[Bolster]

I'd like to add a flashlight to my shotgun but have not been paying attention to the best way of doing so. Rem 870 with extended magazine. I won't be doing this the gold-plated way so I won't be fitting a surefire on it. Looking for "economical but it works" solution.

Couple of questions:

1) Recommended mount for it? I assume the flashlight would have to fit below the existing Scattergun Technologies mag tube extension. Or maybe it's a forend replacement?

2) Cell size? I have worked hard to standardize on AA (mostly eneloops). I would like to stick with AA unless it's a bad idea for this application.

3) What about the switch? Does it need to be one of those paddle-style pressure switches?

If someone could help me connect the dots here...thanks.

 

[AA#5]

If money isn't an issue, the SureFire forend is great. I like the texture better and I think the light now comes with 200 lumens. I like the switch but it's pricey at around $375.00.

 

[20South]

I used this:

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/754094/streamlight-tactical-mount-remington-870

and added this:

http://www.uscav.com/productinfo.aspx?productid=20273&tabid=1

I will see if I can get a picture up later.

 

[Bolster]

If money isn't an issue,

Money is an issue. As stated, I won't be going the gold plated surefire route. My entire shotgun cost less than that light.

@20 south...I'm having difficulty seeing how that ring works? Thanks.

 

[bdcochran]

What is the purpose of the light on a shotgun?
1. If it is to identify the target, it also telegraphs where you are.
2. You don't need a light to shoot a shotgun accurately in the dark. In complete darkness, have someone speak and point your finger to where you think you the voice is. When you open your eyes, you will be pointing at the person's face. If you understand human ergonomics, you are properly angled with feet spread apart (like a boxer, dancer, martial artist - see turnipseedtechnique.com.)'
3. If the purpose of the light is to illluminate an area only, toss a lit led into the area, roll a lit led into the area, or wear an led on a chain around your neck. You will suffuse the area with light.

Surefire? Took a class wherein a bunch of us had surefires on 870s. They broke with the first round. I spent years contacting surefire (in Orange County - 60 miles away) and got the run around on batteries (cannot ship them by air, reformulating, and similar bs.). I really got soured when the company would not admit that its product was defective.

Bolster - take classes by Kent Turnipseed when he is in Los Angeles or contact Alan Egusa in the South Bay area. They will teach you how to shoot in the dark without a light on a shotgun.

 

[AA#5]

Money is an issue. As stated, I won't be going the gold plated surefire route. My entire shotgun cost less than that light.

@20 south...I'm having difficulty seeing how that ring works? Thanks.

:rofl: Mine too. Especially after all them Vang Comp goodies....

 

[Tom Kanik]

Bolster, check out "Cheaper Than Dirt" for the items. They have a three slot mount for about $20.00 and a weapon light with pressure switch for $50.00.

 

[Aceman]

What is the purpose of the light on a shotgun?
1. If it is to identify the target, it also telegraphs where you are.
2. You don't need a light to shoot a shotgun accurately in the dark. In complete darkness, have someone speak and point your finger to where you think you the voice is. When you open your eyes, you will be pointing at the person's face. If you understand human ergonomics, you are properly angled with feet spread apart (like a boxer, dancer, martial artist - see turnipseedtechnique.com.)'
3. If the purpose of the light is to illluminate an area only, toss a lit led into the area, roll a lit led into the area, or wear an led on a chain around your neck. You will suffuse the area with light.

Surefire? Took a class wherein a bunch of us had surefires on 870s. They broke with the first round. I spent years contacting surefire (in Orange County - 60 miles away) and got the run around on batteries (cannot ship them by air, reformulating, and similar bs.). I really got soured when the company would not admit that its product was defective.

Bolster - take classes by Kent Turnipseed when he is in Los Angeles or contact Alan Egusa in the South Bay area. They will teach you how to shoot in the dark without a light on a shotgun.

bd has a particvular view. I'm going to COMPLETEY (almost) disagree w/ it. Nothing that isn't valid about his approach - it's just one approach. I choose to do differently.

#1 No ID - no pull trigger; That's just how i roll. And if they are legitimately triangulating on your position from the light they are SEALS/SWAT and you are effed. But I'm not shooting at people in the dark. Like my wife, kids, neighbor, unfortunate lost drunk, etc...
#2 I do not need a bunch of extra crap like a pocket of LED's etc...while in the midst of an HD situation.
#3 I have no idea how many rounds my Surefire G2 LED has been pounded with, but it's lot's like way more than hundreds. Not a problem period.
#4 I also don't do little cords. If you want to go practice all kinds of tactical strobing good for you. To me - it's a cord to break/tangle etc...
#5 as per #4 and #1...I WANT you to know I'm there, armed, and coming for you so you will get the eff out! Again - just how i roll.
#6 when I'm doing business, I'm doing one action, with two steps and that's all Target? Go?

No LEDS, no switch, nothing else.....If I have put my finger on the trigger, it's business time. My ONLY goal and action is to ID a bad guy.

I hold my g2 LED on with a simple shotgun trirail from UTG. $20 and has worked perfectly, as has the light.


My personal view is that all HD weapons need a light, I choose weapon mounted. Other don't dig pointing the muzzle at a possible family member.

also - even more important than the weapon or the light is the plan. I'm not saying you can't shoot in the dark. I've done kung fu for a lot of years and I can beat the crap out of you with a blind fold. I don't do that by choice either...just because you CAN shoot in the dark doesn't mean you should.

