For < $30, which light would you consider? Do you think an XHP 35 HI makes any sense given that I don’t care about extreme range, or stick with an XPL HI for efficiency with an 18650?
Was mostly considering:
- Sofirn C8T (https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/Sofirn-New-C8-Tactical-Cree-XPL2-LED-Flashlight-18650-Powerful-Flashlight-Portable-Torch-light-Two-Groups/32829685476.html) or Convoy C8 with XPL-HI
Using a 3v led like the XP-L will be a lot cheaper and more practical.
I just built an XHP35hi light with the KaiDomain H2-C driver. The host I used has a reflector that is about the same diameter as a c8, but it is significantly deeper. It isn’t a bad light, as is, but it isn’t really that impressive, either. It throws better than my Sofirn C8A, not as well as my Convoy L2 with an XML HI.
At some point, I’m probably going to mod the driver and see if I can get something closer to 24-30W in Turbo. If I do that though, I’ll probably move to a different host, because I doubt the one I used is really up to dissipating that much heat.
Get the Sofirn C8T, It’s cheaper than the KDLitker, and I’m sure it will out-perform it. As I recall, someone who tested it said the KDLitker was only able to drive the XHP35 LED at ~12W tops. The Sofirn can push as much as ~20W on a freshly charged cell, and looks like it should manage >12W, until the cell is down to 50% charge.
The Driver is the question (in my mind lately). I AM EAGERLY AWAITING Shocki’s /Lexel’s new driver for an XPL35hi build because I haven’t seen a lot out there that clearly can drive these newer Cree XHP leds on a single 18650 well.
And IF I’m going to spend some cash on a better boost driver— I’m buying it from the guys here who have been helpful to me a lot lately and are pushing the designs forward (again see Lexel’s FET tail switch here). Maybe there is something out there in a good cheap XHP led boost driver, but I haven’t seen it yet (and I’m a newbie still— more reading/searching needed there). For what little I’ve seen… cost is always a factor with the few drivers I have found (and all have features/modes I don’t “need” but MIGHT buy… if they were cheap enough and decent in quality).
I also do have concerns re. efficiency with any boost “driver” design, BUT as batteries are cheap enough (and I’d use Turbo ONLY for hunting) I’m ok with shorter run times, since I only need to “THROW” for hunting (I turn on just for the shots, where I NEED 5 seconds of: FAST, FULL and TURBO!). So a good, cheap, single mode (Off/Turbo) driver that can run for 20 minutes on a 30Q (and drive an XHP35 HI to it’s potential) is something I’d LOVE to know more about. :student:
I have a KDLitker C8.2 (with the XHP50.2) and it’s a great general (little and lightweight) light. I used it on my gun for a short while (then decided to go with the C8F kits— still waiting for them BTW :weary: ) because I did realize I would need more throw after putting a larger scope on my gun. But for it’s short duty… the C8.2 held up VERY well after 50 rounds of 6.8 SPC rounds through my gun at the range. It is built nicely and runs on Turbo (3 second memory) when I turn it on (again for hunting so i can effectively use the memory to keep it in turbo all night). And for around camp or for long hikes out late— I prefer the nice flood + (pretty decent) throw of the C8.2 XHP50.2 over other C8 or tighter throwing lights I have (or have tried).
But for longer range night hunting or longer views across the canyon, I’d agree the Sofirn C8T would be the better light for throw (only) if staying in the C8 form factor off the shelf. But, then again… if I wanted a REALLY long (off the shelf) thrower light (for a gun or camp), I’d try a Brinyte B158 with the XPL HI V3 (which I tried to buy from Fin last night for 6 hours— his code never worked 
). It’s a bit larger than a C8 (about 10mm more up front as I recall) and definitely heavier. But with the aspherical zoom AND an XPL HI V3 it will get WAY out there past the C8T (and most any single 18650 thrower with few exceptions). The B158 is also made for a gun (comes with a rail mount), but in the hand I’d be happy enough to have it as it can zoom or flood. So at camp, or around the pig ranch— that makes it usable in many ways— with plenty of power.
