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

I got a new flashlight! I got a new flashlight! (snoopy dance)

Dark? Wherefore art though oh dreary soul? Show thyself and I shall pierce thee through thoust miserable heart!

:smiley:

Critical with these super throwers to measure at full 10m in pitch black conditions if possible.

Am picking up one of the new 2Xs hopefully to test tonight - I want to compare the production 2X with a new reel batch of U4 leds against our prototype light with earlier U4s.

Ok have not yet tested new production run 2X - but here is some test data conducted tonight in perfect pitch black test conditions with fresh charged pana 3400s.

Tonight I tested my own prototype 2X sample at 4 meters, 5 meters and 6 meters. Results = 316k at 4m, 338k at 5m, and 355k at 6m. Given this progression it should match factory spec of 365k at 10 meters. The lux difference between say 3-5 meter testing and 6+ meter tests is quite alot. Just something to bear in mind if you feel your torch isn’t up to it, but you are doing shorter distance measurements.

Also measured my M24 Sniper with its 4.5 amp board and dedomed U4 led (same as in new 2X) and it recorded 290k at 6m. This would likely work out close to 300k at 10 meters. A great little light and an absolute favourite.

Note: external recordings in my environment never match readings inside the building - more ambient light outside etc.

Thanks for the figures Mudgripz will be awaiting the production results.

I’m really happy with mine and I think it is probably the best bang for buck thrower that can be bought right now but I’m afraid I am a little sceptical of the figures.

Are you getting 4.5A at the tailcap? How are you taking the reading?

When you are looking at circa 300k lights, ambient at night, say moonlight, will have almost no effect.

Distance can affect results but that’s due to focus, my results tally almost exactly between 5 and 10m, I think this is way overstated, and 5m difference on these kind of lights that throw 1000m+ is again, sod all difference. I can walk my light back and every meter the readings fall or gain exactly as you would expect.

I look forward to some unbiased results.

Like I said, great light, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it but the figures don’t quite add up for me just yet. I’m at least gonna say 350k is absolutely the max and these claims of upto 380k are just not gonna happen IMO stock.

Very nice beam shots David, especially the last one.

Hi robo, thanks for the review!

Can you verify if the candela is really somewhere around 365kcd? Thanks!

Thanks

Glad to do it and,

On the prototypes the numbers stayed at or around 355 to 365K lux. I think they are still pretty close to that range. I will call it 350K lux to 360K lux from the test results I have been given at 5M from Dale and from mudgripz and gadgetman though.

Dale (DBcustom) tested his “new out of the box” 2X he received yesterday (Please note this was at 5 meters) the numbers should go UP at 10 meters which is where Maxtoch test these lights ……

Dales initial reading……
“with 2 old rested Panasonic B cells at 4.05 and 4.12V, it made 332Kcd for 1153.39M throw”

mudgripz tested his prototype again last night and said ………

“Tonight I tested my own prototype 2X sample at 4 meters, 5 meters and 6 meters. Results = 316k at 4m, 338k at 5m, and 355k at 6m. Given this progression it should match factory spec of 365k at 10 meters”

So that is 2 different test on opposite sides of the world more or less with a prototype and a factory released model and very close with the numbers of 332K and 338K ,which were done at 5 meters with 2 different types of lux meters. Maxtoch has tested at 10 meters and they have been at 355K to 365K .

So yea I firmly believe the 2X will be at least 350K lux minimum , with the information I am seeing.

Anyone shone this in their eyes yet?

Tonight I retested two 2X lights - first my own prototype sample and then a new production run model. My own 2X again measured 355k at 6m - consistent with factory spec. I can only conclude however that the new model 2X is a statistical oddity as it recorded a whopping 375k at 6m. I tested it several times with same batts as other torch and in same conditions but it read consistently at 375k.

This is quite different from the other 2X samples we’ve tested which are all perform within cooey of factory spec, but it’s not the first time I have come across one example in a range that reads well out of the norm - either high or low.

Again I’d note we use two meters, index against known lights, reference other user findings, factory specs etc to standardise lux readings. That’s about as thorough a testing regimen as you can do. In this case I think its simply an oddity of a light, and the data is of little use. I will ask Amanda to double check lux with several samples of new run.

Retesting again confirmed substantial differences between 4, 5, and 6 meters. Output does not stall at 5 meters in these maxtoch throwers.

Dang throw that one out mudgripz I will give ya my addy so they can use my trash can even :smiley:

Yes I’m jealous - its a bl**dy ripper.

One comment I would make Jeansy - you wrote “I look forward to some unbiased results.” I would like to note a number of the guys who have worked to develop the Maxtoch range are members of this BLF site - Tom E, gadgetman, Robo819, and myself. These are all good guys. They have no bias of any kind, have no fiscal or other interest in the product beyond helping a receptive company develop good product, and certainly do not try to manipulate or bias any test data whatsoever. Maxtoch has developed a very good reputation for product and service over the years on this site, and for hunters round the world. This is because they make a good, reliable product, they do not inflate data, and they offer excellent customer support. Other site members will confirm this. There is no bias here.

Well said mudgriz.

