Maglite Vs car

Status
Not open for further replies.
B

black bear

Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2004
Messages
417
Location
Long Island N. Y.
Maglite versus Car

Because I built MEGALIGHTS out of common Maglites, I have heard some concern (not in this Forum) about the durability, sturdiness, and ruggedness of the Maglite in general.

As my wife was leaving for Church in her Lincoln Town Car I grabbed the flashlight closest to me (a black bear 678 made in a 2 "D" Maglite body), and after switching it on I put it under the front tire of the car and told her to drive over it.

Before the tire could climb over, the flashlight was dragged for a few inches in my rough driveway; that produced the scratches that you can see near the tail cap and in the top of the head in the second picture.
As you can see the flashlight was on during the test and nothing happened to it except for those few scratches.

MagvscarII.jpg

I don't worry about the scratches, as I can buy a new "host" for less than $17.00 in any Wal-Mart or Home Depot; I just have to transfer the parts of my Black Bear 678 to the new Maglite "host" to have a spanking new flashlight again.

scratches.gif

I did the water test before to demonstrate to those doubting Thomases that the flashlight cannot get wet inside by simple rain (somebody in another forum wrote that) and now I am proving that the flashlight is sturdy enough to drive over it with a 4000 pound car.

What is next? Whack some heads to prove that my flashlight can take it?? :evil:
I will if I can get those doubting Thomases to volunteer for the test, I only worry that the after pictures will be not proper for family viewing!! :D
Best regards
black bear
 
You mean somebody wondered if a maglite would flood in rain or wasn't durable?? They have obviously never used one hard. I have personnelly seen mine still on at the bottom of a flooded ditch. I know for a fact that you can beat platic replacement window panes out with one and it still works.
 
My $0.02 on Maglites

I have had, and still have many maglites. That being said, I don't think they are all too hot. I had one in the trunk of my 1990 Volvo 740 sedan for roadside emergencies. Do you know what it did? It rusted up tighter than a drum! Seems this weatherproof flashlight couldn't handle the moisture in a car trunk? Both batteries corroded and erupted into a white powdery mess, and could not be removed. I'm in Chicagoland and the winter/summer cycle really varies in temperature, but so what? I was suprised this environment wwas too "harsh" for the Maglite. On the brite side, Maglite did replace it.
 
Bosshoff,
That was not the flashlight fault but the batteries and has nothing to do with moisture, when they leak acid they become solid masses and the only solution is to throw the flashlight away and buy a new one. There is when the advantage of a $20.00 "host" is realized.

The rechargeable Nimhs batteries that I use will not do that.
The only "regular" batteries capable to survive a trunk are the Lithium batteries, Energizer have some AA Lithium and that is what I use in my trunk's flashlights, the kind of flashlights that I carry in the trunk are headlamps with LED's that provide the perfect flood light for changing a tire or looking under the hood, and leave your two hands free for working.


Then I have in my glove compartment the modified Maglite 2 "D" with 678 lumens of power and under the car seat the longest model Maglite 3 "D" modified for 951 lumens.
These flashlights provide the light than a spotlight does without the bulk, will blind momentarily and assailant and will help me find and read road signs or spotlight some animal.

SLCDave, keep suggestions coming, I may well do that!! :evil: :D

thanks
regards
black bear
 
My brother-in-law broke one. He accidentally let his fire-truck run over it while it was loaded with water.

It flattened the mag-lite.

The good news is that the mag-lite folks were shocked that this happened, and replaced it for free in trade for the flat one.
 
I had a Mini Mag that I dropped into a Vietnamese septic pond about 10 to 12 feet deep 5 years ago
BIL went in to get it about 2 or 3 hours later, it was still on and I'm told it still works.

You can replicate this experiment by dropping it into a common ordinary American septic tank and getting your BIL to go in after it
 
Drop it from a fast-moving vehicle on an open stretch of road, tow it behind a speed boat through a lake, roll it down a tall flight of concrete stairs, lay it on your engine block during a long trip, should I go on? :neener:
 
Mount a Mini on a 12ga and see how many rounds to bust the bulb everyone says the can't take the recoil.
 
Bratch,

I don't do modifications in Minimaglites, my two major modifications are in a Maglite 3 "D" for 951 lumens (almost double the output of the Surefire M-6) and in a Maglite 2 "D" (10 inches long) for 678 lumens.
If these figures don't meant anything to you let me tell you that a regular Maglite 3 "D" with fresh new batteries output 39 lumens.

I have put in my shotgun and rifles a very good light called TACM III that output 115 lumens and is a real thrower, it have a remote cable switch and have take the recoil of the Mossberg 12 gauge very well for over 60 rounds now.
The Mini-14 also have the same light for over 13 years, and I have fired it 700 times.
The mount that I use is a Weaver base #45 screwed and epoxied to the forearm of the rifle and shotgun, in the .22 is just attached with velcro, and works just as well.

The light is held by a regular 1" Weaver ring.

Here is a picture of them.

gunlights.jpg

In my opinion the Minimaglite have no place in a gun, when mounted on a rifle you need a light with capabilities to illuminate for a long way and with a good flood from the side spill, to eliminate the need to pan the area with your gun.

I have mounted my MAG 951 with a Pelican Lite-saddle in a Remington rifle to try it out for recoil, and the light take it very well.

S5300070.jpg

Thank you guys for your input.
Best regards
black bear
 
I have put in my shotgun and rifles a very good light called TACM III that output 115 lumens and is a real thrower, it have a remote cable switch and have take the recoil of the Mossberg 12 gauge very well for over 60 rounds now.
Click to expand...

