Help me decide which Surefire to get

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trooper

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Hi folks,

I carry a Peli M6 LED as a general-use light on my duty belt. Right now I'm seriously thinking about getting a Surefire for those situations when I really need LOTS of light.

I narrowed down my choice to the 6P and the G2 Nitrolon. I noticed that since they are both based on the P60 lamp they seem to offer pretty much the same performance. Is there any good reason to pay almost twice as much for the 6P (except that it looks considerably cooler :))?


Thanks in advance,

Trooper
 
I have two G2's that have held up well, but that is mostly around house and for carry at night. They really don't get used all that much. For duty use the 6P might be a better choice. In addition to the high grade aluminum body I think it has a tougher lense. Also has the lockout tail cap, which may or may be a benefit depending on what kind of holster you use. On the other hand you did say "LOTS of light" so if money is a concern you could get the G2 and use the extra funds to purchase a P61 bulb and double your output (at the cost of runtime of course).

I'm sure others will be along with feedback, but that's my 2 cents.
 
For duty use the 6P might be a better choice. In addition to the high grade aluminum body I think it has a tougher lense.
Click to expand...

Hmm... didn't know that. OTOH your idea about getting the less expensive model and buying a P61 bulb makes sense. I was going to get the P61 anyway because I intend to use the Surefire for those occasions when I really need to blind someone or go into a dark place without knowing what's waiting for me in there.


Thanks,

Trooper
 
Are you going to be striking people with it, or using it as a kubaton?

The 6P would work better.

Just want a small, lightweight, and powerful flashlight?

The G2 should be good enough.

Either would be a good choice for a duty flashlight.
 
+1 on the P-61 lamp assembly.

I have a 6Z that I swapped out lamp assemblies for the P-61. I carry it in a pocket on my vest carrier and it is used for serious retina-searing work only.

For general use I rely upon a Pelican M6 or mini-mag light depending on how much light I need. I normally carry two lights on my duty belt in addition to the one in my vest.
 
I've got a Streamlight in the squad car, a 6Z on my duty belt and an X200A on my Kimber Warrior which I carry in a Safariland 6280.

The 6Z works really well as a general purpose light. I use the standard P60 lamp in the 6Z.

Jeff
 
trooper said:
Probably not. Does that mean the alloy-made 6P is tougher and might take more abuse?


Trooper
Click to expand...

It kinda sounds like you want the 6P, my man, so just go ahead and get it. :)

brad cook
 
On the 6P or the G2 for 99.9% of the people the G2 is just as good and you can get two of the for the price of a 6P. A word of warning about the P-61 lamp, I have one in my 6Z, the lamp gets hot fast and I mean fast after about two to three minutes of solid use you will start to melt the bulb and what ever you do do not touch the bulb part of the lamp before you put it in the flashlight because the oil on your hands will pop the bulb once it heats up. But it is sure impressive to see how bright those lamps are.
 
Just get the G2. There's no real reason to get the More expensive models. If anything the G2 polymer material at least doesn't seem to get as burning hot as the aluminum. I recently had a situation where one of my e2e's seems to be defective and was overheating, and we're talking burning hot. The strange thing was turning it off didn't seem to stop it, I had to actually take the batteries out. Surefire's customer service, btw, was pretty much nonexistent when I contacted them about it. They took a couple of WEEKS to get back to me after the last of several emails, and I just got a terse, somewhat snotty email finally that said if I had bought it directly from them, I could call them and they'd discuss a refund. So apparently buying them from Cabelas or anywhere else somehow means you're on your own. Somewhat soured me, and my last purchase was a Streamlight.

I have a couple e2e's and 4 or 5 G2's, btw--the G2's have always been solid--no problems. Only ones I have had problems with were the twice as expensive e2e's. Go figure.
 
I'd stick with the P60... In my M2, I personally do not see any difference between the P60 and P61, other than extra heat and shorter runtime. Also...the 6P allows you to lockout the tail cap...the G2 does not.

Also, don't shy away from the LED lights they offer. These days a 5 watt Luxeon LED puts many incandescent lights to shame. I use a Surefire L2 everyday, and would never replace that with an incandescent.
 
I'd go for the 6p. You have more options for example an extention for an extra battery etc. Go on Surefire's web site and check it out. Oh what the heck buy both.:D
 
isn't the "lockout" feature basically just unscrewing the tailcap a little and lining up the little dots? Any reason you can't just unscrew the g2 until it won't go on when you push the tailcap?
 
Optical Serenity said:
I'd stick with the P60... In my M2, I personally do not see any difference between the P60 and P61, other than extra heat and shorter runtime. Also...the 6P allows you to lockout the tail cap...the G2 does not.

Also, don't shy away from the LED lights they offer. These days a 5 watt Luxeon LED puts many incandescent lights to shame. I use a Surefire L2 everyday, and would never replace that with an incandescent.
Click to expand...