I got paid ONE flashlight for doing the review , putting together of the GB , the countless hours spent on here and then getting things sorted with the GB for the M24 (BLF-TE) but that is not really adding up to much per hour…….lol

It will be about the same story when it is all said and done with the 2X I reckon.

I do this because I honestly enjoy it and I like the group of folks here in BLF as a whole. I have no ties with Maxtoch other than I happened to buy one of the original M24’s about a year ago and I loved it. I have been talking with the company and working with them just as you stated , because they listen to their customers and they actually respond to many of the suggestions that are placed to them. The end result is the quality product they produce and sell , bottom line.

Yes that is appreciated Mudgripz, I have no doubt you are all top guys and try to minimise any kind of bias. I would find it hard if I was involved in a project not to be biased so I’m projecting my own flaws.

The light is great, I wish to take nothing away from it. Highly recommended.

My results just don’t quite tally and that annoys me, my meter is almost certainly very low reading, but the fact it gives consistent readings just as a smaller percentage is puzzling. As is the fact I get extremely consistent figures from 5 meters to 10 meters.

Just to rule out any variation I would still like to see what figures are found by other members. If it’s a rock steady 365kcd+ then I will be happy,if it varies then maybe I got a slightly lower performing version. Who knows…

All I can finish with is to anyone wondering, buy this light. Anyone involved, well done on a great job. :crown: :+1:

Our last two lux meters crapped out and the symptom was exactly as you describe - they began to read very low. You need a new one - the dud meter will give you nothing but problems - as we found out.

And don’t expect ‘a rock steady 365k’. Never going to happen from a variety of testers. Almost impossible to get same readings given all the variables – different light conditions, test distances, batteries, meter calibration, torch board components/led bin differences etc.

If the lights perform within a 5% variable for different testers that’s probably all you could expect. Most of the sub $100 meters themselves are +/- 4 to 5. A 5 variation of 365k (355k at 6m) is 18k which gives a range of roughly 346k to 364k at that 6 meter mark. That’s roughly what we are seeing. And it does not mean the torches themselves are varying 5% . Variation could be due to any of the factors above - and more.

Variation example: Dale’s hi/med mode data a little lower than mine, but his low mode reads 30+% higher. Same 0.6 amp current. Go figure……meter variation most likely culprit.

The lux figures we give are the best estimates we can produce. That’s all we can do.

I am not trying to be smart azz and not trying to come off rude or anything but ,

In all honesty if the light makes 300K lux or 400 or even 500K lux It really does not matter to me. The 2X is designed for hunting and it is what gets down range and the light it gets on target once it is there to me. The beam is designed to have a good hotspot and yet have a good spill also for being able to see far and also an area outside that main beam for scanning purposes.

Another thing I would like to mention is the fact that no matter what brand the light is , I can almost guarantee they will not have every light doing exactly what the specs are listed at. There will be some drivers that may function just a tiny bit different and if they buy reels of emitters you can bet there are going to be some throughout that reel that are just not doing what the rest of them are.

If I am not mistaken most of the manufacturers (at least reputable ones) have a plus or minus tolerance they go by (I could be wrong about this) but Maxtoch does as far as I know. Lets say it is 5% tolerance of specs , then you would have between 342K lux to 378K lux roughly if the light is rated at 360K lux. Anything within this tolerance rating or percentage would be ok’ed and out the door. (I am just using 5% as reference)

This is the same with reflector designs and what they accept as far as small flaws such as seeing a little wave in there or a tiny ding that someone may or may not find with close scrutiny. Or the anodizing thickness may vary and be in specs , there are a lot of things that are not the same on each light is all I am getting at.

So with any light you get no matter who makes it or what their claims are there will be variances of what the lights are doing.

Hope this helps to understand if everyone does not get the 355 to 365 K lux readings and some may well be over and some under. This is also why I stated in my video review “the lights are rated at around 350K lux to around 360K lux maybe 365K lux or somewhere in that neighborhood” (at 2:10 in video)

mudgripz you gotta quit doing that to me,you posted again while I was getting my reply ready to go up there….lol

:smiley: :smiley:

I think we’re both aware of just how much careful and meticulous testing went into this light - though others may never guess it… :) For example David (Robo) doing ongoing photography sequences for weeks to compare different leds at different ranges (175, 260, 420, 500, 655 yards), then comparing the differents bins dedomed, in same torch/different torch, all for best CRI/ optimum target picture downrange. These photos then compared with our results in field so we could suggest best option for Maxtoch.

Yes leds alone can vary 0-10% within a bin range. We had some great U3s last year - almost as good as new U4s - but our recent batch of U3s is disappointing - way down on the first batch - maybe 7. And when you get powerful throwers like this 365k 2X, 5-10 variation is now an awful lot of lux to lose/gain.

The new production 2X I tested tonite was VERY powerful at 375-380 k lux. I immediately assumed I was doing something wrong. Retested it several times, then tested my own 2X. Same batts, meter, conditions, but the new one read alot higher than mine. And I haven’t a clue why.

This is the last Maxtoch I shall do….

So the actual lux numbers do really measure up with the spec… great! And thanks for the feedback Robo.