Need help deciding which handheld surefire light to buy!

nascarnhlnra · July 18, 2002, 08:34 AM

I may have to make a career change in the next 12-18 months and I am considering a career in law enforcement.While I am making the money I am now I want to purchase some of the more expensive pieces of equipment that I may not be able to afford later.One item I wish to purchase is a surefire handheld flashlight.Can you help me decide based on your experience which model would be perfect for HD use now and possible law enforcement later. Any LEO's that can think of any other expensive equipment I should consider also aquiring would be greatly appreciated. I know very little about these lights too. Thanks in advance for any help ya'll can give me.

blades67 · July 18, 2002, 10:07 PM

Try the 6Z Combat light.

DEPUTY · July 18, 2002, 10:30 PM

A top of the line vest from second chance, as far as surefires go i carry 2 on duty! a 9n on the belt and a 9p with the belt clip in my utility pocket! just in case 6p in the patrol bag! also a good ar or tactical shotgun cant hurt! but above all else go take a good class or two from a major school! good luck! remember i dont do it for the money!

nascarnhlnra · July 19, 2002, 05:16 AM

Thanks for the input I hope to get a few more replys still yet this forum doesn't seem as busy as others here at TFL.Yesterday I ordered a Surefire M-2 for a start figyre that would be an excellent back up light or light to have on duty belt should I become an LEO.I too wouldn't be doing it for the money but money isn't everything I want a job I can feel like a real part of a team trhat's making a positive difference as well as something with a promising future.Down here in Florida the jobs that you can actually retire with any kind of pension are few and far between. I have a brand new Mossberg 590 12 gauge shotgun so hopefully that would suffice for a tactical shotgun it isn't the 590A1 but the 590 security model but does have the hicap tube and seems pretty tough to me.I appreciate any suggestion any current LEO's can give on possible equipment purchases.I also need to make sure that my left knee wouldn't disqualify me from becoming a deputy sheriff. A few years ago I was playing on a traveling Inline hockey league and blew out my ACL in my left knee. I can run and skate and all I just have to keep on the excercise bike to keep it strong.

nascarnhlnra · July 19, 2002, 05:17 AM

PS Deputy how much $ would I be looking at for a vest like you mentioned.Thanks again. Dave

DEPUTY · July 19, 2002, 06:57 AM

well let see, i belive mine cost close to 850.00 dollars, ill try to look up the reciept! level 3 concelable, super monarch +p gold etc. model weres like a t-shirt!

nascarnhlnra · July 19, 2002, 08:57 AM

WOW thats some $ but my life is surely worth more than that I guess each deputy supplies their own vest?Thanks for your help.

DEPUTY · July 19, 2002, 10:41 PM

It is like the people i train, i ask them how much is your life worth?

Mikul · July 22, 2002, 10:08 AM

Is there a SureFire light that isn't handheld? Is there some crew-served SureFire that I haven't heard about? Because if there's some 2 billion candlepower SureFire that can blind people on Pluto with 100 lithium batteries that last for 15 seconds, I WANT ONE!

Having said that for no logical reason... I do like my Z2 Combatlight.

nascarnhlnra · July 22, 2002, 12:08 PM

There are weapon mounted versions of surefire lights.

Vern Brink · July 22, 2002, 12:22 PM

Hmmmm, overall I think the CombatLight/M3 is the "best" light. You're going to have to decide on a balance between cost/runtime/output. I use a 9AN w/Turbohead for a primary use light because it's less expensive per minute since it's rechargeable. M3 as a sort of back-up/higher risk light. I like the output of the M3 a bit more, but it's more costly w/the HOLA. I also carry an E2e in a vest pocket.

All that said, I still own an M2 which is an excellent light. And a Z2. If you want to go all lithium, I think the Z3 primary w/the LOLA and a Z2 back-up w/the HOLA would be a good combination.

For duty use, I like a minimum of 100+ lumens. A turbo head might be nice on the Z3 too depending on how you would carry the light. As with everything else, YMMV

nascarnhlnra · July 22, 2002, 12:26 PM

Thanks a bunch for your input Vern!

Foxy · July 22, 2002, 08:56 PM

I have a 8NX Commander, and a friend of mine has the 9AN. We selected these mainly because we use them a lot, and rechargable batteries make a lot more sense than trying to find good deals on lithium batteries online.

To be honest, I don't know if I can tell a whole heckuva lot of difference in brightness between the two. However, the 9AN is more functional with the two light levels.

If I could afford it, I guess I would go with the 9AN.

nascarnhlnra · July 26, 2002, 09:04 AM

Well as a follow up my M-2 surefire showed up yesterday that I ordered from LPS. I am impressed this light kicks tail bigtime for it's size or any size for that matter.I will surely buy some more from LPS it also helps that they advertise in SWAT too.

Gonna get the wife one of those executive series lights from surefire.

July 18, 2002, 08:34 AM	#1
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	Need help deciding which handheld surefire light to buy! I may have to make a career change in the next 12-18 months and I am considering a career in law enforcement.While I am making the money I am now I want to purchase some of the more expensive pieces of equipment that I may not be able to afford later.One item I wish to purchase is a surefire handheld flashlight.Can you help me decide based on your experience which model would be perfect for HD use now and possible law enforcement later. Any LEO's that can think of any other expensive equipment I should consider also aquiring would be greatly appreciated. I know very little about these lights too. Thanks in advance for any help ya'll can give me. __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

July 18, 2002, 10:07 PM	#2
blades67 Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 1999 Location: Chandler, Arizona, USA Posts: 6,014	Try the 6Z Combat light. __________________ Guns cause crime like spoons cause Rosie O'Donnell to be fat! I hunt, therefore I am.

