Been wanting a surefire well I found a 951 for $70 bucks with pressure switch. Im going to buy an LED upgrade what I want is the most effective, durable, longest lasting output at 300+ lumens with just a simple on and off. Also I would like an easy install i dont mind modifying a bit if I have to but I would like to keep it simple. The surefire replacements look over priced. I am looking at the malkoff m61 325 lumen but would like to have a higher output if possible trying to spend roughly as much as the malkoff unit maybe a little more. Are there any better options?

Given your criteria for durable and long lasting I would hesitate to call any of the other available options truly better as they all have their trade-offs. Yes, you can go brighter with something like an XM-L2 drop-in from CustomLites but the run time will probably be about a half to a third of the Malkoff's. You can however pick up a Surefire A21 adapter which will extend the light allowing for a third CR123 which would let you put in a Malkoff M91, or it could also let you run the M61 for a good deal longer.

This is kind of what I expected to hear I think I'll just get the m61 kit.

Also will the $1 fitting ring help with the fit of the bulb in this particular surefire?

Just today I installed a Malkoff M61 I ordered from brightflashlights.com   I called them on the phone and they pre fit it to drop right in my M951.  I think it was like 42$ with shipping included, but I did also order some other stuff.

It is plenty bright and it did indeed drop right in.  Nice, crisp white with really good throw.  It's a solid 300+ lumens, I personally think it's more than adequate for a weaponlight.   And it was at my door in 48 hours.

I just ordered it direct from the malkoff website for $48 shipped I'll probably have it Monday or Tuesday.

I'm sure I'll get a lot of disaagreements and normally I never ever would have bought one of these especially since I'm a surefire nut. I have built Prolly 25 m951s and always used surefire products but this timeitried something else. It's from eBay and made in China. It's a copy of a regular m951s bezel and comes with a Cree led that they say is 1000 lumens butitnever ever is but its definitely over 300 and is very bright. So far its been great. I paid $18. If interested go to eBay and in search type surefire head and you'll find them

I think I saw that thing on Amazon. I didn't trust the China aspect of it and went with the malkoff kit.

On a whim I ordered one of the china made LEDs for mine.  It was $9 from amazon, and took a month to get here.  I replaced the spring that came with it with a spring off the standard bulb, it is amazing how bright it is.