Surefire Weaponlight and Handheld

[oatmeal]

Howdy Ya'll,

My search-fu is weak and so I just wanted to ask a question directly.

I have an Surefire M962 weaponlight. If i wanted to get the closest thing to it in a handheld flashlight from Surefire, I'd want to get an M3, right?

I'd like to stick to something that means I'd be able to swap parts between the handheld and the weaponlight, just to keep my head from spinning.

I've also seen the M4. Is it a better choice than the M3? Is it possible to use the bezel from an M3 (and associated lamps) on an M4?

Thanks,

WB

:party: (it's my first post)

 

[nzgunnie]

You are correct that the handheld equivalent of the M962 is the M3, actually the head and the lamps are the same. You could keep an eye out in the CPFMP for an M3 body and a tail cap of your choice (although the XM tail cap off your weapon light could also be used).

As the question about can the M3 head be used on an M4, the answer is: sort of.

The M3 head can be used on an M4 body if you use two 17670 Li-ion cells to power the lamp. The reason for this is that the Lamp assys for the M3 are '9v' lamps, and are physically different to the lamps from the M4. The '12v' M4 lamps wont fit the M3 head. Powering the M3 lamps on four CR123s = :poof:.

If you are keen on the M4, a better solution might be to get an M4 and then you can also use the M4 head on your weapon light, using the MN15 or MN16 lamps from the M3T.

There are also a whole selection of aftermarket lamp alternatives available for a variety of different battery set ups, Lumens Factory have quite a selection available.

 

[bstrickler]

I've also seen the M4. Is it a better choice than the M3? Is it possible to use the bezel from an M3 (and associated lamps) on an M4?

Like this?
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showpost.php?p=2775726&postcount=28
Just make sure that you use either 3 CR123's with a dummy CR123 cell (aluminum spacer, like this: http://www.lighthound.com/CR123-Spacer_p_259.html), or 2 17670's.

I personally use 2 17670's, because it underdrives the bulb, causing the bulb to last longer. Plus, I get about an hour runtime out of my 17670's, just like I would with 3 CR123's, but costs a fraction of the price, each time you recharge the 17670's, instead of $6/hr with CR123's. To get light out of it for longer, you could get the M4 body bored to 18650 size, and stick 2 18650's in there for almost 2 1/2 hours of runtime on an MN10 (and 1 hour on MN11). ~Brian

 

[oatmeal]

Thanks for the replies!

Is is possible to go in the opposite direction - get an M2 instead, and operate the weaponlight (if necessary) with the bezel from the M2. I think this means I would have to remove the extension tube from the weponlight, reducing it to two 123's (in effect turning it into an M95X?).

Is it also possible to use the extension and bezel from the M96X on the M2?

 

[nzgunnie]

Thanks for the replies!

Is is possible to go in the opposite direction - get an M2 instead, and operate the weaponlight (if necessary) with the bezel from the M2. I think this means I would have to remove the extension tube from the weponlight, reducing it to two 123's (in effect turning it into an M95X?).

Is it also possible to use the extension and bezel from the M96X on the M2?

The answers to those two questions are: Not easily and no.

You can use the bezel from the M2 on the M962 by removing the LU10 adapter (the 'extension' between the body and the head) and replacing it with the LU60 adapter. This makes the light an M952. There are LU60 adapters for sale in the CPFMP. (Note this is the LU60 NOT the LU60A - don't get them confused as the LU60A is for the E series M600 scout lights).

You can not attach the LU10 to an M2 Body. The M2 body has 'C' series male threads at the head end, the LU10 has it's own male thread (C body threads but shorter). No way to combine these two.

If you want to use the Z46 Bezel (the head off your M962) on your M2 body you need to get a C to M adapter from Lumens Factory. You then also need to get a battery solution to run the M3 lamps. two IMR16340s would work, or you could get an A19 extension to make the M2 a really ugly 3 cell light.

 

[oatmeal]

Since the M96X and M3 use the same heads, it sounds like the best solution is just to get the M3.

Guess I'll be looking out for an M3!

Thanks for the clarification ya'll!

 

[nzgunnie]

Or an M3 body, since you already have the head, and the XM tail cap on the weapon light can also be used hand held.