Anybody use a Milwaukee M18 LED Searchlight?

[RuttNutt]

I just picked up one for night fishing. Supposed to have 4 settings- 1) spot 2) flood 3) spot/flood and 4) strobe

I wanted to get a BRIGHT battery operated light for night fishing and since I have the M18 Fuel drill for my auger and have 3 batteries, I decided to try this option.

Anybody have one? If so, what do you think of it? Just got mine, so haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

[Damn Yankee]

I don't want to hurt your feelings, BUT, if you can return it do so. I believe you paid $99 + tax? I'll sell you mine for $48 (As New)...
The M12 unit (#2353-20) will allow you to view your tip-ups 100 yards away like they're right in front of you. They advertise 700 yard range
but that's a stretch. If you're shining deer 200 yds. is for real.
The M18 unit (#2354-20)weighs 77oz (a smidge below 5#). If you're a oil-burner service person the M-18  is a great option.
The M-12 with a 4AH battery weighs 37ozs (2# 5oz.) the M12 will outshine, outweigh and outlast the M18 light.
Ov course it's my opinion only.

[ran7ger]

 but he's already got the batteries.  i have a couple other m18 lights and i'm happy with their performance.

[prospector]

I own two of them. You will not be disappointed at all. They are great for spotlighting tip up flags at night. I also have Put them  on the front of my four wheeler this year within easy on off adapter that I built. It really does light up the night!

[RuttNutt]

Yankee- it takes a LOT more than that to hurt my feelings! 

Well, I tried it out last night and all I can say is: WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    It lit up my entire backyard (1/2 acre) on flood mode and on spot mode it lit up WAY back into the woods. Hard to tell how far due to all the trees, but I would guess at least a couple hundred yards.  It exceeded my expectations!

ranger is right- I have no interest in a 12v or 20v since I already have the 18v Red Lithium 5.0AH batteries.  I plan to get more bare tools in the future, so will be looking for ones that use the same batteries.

From what I can tell, this thing is gonna light up half the lake on FLOOD mode!    And I am rarely more than 50y from any of my tip-ups, so probably won't even need to switch it to spot mode to see them! 

[prospector]

Grab an m18 lantern. Perfect for lighting up the tent.

[RuttNutt]

I debated between the search light and lantern, but the lantern was $50 more and I thought the search light with 4 modes would be more versatile. Think I made the right choice! 

[prospector]

I debated between the search light and lantern, but the lantern was $50 more and I thought the search light with 4 modes would be more versatile. Think I made the right choice! 

You definitely made a good choice. The lantern  I am talking about is usually around $70 and you can find it sometimes low as $50. I own two of them as well. Use them all the time for work.

[RuttNutt]

Oh, that must not be the one I was looking at. The one I saw was $149.

But I took the search light up to Shohola last night. Went to the first launch and shined it across the lake. Could actually light up the far shoreline on spot mode!     And on flood mode it lit up a very large area, so this thing was definitely the right choice!