User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
MT, USA
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Posted: 5/8/2024 2:00:44 PM EDT
Just finish a new primary rifle build and trying to decide on light. Previously I’ve run protac hlx lights and been mostly happy with them but looking for an upgrade on this rifle.
I’m trying to decide between Malkoff e2xtl 18650. $250 Modlite plhv2 18650. $290 M640dft $295 My initial thought was the surefire since it’s a surefire and I like the adjustable mount on the new pro scouts but doing some reading it sounds like the sf dual fuels were hot garbage and couldn’t keep up with other brands. Since the turbo came out it sounds like initial reviews were more positive but not much for long term reviews. All of these lights would have a tail cap to start but eventually change to pressure switch. Can anyone help narrow down what would be best route to go or who has experience with these? |
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Posted: 5/8/2024 2:59:40 PM EDT
[#1]
There is only one master race.
Malkoff |
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Posted: 5/8/2024 3:04:33 PM EDT
[#2]
Surefire 640dfT hands down. better output than both of those lights and the street price is more like $260 shipped. no need to spend more money for another mount either.
It's gonna have better resale and be easier to sell than the other brands. |
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Posted: 5/8/2024 3:07:28 PM EDT
[#3]
I’ve got all of those. Same malkoff head, same modlite (it’s my handheld), surefire df640, and I have a first gen cloud rein.
The rein and malkoff are the same, except the rein is a lot warmer light color. The surefire is powerful and it’s on my main squeeze 13.7, but I prefer that it’s mostly spill. The modlite has more candela and lumens than all of them, and i like it the best. It’s just got more balls. The surefire turbo lights are fantastic and the specs blow away the other lights except the new cloud defensive reins. I will eventually add one to my collection. |
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Posted: 5/8/2024 3:10:57 PM EDT
[#4]
Turbo.
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MI, USA
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Posted: 5/8/2024 3:11:33 PM EDT
[#5]
The Modlite heads can be found on blem sale from time to time for $120. That plus a body, tailcap, and mount of your choice makes for a pretty reasonable price.
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Posted: 5/8/2024 3:14:57 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By mudholestomper: I’ve got all of those. Same malkoff head, same modlite (it’s my handheld), surefire df640, and I have a first gen cloud rein. The rein and malkoff are the same, except the rein is a lot warmer light color. The surefire is powerful and it’s on my main squeeze 13.7, but I prefer that it’s mostly spill. The modlite has more candela and lumens than all of them, and i like it the best. It’s just got more balls. The surefire turbo lights are fantastic and the specs blow away the other lights except the new cloud defensive reins. I will eventually add one to my collection. you'll like the DF640 turbo, it has a lot of spill while blowing away the competition on candela with both battery types. I believe only cloud defensive has a higher candela light. even with the $120 modlite blem sales, you are gonna be out $250 before shipping to get a body, tailcap, and mount to make a frankenlight with less output. I have two of these that I'll probably sell to get more 640T's |
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MT, USA
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Posted: 5/8/2024 6:29:21 PM EDT
[#7]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Infamous: Surefire 640dfT hands down. better output than both of those lights and the street price is more like $260 shipped. no need to spend more money for another mount either. It's gonna have better resale and be easier to sell than the other brands. If you don’t mind me asking where are you seeing the 640dft for that low? |
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Posted: 5/8/2024 9:51:03 PM EDT
[#8]
Turbo.
Tried the other brands, the Turbo ended up being my favorite. After having two cloud rein 3.0s fail me at a Sentinel Concepts low light rifle course and totally ruining a rather pricey training class…along with their trash switches, the Turbo gets the nod. |
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TX, USA
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Posted: 5/9/2024 7:03:41 AM EDT
[#9]
If you want throw, the Surefire is best. But it is more in line with the Modlite OKW than the PLHv2 which has MUCH more flood. Surefire wins for quality. Definitely gives me a warm fuzzy over Modlite, which I own 4 of, so no hater. Surprisingly prefer the Surefire picatinny version of the pro mount to Arisaka mounts. Lighter than Arisaka mount too. The MLOK version of the pro mount is heavier and sucks for positioning vs the picatinny pro on the top rail, which I did not expect.
Only negative to Surefire head is the length. It is just a hair longer than the other two. Malkoff is just to weak on lumens to be a contender vs PLHv2, but same throw. The DFT is more throw, but much less flood vs PLHv2. The flood difference is most noticable at medium distances, where the Surefire outter flood becomes useless and the PLHv2 is not. Up close and indoors the Surefire flood works and the hot spot bounce back illuminates everything great. If you want range though, I prefer less spill as it does not catch closer objects and reflect back constricting your pupil. |
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Posted: 5/9/2024 7:47:37 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Remington1992: If you don’t mind me asking where are you seeing the 640dft for that low? Pm'ed |
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Posted: 5/9/2024 2:35:01 PM EDT
[#11]
I’ve got the malkoff and tried a buddies cloud stuff. Bought a 340 turbo. Fucking sweet light.