July 18, 2002, 10:30 PM	#3
DEPUTY Member Join Date: July 17, 2002 Location: MICHIGAN Posts: 50	SUREFIRE! A top of the line vest from second chance, as far as surefires go i carry 2 on duty! a 9n on the belt and a 9p with the belt clip in my utility pocket! just in case 6p in the patrol bag! also a good ar or tactical shotgun cant hurt! but above all else go take a good class or two from a major school! good luck! remember i dont do it for the money! __________________ FRONT SIGHT, PRESS

July 19, 2002, 05:16 AM	#4
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	Thanks for the input I hope to get a few more replys still yet this forum doesn't seem as busy as others here at TFL.Yesterday I ordered a Surefire M-2 for a start figyre that would be an excellent back up light or light to have on duty belt should I become an LEO.I too wouldn't be doing it for the money but money isn't everything I want a job I can feel like a real part of a team trhat's making a positive difference as well as something with a promising future.Down here in Florida the jobs that you can actually retire with any kind of pension are few and far between. I have a brand new Mossberg 590 12 gauge shotgun so hopefully that would suffice for a tactical shotgun it isn't the 590A1 but the 590 security model but does have the hicap tube and seems pretty tough to me.I appreciate any suggestion any current LEO's can give on possible equipment purchases.I also need to make sure that my left knee wouldn't disqualify me from becoming a deputy sheriff. A few years ago I was playing on a traveling Inline hockey league and blew out my ACL in my left knee. I can run and skate and all I just have to keep on the excercise bike to keep it strong. __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

July 19, 2002, 05:17 AM	#5
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	PS Deputy how much $ would I be looking at for a vest like you mentioned.Thanks again. Dave __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

July 19, 2002, 06:57 AM	#6
DEPUTY Member Join Date: July 17, 2002 Location: MICHIGAN Posts: 50	surefire well let see, i belive mine cost close to 850.00 dollars, ill try to look up the reciept! level 3 concelable, super monarch +p gold etc. model weres like a t-shirt! __________________ FRONT SIGHT, PRESS

July 19, 2002, 08:57 AM	#7
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	WOW thats some $ but my life is surely worth more than that I guess each deputy supplies their own vest?Thanks for your help. __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

July 19, 2002, 10:41 PM	#8
DEPUTY Member Join Date: July 17, 2002 Location: MICHIGAN Posts: 50	SUREFIRE TO BUY It is like the people i train, i ask them how much is your life worth? __________________ FRONT SIGHT, PRESS

July 22, 2002, 10:08 AM	#9
Mikul Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2000 Posts: 1,396	Is there a SureFire light that isn't handheld? Is there some crew-served SureFire that I haven't heard about? Because if there's some 2 billion candlepower SureFire that can blind people on Pluto with 100 lithium batteries that last for 15 seconds, I WANT ONE! Having said that for no logical reason... I do like my Z2 Combatlight. __________________ There are two types of men: those with guns, and those at their mercy.

July 22, 2002, 12:08 PM	#10
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	There are weapon mounted versions of surefire lights. __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

July 22, 2002, 12:22 PM	#11
Vern Brink Member Join Date: March 13, 2000 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 85	Hmmmm, overall I think the CombatLight/M3 is the "best" light. You're going to have to decide on a balance between cost/runtime/output. I use a 9AN w/Turbohead for a primary use light because it's less expensive per minute since it's rechargeable. M3 as a sort of back-up/higher risk light. I like the output of the M3 a bit more, but it's more costly w/the HOLA. I also carry an E2e in a vest pocket. All that said, I still own an M2 which is an excellent light. And a Z2. If you want to go all lithium, I think the Z3 primary w/the LOLA and a Z2 back-up w/the HOLA would be a good combination. For duty use, I like a minimum of 100+ lumens. A turbo head might be nice on the Z3 too depending on how you would carry the light. As with everything else, YMMV __________________ S/F Vern

July 22, 2002, 12:26 PM	#12
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	Thanks a bunch for your input Vern! __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

July 22, 2002, 08:56 PM	#13
Foxy Senior Member Join Date: September 14, 2001 Location: Maryland Posts: 846	I have a 8NX Commander, and a friend of mine has the 9AN. We selected these mainly because we use them a lot, and rechargable batteries make a lot more sense than trying to find good deals on lithium batteries online. To be honest, I don't know if I can tell a whole heckuva lot of difference in brightness between the two. However, the 9AN is more functional with the two light levels. If I could afford it, I guess I would go with the 9AN.

July 26, 2002, 09:04 AM	#14
nascarnhlnra Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: THE DEEP SOUTH USA Posts: 531	Well as a follow up my M-2 surefire showed up yesterday that I ordered from LPS. I am impressed this light kicks tail bigtime for it's size or any size for that matter.I will surely buy some more from LPS it also helps that they advertise in SWAT too. Gonna get the wife one of those executive series lights from surefire. __________________ The sound of a 12 gauge pump clears a house faster than Rosie O eats a Big Mac !

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