GB Oficially closed/// Maxtoch 2X Shooter (new version)

Maxtochs extremely popular with hunters in recent years. Designed by hunters for hunters, but their specs also makes them ideal general outdoor lights.

Key hunter requirements are the all-purpose beam with extreme throw plus beam width for scanning large areas quickly, and very light weight enabling it to be used as scope mountable light or as handheld. There are many occasions when shooting alone in designated safe hunting areas when we use the light scope mounted as the only carried spotlight.

No interest in short term runtime. Long runtime is a key factor as men do not wish to be changing batteries frequently during long night shoots. I think only 1-2 requests for single tubes from hunters over recent years so not something we’ve gone with. Lights are considered light weight enough as they are. If however there was a demand for single batt/shorter tube from general flashlight fans - and buyers numbers to support it - no doubt Maxtoch could make one.

BRJ , They did not change the threading , the Convoy C8 tube will fit the 2X or the M24 , it WILL NOT however operate the 2X with one cell (I do not know the reason) but the single tube WILL operate the M24 just fine.

It is a mystery to me as both lights (2X and M24) use the same 4.5 amp driver and have interchangeable tubes , you can also change the tailcap from one to the other tube and both lights work fine with either tailcap (switch). So if anyone can explain that one to me feel free.

I am not trying to win an argument or anything like that with you, I am just saying that I do not think there would be near enough demand for Maxtoch to start producing short tubes for the 2X , as the short tube for the M24 has not had a lot of demand previously. The 2X and M24 are produced and marketed more toward the hunters out there.

As mentioned earlier the weight of the 2X is lighter than most of the other major throwers that I know of in factory form , that will give you even 2/3 or 3/4 the throw. The 2X also (factory out of the box) has better throw than anything that I am aware of out there (unmodded) that that is under $100.00 , maybe even most of what you can find under $200.

I also would put the fit , finish and build quality right up there with the big names like Olight , Fenix and Nitecore but for much less money. I think I can say this in our forum without stepping on too many toes but……… my cousins son has a Surefire R1 that cost him almost $500.00 and it only has 750 lumens I believe was the number (2X 1450 lumens). The 2X on MEDIUM blows away that $500 light he has with the Surefire on high :smiley:

Thanks for the Convoy tube info- that should provide me all I want. Awaiting the GB info and I’m definitely in :smiley:
Kudos to robo819 and MaxToch- you are winners for sure!

Phil

M24 also works with single tube + battery from thorfire c8s; kinda nice.

I’m pretty sure what robo819 meant was that the Hunter and Sniper are both 2 cell lights, set up to run on 2 cells only and not one.

I also am pretty sure that Amanda is not really understanding the question about the single cell tube fitting this light. She probably thinks we’re wanting to run the light on a single cell, not realizing we are intending to use 2 half cells. (those of us that want a more compact light)

The reason for this is the Buck driver, it needs the overhead to work properly and isn’t set up to run a single 4.2V cell. Richards Buck driver is also like this, it won’t work with one 4.2V cell.

I may see if I can get the single cell tube they have and see how it plays with the new light. I’m betting it’s going to be too short for the 2 18350’s 70mm length. Perhaps it could work with some adjustments, I don’t know, but I’m willing to check it out and see. Maybe a small spacer on each end would extend the tube length enough for the pair of short cells to work.

David, do you think you could get Amanda to send you the single tube for experimentation purposes? I hate to try to order a single $3 or $4 item on AliExpress…

Robo, I accept everything you said.
…Except that I was really clear repeatedly that I wasn’t talking about use of single cells on the short tube, to the point I stated “let’s not call it a single-cell tube, let’s call it a Shorty tube” because I’m inquiring about the possibility of using two 18350’s.

So, are we saying now that the M24 “single cell tube” would actually PHYSICALLY fit into the 2x head? [we already know the tailcap will fit…] Thank you DB Custom, for looking into this! Yes, I think Amanda definitely ought to send you one!

It really burns me that people started making half-length cells, yet failed at actually doing so. Frustrates me to no end. I mean, I imagine a meeting of people sitting around a table. “Okay, men. We need a half-length 18650 cell. It’s got to be HALF the length of an 18650 cell. So people can put 2 cells in a 1-cell holder and get double the voltage. So, what’re we gonna do about that?” “Um, how ’bout we make them all a centimeter longer than half length?” “Great idea! Get on that immediately! Now, every other manufacturer, do exactly likewise!”

Sorry, I’m venting! I even searched “18300” and “18325” with “li-ion”, and nothing. Apparently no one wants to make a true half-length 18650 cell! It’s better for a cell to be too short than too long. Reminds me of all these budget Chinese LED lights, none of them really deliver. Most actually have great potential, and yet ALL are hampered by a seemingly intentional Achilles heel, to the point that everyone has to “mod” their lights to get them to perform as they should, and they were so close to the finish line already, it makes no sense and just frustrates you. Like the gearbest group buy zoomie [1405?] which had a huge lens but only did 1 amp. Ditto on the PALight Boss1, or that other hard-to-spell one I mentioned earlier, and innumerable others. They COULD get it right, for very little extra effort and cost. It’s seriously like they deliberately choose [not chose, CHOOSE] not to. I don’t have hours to research and order parts, gather my tools, and focus 100% on swapping out drivers, stars etc just because some company on the other side of Earth couldn’t get it right the first time. A company which can lathe or mill metal parts (which I can’t do), but can’t pick a driver to save their life (which even I can do!).

