Budget thrower advice

[ArtieT59]

@niajef

@Artiet59

@niajef

@Nafemok

I saw it mentioned once on here which surprises me, the ThruNite Catapult is great for a budget thrower. Comes with a 26650 and built in charging for around $65. I do have a K1 on the way and might not use the Catapult after it gets here but it was $40 more plus it’s been three weeks and it still hasn’t even shipped.

saw some comparison video, ft03 seems to throw a tiny bit better than the v6, but thats just one video, i believe they are on par more or less, but ft03 is much cheaper

When i started this whole high powered flashlight adventure, Thrunite TC20 and V6 were at the top of my list. The price kept me from ever buying them, and shortly afterwards (before i ever bought them) i discovered emisar D4sV2 (in place of tc20) and Astrolux FT03 xhp50 (in place of V6). I still love my other thrunite’s, great lights - BUT, i have never looked back with regret not getting the V6. they seem to be very close in specs (especially) with internal charging etc. But approx. 50% price difference as you have stated. I have a buddy who has the V6, and its cool but ill stick with my FT03 - i bought the xhp50 and sst40 together (waiting for sales) for the same price as the V6 alone, roughly.

ya v6 just went on sale on amazon, so i bought one to check it out and compare with my ft03, just to confirm my suspicion.

LOL, atta boy! (or girl, sorry. not trying to make assumptions).

Also, what sale? Im curious now. and another also - i aways thought that the V6 would make a great host for something else…. maybe xhp50… (if thats possible), or even a 3000k xhp35… i think you made a wise decision

[ArtieT59]

Received L21A CULPM1 last night! Its… AWESOME. I haven’t been able to get a good beam shot with it since its been raining here for 36 hours… but It easily throws the same as my FT03s, although not quite as bright. But very impressive. I already spotted 3 coyotes last night in the backyard! Luckily the light made them run as they were within 50 yards… Not a huge distance but my backyard is more woods then open space… Will post beam shots soon once i can get to large open space-compared to ft03s, kr1, ft03 sst40, whatever else i can for whomever is interested.

[niajef]

@Artiet59

@niajef

@Artiet59

@niajef

@Nafemok

I saw it mentioned once on here which surprises me, the ThruNite Catapult is great for a budget thrower. Comes with a 26650 and built in charging for around $65. I do have a K1 on the way and might not use the Catapult after it gets here but it was $40 more plus it’s been three weeks and it still hasn’t even shipped.

saw some comparison video, ft03 seems to throw a tiny bit better than the v6, but thats just one video, i believe they are on par more or less, but ft03 is much cheaper

When i started this whole high powered flashlight adventure, Thrunite TC20 and V6 were at the top of my list. The price kept me from ever buying them, and shortly afterwards (before i ever bought them) i discovered emisar D4sV2 (in place of tc20) and Astrolux FT03 xhp50 (in place of V6). I still love my other thrunite’s, great lights - BUT, i have never looked back with regret not getting the V6. they seem to be very close in specs (especially) with internal charging etc. But approx. 50% price difference as you have stated. I have a buddy who has the V6, and its cool but ill stick with my FT03 - i bought the xhp50 and sst40 together (waiting for sales) for the same price as the V6 alone, roughly.

ya v6 just went on sale on amazon, so i bought one to check it out and compare with my ft03, just to confirm my suspicion.

LOL, atta boy! (or girl, sorry. not trying to make assumptions).

Also, what sale? Im curious now. and another also - i aways thought that the V6 would make a great host for something else…. maybe xhp50… (if thats possible), or even a 3000k xhp35… i think you made a wise decision

amazon.ca, 81 CAD, it seems it does indeed throw a bit better than my ft03 xhp, but i think sst40 should throw more than v6, v6 sits in between the two

[niajef]

@Artiet59

Received L21A CULPM1 last night! Its… AWESOME. I haven’t been able to get a good beam shot with it since its been raining here for 36 hours… but It easily throws the same as my FT03s, although not quite as bright. But very impressive. I already spotted 3 coyotes last night in the backyard! Luckily the light made them run as they were within 50 yards… Not a huge distance but my backyard is more woods then open space… Will post beam shots soon once i can get to large open space-compared to ft03s, kr1, ft03 sst40, whatever else i can for whomever is interested.

yes compare to every thrower you have!

