Review: Thrunite Catapult V3 (XM-L2 U2 Version)

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
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ThruNite Catapult V3

XM-L2 U2 Version

Summary

  • CREE LED: The newest XM-L2 LED with U2 bin
  • Stainless steel bezel
  • Tighten bezel for Maximum output, 1000+ OFT lumens and more than 1300 LED lumens, loosen for low. Alaos has medium. high and strobe, with memory function!
  • Mil-Spec Type III Hard Anodizing.
  • Constructed from 7075 AL for superior durability.
  • Length: 185mm; Head diameter: 58mm;Body diameter: 31mm; Weight:390g. (Extension tube excluded)
  • Tactical momentary-on forward click switch
  • IPX-8 water/Dust Resistance.
  • Tail cap design allows the light to tail stand
  • Shatter resistant ultra clear lens with double-sided multilayer AR coating.
  • 54mm textured orange peel reflector
  • Battery option: 2x 18650/ 2x 17670/ 4x CR123/ 2x CR123/2x 16340
  • Runtime: Max 1300 ANSI lumens: 50 minutes High: 865 Ansi Lumens; 100 minutes. Mid: 470 ANSI lumens; 3.5hours. Low. 150lumens 7 hours. (2x 18650 2600mAh)
The ThruNite Catapult V3 XM-L2 U2 version is a update of the V3 that used a XM-L T6 LED. The original version of the Catapult gave ThruNite recognition in flashlight communities and helped them to establish name for them self.

It comes with a extension tube as standard that can be removed to make it single 18650 size or 2 x CR123A.
The Catapult is very solid and well made, the threads are square cut and very smooth. The tube is very thick and gives a feeling of high quality.
The threads and o-rings come pre lubricated with what looks to be silicone grease instead of light oil like on some other ThruNite lights.
Above you can see the catapult partially disassembled, the head has a unique twist function of switching from high to medium when loosened. Also when loosened is the only time you can change modes with the tail cap, then tighten again to stay on the selected level. When you press the switch it will just turn on and off. In the loosened stated you can change to all modes by pressing the tail cap apart from high.
The pill has its own section of tube, you have to be careful when twisting to change modes not to twist the wrong part or nothing will happen. There was a little thermal glue around the top edge of the pill. I didn't try to remove it as it doesn't affect the performance in any way.
The tail cap looks like it will tail stand fine, being top heavy though you would need a even stable surface to avoid it from falling over easily. This switch feels nice to click and it also come with a glow in the dark green boot as well as a complete spare switch and o-rings and grommets.
Back of the driver.
Thats all for now, I will try to update tonight with some thoughts and beam shots.
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1 x 18650 at 100 meters


2 x 18650 at 100 meters


2 x 18650 at 120 meters zoomed

Measurements were taken with google earth.

I’m not happy with the photos, the batteries in the camera I had borrowed for night shots was nearly dead. I had to rush and only had time to take 3 before it died.

After those shots I was lining it up for a 200m shot and had it perfect then it died as I pushed the button.

I will redo the beamshots tomorrow night and compare with some other high output lights as I couldn’t fit it in tonight.

(I need to learn how to take good night shots with my own camera)

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I’ll bet that’s one super thrower.

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Thanks for the review ezarc. What batteries are you going to run in it?

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you like your thrunites!!

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The Catapult is one of my all time favorites, built like a tank.

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Thanks Ezarc.
Looking forward to action shots and your conclusion.

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Temporary beamshots in place, I will have to redo them.

@ MRsDNF, some big fat AA’s

@ kreisler, yes, more to come as well

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Here’s the camera info.

http://regex.info/exif.cgi?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Flh6.googleusercontent.com%2F-Wywqwqcuw3s%2FUQ5mdMiDTMI%2FAAAAAAAACyk%2FK4i0FhSJ6v8%2Fs550%2F2x18650.jpg

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Thanks very much for the review! Frontpage’d and Sticky’d.

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Thanks for the review ezarc.

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What is the lux on this baby? It’s expensive, but I dig the styling. How does it stack up to the TN31?

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Bear in mine it wasnt fully dark in the room I was testing in… I got 64,500 on my lux meter.

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Do two cells make a difference in brightness? Looks about the same. I’d carry it with one cell, naturally.

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I use mine with one cell. Doesnt effect the brightness at all.

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Nice