Reason I use 14 awg wire as leads…my 980l pulls up to 4.6a on my trustfire flames…no problems with innacurate readings here 
No pounder, the ammeter internal resistance is still there and is usually bigger than the leads', unless the latter are real crap.
I use the same 2.5mm2 (AWG 13-14) 0.5m leads yet from one DMM I get 2.05A, from another 1.44A, while the computed true unobstructed current amounts to about 2.2A.
The two meters connected in series yield the same reading, so it's not a matter of different accuracy.
Man I hope not…lol if my 980l is pulling more than 4.6a than I’m in real trouble! From what I’ve seen my dmm is pretty accurate but I do see what you’re saying…
Yes that could be well over 5A in normal use. 
EDIT: ... unless the battery tops out before that.
Just to put this straight.
It's not a meter accuracy problem at all. The DMM is measuring the current accurately enough. Only it chokes the current down when connected to the flashlight. The reading is right, but the current at the time of measurement is not the normal one.
This is a special case. In most other instances you do not need to think about the influence of the meter itself on the current being measured, as it's usually negligible.
my stock x9 pulls 2.4 a on fresh SF batts
Looks like you got yourself a good one! Mine only draws ~ 1.3A with my best cells (Xtar 18700).
DMM leads sure do make a difference, so make sure to keep that in mind. The cheap HF leads measured less than 1.0A while the Equus is measuring around the common draw of ~1.8A.
I think the ebay X9 can use 2x CR123 as the reason it only pulls 1.7A on 1x18650. like my Solarforce skyline 1 which is really brighter using 2xCR123 as compared to 1x18650. Can anyone confirm this without getting any problem? I contacted the ebay seller and they confirmed this can use CR123(not 16340).
Easy DMM calibration:
Build yourself a light with an 8x7135 driver
Insert fresh, fully charged battery
Measure current. If it is not 2.8A then your DMM is off.
My x9 was pulling 2.4A (before it popped) and it was from ebay. Now it's 2.8 A and neutral. :)
this is the problem of china made flashlight. the inconsistency of quality
I dont know wether its inconsistant quality or just user differences with MM and tailcap readins , mine reads 2.4 with my MM using heavy leads and my SF MPP1 pulls 0.78a on same fresh SF batt and leads ...theres just to much room for differences ie batt types MM's leads ect seems everyone will always get differing readings unless we all sync'd with same batt's MM's ect ..lol..that aint happenen ...either way it throws a ton'a light and im real happy with it ... it was an ebay purchase not MF ..I wont hesitate on purchase due to tailcap readins of others or you'l never buy because theres always differences
I think we are dealing with all of the above.
Current draws vary between samples of the same model even with regulating drivers, more so with direct drives. Internal resistance between multimeters varies a lot and even the thickest leads cannot entirely obviate the current reduction that the inclusion of the meter is imposing.
So yes, the comparison between readings carried out by different people on DD flashlights is unreliable.
The lottery continues. 
Have you tried it. I am tempted but don't want to blow it up
I get 2.2a with short leads on an xtar18700. Only 1.8a on normal leads
I can't, I dont have new CR123 batteries, all are already used and at half its voltage.
+1 Wiith my old HF DMM I got low readings. With my new, better, DMM I get 2.6 on my eBay x9.
yeah go's to show its wise to use tailcap readings as a rough guide only , my x9 's a great light to say the least , took it out bush last night for a shootout along with the Solarfoce MMP 1 head on L2T body ,both loaded with fresh SF protected cells ....both lights a good throwers the MMP1 nice tight clean beam plenty'a throw for my use hunting , the x9 fantastic to just light'em up throws as far as the MP plenty'a usefull spill but no so much as to greatly hinder ya night vision . both lights are very well made and look to be water thight
just took these readings now using
4.21 v solarforce protected Battery
my MultiMetre thick leads
x9
2.2a
same battery
MPP1
0.72a
on my sons MM thin leads
x9
1.17a
______
MPP1
0.50a
I can lend you a brand new pair! 
Just now sold my Spare X9 and my other X9 will be modded with 2.8A 4.2v driver. Still I will be using the stock X9 driver in my P60 dropin. hehe