[ahadams]

Hi Folks,

First off thanks to Shadow1 for help on the earlier stock problem - the guy's a gentleman and a scholar, no doubt!

Next questions for equipping the 870 HD gun: Laser sight or flashlight? or both? which one(s) is/are best? What are the best and least expensive ways to mount either or both? I've got a birthday coming up here and management has said I could pick out my own present (within reason) so I figure I might as well get while the getting is good, no?

[Erick Gelhaus]

My thoughts...

Go with a light, you need to be able to ID the Threat first. Lasers have some extremely specific (& limited) uses. Having a light on the 'gun greatly simplifies the manipulation part of the problem; one can try to use a seperate light with a shotgun but at best it will be very ackward.

So far, Surefire makes the best set-up out there. Somewhere are $200, probably less if you do some searching - I saw one place this week that had them for $175. Because of the recoil generated by the 'gun Best and Least Expensive don't converge in this area.

If Quik-2-See is still in business, they have / had a pretty good "mouse trap" but it did not seem to catch on. The Streamlight / IT M-3 light seems to hold up but I haven't seen one in action long enough to say for sure. The factory mount leaves a lot to be desired and can be quite painful on the support hand. Two of my guys are still bad mouthing the local equipment dealer over that.

A "less expensive" version that seems to hold up is:
-Take a 6P, replace the bulb with one that it weapon light rated and replace the two loose batteries with a 2-cell stick;
-Bolt a Weaver base to the forearm;
-Attach a Weaver ring to the light;
-Mate the base & ring as needed.
It works, using the flat of your support index finger to depress the button on the light.

Back to lasers, they will not help you ID the Threat. Additionally their purpose seems to be in aiming rather than locating. The military's IR systems are really neat, if you have all of the other accessories. I'm just not convinced of their use outside of the environment.

If you have a sling on the 'gun, you may have to move it based on where the light goes. A simple carry strap & the Surefire forearm end up colliding with each other. A side mount sling plate will fix this.

Oh, Happy birthday!

Erick

[shadow 1]

Thanks for the kind words Mr. Adams, I agree go with a Surefire, I picked mine up from my local gunshop, I was able to pick it up for under 200.00 bucks. I've seen the on the web for under this price also. Easy to install.
Good luck, I am glad I was able to help out.:D

Oh and Mr. Adams, if you haven't ordered that sling mount yet, go with the side mount for lefties, just give them a call and have the order switched.

[Sisco]

Has anyone seen or used one of these mounts?
http://www.pages2go.com/lmt/shotguns.htm

http://www.pages2go.com/lmt/images/shotpic1.gif

[SteelyDan]

Here's a good source for lights and various accessories:

http://www1.ecxmall.com/stores/texastacticalsupply/StoreFront.bok

Another possibility, which is more oriented toward the lights (check out SureFire and StreamLight) and less on the accessories, is:

http://www.brightguy.com/

[Erick Gelhaus]

A mini-mag on a shotgun? Doubt that would last long.

[Fed168]

Sure Fire, I would suggest the dedicated mount. Erick brings up a good point- identifying your target. A laser won't do that. You also have the added effect of temporary blindness, as the white light to the eyes is a shock.
Something to keep in mind though, as it always should with firearms- keep the finger off the trigger until ready to fire. One reason for NDs is the sympathetic reflex- what one hand does, the other does too. So while activating the light, make sure you know where that finger is (hopefully on the receiver).

[Smoke]

Forget the laser. I won't advicate the use of a laser on any defensive weapon.

For an example of why, obtain one of the cheap laser pointers and tape/rubber band it to your weapon and discover how long it takes to get on target. Sights are much faster.

Get the light, others have posted good info. I won't repeat what has already been said.