In this Surefire M600DF review guide, we'll take a closer look at the latest improvements on the SureFire M600 Dual Fuel model.
I have used this light on various long guns, and I have to say that there are tons of mounting solutions available to this light, and the cutting-edge 3.6V 18650 battery technology provides an impressive 1500 lumens and 16000 candela of output power.
Let's dive in to see what you may like and dislike about it.
Surefire M600DF Specss
- 1500 Lumens & 16000 Candela (1X 18560 Battery)
- 1200 Lumens & 12800 Candela (2X CR123A Batteries)
- 1.125" Bezel Diameter
- TIR Lens
- Recoil isolated electronics
- Mil-Spec Hard Anodized
- IPX7
- 5.56" Overall Length (varies based on end cap selection)
- 5.15 oz
- 6061 T6 Aerospace Aluminum
What's Included In The Packaging
The SF M600DF comes in a nice premium quality packaging that is currently the new standard for all Surefire products.
In the package you will receive:
- Surefire M600DF
- Thumb screw mount
- Z68 tail cap switch
- 1 18650 battery
- USB charging cord
- Surefire sticker
- 18650 battery manual
- User manual
- Warranty card
Who Should Buy SureFire M600DF
- Military
- Law enforcement
- Low light training & drill
- Home defense
- Hunting
Surefire M600DF Features & Performance
How many lumens is the SureFire m600?
The surefire M600DF outputs 1500 lumens when using the 18650 battery, and 1200 lumens on CR123A.
How many Candela is the SureFire M600DF
The Surefire M600 DF features 16000 candela performance on a full battery charge. The light can throw as far as 250 meters as marketed, but based on testing, the most effective range is about 120 meters.
For in door and mid range applications, the Surefire M600DF is a great option.
However, past that mid range distance is where we need to look at an aftermarket light head such as the MODLITE PLHv2 head to see things in the dark with much more focus.
Beam Pattern
The TIR lens has the widest and the brightest spill based on our testing among other weapon lights on the market.
Comparing to the original Surefire M600, the beam has much more flood, and it's not as tight.
For home defense use within 50 yards, the light's wide spill provides the shooter plenty of peripheral illumination to identify the surroundings in low light conditions without having to point the hot spot at everything the user tries to identify.
Surefire M600DF - Wider and brighter close up flood
Solution for more throw
The MODLITE PLHv2 is compatible with Surefire M600 DF 18650 body
MODLITE PLHv2 - More Throw
Much tighter hot spot that throws far. Great for threat control while keeping a safe distance.
Here is the default M600DF head using 18650 battery (full charge)
The hot spot is actually not as tight as the previous generation of Surefire M600 Scout light, so even with increased lumen intensity the hot spot isn't strong enough past ~80 yards to clearly identify objects hidden behind trees lines or other obscuring objects in low light.
Light Head & Upgrades
The SureFire M600DF's light bezel is completely redesigned compared to the older 600 lumen M600 Scout light head.
So the New M600DF head features the TIR lens that provides a wide spill for close up peripherial illumination and better punch compared to the old M600 Scout where Candela rating is important, which we have already covered above.
In order to upgrade the M600DF, please check out this guide on MODLITE OKW or PLHv2 heads for higher candela output.
Battery
The new 18650 battery is the biggest upgrade for the Surefire M600DF for higher output.
The rechargeable 18650 battery provides much higher output & saves money compared to using the old CR123A battery technology.
If you train a lot with a weapon light, you can easily go through 170+ batteries a year (Adds up to be about $320/yr)
We recommend getting 2 backup 18650 batteries from Surefire & a USB portable battery bank to keep this light topped off & ready to go at any time.
Tail Cap Attachments & Switches
The Surefire Scout light 18650 body can accept various end cap attachments for better light activation and there are tons of accessories available.
Surefire makes a few end cap attachments & tap switches that the users can buy separately which include:
The user can also purchase other aftermarket pressure switches from reputable brands that make durable & responsive light activation switches for the Surefire Scout weapon light
Some of these products include:
- Unity Hot Button
- TNVC TAPS
- Cloud Defensive LCS
Overall Durability & Feel
The Surefire M600DF feels sturdy just like any other Surefire weapon lights. It feels solid and the finish feels high quality.
The only thing we would change prior to mounting it on a rifle would be swapping out factory thumb screw mount with a high quality offset scout light mount,
The thumb screw tends to get loose after rapid fire, so a dedicated scout mount secures the light the best.
Torture Test
Under normal use, the light will last for a long time.
The light can survive drop and typical rough handling, but the lens do crack if receiving a direct hit from airsoft bbs or simunition rounds at about 350 - 600 fps.
If the bezel experiences repeated hard impacts. It will crack the lens, battery and destroy the light. Under normal circumstances this would mostly not happen unless damaging it intentionally.
We recommend you check out this video below:
Final Verdict
Pros
- Tough built
Compatible with all existing Surefire accessories - Wide spill that lights up the whole surrounding
- 18650 rechargeable battery to save money
- Increased lumen & candela output than previous model
- Compatible with MODLITE heads
- Same scout mounting footprint
- Effective light beam without a doubt within 50 yards
Cons
- Dimmed hot spot for targets beyond 80+ yards (MODLITE heads are the replacements for higher outputs)
- 16K Candela still not strong enough for low light 100+ yards application
Common FAQ
How Good Is Surefire's Warranty Policy?
If you damage the bezel glass, tail cap, or the body, Surefire will replace your light at no cost period except for intentional damages.
How Long Does It Take To Charge SF18650B Lithium Battery?
The Surefire SF18650B battery can be charged via the micro USB type B cord that came with the light. The charge time for a fully depleted battery can be over 5 hours via the micro USB cord.
Once the battery is connected to a power source, the 2 LED indicators display the current charge state:
- RED means charging
- GREEN means fully charged
If you want to speed up the charge speed, please use a dedicated 18650 CC-CV compatible cradle charger.
Can The Factory Thumb Screw Mount Be Uninstalled?
Yes, the thumb screw mount that comes with the Surefire M600DF Scout can be uninstalled by removing the two hex screws.
The user can install other Surefire scout footprint mounts to the light based on preference.
Is Surefire Made In China?
No. Surefire products are made in the US
Is Modlite Better Than Surefire?
The Modlite heads are much better upgrades for the Surefire Scout light. Please see the comparisons here
Is SureFire better than Streamlight?
Surefire products are not necessarily better than Streamlight products. In the context of a rifle scout light, the Surefire Scout has way more aftermarket accessories to work with than Streamlight ProTac HLX
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