Chinese SureFire M300 Clone, Part 2

[@jukkatalari3896]

Great review, thank you sir! Especially the freeze test was of interest to a person living in Finland (climately somewhat similar to Alaska) On the mounting screws: When reverse engineering, the chinese usually change the threads from Anglo measurements (inch) into M-series (metric).

[@CalebDowning]

Glad you enjoyed the review. And the thing is still going strong. The remote/tape switch will flicker sometimes but overall it’s still solid. And great feedback, thanks for the info 👍

[@jukkatalari3896]

Just this week got my own :) They seem to be selling replacement tape switches on AliExp, maybe it would be a good idea to order one or two of those? www.aliexpress.com/item/LAMBUL-Weapon-Light-Remote-Controller-Switch-for-M300-M600-M620V-M951-M952-Series-Tactical-Tape-Tail/32889113712.html

[@andrewjfranek3004]

Just received mine and had a little flicker. Fixed it by slightly crimping the tape switch connector to the rail cap. Tighter fit, no more flicker

[@seraphimcombat4884]

I have one (the 600 version) on a 12.5” 308 the muzzle brake and the bezel are side by side, it has taken so much blast their is no more anodize on it and it still rocks on, love it

[@getbrainseeds]

i just bought the m600 version for my 12.5 it has a 3 inch can on the muzzle i hope mine lasts

[@seraphimcombat4884]

@@getbrainseeds it should

[@adriansoto239]

Im a cop. I bought the light for my duty rifle. The light works pretty good. The pressure pad it comes with sucks. However, they have the rail integrated pressure pad as a replacement which works great. So far so good.

[@CalebDowning]

Man, as much as I like saving money I don’t think I could bring myself to run this light on a duty setup.

[@adriansoto239]

@@CalebDowning yea i get it. But any light is better than no light. I do however have a decent tlr at my disposal as well. I figure if the scout light gives, i have the tlr available

[@CalebDowning]

True that 👊🏻

[@PB8man]

@@CalebDowning This guy is trusting his life to the light (as of his post) it was doing just fine. What's your background? Other than the mentioned tail switch, you have no reason not to trust it. Don't be a gate keeper.

[@CalebDowning]

The light can flicker and doesn’t come on every time you hit the switch. For something to be “hard use” it HAS to work when you need it. If it doesn’t work then it’s just a toy at that point.

[@nickangelica]

Great Part 2, Mr. Downing… you probably could’ve gotten all this said in 3-4 minutes (without tangents, repetition, & speculation), but I can’t complain … the video/review is on point… thank you, sir!

[@CalebDowning]

Glad you enjoyed it 🤙

[@gregpruitt1647]

If I can trust my life on a El-Cheap-o stock plastic Glock sight. Why can I not trust this well made, all metal, flash light in a home gun? I have three of these. One on a 16in AR, a 10.5in AR piston, and on a 9mm AR Pistol. They work and hold up perfectly. BTY, when you do the torture test, test it against a genuine Surefire. Surefire will likely not appreciate that. But, why not? GO for it.

[@CalebDowning]

Very good question. Here’s my answer: A cheap plastic Glock site has no moving parts and simply needs to be a visual reference(almost as simple as a bump on a log). These flashlights do have pretty good construction as far as the housing goes. Where I’d be concerned is in the internal elections. The tape switch has some connectivity issues abs I have known these cheap lights to not hold up to the hard recoil and rifle or shotgun have. So the body of these light might look the part but the internals are questionable.

[@6string42]

Cheap flashlights will be the least of your worries if the ATF sees that vertical grip on your pistol

[@CalebDowning]

Check the date, do some research…

[@6string42]

@CalebDowning ATF made their ruling on VFGs on pistols in 2006 and its never changed since. Your gun was still illegal in the date you posted this.

