Should I wait for the new Surefires?

[glock19ftw]

I'm a LEO in a big city and currently have the Gladius light on my duty belt which I have been using for the last couple of years. It is a great light but the cost of feeding it two CR123A batteries every two weeks is killing my wallet. With the gladius not being top of the line anymore (technology or lumens) and I started doing research on a flashlight that I want to have the following qualities:

1) Rechargeable 18650 battery (ies)
2) Over 200 lumens (looking for a mean bright light)
3) No need for strobe (despite what other people say, strobe is pointless in the field)
4) Dual outputs are nice but not necessary (usually the flashlight is on or off, no need to change outputs)
5) Possibly attaching it to my future AR as a weaponlight when i deploy my rifle (looking at quick detach mounts)
6) Cost: Trying to keep it under $150

:ther flashlights I own: Pelican 7060, G2 incan::

Now my question is should I wait for the P6X Surefire series which is supposedly going to be released in October or buy a Surefire 6P and drop in a Malkoff M61? Will the new surefire series compare to a Malkoff drop in?

Any suggestions are welcome Thanks

 

[Kestrel]

I'd still recommend a basic SF 6P bored for an AW 18650 LiIon and a Malkoff M61W drop-in(which is actually a neutral tint).

I doubt that the LEDs in the new SF 6-series will come close to matching what you will be getting with the Malkoff Drop-in - I've got an M31W and it is a really fine unit.

This is a popular topic so you may get a lot of suggestions, some of them from LEO's with comparable considerations.

 

[oliussw]

I am also a LEO and my light of choice is the Eagletac T20C2 MkII. It takes the 18650 without a bore job. It has a strobe mode that is easily locked out. It has medium and low modes that are accessed by twisting the bezel. This is ultra simple for us. You won't end up scrolling through modes you don't need when the SHTF but you can easily turn to low mode for writting tickets and such to save your battery. It is designed to keep the positive end of the battery from slamming into the pill during recoil so it is great for weapon mounted applications. Mine has been on my Commando quite a bit and has stood up to full auto mag dumps without issue. I put this light up against any of my Surefire lights.

 

[sfca]

I'm a LEO in a big city and currently have the Gladius light on my duty belt which I have been using for the last couple of years. It is a great light but the cost of feeding it two CR123A batteries every two weeks is killing my wallet. With the gladius not being top of the line anymore (technology or lumens) and I started doing research on a flashlight that I want to have the following qualities:
There's a few modders round here that could put an XP-G or XR-E into your gladius.

1) Rechargeable 18650 battery (ies)
Surefires generally don't accept 18650. I think some E-series will and the C/Z/G/P series need to be bored.
Otherwise they'll accept a 17670 battery and/or RCR123s (E2DL is ~ 1 hour runtime).

2) Over 200 lumens (looking for a mean bright light)
I <3 E2DL

3) No need for strobe (despite what other people say, strobe is pointless in the field)
4) Dual outputs are nice but not necessary (usually the flashlight is on or off, no need to change outputs)
See above
5) Possibly attaching it to my future AR as a weaponlight when i deploy my rifle (looking at quick detach mounts)
6) Cost: Trying to keep it under $150

:ther flashlights I own: Pelican 7060, G2 incan::

Now my question is should I wait for the P6X Surefire series which is supposedly going to be released in October or buy a Surefire 6P and drop in a Malkoff M61? Will the new surefire series compare to a Malkoff drop in?
Depends on the beam - and what you like.
Perhaps the beam will be like a 200 lumen P60L. For those that have a Malkoff and a P60 how do the beams compare?

Any suggestions are welcome Thanks

 

[roadie]

how abt a Olight M21 ..... u can still use primary cells (cr123a) when yr 18650 is low fuel ......

its a sst-50 ...

lovecpf

 

[CarpentryHero]

I thought the new 6PX and G2X didn't have removable heads. With the lower price it would be wicked if there still P60 bulb replaceable.

My next surefire will be the 6P defender. Then get a nailbender sst50 or p7 maybe both lol my poor wallet. Tri-v xpg is on my list too.

I'm not police but I am city maintenance and board ups of broken into building we clear ourselves when no police are available. For that I want a wall of light.

 

[someuser]

I am also a LEO and my light of choice is the Eagletac T20C2 MkII. It takes the 18650 without a bore job. It has a strobe mode that is easily locked out. It has medium and low modes that are accessed by twisting the bezel. This is ultra simple for us. You won't end up scrolling through modes you don't need when the SHTF but you can easily turn to low mode for writting tickets and such to save your battery. It is designed to keep the positive end of the battery from slamming into the pill during recoil so it is great for weapon mounted applications. Mine has been on my Commando quite a bit and has stood up to full auto mag dumps without issue. I put this light up against any of my Surefire lights.

I too agree with olussw on buying the T20C2 MKII, as it's the best light that suits your needs. The main thing also it looks very nice and it's functional.

The T20C2 MKII have a pretty simple UI that works. Twist for Turbo, twist again for general mode.

The other thing is that you buy the weapon kit to mount on you picatinny rails for like $20 more.

The best thing about the T20C2 MKII is that it's upgradeable when new technologies comes out. This is the main keep point why I will buy this light over others. Then again a bored Surefire 6P does everything just about the same. I will compare the 1911 as the Surefire 6P as both got tons of aftermarket parts and both have been proven they work. The Springfield XD is like the T20C2, as both are newer and with better features then the 1911/6p. Like the 1911 as to the 6P, come on it's like a 1911! You got to get them both as they are both classic. Like the XD to T20C2 they will work better as they have been made to be better then the 6p/1911 from the ground up and they are just a work tool.

