300++lumen recommendations for light?

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Harlequinn

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Hi,

Appreciate you guys even reading this. I recently acquired a the magpul version of the 870 with the slots on the forend. This is for home defense / my wife when I am away. She can't see well, so I was hoping if someone could help me with two things... I have looked at a lot of lights and complete forend replacement lights(surefire) but I think I want to keep the magpul.

So what is the brightest led I can attach to the mount? Also, where is the best place to get the mount?


any help would be great, thanks!
 
Brightest -vs- battery life is always a question.

I run a 300 lumen Streamlight TLR1s.
Once you go up in lumens from there, your battery life starts getting cut in half with both Surefires & Streamlights alike.
 
I can see (no pun intended) putting a little-piece-of-the-sun light on a carbine... but not a shotgun. A TLR-1 should do fine, or any similar LED rail-mount light. The literature says it's 300 lumens... I have several of them, and they work well.
 
Personally I find anything over 100 or so lumens to be TOO bright, especially for use in confined spaces such as a hallway or bedroom at night. The splashback off the walls will blind the shooter only slightly less than the target.

I use a 110 lumen TLR-3 on my HD gun.
 
Indoors, as some point, things can get too bright.

Personally I find anything over 100 or so lumens to be TOO bright, especially for use in confined spaces such as a hallway or bedroom at night. The splashback off the walls will blind the shooter only slightly less than the target.
Click to expand...
 
The brightness thing really is a trade-off.
A really dim light totally sucks outside just as bad as a really bright one sucks indoors.
If you have your interior walls painted "white," it's even worse.

One solution is to get a bright light for outdoors with some decent throw to it anyways.
Then, put a slip-on colored lens diffuser on the light for indoor use.
If you find you need to go outside, then just slip off the diffuser and go.
You can make a bright light dimmer, but you can't always make a dim light brighter.
 
Last edited:
Harlequinn said:
Hi,

Appreciate you guys even reading this. I recently acquired a the magpul version of the 870 with the slots on the forend. This is for home defense / my wife when I am away. She can't see well, so I was hoping if someone could help me with two things... I have looked at a lot of lights and complete forend replacement lights(surefire) but I think I want to keep the magpul.

So what is the brightest led I can attach to the mount? Also, where is the best place to get the mount?


any help would be great, thanks!
Click to expand...
You do not want light on shotgun. The correct MO when you hear someone breaking in is to dial 911 at wait for the intruder to come to YOU so you can dispatch them at very close range if that is what is needed to save your life or life of someone else in the house.
Tactical lights are for Police or military anti-terrorist teams when they storm dark and dangerous places in force.
 
The CQB is fine art that is constantly honed by true professionals. Your chance of surprising armed assailant by disclosing your location through movement and surviving encounter are pretty close to ZERO.
 
PabloJ said:
You do not want light on shotgun. The correct MO when you hear someone breaking in is to dial 911 at wait for the intruder to come to YOU so you can dispatch them at very close range if that is what is needed to save your life or life of someone else in the house.
Tactical lights are for Police or military anti-terrorist teams when they storm dark and dangerous places in force.
Click to expand...
Implying that the "average joe" doesn't need or want a light is foolish.

I can't see in the dark any better than the police or military can, and I can't afford NV goggles or scope. Having a light on my HD weapon allows me to KNOW MY TARGET AND WHAT IS BEYOND IT.

How many accidental deaths have resulted from someone failing to identify their target before firing?
 
He said HD. Combat light on HD weapon is basically a 'Boy Toy'. He would be better served by investing in horizontal spreader choke.
 
No offense, but that's some of the silliest stuff I've ever heard Pablo.

What happens if an intruder breaks in your house and goes down the hall toward your children's rooms instead of coming toward you? Do you just sit there in your bedroom anyways with your cell phone in hand and wait?
The answer is "no."

If you intend to use a firearm for home defense, then you'd better have an offensive plan as well as just a defensive plan.
And if you have other people living in your house in different rooms, you better darn sure be able to identify who is who in the dark before you ever consider pulling the trigger.

Your "correct MO" is a real good way to get innocent people killed in my opinion.
 
and pablo, a horizontal spreader choke?...that sounds like a bad idea as well...i dont want shot going sideways across an intruder, so that some will miss to either side...i want every single OO buck pellet to hit center mass
 
Combat light on HD weapon is basically a 'Boy Toy'. He would be better served by investing in horizontal spreader choke.

I have to disagree on both counts. A white light on a HD shotgun is indeed a useful accessory, because target verification an instant before engaging is necessary.

And the last thing I want (YMMV) on a defensive shotgun is anything to make the pattern bigger - I've spent years trying to get them smaller. I actually have a horizontal spreader on a spare 20" 870 barrel, a Vietnam era 'duckbill' (A&W Diverter) but that's what I consider a 'toy.' I bought it as a novelty, and because it was sold cheap on eBay...
 
I've got an Inforce 9V for my fobbit M4, and in the 2 years I've had it, they've doubled the light output & put a fancy blinky multi-switch tailcap on it. 170 lumens is bright - I don't know that I can see far enough to use 300 lumens, but I guess more is better. Think I'll use my old push button tailcap if I get one of their new ones, though.
 
I have a Fenix PD32UE on my shotgun. 420 lumens with x1 18650 battery. Torch cost 70.00 and holds up well to recoil.

Surefire is overpriced these days. I don't use it unless I get it for free.
 
Torian said:
I have a Fenix PD32UE on my shotgun. 420 lumens with x1 18650 battery. Torch cost 70.00 and holds up well to recoil.

Surefire is overpriced these days. I don't use it unless I get it for free.
Click to expand...
The prices of Surefire products are enough to make one faint.
 
PabloJ said:
The prices of Surefire products are enough to make one faint.
Click to expand...
:D it's true. I have run tactical flashlight armytek predator 670 lumens made by Armytek company.
I choose the mode I need for current situation, ei for walking around I use only about 110 lumens, for long distance I need brighter light output and use 540 lumens or the brightest mode 670 lumens when it's very dim.
P.S. sure, it's cheaper than surefire:)
 
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