UPDATE: Surefire has affirmed that all current Surefire lights should be waterproof to about 33 feet/10 meters. Some reviews were posted before Surefire made the affirmation that their lights were watertight to 1 atmosphere depth. Any new Surefire lights you purchase now should be considered waterproof to 33 feet/10 meters.

Short Description:

The Surefire C2 Centurion and M2 Millennium Centurion are heavy duty tactical-grade lights. Designed primarily for military or police, they are superior personal safety lights for anyone.

Both the C2 and the M2 use essentially identical bodies. The only noticeable difference in the bodies is that the M2 has 2 O-rings on its tailcap while the C2 has one. The bezels are very different. The M2 bezel is larger, has cooling fins machined near its base and has a shock absorbing system to protect the lamp assembly from the impact generated by firearm recoil. Both come with the 65 lumen P60 lamp assembly and the M2 also includes a 120 lumen P61 lamp for more output at a cost of shorter runtime.

Both lighting systems have hard anodize Type III finished aircraft grade aluminum as their primary material. Both have push button momentary on-off switches that twist on-off for constant use and can be locked out. Witness marks on the tailcap and body help indicate the switch status. The sides of the body have flat panels and a rubber grip for use with the Rogers/Surefire tactical grip style. The bezels include Pyrex lenses and O-rings for water resistance. On the side of each is a removable pocket clip. Inside they are coated for corrosion resistance. Batteries are included with both.

Reviewer's Impressions:

You wake in the middle of the night to the sound of a crash and the tinkling of broken glass. Either the cat just knocked a drinking glass off of the countertop in a fit of playfulness or someone is trying to get into the house. As you get up to investigate, the Surefire C2 Centurion or M2 Millennium Centurion would be a good partner to have along for the trip. Both of these lights are designed to take a serious beating and are capable of projecting a wall of light which helps put the advantage in your favor whether the predator you encounter stalking in your kitchen has four legs and whiskers or two legs and an attitude.

Machined from aircraft grade aluminum, both the C2 and M2 are anodized with a Type III finish; one of the toughest finishes available for aluminum. The sides are machined flat and the rubber ring near the base of the light is intended for the Rogers/Surefire grip when used in conjunction with a firearm. Going out at night? Clip either light to your pocket with the included removable stainless steel pocket clip. For everyday carry, the C2 may be a little easier to handle since its bezel is a bit smaller than the M2. However, the M2's bezel contains a shock absorbing mechanism that will protect the bulb if the light is dropped on its bezel or if it is used in close proximity to the recoil of a firearm.

Both lights can use the Surefire 65 lumen P60 lamp module (included) for 60 minutes of runtime on a pair of batteries, or the 120 lumen P61 lamp for 20 minutes of runtime on a pair of batteries. The 120 lumen lamp is included with the M2, but not the C2 and does not actually produce a tighter beam of light. Instead it creates a much larger spot of light, illuminating more of the area in front of the user allowing for better target acquisition and identification. The lamp assemblies include an integral aluminum pre-focused reflector so you always get a bright spot of well focused light.

If you need the light for just a short period of time (like checking on the cat), press in on the rubber tailcap switch with your thumb. It's textured so your thumb won't slip off. Need the light on for a longer period of time? Twist the tailcap for constant on. Don't worry about the lens; even with the high output lamp the Pyrex lens and the aluminum reflector can take a lot more heat than this light will ever produce! Watch out, though; that aluminum bezel can get pretty warm. If you'll be packing your light away for a trip, you certainly don't want it to come on in your suitcase and singe your underwear, so you can twist the switch outward to lock out the mechanism and prevent accidental activation. Witness marks on the switch and body help you identify what condition the switch is in.

Both the C2 and M2 are considered to be "water resistant". They both have ample O-rings throughout to prevent the entry of the environment. The M2 has a double O-ring on the tailcap for extra protection where the C2 has a single O-ring.

The batteries used in both lights are lithium 123a cells and are available from Surefire.com at a good price in lots of 12. I would avoid buying them from retail stores unless you enjoy paying up to 10 times as much as you would from Surefire. Since the batteries are lithium based, they have excellent resistance to cold (good for doing an equipment check on the tail section of a 747 in Alaska during winter) and have a 10 year shelf life (great for your disaster kit or glove box). To change the batteries, just unscrew the tailcap, dump out the old and drop in the new (positive first).

Runtime completed with Duracell batteries. More information on runtime plots is available HERE.

There are a number of accessories for both lights ranging from colored beam filters, lanyards, and holsters, all the way to "turbo head" replacement bezels to spotlight targets at greater distances.

Any way you cut it, the C2 or the M2 is a great way to go for a duty belt, rescue kit, or just a personal safety light for yourself and your family.

Honey? Did you forget to feed the cat again?

+ + + Pluses: Water resistant, Tough, Very Bright, Easy battery change, Lightweight, M2 is shockproof

- - - Minuses: None

Quick Facts Table: