About to get $300 to spend for Xmas, thinking of a high end light

The backstory is an older family member sent my mom a huge check to be split between my family to buy ourselves presents this year. Her health isn't too good and she says she just doesn't have it in her to go out shopping. Now this is coming from a person who always gave us free swag from hotels and casinos as gifts. This is a TOTAL surprise, none of us EVER expected anything like this from her, I mean it's absolutely crazy. So when we all picked up our collective jaws, we're now left to wonder what to do with our small fortunes.
It comes to $500 per person, but me, my bro and sis will share the $500 to buy gifts for our significant others "from her", so it'd be like she got them presents as well. The only stipulation is she wants to know what everyone got for themselves.
My chicky wants a new digicam (around $150), so I'm looking to have around $300 left for myself. I already bought a Mini-Grip 555 so I'm all set on the knife end of things, and have a great Mora for a fixed blade.
I'm using $100-$150 on a nice light. I'm thinking of either a Novatac 120-P, or to build a Surefire E series lego. I want to stay with the current form factor I have, a Q3. So it has to be 1 cell, the size of a Q3, a good strong clip, and multilevel output with a high max. I just don't know if I could build something comparable to a 120-P with Surefire and aftermarket/custom stuff.
What do you guys think? Could a lego set be done for $200 or under that would rival a Novatac 120-P but stay the same size? I'm choosing the "P" because of it's 4 levels and recessed tailcap. I don't like twisties at all and that's why I'm not considering the new HDS. And speaking of HDS, why the heck are the old models more expensive that the new Novatacs? Is it like the CMG/Gerber Infinities where the old manufacturers built the better light?

Please gimme your thoughts and ideas!

Send your Q3 to Milkyspit for a great mod! Or get a stock SF L1. Or the best option and most expensive send a new L1 to milkyspit! If you are going to buy a SF call Opticshq.com for a FANTASTIC deal. You must call with your CPF handle and don't disclose the price on a forum!
Or go to the Shoppe for an Aleph mule. Or go to lighthound and buy parts for a Frankenlight and be unique.
You could also get an M1 Illuminator from opticshq and send that to milkyland, which is what I want and cant afford right now.

Way ahead of ya Sgt., Milky already modded my Q3 when I first joined up, to a PQ3 with TYAH Lux and 2 stage recessed tailcap.
An L1 would be too big, trying to stay with 1xRCR123. A frankenlight is my other option over an Novatac/HDS, with either a E1E body or even a Vital Gear 1 cell body, as rare as they are now.

Didn't notice your post count! If I had I wouldn't of made any suggestions most likley. Good luck, and let us know what you decide on!

Sgt. LED said:

Didn't notice your post count! If I had I wouldn't of made any suggestions most likley. Good luck, and let us know what you decide on!

Click to expand...

Post count has nothin' to do with nothin'. It's what the poster has to say, for real. Thanks for chiming in with your thoughts.

Lucky you! I think the Novatac 120P is a good choice, very versatile. I like it's UI because you never have to see Strobe or SOS unless you want to. Have fun!

I always thought surefire kroma is neat, it's right around $300 too.

The Kroma is too big for what I'm after, I got to play with one at a gun show last year, and it wasn't my kinda light. Not something I would buy or even use.

The new Surefire E1L can be modded to 2 stage and is a great little light.

For $150 or less, I would select the Novatac 120P hands down. The HDS Twisty light also has me very interested and I am looking forward to purchasing it as soon as it becomes available.

I currently own a 120T and an 85P and these lights work so well and are so easy to use that, at the present, they set the standard for production lights.

I agree with Goatee. Go with the 120P for size, quality , and versatility! Then watch the marketplace and find a good deal on an E-series Surefire...

If you don't have a Dereelight yet...the new DBS is outstanding. Get the model with the 2 stage Digital Q5...and you will be mighty proud. Lots of reviews around.

Aleph 19 cree from the shoppe is a nice clean cut looking power house. Or get a nice McLuxIII PD-S in HA NAT...there are a couple in the Marketplace for sale, mizer and non mizer.....

I too like the A19, just gotten into them recently. A 1x123 fits nicely in my hand, and with a correctly chosen LE, can be quite bright.

Well after hearing of some of the issues about the 120P, and the news of a new Arc to rival it, I think I'm better off just waiting for the dust to settle on all this. Novatac clearly has bugs to work out, and Arc could be a contender. Plus some of the money has gone here and there, so the original $300 is now about $150
Maybe sometime in February or March I'll be better able to make this decision. I'm not counting out a custom job (I wish), the price just needs to be right and it has to have a clip and atleast 2 levels of output, preferably one being high(80lms or more). Thanks for the suggestions!

Omega Man said:

Well after hearing of some of the issues about the 120P, and the news of a new Arc to rival it, I think I'm better off just waiting for the dust to settle on all this. Novatac clearly has bugs to work out, and Arc could be a contender. Plus some of the money has gone here and there, so the original $300 is now about $150
Maybe sometime in February or March I'll be better able to make this decision. I'm not counting out a custom job (I wish), the price just needs to be right and it has to have a clip and atleast 2 levels of output, preferably one being high(80lms or more). Thanks for the suggestions!

Click to expand...

Maybe it was for the better to spend half of the money than on a light.
And you can still get a great light for 150USD.
Have you heard anything more about the new ARC? Pics?

Bugs? What bugs? I wear my 120P everyday and its still going stong...

Cuso said:

Bugs? What bugs? I wear my 120P everyday and its still going stong...

Click to expand...

Over in the Market Place, I was talking about flickering issues and other things that early adopters put up with. That and the unexpected price hike.
Maybe I could go with a 85P and not worry about the difference. I feel obliged to get something now since it'd supposed to be for Christmas. But in reality I can wait all I like. I'll wait to hear more about the Novatac line and pay attention to the Arc thread for updates from Peter.
Lobo, here's the Arc thread-
https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/179689

You might like a surefire U2, I love mine.

I recently handled an Aleph A2.VEERRRY NIIIICE. I'v never seen a McGizmo though.I'm going for the A19 myself.For that amount of money esp. since it's not really coming out of pocket,go for something rare.