[SapperLeader]

I posted a few weeks back on my new remington 870. I finally made it to the range last weekend, and proceeded to fire many boxes of shells and destroy many, many cardboard targets :). Im not quite ready to invest in a light, but I am looking for some good advise on a inexpensive mounted weapon light system. Thanks

[shadow 1]

Sapper: Try picking up a light mount from TacStar http://www.tacstar.com/tacstar/index.htm and then picking up an inexpensive light, like a Surefire Nitrolon or a Scorpion, this should do you for awhile, but remember the light will not take the shock as well as a dedicated light will. I had one set up on my 870 while I was saving to get a fore end light, it worked well in a HD mode. And as anything else YMMV.:D

[curt]

I put a M3 insight technologies/streamlight light on my 590 using a fairly inexpensive mount from someone i can't recall. They make mounts for the 870 as well.

I haven't shot my SG with the M3 yet but i have put many rounds downrange with it on my Glock 35 .40 with no problem.

[Guyon]

I have an M3 and a mount from Insight (NOT the Streamlight mount). Ran me about $130 for both. You can find good prices if you shop around.

Pic attached.

[Smoke]

Purchase a barrel clamp for a tube extension and stick scorpion or similar light in it. (Can use the smallest mini-mag light too)

Not ideal but it works. Cheap too.

[zahc]

For late night sweetcorn crop protection we take a maglight and duck tape it to the barrel. Works great. Watch out for cats:uhoh:

[Sisco]

take a maglight and duck tape it to the barrel
Ever try bailing wire? :D

[106rr]

I am using a SureFire fore end on my 870. It has an on/off switch as well as a pressure switch. I paid $194 at Reed's Indoor Range in San Jose, CA. Botach has them for $304. The dual switch models are just about ideal.

[Onslaught]

I am using a SureFire fore end on my 870. It has an on/off switch as well as a pressure switch. I paid $194 at Reed's Indoor Range in San Jose, CA.
Nice price! Got a link?

I always save parts and leftovers... Just last night, I got a neat idea, and tried it out.

I have a left-over M3 mount for the AR15 handguards. I also have an extra forend left over from my SpeedFeed purchase. So, I measured and drilled 2 "handguard sized" holes in the forend, and then installed the adapter. It works PERFECTLY, although it doesn't leave a LOT of room for the hand. Now I can attach an M3 (when I get one :) ) directly to the forend of my Winchester Defender rather than having a light attached to a fixed point on the SG, and a stupid curly 12" long wire running to the forend.

What NEEDS to happen is that either FOBUS or ATI make replacement forends for shotguns with a weaver rail molded into the bottom, with a cover that slides over it when not being used. Then you could attach an M3 or other light or any other accessory for that matter to your forend.

They could make even MORE $$$ selling forend grips that attach to the rails... They could also discontinue their fixed vertical foregrip forends, thereby REQUIRING that everyone who wants one of those forends would have to buy their 2-piece unit.

[Bruce626]

I just couldn't bring myself to spend more on my light than I did on my new Mossberg 500 so I took a pass on the Surefire fore ends and such.

My need for a light is strictly home defense. Some people will say that this is exactly why I should spend X zillion dollars on a light that will survive thousands of rounds, blind all bad guys, and pin the BG's to the wall with the photon blast... no need for 00-Buck.

I bought a light mount (Tac Star? Uncle Mikes?) and mounted a modified maglite with pressure switch pigtail. The modification was the substitution of a replacement LED bulb cluster which is very shock proof instead of the normal bulb. I've put a couple of thousand rounds thru my SG with the maglite attached, both before and after the bulb mod and it still works fine. I'm only trying to illuminate a relatively small area ( a chicago condo) so I don't need searchlight type capability.

If you need to illuminate the "Back 40" so that you can "be sure of your target", higher power may be what you need...

Mind the advice on the old TFL threads about the tactical advantages, disadvantages, and techniques surrounding use of lights when the other guys might be able to shoot you.

[LIProgun]

I've had good luck (so far) with TACM III lights (http://www.tacm3.com/firearms.htm).

[curt]

bruce626,
Great info, its always good to see something that has withstood the test of a couple of thousand rounds. Is the LED module a maglite part? I took a look at their website and couldn't find any info on it.

[Bruce626]

The LED is from a company called Opalec and the product is called NewBeam.

www.opalec.com/products.html (http://www.opalec.com/products.html)

A thorough analysis and review of NewBeam can be found at:

http://thelightsite.cruxial.com/reviews/opalec_newbeam.htm

The NewBeam costs around $30 which may be more than the MiniMag.

[Onslaught]

I've had good luck (so far) with TACM III lights.
Speaking of the TACM III, does anyone know if either of the FOBUS Flashlight mounts (for the Surefire or Streamlight) will work with the TACM III? I think that would be a great combination, and under $100 :)

http://secure.fobusholster.net/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/FAS2-3_s.gif

[Onslaught]

A most neccessary P.S. -

a place called The Product Wizard (http://www.productwizard.com/suweli611.html) has Remington 870 surefire lights on sale for $169...

