870 weapons lights.

Streamlight TRL-1 on a railed plastic foreend for $50.The Streamligt TRL-1 is not gonna break, has LOTS of Lumins and can be removed off the foreend rails.
http://www.botachtactical.com/fabre8703rah.html

my best suggestion is making sure you want or need a "weapons light" first. I believe a light is useful in some situations, but it also could theoretically get you killed if you're not using it correctly. The Surefire forend allows you to have instant control over the light....and it does that for a reason. Walking around with a light on trying to clear rooms is a good way to catch a few rounds of .22 mini-mags bouncing around in your head/vital areas from a thug's pawn shop special.

Wow! Ya really thunk so?:banghead:

I like weapons lights. Yes if used incorrectly they can make you a target but the point is having it there only gives you the OPTION to use if it you want to. If you're not in a situation where using the light is desirable - simply don't turn it on.

I'm considering a foreend w/ rails similar to the one posted for my 870, either that or the Surefire system.

I mounted up an ancient SureFire that I had laying around with a Mesa Tactical barrel clamp. Then relocated it with a CAA picatinny forend. Realized that when I shoot even birdshot, the picatinny piece would jam my thumb with the recoil. Went back to the Mesa Tactical and will never go forend route again unless its a SureFire piece. But that's too expensive imho. All you need is a mount with 1" rings.

You can get rail covers of rubber if you go the aluminum foreend route. The plastic one is pretty mello for real men. Avoid coiled cords and long reach not on forend lights if you at all can. The "getting shot for shining a light" routine went out with trench warfare IMHO.
The TRL-1 is really bomb proof and easy to operate. The plastic (or aluminum for $30 more) railed forearm is simple and the best low cost solution.Here is a Surefire L4 on a scout mount which costs twice as much for the same result. The other is my early 90s pre furefire foreend and finally a newer 9v Surefire foreend. Note you can remove the light easily with the railed forend.

You don't need a clamp with 1" rings anymore. Why hang it out there more than you need to? We got them with pic rail as well. If you go with the 1" light ring built in, you don't need to take your light off to get the clamp off. If you go with the pic rail you don't need to remove the rail to get the clamp off.

If you go with a flashlight mounted to a forend rail with rings, make sure you clamp it TIGHT. As in, try your best to crush the flashlight tube with the rings tight. 12 gauge recoil has a habit of wiggling the flashlights right out of the rings.

Another thing with the forends, is do NOT put a plastic vertical foregrip on them. Those things are meant for an M4, and 5.56 recoil. 12 gauge recoil can break them off in your hand. If you feel you must have a vertical foregrip, make sure to look for those that are machined from aluminum.

I wouldn't trust just a barrel clamp either. BMT (barrel and magazine tube) clamps are much sturdier and reduce vibration that can cause light failure. LED lights, rather than filament bulbs, are a better way to go as well due to vibration.

I believe a light is useful in some situations, but it also could theoretically get you killed if you're not using it correctly. The Surefire forend allows you to have instant control over the light....and it does that for a reason. Walking around with a light on trying to clear rooms is a good way to catch a few rounds of .22 mini-mags bouncing around in your head/vital areas from a thug's pawn shop special.

Click to expand...

Well said!

Anything but a Surefire is a halfass attempt at the real thing. The Surefire is worth the money because it does what the others can't - allow the user complete control over the light.

Internet drivel!

Mandatory warning: botach is a "buyer beware" kind of operation, good deals but questionable practices. Google for more info.