I just saw this awesome review and was thinking of commenting, when, as I scrolled down through the replies, saw I already did. What the heck? Then I saw the review was done a long time ago. Whew! I was afraid I needed new medication. LOL
I bought one of Jim's TL11s a long time ago, which is why I initially commented, and it has worked flawlessly. And I have used it a lot. I also have a MC60 with the 4000mAh NiMH battery pack, FiveMega focusing MC reflector and FiveMega ceramic slug. Everything Jim said in his review is exactly to my experience. I also have one of Ginseng's MC85 with 8 NiMH high-current/high capacity batteries (blows the bulb on the standard 9 batteries because these batts hold their voltage so well), and it is a great light, too, but very large -- about 5D in size.
And just recently I was EXTREMELY lucky to get one of Jim's new TL11-R lights. This light is incredible. When I first got it, I took it out and compared it to some Mag85s and an ROP on high. The TL11-R won, but when I went back and charged everyone up to full, the Mag85s threw a little more light, but not a lot of difference. I tend to use stippled reflectors with 1185 bulbs because the beam is so nice and these bulbs have enough lumens to offset the loss in throw.
My first TL11 had the pepper spray, which I haven't used since I lost a battle of chemical warfare to a couple of skunks. The new TL11-R is the 8-inch size, making it amazingly compact for so much light. And Jim set up the bulb and reflector just perfectly.
The longer -- and regulated -- beam really overcomes the major advantage the MC60 had in runtime, using the larger pack. Although the MC60's runtime is still longer, the quality and brightness of that beam can't compare over the full span of runtime.
The other issue everyone raises -- and one that had always bothered me -- was the placement of the switch on the TL. It's not too bad on the spray version, but the short version makes it a little weird, at least at first.
I have, however, come to like that switch placement. As Jim says, it just takes a little adjustment. But the bigger point is that the proper tactical position for a bright light is just to the side of your head and just in front of your eyes. In that position, you don't see a lot of confusing shadows amid the beam. And the smallish 8-inch TL can be easily carried lens backwards in your hand, so you can swing the light up to the side of your head in the proper tactical position and use your thumb to click the switch.
I've become a great believer in regulated incans. If I want to light up the homestead yard, I take a FiveMega tri-bored Mag85 with 9 GP2000 4/5A batts and AWR's Hotdriver set to 11 volts and a small-hole Litho123 heavy stipple reflector. Long runtime, heavy, and with a big, perfect-beam wall of light. But not a lot of throw.
If I need throw, the TL11-R is perfect. Very portable, perfect beam that goes forever, and a long-regulated runtime. It's hard for the MC60 to break into that line up.
Thanks, Jim.
