How do you mount a flashlight to *your* shotgun

Read through all the replies here.... and thought that I'd never want a light on a shotgun. Over the years I've been in lots of situations and some very bad places - shotgun in hand, and never even considered having a light on one. The drawback is just this... while a light allows you to see downrange it does two things that you don't want... The first is that the moment you use a light - you lose your night vision - and there's lots of situations where your night vision might be more important than the weapon in your hand... The second downside is that the moment you show a light - any opponent not only knows exactly where you are - but might be in a position to do something about it....

It's been years since I went looking for trouble all too often with shotgun in hand and I hope I never have to do that ever again... Good night lights in strategic areas of a house provide you with enough light to be able to do what's necessary, but having a light on a shotgun? I'll pass.

lemaymiami said:

Read through all the replies here.... and thought that I'd never want a light on a shotgun. Over the years I've been in lots of situations and some very bad places - shotgun in hand, and never even considered having a light on one. The drawback is just this... while a light allows you to see downrange it does two things that you don't want... The first is that the moment you use a light - you lose your night vision - and there's lots of situations where your night vision might be more important than the weapon in your hand... The second downside is that the moment you show a light - any opponent not only knows exactly where you are - but might be in a position to do something about it....

It's been years since I went looking for trouble all too often with shotgun in hand and I hope I never have to do that ever again... Good night lights in strategic areas of a house provide you with enough light to be able to do what's necessary, but having a light on a shotgun? I'll pass.

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The light on a shotgun is for one major purpose. That is to identify/verify the threat just before you pull the trigger. It is not a substitute for another light for searching or moving about. To use it do those things is to violate the cardinal rule "DO NOT POINT YOUR FIREARM AT ANYTHING YOU DO NOT INTEND TO SHOOT." since it is aimed where your muzzle is.

I'm a long retired cop... My era was 1973 to 1995 down here in south Florida. My preferred weapon, whenever there was even a possibility of armed individuals, was a standard riot gun (Remington 870, 12ga). Can't count the number of times I had someone downrange ready to fire - but only fired a single shot in all those years (then spent six months in and out of court until it was ruled justified...). In all those years I only cleared the safety on my weapon one time.... My standard practice is always to rack the weapon as I picked it up with the safety on... My trigger finger was always on the safety - never the trigger - until it was time to clear the safety and use the weapon.

I know that most will never go "looking for trouble" with a shotgun and their frame of reference is home defense. I also know that more "stuff" on your shotgun might not be worth a lot when quickness might be life itself in that one heart-stopping moment. These days shotguns aren't standard issue for most departments as everyone has gone to the "police carbine" in whatever ever form that takes. Me, I still prefer the shotgun since at close quarters (less than 15 meters...) it's a one shot fight ender - if you do your part. No "extra powerful ammo" is needed either - the standard 2 3/4 00buck will do the job, with slug rounds as a backup in case you needed some penetration to get to your target.

Corpral_Agarn said:

@lemaymiami
With the exception of your not recommending a light on the long gun, it sounds like we agree.

I feel strongly obligated to 100% id any target. At night or outside at night, I don't see any other way to do that.

On the flip side, it you don't want to turn on the mounted light... You don't have to...

I just think having that option is incredibly valuable.

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All it takes to reinforce the bolded is a simple Google Search to see how many times mistaken ID shootings occur. Here's just a few:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...d-intruder-who-turned-out-to-be-his-teen-son/

https://www.wlbt.com/2019/08/01/homeowner-familiar-with-man-who-was-shot-believed-an-intruder/

https://www.policemag.com/362654/kentucky-officer-shot-by-homeowner-mistaken-for-suspicious-person

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/new...ally-shot-killed-daughter-20151230-story.html

A class on low light defensive shooting goes a long ways to aid in proper use. There's a reason why you now see LEOs and Military with mounted lights.......