Honestly, for pig hunting at night (my “throw” application): the narrow throwers miss too much to the sides for my liking. And as much as I love the B158 zoomie (and will own one soon), it’s kinda BIG and HEAVY (which is a factor for rifle weight— just fine if sitting in a blind sippin’ whiskey 
BUT… for my type of hunting— “Run n’ Gun”— weight is a major factor). I am carrying a rifle for HOURS through some heavier “muck” where I hunt pigs in E. Texas and so a (*light) light is a must for my gun for most hunting I am doing. That is why I LOVED the C8.2 on my gun as it’s BRIGHT for a C8 with it’s XHP50.2 led and gives a good wash and hot spot— but it doesn’t get most folks much past 150 yards (even though I’d use it further out fine- more light doesn’t hurt).
So that is why I finally decided on the Sofirn C8F (with THREE XP-L2s- shaved domes) and Lexel’s NarsilM driver which will manage that light for BOTH: gun use (in a true off/turbo single mode- using Lexel’s OTHER FET tail switch- which I have and love). AND then… general use (with the C8F’s normal tail switch put back on it after hunting), where I can THEN use the C8F in multi-modes + use the side switch features with that NarsilB driver (to boot).
Anyway, hope I’m not off topic too far but this topic came up when I voted for a throw led: SO… WHAT do you need from a throw light? I can tell you that for MOST varmint (and a LOT of pig hunting rigs using short sites/red dots) which work within a closer range (20 - 100 yards) that the “lowly” XHP50.2 (with it’s 5% “polled results”) on the left side bar survey (<<<<< over there) is the BEST led in my KDlitker C8.2 because: it uses one 18650, is lightweight enough to use on any gun, is brighter than any other C8 (I KNOW OF— within the FOV between 0-100 yards), and cost $31 shipped.
When I started asking myself this SAME question, I got many different answers from many people— all who were using their throwers for many, but different uses. And for me (and the OP at 50 yards) and myself when I pig hunt— I often run into pigs close in (20 - 50 yards) where I need enough flood for working a “two eyed” red dot making several short range, super-fast shots (and they can charge you so you need to see them well up close!). So a C8T that works great for another guy, isn’t my light since it’s too coherent (narrow) and thus has less side/flood light needed to get several pigs in the red dot sight, making several kills in seconds as they scatter in every direction! (falling in and out of the beam of tighter lights). However, that other hunter (one ranch over from me) would instead LOVE the C8T (or B158) on his rifle- since he’s hunting from a blind where his rifle is sitting on bags, and the XPL HI lights get him out there 200 yards… where the pigs are coming in to the feeder.
So after a LOT of work, testing a few lights, and reading here for (many) days… I’m feeling good with the Sofirn C8F where I am hoping to get the best of all three attributes MOST important to me: Long enough throw (out to 225 yards for the final rig), LOTS of lumens close in (with great side light), and a light weight light (for mobility). From what I’ve read so far… the three de-domed XP-L2s will get me all that in the C8F WITH the right boost driver (which thankfully does exist in the NarsilD from Lexel). But since I can’t vote for an led not listed in the survey… I’ll cast a vote for the short-med range hunter and vote for the XHP50.2 as it works nicely in the KDLitker C8.2 in the medium white with it’s 2000+ verified lumens, nice enough throw, and all around excellent build making it the perfect varmint/red-dot sighted pig gun… led.
You are wrong indeed 
Throw depends on two factors:
If a large size and a small size led die have the same intensity, they will produce the same throw (roughly) in the same reflector.
The larger led will only give a bigger hotspot (with same intensity).
The bigger the reflector, the better the light from the led is focussed.
The bigger the reflector, the smaller the hotspot = more throw.
XP-L HI V3 has slightly better intensity then XHP35 HI and is a 3 V led (instead of a 12V, needing a special driver) so easier to use
and much more drivers to choose from.
If you go for a really, really big reflector (i.e. BLG GT = 120mm) using an XPL (or even smaller die led like Osram Oslon Black Flat)
will result in a very narrow beam, called a “pencil beam”.
And the output in Lumens is much less as well, making the light much less usable.
Grtz
Nico
Good luck getting a BLG GT reflector, I’m after 12 of them and was told not much chance.