New Maxtoch M24 Sniper - quick review

LED Flashlights – General Info 18650 Flashlights
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MAXTOCH M24 Sniper: quick review.

This Maxtoch has been designed specifically as a lightweight, high performance hunting and outdoors light - with alot of input from NZ hunters and BLF members (Tom E, manualman etc). It arrived today and I have to say it was worth the wait. Comes packaged in a very neat canvas carry case - ideal for stowing in the hunting box or truck - and with it came a good quality lanyard, spare tail switch and spare O-rings.

First impressions - beautifully made light. The last SN6X-2S and 2X were well made - this is even better. Very cleanly made with great anodizing.

  • Feels very light - ideal weight like the first Maxtoch SN6X-2. Just 270gms.
  • Takes 2 x 18650 batts - batt length no issue - panasonic 3100s fine
  • Well balanced with batts in it
  • High/med/lo all well spaced. No strobe etc.
  • Mode memory and switching excellent
  • threads excellent - well cut, lubed
  • double O-rings for waterproofing
  • crystal clear AR lens and high quality reflector
  • copper board
  • XML2-U2 led
  • 25.4mm central tube section for standard scope rings.

In initial outside testing the light has quite a broad beam - ideal for spotlighting/outdoor/general use - not a pencil beam. Had no trouble lighting up some trucks at 400m, and touched trees at 530. Murky tonight though. Has excellent output - claimed is 82.5k for this light and mine measured peak 83.1k lux on meter at 6m, and at 10-15m I think you might get 85k+ stock.

Dedomed you will be looking at 180-200k lux - all the light you’d ever need. BUT … do have a good play with it first - may not need dedoming. And remember you have to be well away from city lights out in the wop-wops to see the light’s capability.

One unusual feature is the head is screwed onto body with four tiny allenhead screws. You would not want to take this apart often. I think some BLFers would like normal screw on head but we’ll look into the dedoming process tomorrow night, and after dedoming do a repeat lux meter test.

Overall - beautifully made product. The weight, shape and design incorporate exactly the features the NZ hunters have wanted in a scope-mounted and handheld/outdoor torch. It’s a wee beauty - light, powerful, great value for this quality and performance at this $68 price, and its going to be very popular. It is very much like its predecessor - the very fine Maxtoch SN6X-2 which was also sold as the Skyray STL-V2, but with much improved construction, quality and 66% more output. If you liked the STL-V2s you’ll love this one. Its big brother the 2X will come out soon - also with the BLF copper/AR etc mods - but that’s a bigger and heavier light less suited to hunting etc.

Sorry am hopeless with photos but the website pics show it well:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/MAXTOCH-Sniper-M24-Lighter-Version-of-SN6X-2S-AR-Lens-Copper-LED-Base-Longer-Shooting-Distance/314381_1769281159.html

I won’t give it a rating yet as want to see how easy it is to dedome etc, but rating will be high. Recommendation is: If this suits your uses - go get this torch! With the M24 Sniper’s excellent lightweight hunting design and key BLF inputs Maxtoch have just upped their game again and will give serious competition to even high priced brands.

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Love it already.

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Almost looks identical to the Sunwayman TC40S, minus the side switch and stainless-steel bezel.

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Looking at it in my hand - and at the Sunwayman pic - there are some similarities you’d expect in two cell 18650 torches, but there are alot more differences.

The torch it reminds me of most is the earlier Maxtoch SN6X-2 (reviewed by old4570) which was sold under the brand name Skyray STL-V2. That was/is a hell of a torch. This new M24 is like a much better made version with 83k lux instead of the original’s 50 or so.

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The SN6X-2X is no longer sold and replaced by this one?

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No - the earlier 2S model has been replaced by this M24, but a new updated 2X will be out shortly. It will also feature copper board/AR lens/XML2-U2 etc. Should be good - maybe 110-120k stock?

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Great light! I am a fan of the STL-V6 and I unfortunately missed out on the last group buy of the SN6X-2X. I like it when the factory budget manufacturers get it right, it seems like Maxtoch gets it.

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I will get 2X new production in hand this afternoon or tomorrow. As mudgripz mentioned, 2X will also apply copper board, AR lens, XM-L2 U2 LED and more improved details. Most components are changed into copper to improve its performance. Its lux is at least 30% higher than previous version.

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I couldn’t find the SN6X-2X anymore in Aliexpress.

Is the reflector diameter of the M24 same with the SN6X-2X?

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SN6X-2X was sold out last year. The new production is just finished this afternoon.