[Pilotboy]

Any update on those beam shots? I’m dying to see them!

[gcbryan]

I’ve been away from this forum for a while and from buying any new lights. The Covid social distancing thing has kept me around the house more (and I’m bored) so I bought a few lights recently. One was a flood type of light and one was the Astrolux ft03.

A few years ago I bought some light to mod and put in an aspheric just for pure throw with no flood. I took out the reflector and ground down a bit of a glass aspheric I had so it’s now in the 40 mm diameter range.

Tonight I was looking on Amazon and saw the Uniquefire 1508 with a white light pill (most oare IR) and a 75mm head (outside diameter). I hear the actual aspheric diameter is more like 69mm.

You can use either one or two 18650 batteries in this light. I have no real use for this light but it’s always fun to see how far you can get a focused beam like that to throw. It’s technically a “zoomie” but not of the push/pull variety. You just screw the head in or out. I didn’t buy this for the flood but it’s nice to have some room for focusing the beam. With an aspheric sometimes it’s fun to defocus it a bit to get a rounder spot although it doesn’t throw as far when you do that obviously. I don’t see defocusing it so much as to turn it into a flood light though.

I’m still spending close to $100 which is expensive for a Chinese light but I didn’t want to order it from China and have to wait so long. I was able to order all parts from Amazon with delivery in several days. To avoid ordering from China I had to buy the light as an IR light with a 67 mm head, plus a 75 mm head, plus a white light pill. All are meant to be interchangeable.

Lights like the Astrolux ft03 are fun when out in the country/hiking as the bit of flood is helpful walking around. I live in the city (suburbs) and flood just draws attention or could bother the neighbors so an aspheric is always fun to have and this one should throw further than the one I currently have so that’s the only justification for this particular purchase. I’ll just blame it on Covid boredom:) At least I don’t have to do any “work” on this one. No soldering, no grinding. Just “plug and play”.

[BurningPlayd0h]

@Artiet59

@jp9mm

@tenohfive

@TMaxxJJ

Could you stretch to $90?

https://intl-outdoor.com/k1-21700-thrower-led-flashlight.html

It would be pushing it, but if it’s useable with 18650’s (I don’t own any 21700’s, and would have to budget extra for a couple) then maybe.
What would the extra budget be paying for over the next best option?

@manithree

I’ve been informed by purists that lights like the L6 (I own an old Thorfire S70) are not technically throwers. But with a reflector that size, you get some distance. A real thrower with a pencil beam is what you want for longer distance. The focused beam throws farther, and less spill doesn’t blind you with up-close light.

I don’t own a Convoy L21A with the throwy luminus emitter, but I bet you would see a lot farther with that.

Another probably technically not a thrower, but I like my Astrolux FT03. That’s a lot more throw than most standard C8s, but probably not as much as the L21A.

Both of those fit in your budget.

It doesn’t take much to sell me on a Convoy, I’ll look into the L21A and see what the reviews say.
The FT03 hadn’t hit my radar (although the MF02 had) but I really am looking for a dedicated thrower, rather than something that’ll bludgeon it’s way out to 3/4 of a thrower.

Not sure what a purist thrower is? (maybe need binoculars to use? lol)
The FT03 w sst40 is pretty good. I don’t think anything can beat it that costs 60$ and its only 30$

Convoy L21a CULPM1.

I have the Convoy L21a CULPM1 on order. I have heard it produces 2300 lumens (8amp driver), and also heard it reaches up to 1300 meters (technically speaking), so for 45 usd, pretty much a steal (and leaves you money for the 21700 you will need). Best thing i have seen except the K1 except at half the price. Ill post a pic of the beam (they are hard to find shots of). it should be in this week.

2300lm is for the SST-40 version, the Osram emitter (CULPM1.TG is used I think?) version is the one that can hit 1300m of throw.