Surefire M-6 versus MAG 951 flashlight

The Surefire Guardian M-6 arrived two days ago.
Last night with the aid of my son and a couple friends I set out to take some pictures for a COMPARISON SHOOTOUT

I mounted both flashlights in a tripod by aid of my home-made gizmo. Lacking another tripod for my camera the pictures in the basement come out blurry, but for our purposes, which is to show the amount of light projected by each one, they will serve.

I took the pictures of the shed with the camera set in the tripod from fifteen yards and the light of both flashlights coming from 43 yards away.
At such short ranges you can see that the Surefire M-6 is impressive, although you can see the superiority of the MAG 951 without question.

In the basement picture you can observe how the side spill of the MAG 951 shows more illuminated area, even that the focus of the MAG 951 is far more concentrated than the M-6. So this is explained just by the massive output in lumens by the MAG 951.

Pictures I could not take due to our road being so busy with traffic will have shown how at 112 yards the superiority of the MAG 951 is demonstrated, as it put so much more light in the target (a tree) than the M-6 does.

I have had a stop sign ranged (with my laser range finder) at 243 yards (they are reflective, so they show very well). But the people agree with me is that if somebody would have been standing near it, the light of the MAG 951 would have been sufficient to show him well.

Runtime: The Surefire M-6 will run for 20 minutes in six batteries 123’s for a cost of $9.96.
The MAG 951 will run for 30 minutes putting out double the light for FREE (as the light is rechargeable)
Cost: The Surefire M-6 cost twice as much as the MAG 951.

The flashlights mounted in the tripods.





The Surefire M-6 flanked by the MAG 951 and the Black Bear 678 lumens
(I also took Beamshots with the Black Bear 678, but I will show them in another thread in comparison with the M-6, not to make this post too long.



Beamshot with the M-6



Beamshot with the MAG 951



Tool shed beamshots from 43 yards:

Beamshot with the M-6



Beamshot with the MAG 951



I will point out that seeing in person is easier to appreciate the difference between the two lights, even better than in these pictures.




Best regards,
black bear 84

A question, did you hold the exposue valus constant, or did you allow the camera to set them? I suspect that you let the camera set the f/stop and shutter speed in which case the camera tried to make the pictures equal and the actual difference may be more profound in person.

Marcy

Marcy,
I don't know much about cameras, this is a new digital Sansumg Digimag 530.
I just shutt off the flash and let the camera take the picture.

black bear

It would help if you explain exactly what a Mag 951 is (hint: it's not something you can buy at the hardware store) and what its care and feeding entails. Also, the M6 is designed as the ultimate tactical light and doesn't do so well in general purpose comparisons.

[Quote] Also, the M6 is designed as the ultimate tactical light and doesn't do so well in general purpose comparisons. [quote/]

Tell me!!!
I was trowing some numbers into my claculator, as I know that according to the manufacturer the Nimh rechargeable pack of the MAG 951 will run for 500 hours before needing another $24.00 pack.

Now the Surefire M-6 expend $9.96 in batteries every 20 minutes or $29.88 per hour.
To run 500 hours it will spend $14.940.00 in batteries.
Yes I will say is the ultimate money spender!!!

The Surefire company sells thru their website a box of 12 batteries for $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping (that is $20.00 or $1.66 each battery)
That is where my numbers are coming from.

regards
black bear 84

The one thing that worries me about the rechargable though is, can it be fed on any kind of batteries besides the rechargable pack? If I am taking it on a camping/hunting trip I wont be able to recharge it. Also, say if the power is out for a few days in an emergency situation like Katrina/Rita or an earthquake how will I recharge it? The nice thing about the M6 is I can stock up on batteries by buying them in most any store, and I dont have to wait for a recharge, I can just keep using it.

The same will aply to the MAG 951 buy enough batteries to go thru your emergency and as a bonus you will get double the lumens!! and a few battery packs.

After all if you are willing to spend $9,96 every 20 minutes in you Surefire M-6 (that is $29.88 per hour) at $1.66 per battery (from Surefire website $15 plus $5.00 shipping for a box of 12) (a box will be good for 40 minutes) or buy in any store where you pay for them $4.00 or more each, you can well spend the money to buy several $24.00 rechargeable packs.

The benefit of course is that ONE pack will last 500 hours, while to get 500 hours out of your Surefire M-6 you will have to spend $14.940.00 in batteries.
$29.88 times 500

Don't worry, I have lived in this house in the Island for 24 years and only twice lost electric service for a few hours.

I was a follower of Mel Tappan and I have spend 30 years preparing for something that haven't happened yet.
It is a hobby and I enjoy it as that.

Now, I have discovered the flat delivery current of Nimhs batteries and I will not use anything else, I don't buy any more batteries at the store.
My radios, GPS's, flashlights, disc player toys, etc. in my house run in rechargeables Nimhs and I don't have spend another dime or polluted the soil with another alkaline for quite a while now.

Now, let me go, I have to go and get fill several 5 gallons cans of fuel as another storm is approaching and the prices are going to hit $5.00 soon.

black bear

You may be able to recharge batteries from a car, or by sunlight. I don't know how practical that would be for a hungry torch.

The sun panels in the rechargers are very small and takes forever to recharge the batteries even without cloud cover.

You will have to rig your own using the solar panel that most WV, car come with to keep the battery charged.
Here is an example, it can be found in E-Bay for $20 or $30.00



I have one at the cabin I only wish I have more time to spend out there to use it more often.
black bear 84