Anyone have a reasonable retail source for these?

Why? Never buy them locally unless you want to pay a 200%-500% premium. If you need them RIGHT NOW, then most places that carry photo supplies will have them as well as some gun shops.

Why? Never buy them locally unless you want to pay a 200%-500% premium. If you need them RIGHT NOW, then most places that carry photo supplies will have them as well as some gun shops.

 

That's exactly the problem. I'll do without before I pay $16 for one battery. I was hoping someone had a place that had a reasonable price premium on these, maybe $3 or $4 a piece.

 

Can't hurt to ask, right?

Pretty sure Home Depot sells the 12pack of surefires for around $25

And I know Lowes has the 2 pack for 4-5 bucks (saw them there last week)

I needed batteries on the fly one day, and paid 16 for 2 Duracells at walgreens. i wasn't happy but had to buy them. I have to stock up on them.

If you have amazon prime and order RIGHT NOW the two day shipping might get them to you on Monday. I'd say own some 2AA flashlight and see if you can still find batteries for those today.

Where is local to you?

Lowes carries them.

$9 for a pair at Walmart. Outrageous, but not completely insane like a few other places. Drove past HD and it's a total zoo, as expected.

 

This should teach me not to run out again.

 

Thanks for the replies.

Saw them at Lowe's for like 5 bucks

You can order rechargeable 123's on the net.

 

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For anyone with a military ID (or a friend with one) the BX/PX at McGuire sells packs of twelve for $20, no tax. Surefire brand.

I havent bought them in ages. i only get 123's from Batterystation.com now....usually either 20 or 25 at a time

Anyone have a reasonable retail source for these?

 

I get mine from B&H Photo. 12 for $25

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/471536-REG/Surefire_SF12_BB_SF123A_Batteries_12.html

http://info.publicintelligence.net/FBI-LithiumBatteries.pdf

 

Careful guys. Not all 123s are created equal. Not only can they be dangerous, but if they are designed for a camera/capacitor they will not give you the runtime or the lumens you are expecting in your light.

 

That said, I buy them at Lowes if I need them right now and from Surefire directly if I am stocking up.

In a pinch, I get mine at ADI but they only sell to the alarm industry.

When you have the luxury of waiting to be shipped, the Titanium's from Battery Junction are about $1 a battery and very good. In fact, I prefer them over Surefires in flashlights.

http://info.publicin...umBatteries.pdf

 

Careful guys. Not all 123s are created equal. Not only can they be dangerous, but if they are designed for a camera/capacitor they will not give you the runtime or the lumens you are expecting in your light.

 

That said, I buy them at Lowes if I need them right now and from Surefire directly if I am stocking up.

 

That's why I get the ones from BatteryStation, they're made in the US..AFAIK it's only the foreign-made batteries that have the "Explosive" problem

Hmm... I've been getting them from Battery Junction and recently thought they didn't seem to last very long. Even though they are Duracel Ultra and brand new. Anybody think maybe there is something wrong with my batteries or my source? I noticed most of the writing on them is English but there is also some Chinese.

Duracell are actually not that good for 123s.

When you have the luxury of waiting to be shipped, the Titanium's from Battery Junction are about $1 a battery and very good. In fact, I prefer them over Surefires in flashlights.

 

x2 on the Titaniums, 1/2 the price of Surefires and last just as long. http://www.batteryju...ium-cr123a.html

The Duracell and Energizer batteries are actually engineered to be optimal for camera type performance. Quickly charging a capacitor to be used as a flash or the millisecond use of a camera shutter. When used in long term draw electronics like a flashlight they lose power quickly and don't give off maximum lumens. They can work in a pinch but are not preferred.

 

The Surefire and Streamlight are designed to work in flashlights and will give you the best performance. They will be suboptimal in cameras and other electronics.

 

Make sure which ever 123 batteries you buy have a circuit breaker built in. There should be 2 small holes 180 degrees apart on the "+" terminal end of the battery. Although I am hearing that some knockoffs are copying the holes but not installing the breaker. Buyer beware!

Thanks, guys. I'm going to try the place that was recommended.

Hmm... I've been getting them from Battery Junction and recently thought they didn't seem to last very long. Even though they are Duracel Ultra and brand new. Anybody think maybe there is something wrong with my batteries or my source? I noticed most of the writing on them is English but there is also some Chinese.

 

They're dangerous then..the Chinese QC isnt very good, and the permeable membrane between the 2 chemicals in the battery isnt well made...meaning, too much shock or vibration can rupture the membrane turning your battery into what is essentially a small explosive. I thought it was all hype till a co-workers surefire exploded after he dropped it, and we found he had some cheapo 123's in it.

Very good info, thanks, guys. This will help me quite a bit. This is definitely the most useful thing I have seen today.