Ordered mine from Int’l-Outdoor around October 2013 and the battery carrier that came with it is the same one as per the pictures on the website.
Also, I don’t think the X3 is much of a thrower. How much throw is the OP looking for? The X3’s limit is around the 100 metres mark.
As for my suggestion. If you can find it in stock any where, a Convoy L2. The default driver (3A) is ample enough to drive the XM-L. If you want to push the throw envelope a bit more, unsolder and unscrew the LED, then de-dome it, and put everything back together and you’ve got a pretty good throw candidate from doing a very easy mod.
edit: Just read through your posts…
If you are looking at up to 100 yards, then an X3 is fine. Same with something like a D40A which is powered by 4 AA cells. Either throws pretty much the same distance.
If size isn’t a concern, then both the HD2010 and Courui (Big Head) lights are good to go in their stock standard form. Both, of course, are much better once modded.
I’ve been looking at the possibilities for a cheap(ish) thrower, and I’ve made this list:
Convoy L2
Trustfire X9
Fandyfire STL-V6/Skyray STL-V2, V6
Small Sun ZY-T13
Small Sun ZY-T08
All these take 18650 if I’m not mistaken. And all of these have XML or XML2 emittors, since the SST are more expensive and seem to be harder to drive and cool properly.
As I have read people are very positive about the STL-V6/V2 and ZY-T08 (modded that is). As for 26650 you got the HD2010 as an option, which also receives a lot of praise on this forum.
Eventually I think I will go for an unmodded SolarStorm SP03 or an modded Trustfire TR-J19, but both are not under $50,-. They both will also have to much spill for your liking I guess.
1) Yezl Y3 from Wallbuys. It kicks out 1,000+ lumens at 60,000 kcd. Has a tighter, cooler beam than many XM-L2 T6’s (or for that matter, any XM-L-type light I’ve seen), and 4 modes—all of which are accessed by a side-switch to prevent accidental tailcap mode changes. Modes are high, med, and low (all very usable - and hidden strobe) and light won’t get too hot and can be used at max capacity for as long as you like. It can tail-stand, has a nice grip and finish, and stainless steel bezel. Excellent budget powerhouse.
2) Sky Ray STL-V6 from Lights Castle. Used to be #1, but this is the only one available today that comes close to the original STL-V2 which I have (sadly, no longer made).
3) HD2010 (with XM-L or XM-L2, with direct-drive). Timeless thrower, well worth the money.
4) Small Sun T08. Cheap and rough, but 715 lumens of some of the best throw around.
5) Small Sun T13. Same description as above, and has a separate switch for modes.
Your pick. Any one of these would handily surpass your expectations.
I have omitted lights that are no longer in production or above budget or that are “lazers” only, as you put it—that trophy would go to the Small Sun C10.
Not sure if I put this correctly. The Skyray STL-V2 was produced by Maxtoch (OEM factory) and now Maxtoch has discontinued this model so all the STL-V2 you see in the market may not be made by the same OEM factory anymore. I remember a member reflected that his V2 purchased from Lightmalls is not as good as the older V2, the driver and overall construction are with lower quality. Maybe somebody else can chime in on this?
That was me alright. The output is a touch less, the beam and spot don't look the same, the switch is not tactical (so no "momentary-on"), and when you click the switch it takes two full seconds for the light to come on. Head looks smaller as well. Just isn't the same light. Also, it's only 5-modes. None of these V2 knock-offs today are that good.
Is the performance from that old SST-50 (no such thing as SST-80) really that much of an improvement? Is yellow tint an issue? What size is the reflector?
All are great but if I could pick only one it would be the STL-V6 the only problem is some of these light’s perform to “old” standards” (like momnentary on and such) and some don’t but no matter which you get they are great light’s that are crazy bright and throw far.
The HD2010 is a pleasure to use it won’t throw as far as the other’s mentioned but pretty close but they just feel right in your hands and are very bright currently the ones I own have XML-T6 and have one on the way with an XM-L2 (Thanks to Rusty Joe for making me spend more money ).
The CourI mentioned get’s it’s but handed to it by all light’s mentioned in stock form but supposably with some work can be made to be quite the light….outa the box it look’s likea powerhouse but just doesn’t perform.
The Small Sun T13 is a great light and for awhile you could get this light between $15-$20 which made it a no brainer this light is slightly less bright than the rest mentioned here (brighter than the CourI though) has a very wide spill and a nice tight hotspot it’s just the hotspot is not quite as intense as say the STL-V6 I have a few of these and something about them is just appealing I lik it that youcan turn it on in high mode each time from the tail cap then choose your mode with the side button…I’m the type that uses high mode all the time so I forget about the side button on this light personaly.
Like Joe said the STL-V2 (older model whith one LED) is still floating around and does not perform to spec I know when I ordered one from Lightmalls.com they sell the STL-V2 that under perform’s….the STL-V6 sold at lightcastle way outperform’s today’s STL-V2.
The Yezl Y3 Rusty Joe speaks of I have no experience with but this guy know’s what he is talking about so it must be a great light.
I have caught the collecting “bug” and I am sure these 2 will be the first of many,….you guys are a terrible influence!!
The HD2010 has made the list,…I have read so much about it I really think I should own one. The 2nd one is still undecided but I have some really good ideas thanks to this thread.
You can’t loose with that light good choice from there I’d get an STL-V6 and you will have two incredible light’s that you and everyone else that see’s them won’t believe what they can do especialy for the money spent.
LOL… Yeah, it’s a good size. I was on my nightly walk with it a few days ago and encountered an aquaintance. She’s used to seeing me walking with a light and seldom comments on it unless I start talking about a ‘new light’. This evening she was walking towards me so she had the benefit of looking into it from a distance. Before I could even say hello she said “What is that, it looks like a headlight!?”, by which she meant an automobile headlight.
The inner diameter of the reflector is about 67mm and the outer diameter of the bezel is 78mm. Mine is just a bit green rather than yellow, but I have to look for it to notice the tint. It has a beam profile very similar to a T13 or an STL-V6/V2, with about the same balance between spill and throw. But it pulls 1.5A x 3 cells, so it puts out much more light and the bigger reflector throws it well.
“Laser” well describes it since it has almost no spill whatsoever (unless, of course, you are zooming out). And in terms of putting a small point of light on a target waaaay out there, the only thing that comes close is a Jacobs A60 (or it’s evil twin, the Forest Tiger H550).
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