

on the hands yes, I'm not too confident on potting keeping intact under constant recoil though, unless surefire managed to fill the entire head up with metal/electronics/potting to keep it solid as a rock:shrug:

 

[Size15's]

If you're not confident then use something you are confident with.
You could always use it in training to see how it holds up and whether it produces the beam and output you need...

 

[oregonshooter]

Size15's,
At this point I'm not uncomfortable with it being my primary weapon light.

I carry a Milky Mod Floodmaster that will get the job done should the light go down (I try to plan for Murphy) but I thought I would ask the guru's here in case the SCOUT was a lemon design that I had not heard about.

Last year I bought an HKP7 because I had always heard good things about them. Put $1000.00 into it to be my EDC gun then found out on a dedicated forum that they are prone to breakage but "cult members" accept that. Just making sure that the KL4 head was not in the same category.

Being a used light, I will give SF the benefit of the doubt that they are sturdier than my sample was on the whole. I will be using it in 3gun and practice a lot next year so I'll know pretty early if the light can't cut it, but I suspect this sample was a fluke.

Surefire took hast to get me a replacement at cost of shipping only, even though I was not the original purchaser and that's a major reason I buy SF lights.

The new head does seem a bit brighter and to have a larger hot spot, so maybe it's an upgrade?

One thing I have thought about is using an E2P adaptor and going with a Lumens Factory upgrade in a shock bezel.

Would I sacrificing a lot of reliability going this way? I know LEDs are unbreakable, but the board and solder points aren't and they do not epoxy fill them, so is there that much difference between the INC/Shock and KL4 for reliability?

What ya think?

 

[Size15's]

...Just making sure that the KL4 head was not in the same category.

I am confident that CPF members with experience of the KL4 would not consider it a liability.

The new head does seem a bit brighter and to have a larger hot spot, so maybe it's an upgrade?

I believe you are experiencing normal unit-to-unit variation. I have a number of KL4's and the beams vary.

...is there that much difference between the INC/Shock and KL4 for reliability?
What ya think?

I suspect that CPF members do not have sufficient actual-use experience to make that call. I suggest that you determine that for yourself through training etc.

 

[oregonshooter]

Thanks. I'll ask on some of the weapons orientated boards what their experience has been.

 

[1996alnl]

I've dropped my L4 a couple times,once it rolled off my kitchen table another time it tipped over and fell off the roof of my car.Still works perfect.
A friend of mine dropped my E2DL from a 50ft scaffold and landed on concrete! It now looks like it's been in battle but works perfectly.
I wouldn't worry about the durability of Surefire,sure sometimes one of their lights go south but then again it happens to everyone.
As far as the free replacement i don't think any other company would of done that for you.

Take care

 

[oregonshooter]

Thanks 1996,

I went looking for an E2C adaptor to do a test with my shock bezel, but THERE ARE NONE TO BE FOUND!

Man I wish I had bought a few more when I had the chance.

Anyone knows were one is please let me know!