:cool:

[106rr]

Reeds Sport Shop
<www.reedssportshop.com>
click on Reed's Indoor Range banner in upper right hand corner of page. This will give address and phone number. The site also contains map directions to get there. Reed's Indoor Range IS associated with Reed's Sport Shop but thay have separate management.
I don't think the Indoor Range has any e commerce.
Phone # 408 970 9870

[SapperLeader]

I didnt realize I had nearly this many options for mounting a light. Im leaning toward jury rigging my streamlight scorpion on my 870 while Im saving up for one of the other actual weapons lights. THanks for the speedy responses!

[Mannlicher]

I dont see much, if any value to a light on a shotgun. They might look cool, but they have little real utility.

[Coronach]

Ever done anything with a shotgun in a dark place?

If the answer is yes, ever tried a malfunction or a reload drill with a shotgun in a dark place?

Unless you have night vision googles or a 3rd arm for your flashlight, it becomes an issue real fast.

Mike

[Andrew Wyatt]

I just got fed up with surefire prices and just built one.


it uses surefire bulbs, bezels, and switches.


I can draw it up in autocad and post it if you want.

[SapperLeader]

Andrew - I would be definitly interested in how to build a surefire weapons light. THat sounds like a very intriguing possibility

Mannlicher - I might agree with your statement regarding weaponlights if I had asked about a handgun light, since I could use a regular flashlight, but with a longarm, myself and most people are not cordinated enought to manipulate the firearm and a flashlight at the same time. If your questioning the situational uses for a light, I am a college student/soldier who lives in a house with people that come in and out at odd intervals. Most of the time I can tell who is in the house by the types of noises, but I still go and check things out to make sure. If I didnt have a light, iding of a potential target would be impossible, and I for one do not want the death of an innocent on my hands due to my own laziness and stupdity for something as simple as target identification.

[Riphalman]

You have a firm grasp of the concept. I consider a decent white light to an essential element of a home defense weapon. Odds are greater that the need for one will come after darkness falls. We must be absolutely sure to ID the target before touching the trigger. Also, if you're operating on a budget, as most of us are, the maglite setup with a pressure switch will suffice. I've used one for years with great success and there are a lot more people using the same setup out there than you might think.

[Onslaught]

I dont see much, if any value to a light on a shotgun. They might look cool, but they have little real utility.
:confused: :what: :confused:
If there is ANY weapon that NEEDS an attached light source, it's a HOME DEFENSE SHOTGUN!!!

I might agree with your statement regarding weaponlights if I had asked about a handgun light, since I could use a regular flashlight
The biggest problem I continue to have with "loose" flashlights is this... When I reach for them in the dark, I almost invariably knock them off the nightstand or wherever I keep them. With a UTL attached to my HD USP45, I never have that problem. Not a neccessity, but a great "pad" for error. I do keep a flashlight next to the bed too, and the UTL detaches in about a half-second to use by itself if need be.

BTW, before I get branded a Mall ninja or it's said that I have one because it's "so cool and tactical looking", I do NOT own a holster to hold the combination, and it stays locked up tight in a bedside safe, so noone ever sees it. When I take the USP out to shoot, I leave the flashlight at home.

And lastly, YES, I have tested the USP with the UTL attached for reliable function and POI shift. No problems there.

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy
Here is something that may be useful.

www.flashlightking.com

Wyo

[SapperLeader]

and while researching discovered that Stellar Holsters sells a surefire 6p mount and a impact resistant bulb for it. Has anyone had any experience with this? It seems a sound idea, but am curious to know how it holds up for life.

I am also shooping around for the m3/insight mount that was recommended. That seems to be one of the best ideas, since that is a weaponlight rather than rigging something together, I just need to see if I can find it cheaply!

Once again, thanks for all the input.

[curt]

sapper leader, one of the supposed advantages of surefire weapon lights is that they use a ledge to stop the battery pack from slamming into the back of the reflector under recoil, i don't know personnally whether this is true but after talking to (lonnie?) at lagger pro i was convinced and had him send me parts to make my own light.

FWIW the SxS battery arrangement in a light such as the M3 should alleviate this problem.

[Andrew Wyatt]

if you go with an m3, take the time and put a rail on your pump handle. you'll have control over the light at all times, and you can safely use the tape switch tailcap that way.

[SapperLeader]

This is is the first Ive ever heard about a weapons mount rail on a shotgun, any suggestions on where to start looking for one, or a company that makes them?

[Wyobuckaroo]

Howdy
What Sapper said. I'd like to see some pictures of various systems, home made or commercial. Links?
Wyo

[Andrew Wyatt]

well, what I did was take a section of flat bottomed weaver rail i had lying aound the house, mill a radius in the surface that meets with the forend, drill two holes in it, counter sink them, and make a backer plate with two drilled and tapped holes in it.

I drilled two holes in the forend, and screwed everything down with some number 8 allen head screws.

i'll show you pics later on, after i get home.

[lmccrock]

This is not really economical, but here is one rail mount:

Sidearmor SPARS (http://sidearmor.net/catalog/default.php/cPath/24_42)

and they have other systems as well. Looks like it is the same as what Andrew did.

Lee

[Andrew Wyatt]

no, that mounts to the magazine tube.

with a light on the mag tube, you have to move your hand too far forward for comfort to actuate the light, and you risk getting things caught between the pumphandle and light.


I have to wait for the kids to leave before i can take my shotty out of the closet and scan it, but an image is forthcoming, i promise.