[@rustyricky6684]

My buddy has a registered SBR (I made him get his done when he got his pistol…), and this was like 10+ years ago… and he still has the original pistol brace on it 🤣 he’s too cheap to buy the BCM buttstock he wants for it…. I’ve had SBR’s and “cans” for 15+ years…

[@rfcdgaf]

2 videos and zero of it actually being on and shining light, lol GJ

[@jamesstephenson2346]

What, exactly, do you think a video of it being on would provide? It would have NO bearing on reality.

[@orionfixr7713]

I believe you are correct in the assumption that most of us will never need our rifles for more than a range toy and a white light would be more or less eye candy. It stood up to 1000 rounds in one sitting and I'd say that's pretty good for an inexpensive piece of eye candy. The biggest problem with you doing a torture test on that light is its a sample of one. You may have got the only light that can stand up to your test. I believe what really separates the high end lights from these low end lights is quality control. So while you get a good one, and I get the next one off the line, there could be a world of difference in their performance. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say here. I think I've watched too many of your videos and I'm starting to ramble on !! LOL Hope to see the follow up video on the air soft rail soon ! Hint hint.

[@CalebDowning]

Haha 😂 🤣😂 ya you’ve basically written a novel 🤦‍♂️😁 I kid.... But you are exactly right👍 This is a very UNscientific test, since I have a sample of one. The one I have does continue to surprise me though. For a real light I’d stick to Surefire and Streamlight for sure. There are other big ones out there but I haven’t used them yet. Great feedback man! Thanks for your support/interaction. And the air soft rail video will be forthcoming 👍

[@4411825]

Sounds like excuses on why one wasted their money on a overpriced item because of its name!

[@tomjjackson21]

I buy stuff like this for my kids service clones. I can't justify a $600 light on a 22

[@CalebDowning]

Ya man, I hear ya. And to the untrained eye it looks just about like the real thing 👍

[@EDP_every_day_pyro]

I got a clone and it does everything i need it too lol. Would never pay actual sure fire prices. Also wish shipped it to my door in less than two weeks

[@mattfogle5595]

1500 rounds and not one problem...I would say that's quality then. I see no reason to pay outrageous prices and they do the exact same thing. I have plenty of budget friendly parts on my guns for years with no issues.

[@CalebDowning]

I do have to say they they light output is dimmer and the switch is finally getting flickers. This piece is good for a range gun and for fun. But for “life saving” work, I go with proven quality parts(Streamlight or SureFire in this case)

[@michaelcasertano5077]

I have one and it does work,great review.thanks for the video

[@blue6gun]

I couldnt get a real Surefire KE2-B head onto either the Wadsn, Sotac or Element Chinese M600 clones but theres one available from Amazon, the brand is unpronounceable gibberish but i was able to get every non-DF Scout head and the heads from the few e-series torches i have to fit the light body. Included clone of an M75 thumbscrew mount eas junk as well but ADM and Arisaka both fit as well as Weltool Scout/e-series tailcaps as a lower cost solution to swapping the chinese reverse clicky for useable forward clicky with a momentary function

[@americanmade422]

I got one on a back up rifle that ive been using for night drills etc. Its been a year, its been abused, dropped, wet and its still going. The the mount isnt great, Ive been running it on an arisaka mount and the pressure pad took a dumb about 4 months in. For 32 bucks?! ! For training purposes it will do alright. For serious stuff, you're right. Honestly id spend 3 times more and get a streamlight over the surefire.... thats just me. Surefire is way over priced, mainly because of their military contract$$$$

[@SakibLH44]

I'm glad you did this review! awesome.

[@CalebDowning]

Glad you liked it👍

[@britteasterly1]

Well that settles that, thanks bro.

[@CalebDowning]

No worries man 👍

[@realeyesrealize388]

On a serious note, when would you ever need to have a flashlight survive being frozen. Of all the guns of I've ever owned and those that I used while in extreme cold environments in the military not once had I ever seen my gun or anyone else's freeze in solid block of ice. The most I could see would be exposed to rain for a few hrs a day. Even in extreme cold of Korea our equipment got cold but never frozen. I'd be surprised if a real Surefire could do any better in the test. I've seen many surefires flicker and need to be repaired with normal use. They aren't as indestructible as people think they are.