 

[JBL13]

What is the purpose of the light on a shotgun?
1. If it is to identify the target, it also telegraphs where you are.
2. You don't need a light to shoot a shotgun accurately in the dark. In complete darkness, have someone speak and point your finger to where you think you the voice is. When you open your eyes, you will be pointing at the person's face. If you understand human ergonomics, you are properly angled with feet spread apart (like a boxer, dancer, martial artist - see turnipseedtechnique.com.)'
3. If the purpose of the light is to illluminate an area only, toss a lit led into the area, roll a lit led into the area, or wear an led on a chain around your neck. You will suffuse the area with light.

Surefire? Took a class wherein a bunch of us had surefires on 870s. They broke with the first round. I spent years contacting surefire (in Orange County - 60 miles away) and got the run around on batteries (cannot ship them by air, reformulating, and similar bs.). I really got soured when the company would not admit that its product was defective.

Bolster - take classes by Kent Turnipseed when he is in Los Angeles or contact Alan Egusa in the South Bay area. They will teach you how to shoot in the dark without a light on a shotgun.

Shooting a shotgun accurately in the dark...let's see: my target is running laterally across my living room while holding a butter knife, but I can't see that because, uh, I was "trained" to fire in the dark. Good thing I haven't been practicing what I was taught; otherwise, I would have blown off my teenage son's head while he and a buddy were playing a prank with the lights out at 1 a.m. And to think I could have dispensed with any tacticool advice to toss an LED into the room and instead, just flipped on the light.

If I can hear a voice in the dark and accurately point my finger at the person's face, I can turn on the light on my 870, temporarily blinding him or her. This enables me to make a quick determination if I need to pull the trigger...while I can SEE him or her.

 

[DJ Niner]

(snip)

@20 south...I'm having difficulty seeing how that ring works? Thanks.

Looks like it fits over the magazine tube, resting on top of the barrel ring, and is held in place by the mag tube cap (or in your case, the mag extension nut). The cutouts fit against the barrel, so during installation you can choose to orient the mount to 3, 6, or 9 o'clock on the mag tube, whatever your preference. You mount the light of your choice to the rail.

Edit: You might want to read the reviews at the link; some folks have experienced breakage problems (item description refers to part of the mount being made of polymer).

 

[ratf51]

Elzetta makes shotgun light mounts. They cost about $40. These will accept a variety of lights.

Here's a link: http://www.elzetta.com/

Hope you find what you're looking for.

 

[20South]

Looks like it fits over the magazine tube, resting on top of the barrel ring, and is held in place by the mag tube cap (or in your case, the mag extension nut). The cutouts fit against the barrel, so during installation you can choose to orient the mount to 3, 6, or 9 o'clock on the mag tube, whatever your preference. You mount the light of your choice to the rail.

Edit: You might want to read the reviews at the link; some folks have experienced breakage problems (item description refers to part of the mount being made of polymer).

Spot on. I read the reviews too, but have had mine in place for about 18mos or so. I wouldnt call its use heavy, but its never broken. Its a bedside gun for my wife and unless it breaks at the range (at which time it can be replaced or just trashed) the next breakage would be after she had id'd a bad guy and pulled the trigger on said target (which hopefully never happens). Good luck to the OP and may they find a system that works for them.

 

[Syclone0538]

I don't have one, but was thinking about something like this.

 

[Sam Spade]

Meanwhile, back at the OP....

If you want to skip dedicated mounts, the next best answer is attaching a 3" piece of rail to your fore end. Use that to mount a TLR1. You can run the butterfly switch with either your thumb (most people prefer) or index finger. No need for tape switches, which have a tendency to hang up on things in the real world, as opposed to sterile range. When it comes to the rail, measure three times, mount once. IOW, run some mockups with duct tape before you start drilling.

Also see what Magpul has done for AR light mounts. It can be adapted to shotgun forends with some care.

Regardless, run a LED. Filaments and shotgun recoil don't usually get along.

 

[swinokur]

another inexpensive suggestion

www.cdmgear.com

x2 for Elzetta. Tough as nails.

 

[RatDrall]

Anything but the Surefire is a waste of effort and money.

The Surefire is the only light that allows you to instantly swap between a pressure switch, so you can go dark while moving and not be a target beacon for your enemies, to a constant on/off, so you don't go dark while pumping. The SF Weaponlight is also recoil proof, unlike most "inexpensive" handheld lights.

 

[sebecman]

This has worked just fine for decades....no need to buy fancy rails and attachments. Can be had at your local hardware store for a few bucks...and yes I am serious.

 

[DoctaGlockta]

This has worked just fine for decades....no need to buy fancy rails and attachments. Can be had at your local hardware store for a few bucks...and yes I am serious.

IMO best suggestion yet. It is what I will use.

 

[volsbear]

If cheap is what you want, Batteries Plus has some wicked bright LED flashlights for about $10. That, and the duct tape idea.

 

[Bolster]

Basically looking for an option somewhere between duct taping a candle to the barrel, and a gold-plated surefire. That CDM Gear option looks nifty.

Looks like there are some bang for the buck suggestions here, thanks. Am following up on these.