That’s why when I see a project like this (and I do see the 2x as a project, not a product only), like the BLF A6, where you have a crazy amount of knowhow, collaboration, serious experience and testing going into it, it makes me sit up and take notice. I either missed or did not realize the significance of the BLF M24 group buy. If we get a GB on the 2x worthy of this group, I’ll bite. I did not expect to be as pleased as I was with my first tube light, the blf A6, but there was so much experience and work that went into it, it shows every time I use it. I expect this to be the same. (But I won’t be buying 2+ of these :smiley: .)

I’m assuming the previous statement (I forget by whom) about the 2x being parallel was a mistake, since no info or clarification on that has been forthcoming. I hate to publicly contradict people who appear to know far more than myself, but on this one I’m semi-confident until other info comes in.

It would be awesome if we could figure out a way to get 2 18350 cells working with existing available parts. And it will “feel good” in my hand, oh yeah. Hey, isn’t part of impressing your friends, revealing certain big things that come in small packages?

Feel better?

Now do it again, and again, and a few hundred more times, and you’ll begin to understand what a group buy is all about. :wink:

Convincing the power’s that be, on the other side of the rock, to do it “our way” is not an easy proposition. MaxToch is one of the best out there for listening. Their lights are robust, their anodizing is excellent, and the end product, the result, is on par with what we expect. Kudo’s!

That said, keep in mind that this light in particular has already undergone an extensive testing and questioning period and was explicitly designed for hunters, by hunters, with several generations of MaxToch lights preceeding it. The previous generations have whittled down the specs to this particular light, it’s a culmination of hundreds of hours of applied field use, fully intended for rifle mount. So don’t expect changes at this point, it’s already in production and will remain as is I’m sure. We might possibly make use of shorter battery tubes they already have, helping to rid their warehouse of these blights on the hunters well documented maps, but that will be on the few of us that use the lights out of context. :wink:

Exactly. Thanks Dale

Still adjustments to specifications quite possible as Maxtoch do necessary QA on first limited production run of lights, but no significant changes to light build at this stage.

+100 Dale

First yes I was mistaken when I said the 2X is parallel I meant to say series with the M24 and 2X both , my apologies for that one.

I also need to correct my previous statement of the C8 tube working in the M24 , at least with the 4.5 amp driver. The head I was using it with and the light functioning right was my original M24 with the original driver which is a 3.2 to 3.4 or so amp driver. It DOES NOT function with this 4.5 amp driver in the 2X or the M24. (only have three M24’s so it gets confusing which one I grab)

The single tube was actually made for the M24-S (which was the one gray color) to run on one cell originally so I have no idea with the 2X.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/MAXTOCH-M24S-body-tube-to-contain-1pc-18650-battery/32600711941.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.246.IMRtFr&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_8,searchweb201602_1_10017_10021_507_10022_10020_10018_10019,searchweb201603_2&btsid=d36d14b2-1ccd-4973-9224-b37c1381976b

Although it does not function , here is what the 2X head looks like with the Convoy C8 tube and 2X tailcap anyway.


So, does this mean the lights us first buyers get may not be as good as the next ? In terms of performance etc.

No. There are no increased outputs planned on this model.

If there are any changes they will be very minor ones but I think the overall performance of these lights is about as good as it will get. I cant see them improving performance any at all , without sacrificing some of the other things like run time and more heat , which I do not see happening to be honest.

A minor tweak here or there is POSSIBLE is all I think mudgripz was saying NOT that they will be trying to get better output or anything.

The first run of lights is always the ones that tell the story of overall performance in the real world , but so far with Maxtoch they usually don’t release lights until they have things sorted.

You did it again mudgripz…… posted while I was typing response…lol

It is all good

:slight_smile: It is exactly as you say.

Maxtoch tested all the prototypes and made a few changes, then as a matter of QA they are testing again the first production models and might tweak those before full release.

I’m wondering if they are withholding shipping while they sort out some things.
I ordered on Sunday, and it still says 5 days till despatch on my order status on Aliexpress.

It usually takes like 4 to 7 days from my experience for anything to start tracking from overseas.

EDIT: Actually I just looked back at a light I had coming for review , it took 9 days for it to start moving, or showing anything once it was dropped off for dispatch.

Ah nuts. That’s good to know though, cheers.

To answer that little fear of a potential Quality Control tweak, isn’t it ALWAYS the case that a product can be tweaked, improved, even modified substantially? Upgrades, updates, security recalls… manufacturer’s are always responding to feedback and field events, right?

And with electronics, your brand new just arrived unit is outdated with new tech the first time you turn it on. Better computers, better phones, and yes, better drivers and LED’s. It’s the constant push to move forward and not stagnate. It drives sales. :wink:

When you stop and think about it though, hasn’t MaxToch always been of very excellent quality? So they make sure, before it’s released, that it meets their criteria. Pretty sure you don’t have to worry about getting an inferior light from this company.

From what I’ve red here - definitely.
It is not a fear of getting a lemon, it’s more “oh did I rush in?”

There will no doubt as you say be bigger and better in future, but cripes, when I get my first run light, I’d hate Maxtoch to suddenly / soon bump up the specs !!
But looking back on their history, I doubt it’ll happen suddenly. I think back to the stock Maxtochs of only a few years - 50-100 Klux was King.

I would almost guarantee the output will not be made any higher on the 2X. The U4 will not handle but 5 amps or so , over that and it becomes unstable , so that only leaves a half an amp to play with for more output. I just don’t see them pushing it to the max and taking a chance with that.