Where do they sell the TACM III with the remote switch? I'd like to take a look at them.

brad cook
 
Dig Me,
Here is the website for TACM III tactical lights:
http://www.tacm3.com/tactical_lights.htm

The TACM III use a lamp similiar to Surefire P-60 but it is bigger in diameter and smooth instead of Orange Peel, consequently it throw the beam further.
It can reach and illuminate a target that I have against a fence 78 yards away, when the P-60 lamp in my Surefire 6 P have already quit.

The light is lighter and shorter than the 6P, and is rated for 115 lumens.
Best regards
black bear
 
I had a Mini Mag that I dropped into a Vietnamese septic pond about 10 to 12 feet deep 5 years ago
BIL went in to get it about 2 or 3 hours later, it was still on and I'm told it still works.

You can replicate this experiment by dropping it into a common ordinary American septic tank and getting your BIL to go in after it
Click to expand...

Can you truly replicate it without the digested kimchee? :barf:
 
blackbear,

your photo with the fullsize maglite on that bolt action rifle is a classic :D

poor man's lighting system....
 
Dig Me,
Here is the website for TACM III tactical lights:
http://www.tacm3.com/tactical_lights.htm

The TACM III use a lamp similiar to Surefire P-60 but it is bigger in diameter and smooth instead of Orange Peel, consequently it throw the beam further.
It can reach and illuminate a target that I have against a fence 78 yards away, when the P-60 lamp in my Surefire 6 P have already quit.
Click to expand...

Thanks, man! At that price it looks like a great alternative to a surefire setup!

brad cook
 
Spreadfire Arms

That set up with the bolt action is finally practical. It is possible with the Maglite modified to 951 lumens (the usual Maglite 3 D output 39 lumens) to make shots thru the scope at 200 yards, as the target is illuminated at that distance.
I think that is the ideal set-up to take care of coyotes during the hunting season here in N. Y. that last several months.
Before we needed a spotter and spot light operator and a shooter, now the shooter can do both jobs, and save the weight and bulk of the spot light. It is the only light that can be put in a rifle and reach that far.

I wish Pelican will put back in production the flashlight holder that is shown in the picture and is called Saddle-Lite; it is entirely made out of rubber and adjusts with an elastic Velcro strap.

black bear
 
I would really have to question the experience of anyone that had doubts that a maglite can stand up to hard use. These things have been used and abused for a LONG time, they were the light of choice for working men for a decades for a VERY good reason. They are being replaced today ONLY because of their output not their durability.
 
C Yeager

My sentiments exactly, thank you for saying so.

Regarding the output I want to point out that the poor show is the fault of the batteries not the light.
Even the best alkalines batteries from Duracell and Energizer can not maintain a steady output for long because they quickly drop the 1.5 volts to less than 1 volt.
This is in the makeup of the alkaline battery and the tremendous internal resistance they have in comparison with others more moderns batteries like the Nimhs or the Lithium.

When you first put brand new fresh alkalines batteries of a good brand in a Maglite 3 “D” flashlight, you are rewarded with a nice strong beam of light of 39 lumens.
After a 7 or 8 minutes run in these batteries the light drop at 75% and after an hour the lumen output is about 20 (50% output)
You can see what I am trying to explain in this chart.

mag3d.gif

So the main stumbling block is the batteries composition and low voltage, Surefire made his mane because is using Lithium batteries with a voltage of 3 volts that don’t sag much and deliver steady voltage.

If you look at the lights that I modified (based on Maglites 3 “D” and 2 “D”) you will see that I am using high current rechargeable Nimhs batteries that have almost not internal resistance and that deliver their voltage without sagging to the very end of their charge.

Have taking care of the power supply problem, the new super-bulbs available in bi-pin form have been converted to PR bases (regular flashlight base) surrounded by a ceramic compound to isolate the heat, in my MAG 951 model (that produces 951 lumens) and by a special ceramic bi-pin base in the black bear 678 (for 678 lumens)

In my lights using special heavy walled aluminum reflectors and Pyrex lenses took care of the heat issues and converted the regular Maglite in a MEGA LIGHT.


So I am proposing that the Maglite is back in my modifications and better than ever, except for the Surefire “The Beast” which is a HID and will take a few seconds to start up, and which also consumes twenty 123’s batteries and cost $2,900.00 it is nothing up there yet that can surpass my MAG 951 (951 lumens) which is based on the Maglite 3 “D” host.
Respectfully
Black bear
 
Quote:
I had a Mini Mag that I dropped into a Vietnamese septic pond about 10 to 12 feet deep 5 years ago
BIL went in to get it about 2 or 3 hours later, it was still on and I'm told it still works.

You can replicate this experiment by dropping it into a common ordinary American septic tank and getting your BIL to go in after it



Can you truly replicate it without the digested kimchee?
Click to expand...

SLCDave

That would be a Korean septic tank. I think the real trick is getting the BIl to go in........
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

B
  • Locked
Black Bear introduced two new flashlights
Replies
1
Views
524
Navy joe
N
B
  • Locked
Maglite water test
Replies
9
Views
991
black bear
B
B
  • Locked
Pistol shooting with a Maglite
Replies
7
Views
1K
silverlance
S
B
  • Locked
Flashlights and Superbulbs
Replies
5
Views
649
black bear
B
B
  • Locked
Old lights, new lights
Replies
11
Views
1K
ABTOMAT
A
Back
Top