SureFire 6P/6PL modded with Malkoff? New version 6P? KX4?

[CPFBiology]

It seems that SureFire is doing something with their 6PL. Is this true? Is it true that a drop in will not work because SureFire is using a new KX4 head? Or will a Malkoff drop in work with an older 6PL as with the new? Is there even a new SureFire 6PL? Does anyone have a real-world runtime of the SureFire 6P with a Malkoff dropin versus the stock P60L? Does anyone have a bored out SureFire 6P that accommodates an 18650 battery? How reliable is it?

 

[Henk_Lu]

What do you mean by reliable? The strenghth of the walls after boring them or the technical reliability?

I have a few of them, for my use the bodies are surely strong enough and for the rest, just put in the best switch (or twisty), a thick lens and a strong bezel :

http://www.oveready.com

In my eyes, those are the "better" 6P. I forgot about the dropin, you really have the choice there, Malkoff is surely reliable, they are known to be the best. I have some from Nailbender, which are very bright and well manufactured. Put in one of Moodoo's Triples and you'll have the ultimate wall of light (with a lack of throw though) or equip it with an M2-50, a brighter 6P surely doesn't exist! :wave:

 

[CPFBiology]

What do you mean by reliable? The strenghth of the walls after boring them or the technical reliability?

I have a few of them, for my use the bodies are surely strong enough and for the rest, just put in the best switch (or twisty), a thick lens and a strong bezel :

http://www.oveready.com

In my eyes, those are the "better" 6P. I forgot about the dropin, you really have the choice there, Malkoff is surely reliable, they are known to be the best. I have some from Nailbender, which are very bright and well manufactured. Put in one of Moodoo's Triples and you'll have the ultimate wall of light (with a lack of throw though) or equip it with an M2-50, a brighter 6P surely doesn't exist! :wave:

I was actually looking at the oveready site.
I presume the technical reliability would be another issue.

But for structural, how much of a loss are we talking? A little, a bit more than a little. 20%?

If I get one from oveready, what are the remaining items I need to buy?

dropin, lens, battery, etc.?

 

[Kestrel]

But for structural, how much of a loss are we talking? A little, a bit more than a little. 20%?

I did some wall thickness calculations re: SF 6P 18mm boring and posted them here. The wall thickness at its thinnest point (the o-ring grooves near the tail) goes from ~0.042" to ~0.190". (I can measure the ID on mine tonight). Even this remaining wall thickess is greater than I've seen on the 6P-type 18mm clone (non-SureFire) bodies, FWIW.

Moddoo has posted that he bores the SF bodies to 18.65 mm ID, which IMO is optimum - my Moddoo-bored C2 is a perfect fit with most AW18650's - absolutely zero battery rattle. I cannot state for certainty regarding the remaining strength, but Overready's official abuse tester (Sgt. LED) can state that those bodies continue to be exceedingly strong even after boring.

I very much recommend taking this route if you wish to use 18mm cells - an excellent configuration.

 

[Henk_Lu]

If I get one from oveready, what are the remaining items I need to buy?

dropin, lens, battery, etc.?

It depends on what you actually want. Go to their website, you can configure one and see the price. You don't NEED another lens, bezel, McClicky...

You surely need a battery and a dropin however. The dropins vary between about 40$ to 140$. I suggest an AW 18650/2600 which is about 18$.

 

[CPFBiology]

I did some wall thickness calculations re: SF 6P 18mm boring and posted them here. The wall thickness at its thinnest point (the o-ring grooves near the tail) goes from ~0.042" to ~0.190". (I can measure the ID on mine tonight). Even this remaining wall thickess is greater than I've seen on the 6P-type 18mm clone (non-SureFire) bodies, FWIW.

Moddoo has posted that he bores the SF bodies to 18.65 mm ID, which IMO is optimum - my Moddoo-bored C2 is a perfect fit with most AW18650's - absolutely zero battery rattle. I cannot state for certainty regarding the remaining strength, but Overready's official abuse tester (Sgt. LED) can state that those bodies continue to be exceedingly strong even after boring.

I very much recommend taking this route if you wish to use 18mm cells - an excellent configuration.

Thanks for this. I am glad that it still is strong after boring.

I like the 18650 match up really great.

Do you have a real-world run time with this from your personal experience and a Malkoff? Just curious.

 

[CPFBiology]

It depends on what you actually want. Go to their website, you can configure one and see the price. You don't NEED another lens, bezel, McClicky...

You surely need a battery and a dropin however. The dropins vary between about 40$ to 140$. I suggest an AW 18650/2600 which is about 18$.

I would like to get one, and would like a Malkoff dropin. I read Malkoff's are great, and I will also add some more AW's to my collection, 18650 2600.

 

[Kestrel]

Do you have a real-world run time with this from your personal experience and a Malkoff? Just curious.

I've done a fair bit with the M60 and 1x 18650, it worked really well with only a slight drop-off in initial output. The output gradually declines over a very long period, measured in hours.

The newer M61W (actually 'neutral') sounds like an even better choice in this regard, from what I've read (in the M61 thread) the first 2/3 of the run on 1x 18650 should be in regulation and the last 1/3 is declining output. It appears to be an excellent configuration IMO.

 

[HDSFAN]

Why reinvent the wheel by boring out a 6p and adding a Malkoff, just get the MD2.

