Surefire M500 Light

[RedneckRampage]

I'm looking for a light set up for my M4. I really like Surefire and I want the brightest, most "wide" light I can get. I found a used M500 with the giant (like 3") head on it, for $150. I'm not sure on the light output and performance though. Anybody like or dislike them? Or even seen one used? I'm open to other options if they are super bright flood style lights. This is my woods/hiking/HD/zombie gun. I prefer Surefire, Insight, or Streamlight. I also do not have a rail to mount it on, amd I like a light at the 1-2 o'clock position or 10-11 o'clock.

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[coctailer]

You can always use one of these to mount it....
Surefire M25 Flaslight mount for AR-15 AR15 : Tactical Gear at GunBroker.com
The M500s are kinda limited as far as light location. I like the Scouts a lot better.
Smaller and brighter also.

 

[Nwcid]

The M500 WAS a good light. LED's are blowing all those kind of lights out of the water on brightness, life, and run time.

 

[techieguy]

SureFire Fury is a 500 lumen LED light, the only thing I don't like about the lamp is the switch operation (low light \ off \ bright light)

 

[Burt Gummer]

Vltor offset quick connect mount + Fenix T12 = $<220 and 468 lumens of light, three stages avail (locks in your last setting though). Tucks in nice and tight to fore end/rail at 11 or 1 o'clock.

Surefire M500 is 225 lumens for 20 minutes max. M500 3" head is cumbersome and unnecessary. Fenix is 468 lumens for 1 hour or 3x as long, plus twice the light; bright and clear.

The small Fenix FD32 is 315 lumens and is only $60. Fenix lights are durable and can handle being mounted on a firearm. I have several and have never had one fail yet.

Surefire is top quality for sure, but if you are on a budget there are other options to consider. As TechieGuy said, Fury is 500 lumen and could also probably be mounted with an offset mount nicely. I would check on whether you have to tap three times to get to the brightest setting or not though, if so, not great.

The M500 is outdated. At the rate these lights are improving you will see 3000 lumen lights for $100 in a year.

 

[RedneckRampage]

Thanks for the responses. I understand that Lumen wise, there are brighter lights, but many of those super bright lights are really concentrated, which is not what I want..

 

[coctailer]

SureFire Fury is a 500 lumen LED light, the only thing I don't like about the lamp is the switch operation (low light \ off \ bright light)

There is a new one that doesnt have the low mode. The original Fury was a utility/camping light.
They have a Tactical version now.

 

[coctailer]

Thanks for the responses. I understand that Lumen wise, there are brighter lights, but many of those super bright lights are really concentrated, which is not what I want..

Lumens are not measured the same between companies.
I had a 60 lumen Surefire that was brighter than a 200 lumen competitor.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

The M500 WAS a good light. LED's are blowing all those kind of lights out of the water on brightness, life, and run time.

^^THIS^^ Go LED, you will never regret it. Bulbs are a pain and they can fail at the most inopportune minute, bro. But first check with Surefire to see if they offer an LED upgrade kit and what you can get one for.. it may still be a deal. In that case you may be able to sell the original bulbs and any other parts and recover a few bucks

As far as other lights, go to youtube and enter nut n fancy light reviews.. he's annoying but covers quite a bit of territory

 

[Burt Gummer]

Mostly for hunters and not for tactical applications, the green illuminators are interesting to check out. Like a wide laser. Cool stuff. Toys and more toys.

 

[RedneckRampage]

Thanks again. I went and looked at it again, and I'm going to go a different route. With the six battery body, it stuck out to almost the flash hider....

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Nowadays you can buy X300 for $200ish.

 

[tfbit]

Here's the best source for flashlight info. You can look at everything but I think you need to register to search. I've got a Klarus XT11, rechargeable 18650s, and a LaRue LT707 Inline QD mount incoming for my Blackout.

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