[@blackops8996]

Mine has been working fine for 2 years...

[@realtyrocks1969]

If you intend to use the light for home defense i see no reason why these wouldn't work great. Ive used the M600 clone on a few rifles and shot alot of rounds with it on but never exposed to water. They all still work after many rounds of recoil.

[@CalebDowning]

All joking and jesting aside… It comes down to trust. You may get some Airsoft lights that work but you also run a higher chance of getting one with faulty wiring or poor connections. Your chances of failures go down as quality control goes up. My confidence goes up when quality control goes up and that quality control costs.

[@realtyrocks1969]

@@CalebDowning truth be told most gun owners shoot very few rounds out of any 1 gun. I am victim to that as well. I buy guns faster than I can shoot them and these clone lights I've used on a few that I do shoot alot have worked fine. After several thousand rounds, if it still functions as a light and stays put on the gun, it's served it's purpose. I have no doubt it will continue to work for a home defense gun. In the event of home intruder the average rounds fired is 3. So if its still working after a box or 2 it's going to be fine for a home defense roll. It's not going into Fallujah or storming the beaches of Normandy. It's a flashlight. If Harbor Freight can make an LED flashlight that can withstand falling off my shop bench and getting rained on while changing a tire on the side of a road and sell it for $2.99 - it's not a big surprise than anyone but Surefire can also make a quality flashlight. What it really comes down to is people are mad that the Chinese stole their name and design and make a product that can compare for a lot less cash. Let's me real. That's why people come up with this bullshit to justify not spending big money with an American company.

[@skeebles8469]

Where can I pick up one of these lights? I’d like to see if it can handle the Arizona 125 degrees on a regular basis

[@CalebDowning]

eBay, Alibaba, most airsoft stores should have items like it.

[@josefelipe1589]

Really Appreciate The Information 👍👍👍👍👍

[@sleigh4019]

Great info..thanks

[@hgarza1136]

That's kinda impressive. They've obviously gotten better at making knock offs. I noticed now they're making them with a actual ir function. Years ago I had what I thought was a m951,but wasn't. It lasted about 20 rounds. Maybe it's the luck of the draw,but I'll stick with sf,& insight m3x. You can get a m3x long gun light, pressure pad, and flip up IR filter from around 50 to 80 bucks used. It's what I used for my clones. I found a couple at $60, brand new. Again though it is impressive that it worked after being frozen.

[@CalebDowning]

At the end of the day it is what it is, a Chinese knockoff that may or may not work 🤷‍♂️ I may have gotten the one that works but I if I did then I intend to see how far I can push it. I’ll have to check out those Insights you mentioned 🤔

[@Artik74]

Is there any way to disassembly the head? I want to change te led with an ir

[@CalebDowning]

Mmm, I’m not sure 🤔

[@johnboy7819]

The sad truth I learned when my wife started, and ran a custom designed clothing boutique was that when she had the Chinese design and manufacture her clothes they would always steal them and do over runs. They would then sell them to other boutiques wholesale. I'm not saying surefire is made in China but many companies here make things in China or part of it in China and other parts in some other country and ship and assemble here so they can say made in America. To me it doesn't make sense for them to try and copy say a $60 tactical pen and sell it for $12 or $60 scout flashlight and sell it for $ $18-24. What does make sense is in the example of my wife is they actually make most or all of the parts, and sell the extras either wholesale or direct individually at dhgate/ aliexpress. China makes cheap things, but they also make high quality items. I have a Zero Tolerance 0450 I got for $175 whatever and I ordered one on there for $65 and to me they look identical. But if you and I were to start a knife company and buy bulk we could get it down to around $45-50 a knife and wholesale for $90- $100 and retails for $165-$175 so you see the numbers make sense from the perspective of manufacturer.