The T20C2 works really well but it's up to your judgment on what you really want at the end.

 

[Monocrom]

SureFire promises . . .

Hell no!

Don't wait!

SureFire has earned a **** poor reputation for keeping promises regarding release dates of new models.

(When the lights are finally released, they tend to be fantastic. The main reason why I own 23 SureFires myself.)

It's like going out with a really hot girl . . . who takes beyond forever to get ready! You know you're going to enjoy yourself when she finally is ready. But until then, you're going to be going nuts waiting for her. All the while wondering if you should have asked out the nerdy girl who works the counter at Starbucks instead. You start to realize that with just a bit of make-up, and the right outfit; perhaps the nerdy girl might not be half bad. You revisit that thought while you grow old & grey waiting for the hot one.

 

[txgp17]

I'd still recommend a basic SF 6P bored for an AW 18650 LiIon and a Malkoff M61W drop-in(which is actually a neutral tint).

First reply nails it.

 

[Agile54]

Glock19 also agree w/ my TX brother Txgp17, Kestrel & Monocrom. Buy the SF now w/ your LE discount OR off the MP here, get it bored by someone like EGuru, throw in one of Gene's drop ins & drive on.
Monocrom your analogy was outstanding, dead on & brought back some memories, thx.

 

[jellydonut]

Waiting for new Surefires is like waiting for the Second Coming. You're better off finding something you can get now.

 

[rgc]

Oveready has bored 6P and C2's. I have had my eye on a ceramic coated one but don't have the jack to get it.

rgc

 

[glock19ftw]

Thanks for all the replies, you guys are awesome! I've decided to go with the 6P bored...so i have a few more questions...(be patient as I am a flashlight n00b)

Why the M61W instead of the M61?

Where and how can I make this custom 6p for the cheapest?

Oveready has a 6P bored for $76 .. cheaper to buy a 6P and have someone bore it? What does that usually cost and where can I get it done?

+ malkoff m61w $69

+18650 battery and charger (Good price and site to buy these?)


Total estimate = $145 +

vs

Eagletac t20c2 mkii --$88


Will the 6P Malkoff M61W make Eagletac look like poop?

 

[glock19ftw]

Glock19 also agree w/ my TX brother Txgp17, Kestrel & Monocrom. Buy the SF now w/ your LE discount OR off the MP here, get it bored by someone like EGuru, throw in one of Gene's drop ins & drive on.
Monocrom your analogy was outstanding, dead on & brought back some memories, thx.

How much is the SF LE discount? I found the 6P LED Gen 1 for $49.99 at lapolicegear compared to Overready $76 with the bore... How much will it be to bore it separately?

http://www.lapolicegear.com/surefire-6pl-closeout.html

Who is EGuru and how much does he charge?

Thanks!

 

[CPFBiology]

How much is the SF LE discount? I found the 6P LED Gen 1 for $49.99 at lapolicegear compared to Overready $76 with the bore... How much will it be to bore it separately?

http://www.lapolicegear.com/surefire-6pl-closeout.html

Who is EGuru and how much does he charge?

Thanks!

EGuru=ElectronGuru/Oveready

Honestly, it would be best to get a pre-bored one from him. It may cost a few dollars to ship a stock 6P to him, and it will cost some more to have it bored, maybe $20-$30, and it will take a long time for him to get a full bore batch. You may consider the HA version, HA on top of the Type II already on the 6P. It's worth it for the long-term investment. I got the HA version from Oveready, and the craftsmanship is fantastic. Still waiting on the Malkoff M61W for delivery. The host is really beautiful.

 

[CPFBiology]

Here's ElectronGuru's thread:

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=234868
(pic heavy, 56k bust)

 

[glock19ftw]

^Thanks

 

[Monocrom]

How much is the SF LE discount? I found the 6P LED Gen 1 for $49.99 at lapolicegear compared to Overready $76 with the bore...

Keep in mind that the LAPG discount is an extremely rare one. SureFire generally has a very strict policy of no discounting that it rigidly enforces upon its Authorized Dealers. Those caught doing so, get their status revoked. No more SureFies for them to sell.

Wouldn't be surprised if LAPG had to get special permission to sell those SureFire models at a discount. (Would be stupid of them to discount without permission this openly.)

As others have mentioned, it'll likely be a bit cheaper just to get a 6P that has already been bored by Overready.

The cheapest method would be to buy the 6P from LAPG, then wrap some sandpaper around a wooden dowel that just barely fits into the body of a 6P. Take the bezel and tailcap off first, then put in a ton of elbow grease until an 18650 fits inside the 6P body. (It's far more work than it sounds, and takes more than a few hours.)

 

[glock19ftw]

Ok thanks I think Ill just get the one from oveready...

I am about to purchase my first "custom" light.....opinions on mcclicky? or not? hard or soft?

 

[Kestrel]

The nice thing about Overready is that everything is pretty much guaranteed to work well together. It's a one-stop-shop for all the high-performance stuff, with one flat shipping fee. :thumbsup:

Or a person could live nearby and just pick up all the goodies they needed in person, saving the shipping fee entirely...