Flash light for 870

http://shop.ebay.com/items/surefire 870?_dmd=2&_sop=2


and


http://www.opticsplanet.net/surefire-weaponlights-618fa.html

Yep, I have one on my 870 -- bought it off eBay last year...

There are cheaper ways to accomplish the exact same thing. Streamlight makes a small picatinny rail that attaches to the forend/magazine tube of your shotgun. It costs about $15.

You can then add any light that attaches to a picatinny rail.

There are cheaper ways to accomplish the exact same thing. Streamlight makes a small picatinny rail that attaches to the forend/magazine tube of your shotgun. It costs about $15.

You can then add any light that attaches to a picatinny rail.

Click to expand...

Those are cheap, unreliable systems compared to a real weaponlight.

With the handheld light taped or bolted to your gun, you can't activate and deactivate the light like you should. The SFW (Surefire Weaponlight) allows you to either momentarily activate the light with a pressure pad operated by your thumb, holding the shotgun normally, or hit the on/off buttons holding the shotgun normally. With the SFW you can walk through your house, pulsing the light as you need it, then when a target is identified hit the constant on switch and begin shooting. The light will stay on while you shoot. It is a strong, reliable, usable system.

With the handheld light taped or bolted to your gun system, you either have to extend your thumb funny to pulse the light, then deal with the light shutting off while the weapon recoils under fire and while you pump, or lock it on broadcasting your position while you walk through the house. It's a cheap attempt at a functional lighting system.

There's a reason people shell out the dough for the proper weaponlight by Surefire. What is that saying about spending more and it only hurts once?

Edited to add:

I got mine from Opticsplanet.com for $250, it shipped fast and I was happy with the service. I don't trust ebay.

Those are cheap, unreliable systems compared to a real weaponlight.

My experience indicates differently.

I've used various Streamlight rails on several different shotguns- FN/Winchester, Remington and Mossberg. And I've used several different rail-mounted lights, both Xenon and LED- Streamlight M3s, LEDWave Z5s, Streamlight TLR1s and TLR2s so far.

They ARE real weaponlights. And they are plenty durable, even on a shotgun. Of course, being rail mounted, they can easily be removed for practice sessions (which should always be common practice, even with SureFire's integral fore-end lights). In fact, the company makes a 'practice plug' to replace the batteries and flashlight for daytime practice sessions, and suggests that users employ it-

For extensive practice or training, SureFire offers a screw-in plug to replace the lamp module in the dedicated forend. No point in subjecting the light to more pounding than necessary. - http://www.surefire.com/maxexp/main/co_disp/displ/pgrfnbr/443/sesent/00

I don't like SureFire fore-ends a whole lot myself- been using them since they were marked Laser Products, and they crowd my support hand. There just isn't enough room there for my paw and the light housing too. And since my dear wife absolutely insists on full length field type forearms on the house guns, all the SureFire equipped 870s are in the safe.

Right now we use 870s with no magazine extensions as house guns, so the 'ring mount' type rail ( http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum2264.php ) is employed on them. I've used these literally ever since the prototypes first appeared some years ago with no problem- they're plenty sturdy.

And I really like the TLR1 as a shotgun light, too ( http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum6043.php ). LEDs are great for shotguns- plenty bright, and they stand up to recoil better than incandescent bulbs.

Shop around for good prices and good service on any product you go looking to buy on the net, I posted the first links I ran across just for pictures and product info, not to suggest any particular vendor.

hth,

lpl

/preparing to admit to being overconfident and stuffing foot in own mouth/

Lee,

With all respect, I'm very confused and trying to understand. How do you respond to this:

With the handheld light taped or bolted to your gun, you can't activate and deactivate the light like you should. The SFW (Surefire Weaponlight) allows you to either momentarily activate the light with a pressure pad operated by your thumb, holding the shotgun normally, or hit the on/off buttons holding the shotgun normally. With the SFW you can walk through your house, pulsing the light as you need it, then when a target is identified hit the constant on switch and begin shooting. The light will stay on while you shoot. It is a strong, reliable, usable system.

With the handheld light taped or bolted to your gun system, you either have to extend your thumb funny to pulse the light, then deal with the light shutting off while the weapon recoils under fire and while you pump, or lock it on broadcasting your position while you walk through the house. It's a cheap attempt at a functional lighting system

Click to expand...

Keep in mind that this is what I've found based on my own use of friends', and my own, guns with ring mounted handheld lights attached. I found it to be very difficult to operate, and it seems to severely limit options as far as when the light is on or off or temporarily on. This is all, of course, in comparison to the Surefire.

I should add that the ring mounted handheld lights worked fine for me with AK and AR style rifles, just not on pump shotguns. With the pump guns, I found that I couldn't keep the pressure buttons down on the hand light while pumping, so if I were in a fight I would be blind in the dark while my eyes adjust, with a potentially dangerous person on the other end of the room.

How do you make it work?

Here is a universal mount for such things

Never used it myself. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

I think I bought mine here http://www.copsplus.com/prodnum6038.php this is a composite clamp for the magazine tube and holds the TLR-1, it's a solid attachment.

I agree with Lee's post. All of the flashlights he mention hold up well and are excellent for the money. The LedWave Z5 is a steal at $50.

The Laserlyte tri rail mount is also well made and low cost. I like to be able to take a flashlight on and off fast and easy.


GC

I use the Streamlight under-cap mount and one of their weapon lights on my 870 and have no trouble operating it.

As you will see from the picture below the light is mounted on the left side of the magazine tube. The thumb on my forward hand operates the light switch while I am holding the shotgun normally. Move to 11 o'clock for temporary and to 1 o'clock for constant. It's very reliable with a little practice.