[@CalebDowning]

That’s makes sense. This light is a little different from the actual SureFires but I’m sure there was either patient infringement or something close going on 😬

[@alfredyu7213]

Hay Good morning sitting here with my first cup, glad your doing a vid on this because l seen them on EBAY n was going to pull the trigger glad l held off!! But what was the outcome with the Daniel Defense are guard n the castle nut?? Thanxs as ALWAYS!!! 😀

[@CalebDowning]

First cup is the best cup ☕️ The rail video will probably be my next one. I don’t want to spoil it for ya, but it will probably be out this Wednesday. It was an interesting item 🤔

[@alfredyu7213]

@@CalebDowning no worries!!! Lol..will be looking forward just out of curiosity, if that hand guard work woth the castle nut..

[@CalebDowning]

Yes and no, is that confusing enough 😆🤫

[@ctromanus]

"Would not recommend this light for full-time serious use" shoots 1500 rounds, submerges in water, freezes, and thaws....light still works. What?! What do you consider "full-time serious use"? I doubt most law enforcement, even SWAT, fire 1500 rounds in a year.

[@CalebDowning]

It still wouldn’t trust it for life threatening work the reason being is that sometimes is flickers and it is not very bright. For less than $100 you can get a Streamlight with a better tape switch and that one I would trust. It’s just a matter of time before this one puckers out. Also keep in mind this is a sample of 1, I could have gotten the really good one that day 🤷‍♂️

[@107gamma]

I've seen even the streamlight can develop faulty pressure switches. And there are kits ot upgrade to actually surefire switches. So these sounds like it may more of a problem with the switch. And lower output led. Then actually overall quality or reliability of the flashlight itself.

[@jaimecornejo2185]

Surefire has a reputation already at being in combat and having been proven time and time again. These lights have not. Unless there is someone out there that has taken it to war and back and would like to chime in?

[@FoxholeIndustries]

If that’s a pistol you can have that vertical fore grip.

[@jedyoung8359]

What's it matter to you?

[@SVTsupercharged]

I want a tacticool light 😎

[@realtyrocks1969]

Now do the same test with a real one and see if the results are different. My suspicion is you'd have water in a real one too

[@GotMeatloaf]

Can you confirm the light still works today? cause im about to buy one now lol

[@mathc1769]

Anthony Guerra they are bulletproof a great bargain

[@brysonchurch8606]

So if the light is still solid but the pressure pad is having problems, can you put the real surefire pressure pad on the light and solve that? Genuinely curious. I just ordered the light and if that is the case I might try and find the Surefire pad.

[@CalebDowning]

The real Surefire pad does work on mine. But you’ll probably spend more on the pad than on the whole clone light 😬

[@702mechanic5]

Thanks for the great video I hope you and your family are doing well. I don't think anybody rates their lights for 48 hour water submersion😂. Has it died yet?

[@CalebDowning]

So it just recently gave up the ghost. I tried different batteries and tail switches and I can’t get it to fire up anymore. It went strong for a good while. Who knows, maybe I’ll bang it around and it’ll start working again 🤷‍♂️

[@ThrowyaXup]

What type of batteries does the knockoff use? I have the same one but CR123A doesn't fit

[@CalebDowning]

I’m using the CR123A and equivalent rechargeables. The batteries only go in one way, I don’t remember if it’s from the front or rear though, simple enough to find out.

[@ThrowyaXup]

@@CalebDowning you're right, it goes in through the bulb side not the back🤦🏽‍♂️ thanks!

[@hgarza1136]

Forgot to ask, can you not get the water out?

[@MrKells503]

You never really said exactly WHY it's not a light to trust

[@CalebDowning]

The tape switch is a little finicky and the light flickers. I need a “work” light to always come on when I hit the switch, if it doesn’t then I can’t trust it.

[@The_Real_JimmyG]

Because it doesn't have the surefire price tag. I have the same light and works just fine after 2kish rounds.

