Surefire club

golok

golok

Joined
Oct 20, 2000
Messages
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A few of my friends are proud owners of various models of Surefire.

I am impressed by the sheer light power of this little flashlight but I am unable to fathom its uses beyond its tactical advantage when used by a law enforcement officer.

Because of its hungry consumption of battery power, the batteries are drained rather rapidly.

What are its uses besides being able to blind an unsuspecting person temporarily?
 
Peace of mind while walking at night rate pretty high in my book. I have kept a Photon 2 on my key chain for many years. It is great at finding something lying in the bed of my pick up at night or, locating a keyhole in an unlit parking lot or on a dark porch. It will also help me avoid tripping over a curb, in a pot hole, etc on a moonless night.

Then I upgraded to the ARC LE light. Much better at lighting up a path through a parking lot at night but, doen't offer enough distance to provide a safety zone when walking in unfamilar territory.

Then, I started carrying my SureFire E2 (I have others besides this one) daily. There is simply no comparison. It throws enough light to detect a strand of wire waist high in a field (electric fence) which is great for avoiding an unexpected shock. When walking in a dark parking lot, it has the range to see a cat making noise on a loading dock. And, as it starts to warm up, I have a lot more confidese that it would allow me to spot a Rattlesnake before I get too close (the ARC LE and Photon would work but, I would get much too close). Nothing gets your heart racing like a Rattlesnake or a wild cat on a loading dock when your out on a moonless night in a big parking lot area by yourself.

I should note, that I have a Mag-light 4-D with Hi-cap Ni-cads and a Carley lamp which works real well to but, it is just too heavy to be with me everywhere I go. With the ocassional and limited use my SureFire gets, battery expense isn't that big a deal to me and well worth the price I pay.
 
golok, Sid brought up some very good points.

I have a number of Surefires, along with a multitude of other lights from Mag, UKE, Princeton Tec, and probably a few others.

For sheer "light power" vs. size, the Surefire will usually win hands down. Since I started carrying a Surefire, I've tended to leave other lights for various mundane chores that I know I'll need more burn time. I have a Photon with me all the time for general lower-level light usage, as well as a couple of others in the garage, or glove compartment. Working on things up close, 60 or 100 lumens shining on something 12" away can sometimes be "too bright", so the Photons, ARCs, UKE 4AAs, certainly haven't been relegated to the "junk drawer by Surefire. When I need light though, I grab my 6P, E2, or M3. On some projects at work, people approach me to use one of my Surefires because it's the only light that throws a great beam and that doesn't "get in the way"

On the other hand, other 123 lithium battery-powered lights, with the exception of the UK 2L, tend to have very similar or equal burn times. For 123 use and decent light, the UK has a pretty good beam (not like a Surefire, though), and a burn time of, IIRC, several hours.

123 batteries are best bought in bulk. 123 battery prices for Panasonic or Sanyo range quite a bit, from around $1.50 ea. at places like Zreiss.com, a bit more from cheapbatteries.com, up to $16 for a pair at your local drug store. Surefire has worked up some specific batteries with a bit more current (1400mAh vs. 1300 mAh), a touch more burn time, around 3-4 minutes, and according to some, a slightly "whiter" initial beam. I haven' tnoticed a difference in my Surefires, though. Even in bulk, though, costs for the Surefires generally range around $3 per. Over time, I don't know if a few extra minutes burn time will pay for itself at nearly double the cost.

If you're looking for alot of light in a small package, without the battery costs, consider one of Surefire's rechargable lights. I currently have an 8AX on order, which will most likely become my GP light, but my E2 will probably be my EDC go-to light.

Sorry for the long-windedness, but JMHO after 5-6 years of Surefire ownership.
 
When you need bright, bright light use a Surefire.

For tactical purposes (with a weapon/as a weapon), use the Surefire.

For general purpose light an LED light like the Innova X5 is great. Or maybe the ARC LS. The combination of Surefire and an LED that uses 123's is great.

I carry an M2 when I want bright and when the batteries start to degrade, I put them in my X5.

S.
 