Now I’m looking at x300u turbos to swap everything to. |
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Posted: 5/9/2024 2:46:39 PM EDT
[#12]
 Attached FileThe Modlite's candela is hard to beat. I made a hybrid because the Surefire's rail mount is 🤌. |
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Posted: 5/9/2024 2:49:20 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By bdover: I've got the malkoff and tried a buddies cloud stuff. Bought a 340 turbo. Fucking sweet light. Now I'm looking at x300u turbos to swap everything to. SF deservedly got a lot of flak for falling behind the times for a while and the failure of the first DF lights, but they hit a homerun with the Turbo series and have beat pretty much everyone else except maybe Cloud, but they've had issues with their switches and such while SF has a solid aftermarket locked in for those accessories. |
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MT, USA
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Posted: 5/9/2024 3:44:52 PM EDT
[#14]
Well palmetto marking down both the 340 and 640 turbo was too much temptation. So guess I’ll have those two to compare.
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Posted: 5/9/2024 9:55:02 PM EDT
[#15]
I have the 340 on a SBR and love it. Obviously on a 10.5" handguard space is a concern. It does impressively well for its small footprint.
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USA
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Posted: 5/11/2024 8:39:10 PM EDT
[#16]
Having first hand experience with all three, and also the Cloud Defensive REIN 3.0, the Surefire Turbo and CD offerings reign supreme. I really like the swiveling mount of the Surefire. And while it's not quite as bright/powerful as the REIN 3.0, it is far from being in its shadow. That said, the Modlite and Malkoff are no slouches either. I don't own any Modlites anymore, but still have several Malkoff E2XTL heads with no plans on swapping them out.
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Posted: 5/12/2024 9:30:51 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Tug153]
[#17]
I have had the modlite okw and plhv2, the surefire DFT, and the cloud defensive rein 3.0. Avoid cloud defensive like the plague. After owning a Rein 3.0 and 2 MCH lights, all of them have failed and needed warranty(multiple times per light). My modlites and surefires have been completely reliable.
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Posted: 5/12/2024 6:53:28 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Tug153: I have had the modlite okw and plhv2, the surefire DFT, and the cloud defensive rein 3.0. Avoid cloud defensive like the plague. After owning a Rein 3.0 and 2 MCH lights, all of them have failed and needed warranty(multiple times per light). My modlites and surefires have been completely reliable. What failed/how? My friends and I have had no issues with Cloud. |
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Posted: 5/12/2024 7:29:29 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Tug153]
[#19]
Rein 3.0- flickering and then just flat out stopped working. Got sent a new tail cap. Still flickered. Sent the light to cloud and got it back. Still flickered. Got another tail cap, verified it wasn't flickering, and then sold it.
2 MCHs- flickering and going through the new tailcap process right now. Switched batteries, swapped around tailcaps and heads, and cleaned the lights as best as I could. Still having issues. When I first started using cloud, I thought they were awesome and recommended then to my friends and multiple different departments who then started recommending them to their coworkers. Now, all but one of us have had warranty issues with lights flickering and dying. They are great lights when they work, but they almost never work. |
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Posted: 5/12/2024 8:51:23 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Tug153: Rein 3.0- flickering and then just flat out stopped working. Got sent a new tail cap. Still flickered. Sent the light to cloud and got it back. Still flickered. Got another tail cap, verified it wasn't flickering, and then sold it. 2 MCHs- flickering and going through the new tailcap process right now. Switched batteries, swapped around tailcaps and heads, and cleaned the lights as best as I could. Still having issues. When I first started using cloud, I thought they were awesome and recommended then to my friends and multiple different departments who then started recommending them to their coworkers. Now, all but one of us have had warranty issues with lights flickering and dying. They are great lights when they work, but they almost never work. Sounds like me with my Unity gas caps. |
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Posted: 5/17/2024 11:48:39 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Tug153: Rein 3.0- flickering and then just flat out stopped working. Got sent a new tail cap. Still flickered. Sent the light to cloud and got it back. Still flickered. Got another tail cap, verified it wasn't flickering, and then sold it. 2 MCHs- flickering and going through the new tailcap process right now. Switched batteries, swapped around tailcaps and heads, and cleaned the lights as best as I could. Still having issues. When I first started using cloud, I thought they were awesome and recommended then to my friends and multiple different departments who then started recommending them to their coworkers. Now, all but one of us have had warranty issues with lights flickering and dying. They are great lights when they work, but they almost never work. Werkz had a lot of problems with them in their rifle light torture test. |
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Posted: 5/18/2024 12:21:47 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Marksman14]
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Tug153: Rein 3.0- flickering and then just flat out stopped working. Got sent a new tail cap. Still flickered. Sent the light to cloud and got it back. Still flickered. Got another tail cap, verified it wasn't flickering, and then sold it. 2 MCHs- flickering and going through the new tailcap process right now. Switched batteries, swapped around tailcaps and heads, and cleaned the lights as best as I could. Still having issues. When I first started using cloud, I thought they were awesome and recommended then to my friends and multiple different departments who then started recommending them to their coworkers. Now, all but one of us have had warranty issues with lights flickering and dying. They are great lights when they work, but they almost never work. Same issue here, and it ruined a very expensive training class. |
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Posted: 5/18/2024 12:23:51 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By JohnDough: Sounds like me with my Unity gas caps. Were you using a Reptilia light body? Not sure why but I recall that being the case. I’ve got 6 gas caps and they’ve been perfect, but all are on otherwise OEM surefire lights. |
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