Learning about Surefire flashlights

[lovenhim]

Hello everyone.  I want to say this up front, my goal here is to learn not to start a flame war or bashing, so if the mods think this will be an issue, then please pull the thread.  I want to learn, understand, and get opinions as to why people like Surefire flashlights.
     I own 1 Surefire, it is a C2 Centurion that I got for a trade for a razor.  I had never seen nor heard of a Surefire light before and all I really know about them now is that they are expensive, made in the USA, and people either love them or hate them for some reason or other.
     I like the heft, feel, and solid build quality of my Surefire.  I like how smooth the twisty tail cap is and how smooth the button press is.  The light feels well made in my hands.  I do not like the fact however that it eats batteries like candy and that it is not all that bright.  My unit has the P60 incandescent bulb in it.  I have a quark 123 regular and a Preon 2 that as far as brightness goes they will eat the C2 for lunch and do it in a smaller package with much better run times. 
     I am a simple person, "if it aint broke don't fix it" kind of guy.  I do not buy the newest, lateest greatest things just because they are new.  I have to have a legit reason to make a purchase or upgrade.  I still for example use a 26 inch CRT TV that is 15 years old.  I use Linux as an operating system rather than Windows on my computers because it fits my needs better.  I still change my own oil @ 3 months or 3000 miles, why because it works and oil is cheap compared to a new engine.
     Why are Surefire flashlights so loved?  What makes them better than XYZ brand of light which may be smaller and brighter?  Does Surefire fit the train of thought that says "we are the tested, tried and true product" rather than the "we are the newest and greatest in technology" concept?  I want to fall in love with that C2 I really do, I just keep getting stuck on the poor runtimes and how it eats batteries like candy, and the fact that I have smaller less expensive lights that are brighter.  What am I missing, what am I not seeing about a Surefire light?  I have this feeling that they are the flashlights that once you buy it you will own it for many many years, and that less expensive and brighter light will have been broken a long time a go. 

[Styerman]

They were among the first of the small high performance lights . They started life as weapons lights , hence the overengineering found in models like the M2 and M3 . They basically started the whole "Tactical " genre . They have been widley cloned . The designs were once very innovative ( models like the 6P , and A2 ) , many now see them as excessivley conservative .

They are among the best weapons lights out there ( very resistant to bumps , and firearms recoil ) .

I'm persaonally very fond of them , started packing a 6P back in the early nineties . That thing smoked Maglites - the previous gold standard .

For use in conjunction with hard recoiling handguns , and in hard use applications they still have a very deffinate niche .

ATM I only own one , at one time I must have had about 20 or so . Some models are pretty mean and worthy , some are now a bit dated .

Any true flashaholic should experience at least one .

Chris

[David]

I`m to tried at the moment to try and type out a reply as to why I like Surfire flashlights. I`ll keep it simple. Surefire has over the years earned my respect and trust!   

[space cowboy]

Even though I do not own a Surefire light, I read their Service is A-1. They go way above & beyond to make the customer happy. I also have read it can be a secound hand purchase & they will still take care of a problem for you.

[lovenhim]

I am certainly going to give the C2 I have more thought and spend more time with it and try it at night in total darkness.  It is a very nice light. 

[2xTap]

lovenhim,

I won't get into the whole aspect of Surefires being one thing or another as I have a current love/hate thing with them......I do own many of them, and they do make a decent light. All I will say is they have become overrated and there is better out there for the money.

That said, the C2 is a good light. Your run times are horrible because you are still using the P60 Lamp. Ditch the Xenon and get yourself one of the P60 based LED drop-ins, numerous manufacturers are making them in a wide array of LED's. Many can be had real cheap. Your output will greatly increase and the life of your Lithiums will as well. All of my SF's using the P60 or P90 have LED Drop-In's in them now.

One of my SF's is a the bigger brother to yours, the C3 Centurion..............



........since acquiring it a while back I have added a Z48 Tailcap and a Solarforce R2 CREE LED drop-in. Both have made it a much better, more useful, light.

2xTap

[lovenhim]

I was wondering the same thing about Surefire lights being over rated as well.  I know they are quality lights but to me they seem to cost more than they should for what you get.  Now mine was free but still.  Now I agree that I should put an LED drop in module in the light but there are just so many out there and I am not sure what to get.  I would like to keep the warm incan look to the light.  I also do like the idea of a low/med/hi mode being added to the light as well.  Any ideas here?

[2xTap]

Can't really give you any particulars as I don't go for the warmer tint LED's and I try to avoid multi-mode set ups. But alot of manufacturers make what you would want, in one version or another. For brands of drop-ins I suggest looking at Malkoff, LumensFactory, Wolf Eyes, DeereLight, Solarforce, as well as some of the dealer brand drop-ins from LightHound, BugOutGear, BatteryJunction, and the like.

Here's some links to check out for Drop-Ins........

http://www.batteryjunction.com/p60-dropin.html

http://www.lumensfactory.com/cart.php?cat_id=2&sub_cat_id=7

http://www.pts-flashlights.com/products/productList.aspx?uid=1-25-114

http://www.malkoffdevices.com/shop/dropin-mod-dropins-to-fit-surefire-c-1_14.html

http://www.lighthound.com//Bulbs_c_46.html

2xTap

[lovenhim]

Nice list of link there, thank you very much.    This is a great forum.