Originally posted by golok


What are its uses besides being able to blind an unsuspecting person temporarily?
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Umm...isn't that why we buy SF lights?? :D

Seriously, I have used my M3 and M2 lights in some utility applications, where I need an intensely focused light beam to look into dark crevices. My E2 has the Nite-Ize fiber optic adapter attached to it, and IMHO it works better with the E2 than it does for its intended use with a Mini Maglite. Because the E2 bulb is much brighter than the Mini Mag's, I use it when I need to peer into cramped dark places like inside of a computer.

This maybe a bit funny but it illustrates the usefulness of SF's intense beam. Nothing pisses me off more than being awaken inthe middle of the night to the chirping of a cricket inside my home. I have a unique talent of hunting those suckers down. You basically home in on where the chirping is coming from in the house and with all the lights off, use a SF light to get a visual on the insect. Usually against a light colored wall, they will be very easy to spot especially in the light. Smack the damn thing and head back off to dreamland.... :D
 
Surefire does have some excellent rechargeable models. My 10X has enough power that I've more or less retired the M6 (due to battery consumption), and use the 10X as the "maximum light required" carry option. When size is more important than brightness, I move to a 9AN/T or 9N/T, and find the dual bulb configuration very useful for maximizing battery life. I like the battery Surefires more for emergency or infrequent use--an M3 in the car, M6 by my bed, and a 12Z by the front door. I do like to keep an E1 or E2 in my briefcase. I also have various LED lights, but aside from the ARC LS, none of them are carried on a regular basis. Well, there are a couple of Photons in my briefcase somewhere..
 
I suppose I'm a SureFire Junkie which has a lot do with demanding pure beams of brilliant intense light from everyday carry size flashlights.

I find that the difference that SureFire's SF123A batteries give you are more noticeable from the HOLAs - these punish the batteries, and I'm getting a good return for my 'investment' in SF123As.

For me, the use of the E2 is for everything a Photon LED can't cope with. Usually I have the E2 and M2 on me, but at night, for those walks home, I'll have an M3 or M3T HOLA for illuminating my way...

Please note that I am very biased towards SureFire, but I do have models from other brands.

I'm going to the SHOT Show. I have a SureFire baseball cap.
Not addicted at all.

Al
 
I have one of the "older" 9P models, and aside from blinding an attacker, this 3-cell light can also be used as an "impact/jabbing weapon" in a pinch...Sort of a Yawara-stick.:).
 
I can't add very much to what has been said here, except to underscore how great the E2 is. If you don't have any SureFire lights, I would encourage everyone to purchase an E2, or the upcoming E2e. If you are worried about the expensive batteries, I understand, and so seemingly does SureFire as they are about to offer a Low Output Lamp Assembly (LOLA) for the E2(e) that offers 150 minutes of runtime at 25 lumens. I think this new lamp assembly will allow more people to appreciate the E2 for being the great complement to a small LED light for EDC that it is.

Bucky
 
they are about to offer a Low Output Lamp Assembly (LOLA) for the E2(e)
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Oh, great, now I'm going to be singing that Lola song all day. ;) L-O-L-A Lola, lo lo lo Lola....
 
This maybe a bit funny but it illustrates the usefulness of SF's intense beam. Nothing pisses me off more than being awaken inthe middle of the night to the chirping of a cricket inside my home. I have a unique talent of hunting those suckers down. You basically home in on where the chirping is coming from in the house and with all the lights off, use a SF light to get a visual on the insect. Usually against a light colored wall, they will be very easy to spot especially in the light. Smack the damn thing and head back off to dreamland....
Click to expand...

I know EXACTLY what you mean, Dexter. Soon as the lights come on, the little bastids shut up and you will never find them. Had the same problem in the basement of my old place. Would sneak down with a maglite in one hand and my machete in the other (it was great for reaching deep into narrow crevices).

I use my E2 everyday. Froim looking under desks at ethernet jack numbers to walking my dog at night (and not stepping in the leavings of other dogs) to anytime I run into aother room of the house at night and don't feel like turning on the light. The output/burntime ratio is perfect for me.
 
Howdy!

I'm one of golok's buddy who packs them awesome surefires! You can't leave home without them.. :D

Sam
 
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