When my colleagues finish photos and data testings, we will repost the link in Aliexpress. The reflector diameter of 2X is a little larger than Sniper M24.

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Krono might want to hear that…

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Yeah, he has been waiting for the news from 2013 to 2014. I’ll let him know as soon as it’s ready.

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If a Sunwayman t40 cs and a surefire M3lt had a love child this would be it,lol!I like this light because it borrows design cues from 2 well designed lights and has a bunch of features"we"look for in a flashlight.Well done Maxtoch! now I wonder if the copper board is like a sinkpad or just a regular old copper MCPCB?I would love me some beamshots too.

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Have just discovered something very interesting. Maxtoch has done a last run of the excellent 2S of last year - but this time WITH all the AR lens/ new led/copper upgrades. It has also a twist head strobe function for law enforcement/S&R etc. That is going to be one seriously classy light. Be a lucky cop who gets one of those. M24 still better for hunting because its 270gms instead of 400, but the 2S upgrade will be a beauty.

We are removing head of M24 and dedoming this arvo then retesting tonight. Will know shortly how suitable it is for modding and give it its final tick.

Great news on the 2S. I have to say I am actually seriously impressed with this company’s intent to produce cutting edge, well featured and high class lights - esp for this price. Very well done. Maxtoch is developing a hell of a range of high quality lights - and all from listening to customers - including heaps of BLFers.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MAXTOCH-SN6X-2S-usd59-50-free-shipping-S-for-Superb-Upgrade-SN6X-2-CREE-XM-L2/955206794.html

Very cool. Probably 82-85k lux stock like the lightweight M24.

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De-doming is a doddle on these. Leave the screws alone as they are just for access to the 28mm circuit board in the back of the head. Just undo the reflector and remove it. Lever up the edge of the board with whatever is handy as it is held in place by the reflector/heat sink compound, no screws. De-solder the wires from the board, remove and de-dome as you normally do.

This is the easiest so far. The circuit board is a nice copper one and is self centring with the nylon bush around the LED and the reflector.

I’d show you photos of the process but the whole job was done in a few minutes and didn’t warrant any. A seriously beautifully made torch, great finish, light weight and no stupid strobe modes. When mudgripz asked for a score out of 10 I gave it an 11. :sunglasses:

Now the plastic is going to get a hiding I suppose.

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By the way I would like to thank all BLF ‘ER6S to prevent me from buying counterfeit Maxtoch’’s and wow the real deals look nice.!!

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Really? I didn’t know there’s counterfeit product now… Always find EST Group or me to purchase MAXTOCH…

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FINAL REVIEW COMMENT Maxtoch M24 Sniper:

This is a hunter designed torch for outdoor conditions, but it includes a number of high tech features - copper circuit board, AR (antireflective) lens, new XML2-U2 led etc.

Maxtoch have got this light absolutely bang on. It is a beauty - light, powerful, easy to double output, well packaged, beautifully constructed and finished.

Key remaining question was whether it was easy to disassemble (four little allen 1.5mm screws holding head on) and modify. Turns out you don’t need to undo the screws - and its just minutes to dedome. Stock it produced a v bright hotspot at 83.1 lux, and have have just tested it after 5 minutes dedoming and it produces 173k lux - likely 180 at say 10-15m. Superb beam - 580m stock, and 840m dedomed. Shining it into trees we thought it was on high when it was on half power!.

Rating: Did main review in earlier post but will add this comment. This is the best value/performance hunting light I’ve seen - for the price it is amazing. Its an allrounder - ideal as spot/outdoors light or scope light. After some thought I’m going to follow gadgetman on this one - and give it 10/10.

Go buy it… Congratulations to all BLFers for input - we all got it right. We’ve seen some very good stuff from Maxtoch in the last couple of years - the SN6X-2, the 2S, and the popular 2x. This new M24 is a beauty - very high quality and performance in a lightweight medium priced light.

Well done amanda.

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Have just done first runtime test on my M24, now dedomed, and producing 173k lux (840 meters) with panasonic 3100s, and it ran on continuous full power for exactly 100 minutes - very good for a tuned XML banger. I’m guessing a stock one might do 120? on panasonics. I would not use lesser batts in this kind of light.

Half power still measures a big 57k lux, and low produces 15k lux - both of which will give very long runtimes.

Head quite warm during 100 minutes but not too hot.

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How is the PWM on this light? I’m wondering if they’ve changed it from the 2X where it was noticeable (to me) in the low and medium modes. If Maxtoch would switch to a constant current driver I’m sure people would be willing to pay a little extra…