Cree LED Torches

[T-Bolt94]

Good morning folks, was just wondering if anybody has any experience with these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1800-Lumens-CREE-XM-L-T6-LED-Zoomable-Flashlight-Torch-Free-Battery-and-Charger-/161023881512?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item257dc57128 . I know there is a rather extensive thread on the modification of them but I was just wondering if anybody can give me an honest opinion on how good they actually are and whether they are worth trying out ie what range the go to etc

 

Many thanks

[davidsuffolk]

I have a slightly lower power version and it is superb. At £18 including battery & charger it isn't much of a risk?

[Farmer-of-the-Futre]

I picked up a UltraFire C8 with a CREE Q5 LED for £30 from a DeerHunter stand at a country show. Very impressed! Excellent beam with an even, wide spread and a nice hot spot in the middle. When buying a torch for lamping try and get one with a larger head. The larger the head, the better the throw (usually)

[T-Bolt94]

Would you rate Zoom/Focus as a high priority? I know the NM 800 has the focus ability to give the nice square beam. Do the multi modes interfere much?

Edited May 24, 2013 by T-Bolt94

[activeviii]

A Cree Z5 Or Z6 works well. slide zoom. not much more than a tenner with barriers and charger. I have changed the driver and chip in mine but as standards their good for 22lr distances or short HMR distance.

[Luckyshot]

Use a couple of cree z5's my self, I've got 1 wired straight to my 12v lithium battery to use for finding dead rabbits when using the nv. The other is just running on batteries and is good for a positive id at 80 yards on the 22 and they were only £7.50 with battery and charger when I bought them.

[evo]

if you want a cheap decent torch for your shooting then my advice would be to get the 501b torch,you can do various modifications to it ie;put a DX lens on it,or an Ahorton kit which includes the droppin and an aspheric lens,or you can luckily find a mod like I have and its better again, I did tests last night and it will even show eye shine to around 150 yrds,

 

the torch on the left is the standard 501b with a dx lens in it and the torch on the right is the mod I came across by messing about with different torches,the beam is very tight its around 8ft square at 100yrds and is brill for shooting the bunnies

 

I will be able to get even further distances once I sort out the heat sink

 

 

[Bazooka Joe]

After reading a thread on PW the other day on the 7W 300lm cree Q5,

 

I done a search on the bay of plenty, & ordered 2 from China for the pricey sum of £5.14 Posted.

 

They arrived the other day, & I'm well impressed with them especially at that price.

[mick miller]

501b modded, 25 for the torch charger and battery, around 35 quid for the ahorton lens kit, add another 35 for a custom drop in led. It'll be clear out beyond 220 yards on x14 and you'll pick up eyeshine at plus 350. Half the price and half the size of a NM800 kit.

 

I ran mine continuous for 10 minutes no problem, it just gets a little hot!

 

If you don't want to put the custom led in the standard one will still give you 120 yards plus.

[JDsniper]

Is there possibly a parts list for that set up

[Luckyshot]

 

if you want a cheap decent torch for your shooting then my advice would be to get the 501b torch,you can do various modifications to it ie;put a DX lens on it,or an Ahorton kit which includes the droppin and an aspheric lens,or you can luckily find a mod like I have and its better again, I did tests last night and it will even show eye shine to around 150 yrds,

 

the torch on the left is the standard 501b with a dx lens in it and the torch on the right is the mod I came across by messing about with different torches,the beam is very tight its around 8ft square at 100yrds and is brill for shooting the bunnies

 

I will be able to get even further distances once I sort out the heat sink

 

 

The cree z5 knocks spots off the 501b with the dx lens on it (white light)

gives a good picture at twice the distance.

Edited May 24, 2013 by Luckyshot

[mick miller]

Can you easily change the LEDs in them? The 501s can be either red, white, ir or amber depending on the drop in, one torch can cover many uses. Do they z5's come in colours?

[Luckyshot]

Can you easily change the LEDs in them? The 501s can be either red, white, ir or amber depending on the drop in, one torch can cover many uses. Do they z5's come in colours?

 

 

Not sure if drop ins are readily available for them as I only use white light but for the money you cant beat them in standard form.

[beeredup]

i ordered a load of these including some that were supposed to come with no rechargable batteries but because i ordered a total of 7 torch's he included batts for everything including the adapaters for the chargers too

[sirgoldalot]

that version is a square beam not so good...check out the red 300 lumens crees no filter required got out to 130yrds have three all brought from china very good torches

[evo]

  The cree z5 knocks spots off the 501b with the dx lens on it (white light)

gives a good picture at twice the distance.

use a white light where I shoot and you will not see a living creature anywhere,they will leg it the minute you switch the torch on,

 

totally agree with mick,the 501b can be very easily changed so as you can use different lights and this can even be done in the dark no problem ,its a class little torch and as said can be modified to suit any occasion

[bazzab]

501b modded, 25 for the torch charger and battery, around 35 quid for the ahorton lens kit, add another 35 for a custom drop in led. It'll be clear out beyond 220 yards on x14 and you'll pick up eyeshine at plus 350. Half the price and half the size of a NM800 kit.