 

[Kestrel]

The OP was asking about the SF 6P. I'm guessing there might be a few threads on the Malkoff MD2 host available for review for anyone interested in that configuration.

 

[nfetterly]

If I get one from oveready, what are the remaining items I need to buy?

dropin, lens, battery, etc.?

The Host comes complete - but you can upgrade the tail switch to a clicky if you prefer a clicky over a twisty.

Bezel upgrade is asthetic (spelling) - some of mine are upgraded.

AW 18650 (2600) and a charger which they also sell.

I've only got one 6P that is not 18650 compatible - someone was looking for one & so I traded a Fivemega 18650 (6P clone) for his 6P - I have one 6P that runs a P91 with 2 IMR 16340s so I didn't need the 18 mm internal diameter. All the rest of my P60 lights - up to a 3x18650 leef are all 18650 compatible (except the "3P"s ).

 

[CPFBiology]

Why reinvent the wheel by boring out a 6p and adding a Malkoff, just get the MD2.

Tell me about the Malkoff hosts. Are they of comparable sturdiness and reliability of the Surefire hosts? Not claiming that Surefire is better, but have read a lot of reviews about the reliability of Surefire equipment. I don't know if Surefire is the best, and don't make claims to this, but I hope that what I read about Surefire's reliability is true. Reliability for this one light is of utmost importance to me. This will serve as a primary light/EDC, or I may retain it as a backup. I will be purchasing another light as well, but have decided on JetBeam.

Of course, I have also read about some Surefire's failing as well (even great lights fail as well- good to have a backup).

Have there been stress tests and other related tests to the Malkoff hosts?
I don't think they are bad hosts, it's just that I don't have a lot of experience with them in terms of reviews, and user experiences and reliability tests. I would be glad to consider them.

 

[Size15's]

It seems that SureFire is doing something with their 6PL. Is this true? Is it true that a drop in will not work because SureFire is using a new KX4 head?

SureFire has replaced their P60L LED Lamp Assembly for their standard models with a dedicated LED bezel called the KX4.
So the latest/current 6PL (and G2L etc) now come with the KX4 rather than a P60L in a bezel.

The KX4 is a dedicated LED bezel and therefore will not accept a SureFire Lamp Assembly or aftermarket 'drop-in'.

If you want to use a Lamp Assembly or aftermarket drop-in with a 6PL that features the KX4 then you need to get a bezel such as the Z44-BK to host it.

If you're getting a SureFire specifically to host an aftermarket drop-in then you may consider getting the incandescent version as this would likely work out more cost-effective.

Al

 

[Xacto]

SureFire has replaced their P60L LED Lamp Assembly for their standard models with a dedicated LED bezel called the KX4.
So the latest/current 6PL (and G2L etc) now come with the KX4 rather than a P60L in

Al

When checking their website, I noticed that the Z-2 (not "S") does not feature the KX-4.

Just an oversight?

Thanks.
Cheers
Thorsten

 

[Size15's]

When checking their website, I noticed that the Z-2 (not "S") does not feature the KX-4.

Just an oversight?

Thanks.
Cheers
Thorsten

The Z2L on SureFire.com does have the KX4. You can tell by the 120 lumens and the bezel's notched window retaining ring.
Note that the Z2 is the incandescent version and SureFire nomenclature doesn't have hyphens between the model letter and number.

 

[ykb]

Hi Size15's,
Do you know the min and max voltage the KX4 will accept?
Thanks

 

[Size15's]

It's designed for two-SF123As or three-SF123As.
What else could there possibly be? :thumbsup:

 

[ykb]

Nice one

 

[chartwell99]

The Surefire 6PL with KX4 head will not accept drop-ins. Not to be a spoil sport, but to my eyes the KX4 is only marginally brighter than its 80 lumen predecessor. Since the discontinued older versions are readily available at meaningful discounts, that would be my choice if I were doing it again.

 

[carrot]

Tell me about the Malkoff hosts. Are they of comparable sturdiness and reliability of the Surefire hosts? Not claiming that Surefire is better, but have read a lot of reviews about the reliability of Surefire equipment. I don't know if Surefire is the best, and don't make claims to this, but I hope that what I read about Surefire's reliability is true. Reliability for this one light is of utmost importance to me. This will serve as a primary light/EDC, or I may retain it as a backup. I will be purchasing another light as well, but have decided on JetBeam.

Of course, I have also read about some Surefire's failing as well (even great lights fail as well- good to have a backup).

Have there been stress tests and other related tests to the Malkoff hosts?
I don't think they are bad hosts, it's just that I don't have a lot of experience with them in terms of reviews, and user experiences and reliability tests. I would be glad to consider them.

I couldn't tell you how the two (6P vs. MD2) compare on any statistical or numerical level, but I will say that (as a rabid Surefire fan) the MD2 is a very high quality host for Malkoff's M-series drop-ins. They are very well made and also designed to be tough.

The Kroll clicky (the only potential weak spot on the MD2) has been re-engineered for high reliability and Mr. Malkoff tells me he has yet to have a problem with the new design (all past and current Malkoff-branded hosts use the new design).

I still would not say a clicky is more reliable than a twisty, but if you want to go clicky I feel good about relying on the one provided in the Malkoff MD2.