I've had a iProtec from Academy on my Mossberg 500 for a few years now. It doesn't look like a great mount, but has held up really well.
https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/iprotec-o2-beam-800-lumen-led-firearm-light#repChildCatid=5407444
I didn't pay this much for it when I bought it, but this is the version they carry now. Flashlight throws a good 'circle' that does not have any hot-spot. I like that I can reach the on/off switch while holding the fore-grip. Easy to turn on/off while in the normal shotgun hold.

No lights on any guns here either. House has night lights and the outside is well lit by a dusk to dawn and several solar powered area lights. There are good flashlights all over the place and there might be guns all over the place too. That said, I am rural with a 1/4 mile lane. Eight alarm dogs. It's my wife and I with a temporary resident college boy grandson. We're none of us late go er's or come er's. Anybody that rolls up the driveway at night (which hasn't happened yet in the 7 years living here) is considered suspicious. Suspicious or not, nobody is going to have a weapon pointed at them in order to figure out who they are. Which is my biggest problem with weapon mounted light. To see anything with it, you're pointing the weapon at whatever it is you want to see. Which goes against my training and my personal rules.

Boattale said:

No lights on any guns here either. House has night lights and the outside is well lit by a dusk to dawn and several solar powered area lights. There are good flashlights all over the place and there might be guns all over the place too. That said, I am rural with a 1/4 mile lane. Eight alarm dogs. It's my wife and I with a temporary resident college boy grandson. We're none of us late go er's or come er's. Anybody that rolls up the driveway at night (which hasn't happened yet in the 7 years living here) is considered suspicious. Suspicious or not, nobody is going to have a weapon pointed at them in order to figure out who they are. Which is my biggest problem with weapon mounted light. To see anything with it, you're pointing the weapon at whatever it is you want to see. Which goes against my training and my personal rules.

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You've tried this with a modern "tactical" weapon light right?

Once you're in the 300+ lumen range there's plenty of spill to ID a target at reasonable distances while at the low ready.

Now speaking only for myself, IF you're wandering about in my house in the dark uninvited, getting muzzle swept is the least of your worries. I subscribe fully to Rule 2 of never let the muzzle cover anything you're not prepared/willing to destroy, but again, under those circumstances I am prepared. The difference is I will use a WML light to both make a positive ID and ensure that it is a threat.

Chuck R. said:

You've tried this with a modern "tactical" weapon light right?

Once you're in the 300+ lumen range there's plenty of spill to ID a target at reasonable distances while at the low ready.

Now speaking only for myself, IF you're wandering about in my house in the dark uninvited, getting muzzle swept is the least of your worries. I subscribe fully to Rule 2 of never let the muzzle cover anything you're not prepared/willing to destroy, but again, under those circumstances I am prepared. The difference is I will use a WML light to both make a positive ID and ensure that it is a threat.

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You do things your way at your house, I'll do things my way at my house.

Usually when I go wandering around in the dark, trying to identify the reason that the dogs are barking, I want a light.
Almost always it's 4 legged trespassers.
I wont be without a WML on my carbine. I have used it several times, and I like it. The strobe feature is awesome too.
One on my shotgun would be great. I had one once but it was a cheapo, and didnt stay on the gun for long.

I just stick a Mini Mag Lite in the muzzle. It’s a great training aid for gun mount and swing.

I just picked up an 870 wingmaster with an older surefire here:
http://summitgunbroker.com/870-wingmaster.html

The price is right, but I am not thrilled with the light. Most significantly the touchpad can't be disconnected and it is right at your fingertips. So the light basically flashes on every time you rack it, whether you want it to or not. This might not be a problem with newer Surefire's -- but I am not paying that much for one for a $200 scattergun.

I have the GG&G rail mount on my home defense 870 Police 18" with an Olight pistol light. Works great and stupid bright.

i used this on 2 shotguns. Works great.

https://www.brownells.com/shooting-...t-mounts/tactical-shotgun-mount-prod1537.aspx