FINALLY: Surefire’s New 1500 Lumen Scout Light

Surefire has been rolling out a lot of new flashlights lately, like the 1,000 lumen XH35 pistol light and this appears to be the biggest upgrade yet: 1,500 lumens in an [almost] normal Surefire Scout body. This WML that puts out more than twice the light as the M600 Ultra is named the M600DF. With current technology, 1,000 lumens appears to be on the upper limits of the output of a CR123 battery–and Surefire broke it. Not only will the M600DF put out 1,200 lumens with CR123s, but this Scout can also eat dual fuel.

No, not dual fuel with AA and CR123, but the larger and more energy dense rechargeable 18650 and CR123s. And you get 1,500 lumens with a 18650 battery.

The 18650 battery is 2mm wider than your normal CR123. The diameter of the Scout body was widened by 5mm not only to accommodate the larger battery, but also to strengthen the body itself. All the regular Scout mounts and accessories will fit on the M600DF. We tested the runtime of the 18650 battery and it lasted over an hour before a recharge was needed. Official runtime utilizing the Surefire 18650 battery is 1.25 hours.

If all you have are CR123s, they'll work just fine–it just won't be quite as bright or last quite as long.

A few weeks ago we trained them firsthand at Alliance PD with Forged Tactical. Eyes were not seared and faces were not melted (though some ate some Simunition paint). All-in-all it ran just like other Scout lights, but brighter and with more reach.

Here's what Surefire has to say about it:

The M600DF-BK Ultra Scout Light is a lightweight, compact WeaponLight featuring an ultra-high-output LED that delivers 1,200 lumens of blinding white light with the included SF123A batteries and 1,500 lumens of light with the optional SF18650A rechargeable lithium-ion battery. A proprietary Total Internal Reflection (TIR) lens shapes the recoil-proof LED’s light into a beam with plenty of reach but enough surround light to accommodate peripheral vision, making the M600DF ideal for close to longer-range applications. The rugged M600DF attaches quickly and securely to any MIL-STD-1913 rail via its integral thumbscrew clamp. A slight press of the Z68 tailcap switch will activate the momentary-on, while fully depressing the tailcap until it clicks will activate constant-on. Constructed of lightweight aerospace aluminum, hard anodized with a Mil-Spec finish, and O-ring sealed to keep out the elements, the tough M600DF thrives in combat-like conditions and provides a tactical advantage in low-light situations — without any sacrifice in weapon maneuverability

Other specifications include:

OUTPUT (2) SF123A: 1200, (1) SF18650: 1500 lumens
CONSTRUCTION / FINISH Aluminum / Mil-Spec Type III hard anodizing
WEIGHT (w/batteries) 5.15 oz ( 146 g)
LENGTH 5.56” (14.1 cm)
BEZEL DIAMETER 1.125″ (2.85 cm)
BATTERIES Two SF123A lithium (incl.) or One SF18650 lithium-ion
SWITCHING Z68 click switch

The MSRP? The same as the current crop of Surefire Scout lights: $299.

You can visit Surefire online here

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