[@4411825]

@@lukes.1333 LOL 😂, most people wouldn’t put 25,000 rounds in 10 lifetimes!

[@4411825]

@@lukes.1333 You’re the .005%😉

[@69ChevyGarage]

I thought having a VFG on a pistol made it an AOW? Thanks for the video review as I was looking to mount this on a AR9. I know these are used for airsoft war games.

[@CalebDowning]

The ATF changes their minds regularly on these topics. At the time of this video they had one opinion and now they have another. And your right these lights are used for airsoft mainly 👍

[@sleigh4019]

They haven't changed there minds on forward grips sense 86 but I get they have on the 26 inch length ..but still wouldn't dare try it

[@jmoultrie13]

Any link to this light?

[@CalebDowning]

m.aliexpress.com/item/32761660482.html?spm=a2g0n.orderlist-amp.item.32761660482&aff_trace_key=5c8bf3acad57432bb0d4c1c0f43207a6-1596339553342-00601-UneMJZVf&aff_platform=msite&m_page_id=9579amp-zj_g8c2T3RwrSkr3LE1sDA1596339597621&browser_id=c3594237226a4486b5e9c76973dbd890&is_c=N

[@jmoultrie13]

Thanks dog. I wanna torture one too haha

[@sleigh4019]

Umm...forward grip on a pistol? Hope the AFT lol isn't watching ...baller though

[@CalebDowning]

They change their minds so much it makes things confusing. At the time this wasn’t a gray area.

[@samlittle9486]

Just curious have you tested any of the nitecore flashlights?

[@CalebDowning]

Not as of yet. I’ve heard some about them but never got my hands on one. Is there any one in particular your thinking of?

[@samlittle9486]

I have their MH12GT mounted in the handguard of my tavor, so far its been a good light. They seem pretty similar in quality to a few streamlights that I own. What I like about it is it has a micro USB charging port, which makes it easy to charge when its inside the handguard of my tavor. I have different model that I've used the past 5 years working as a paramedic, over the years I've dropped it numorious times without any issues, whenever the battery got low I'd just plug my cell phone charger into it and set it up on the dash for a few hours. flashlight.nitecore.com/product/mh12gt

[@willrivas6910]

What rail is that

[@tommytruth5996]

$30 bucks!!!!!……pretty good.

[@scottholmquist4710]

Is this light still working or did you finally kill it?

[@CalebDowning]

It is still working. But is is a little finicky now days. It still runs but the pressure pad isn’t 100%.

[@Wsupjoe]

I have the same in tan! Do a torture test

[@CalebDowning]

I probably will 👍

[@ron593]

Definitely torture it..!! I still like my Klaurus XT2C.. I use it everyday for work.. I don't think that model is made for weapon mount..BTW when are you going to edit your European Vacation..?

[@CalebDowning]

Nice 👍 I haven’t heard of Klaurus 🤔 I’ll have to look it up. And I admit I dropped the ball on the vacation video. I’ll get back to that 😬

[@ron593]

@@CalebDowning Sounds great Caleb..looking forward to the torture test as well as the video 👍

[@Custompro36610]

So ,,,,,,,,, is it worth it?

[@CalebDowning]

To play with, yes. To trust for actually use, no... 😏

[@Custompro36610]

@@CalebDowning And what do you think of the Streamlight pro HL-X ??? (1000 lumen). I have been advised, but I am afraid it is too big. What do you think? Thank you so much.👍🏻👍🏻

[@CalebDowning]

I love mine. That one I do trust for a work light. It is powerful but not too big. If you are trying to keep things super small then look at Streamlights Rail Mount 1 or 2. They aren’t as powerful but slightly smaller bezels. I have the Rail Mount 1 and the HL-X and use them both on my “first line” guns.

[@sgtjramirez7297]

Nice

[@1981GMC]

Thanks for the informative video. I almost bought one. Glad I didn’t.