 

I ran mine continuous for 10 minutes no problem, it just gets a little hot!

 

If you don't want to put the custom led in the standard one will still give you 120 yards plus.

 

Hi Mick the custom drop in you use where did you get it from mate?

[mick miller]

It's a custom drop in from one of the guys off the candle power site.

[bazzab]

It's a custom drop in from one of the guys off the candle power site.

 

Ah yes you did say that before sir. (must be my age!!)

 

Have signed up to the forum see if i can't get one. Thank you buddy

[Zulu]

i ordered a load of these including some that were supposed to come with no rechargable batteries but because i ordered a total of 7 torch's he included batts for everything including the adapaters for the chargers too

 

Had mine come from China this morn (from that original thread ) , but the supplied batteries are too short for the charger , should there have been an adapter and what do they look like ?

 

Thanks

[beeredup]

mine were fromt he original thread and mine were posted from Fiji?? yeah i got chargers and two different sizes od Lipo batteries and the chargers matched for each size of battery?

ah i didn'y order the ones in the thread i ordered some different torch's fromt he same seller

[Zulu]

mine were fromt he original thread and mine were posted from Fiji?? yeah i got chargers and two different sizes od Lipo batteries and the chargers matched for each size of battery?

 

ah i didn'y order the ones in the thread i ordered some different torch's fromt he same seller

Thanks for reply , looks like some of the chargers for the 14500 batteries adapt to the battery size by a slider ( mine doesn't) , emailed the seller but not expecting a replacement ,will just use ordinary AA as cant charge Lion batteries in normal AA charger so I am told .

[Dead Eye Dunc]

Anyone got a link to the original thread? Looking for info on these modifications. Or is one of the mentioned lights up to the job og hand/gun mounted lamping light (to detect eye shine out to maybe 200 yards)

 

mine were fromt he original thread and mine were posted from Fiji?? yeah i got chargers and two different sizes od Lipo batteries and the chargers matched for each size of battery?

ah i didn'y order the ones in the thread i ordered some different torch's fromt he same seller

Edited May 29, 2013 by Dead Eye Dunc

[activeviii]

Since looking into the how's and what forms I have come up with a few different torches. All in red as that is all I use.

I make my own custom pills. Now a drop in system as the torches I use are not field stripable.

 

I have found that a darker red will cut your distance down but Charlie is not bothered by it. Many times they have walked straight towards me. I have two test foxes that I do not shoot. Their always about and my dogs will always chase so fox has reason not to like red lights but still pays no attention to the dark red. (I'm just waking my dogs. Nothing more)

 

I use this one for spotting. 2 hours from 1 battery.

The other I use has a massive throw. Not measured. I should really but its 400+ and eyes way way over that. Again its a custom pill and not changeable. I run it with a slitghly orange led. About 615nm. It takes two Barrie's and also lasts 2 hours. It sits on the scope. There is a.photo on here with it on the scope. I don't like tail wires. No need for the way I shoot of sticks and one hand is free to turn torch on.

 

I was going to order more parts as a fair few friends want them. I can order extres but I will. Out advertise. Only on recommendations I think.

[bazzab]

Since looking into the how's and what forms I have come up with a few different torches. All in red as that is all I use.

I make my own custom pills. Now a drop in system as the torches I use are not field stripable.

 

I have found that a darker red will cut your distance down but Charlie is not bothered by it. Many times they have walked straight towards me. I have two test foxes that I do not shoot. Their always about and my dogs will always chase so fox has reason not to like red lights but still pays no attention to the dark red. (I'm just waking my dogs. Nothing more)

 

I use this one for spotting. 2 hours from 1 battery.

The other I use has a massive throw. Not measured. I should really but its 400+ and eyes way way over that. Again its a custom pill and not changeable. I run it with a slitghly orange led. About 615nm. It takes two Barrie's and also lasts 2 hours. It sits on the scope. There is a.photo on here with it on the scope. I don't like tail wires. No need for the way I shoot of sticks and one hand is free to turn torch on.

 

I was going to order more parts as a fair few friends want them. I can order extres but I will. Out advertise. Only on recommendations I think.

 

Sounds very interesting bud. Would like to know more about drop ins you make as be interested in couple.