The P-61 put out double the lumens, you can see them when comparing the lights against each other in a dark room.

The hot spot is much bigger in the P-61 and the brightness increase by double. You have too look at the sides also where the side spill will show more brigthness with the P-61. Lumens is the total meassure of the light emited by the source, not only the hot spot.

What you don't get is more throw, both throw the same distance because they both have the heavy stippled reflector and the same diameter, but this is exactly the way that Surefire lights are used, plenty of side spill to clear rooms.

The fallacy of the LED putting the same amount of light as the incandescents depend on range.
I have a Surefire L-4 Digital Lumamax $160.00 (5 watts 65 lumens Luxeon) that put a wall of light next to you nose but next to nothing at 20 yards, and can't compare at that distance with the G-2 $34.00 using P-60 lamp (also 65 lumens)

Beamshot at 20 meters using the P-60 lamp.

P-60lamp20meters.jpg

Beamshot of the Surefire L-4 at 20 meters

L-4at20meters.jpg

regards
black bear
 
scubie02
Nope, you can't just unscrew the cap on the G2 and make it lock out. The more you unscrew it the further the button needs to be pushed but the switch never gets locked out. Eventually it will get so loose that the light may come just come on randomly. The only way to sort of lockout the G2 is to loosen the bezel end a bit until the light won't activate.

trooper
Curious what you saw on the website to indicate the G2 has a lockout tail cap. I recently purchased another one and it definetly does not have the lockout tail cap.
 
I have a 6p and after seeing my friend's G2, i wish i would have gotten the G2. I thought it would be a soft plastic, but its quite resilient.

I'd also return my 61 bulb, if i could. I noticed little difference in the beam, but more overall light in the room. Not worth it, IMO
 
Ringer said:
trooper
Curious what you saw on the website to indicate the G2 has a lockout tail cap. I recently purchased another one and it definetly does not have the lockout tail cap.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected... just looked up the Surefire web site once more and noticed that I misread the product description. Apparently you can switch between momentary on and constant on by twisting the tail cap. However, the lockout thing is not featured by the G2.


Trooper
 
trooper said:
I stand corrected... just looked up the Surefire web site once more and noticed that I misread the product description. Apparently you can switch between momentary on and constant on by twisting the tail cap. However, the lockout thing is not featured by the G2.


Trooper
Click to expand...

The newest G2's (just out, there are still plenty of old models on shelves like the one Ringer got) DO indeed have lockout tailcaps. It doesn't say it on the Surefire website but if you get your hands on one you'll find it's true.

brad cook
 
DigMe said:
The newest G2's (just out, there are still plenty of old models on shelves like the one Ringer got) DO indeed have lockout tailcaps. It doesn't say it on the Surefire website but if you get your hands on one you'll find it's true.

brad cook
Click to expand...

"UPDATE 2: The G2 now comes with a Lock Out Tail Cap! YESSSSS!!!! Something a lot of people have been waiting for. Now the least expensive Surefire has all the operational characteristics of their more expensive lights. Be careful, though, there are a lot of older G2's on the market still to cycle through before you can be sure that every G2 has the LOTC. I bought one of the new LOTC G2 lights and it's great! No more accidental activations in your pack or bellybag."
http://www.flashlightreviews.com/reviews/surefire_g2.htm

~GnSx
 
Just to reinforce some of what's been said:

- All of the G2's rolling off SF's line since July '05 have had LOTC's.

- The 6P does have the Pyrex lens which will handle heat better. If you have no intention on using the P61 HOLA then the lexan lens will be fine on the G2. It'll even be fine if you use the P61 but if you leave it on for 8-10 minutes you can melt the lens.

- The P61 won't offer a 100% performance boost, you'll witness approx. 20% white light intensity, 15-20% better flood and 15% greater range.

As for which to get, if you don't care about looks go for the G2. If you think you want something a little on the 'dressy' side get the 6P. Some possible considerations for the 6P is future upgrades like the A19 9v adapter, Z32 bezel, Z49/Z59 clicker tailcaps and KT Turbohead kits will all be a more appropriate match in finish.
 
I have a 6P, and I bought a friend a G2. You can always carve little dots into a G2 so you know where to position the cap, but at least with my friends G2, the cap twists very easily, and it has accidentaly turned on in his pocket a couple of times.

By the way, does anybody know how well the 9P's perform in comparison to the 6P/G2?
 
the g2 seems to bounce around better than the 6p.
i have both, and just got the E2 Outdoorsman, with its upgraded lamp, so now it puts out the same as my g2 and 6p.

my p61 lamp has been on backorder with surefire since november. the outdoorsman was also on backorder through the distributor, that just got delivered last weekend.

one product surefire unveiled at SHOT is a truly adjustable handheld light. it has 6 settings, from 2 lumens to 60, and in addition to the white light, you can choose a red or blue LED. its called the Kroma.
 
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