Alternatives to Surefire Forend

[ejnogarb]

I want to add a flashlight to my Remington 870P, but dislike the price (and look...) of the Surefire forend. What are some good alternatives for attaching a flashlight? Will a side saddle flashlight mount fit securely enough so that it won't move while firing? I've never tapped a firearm for mounts, so I'm hesitant to do that, but not against it if it's the best option.

 

[fourrobert13]

There's not much out there other than a railed forend and attaching your own light, or some type of barrel or mag tube mount and your own light. There is also a picatinny barrel clamp you could mount a TLR on I guess also. You will still be close to $100 in cost by the time you factor everything or maybe more depending on what you chose. If you wanted to go real cheap and trashy, you could get the Tac Star light that mounts in the side saddle...yee haw...lol. The Surefire is a sweet setup dispite its looks. I see them used on gunbroker from time to time for a decent price.

 

[swinokur]

2 places to look

www.elzetta.com
www.candewman.com

 

[Fred Fuller]

Try

http://www.opticsplanet.net/streamlight-rem-870-tactical-mount-69906.html

or

http://www.opticsplanet.net/streamlight-12ga-extended-mag-tube-tactical-mount-69901.html

and pick out any decent rail-mounted light- I prefer LEDs for shotguns, ymmv. I've used both styles since they were prototyped a good many years ago and have no complaints with either.

lpl

 

[strambo]

or

http://www.opticsplanet.net/streamli...unt-69901.html

I have this one with a TLR-1 on an 870...no issues.

 

[zhyla]

Try

http://www.opticsplanet.net/streamlight-rem-870-tactical-mount-69906.html

I have this one on my 590. It's really not any less convenient than having the built into the fore-end. Plus it gives you a lot of options as to the flashlight. I use a 1" scope ring and a mid-grade tactical light.

 

[DBR]

Consider this mount:
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=25705/Product/MAGAZINE_EXTENSION_SUPPORT_CLAMP

I recommend the Streamlight TLR-1 light.

 

[Snarlingiron]

I went this way. I like corn cob fore ends, so this works well for me.

Choate Forend

 

[RatDrall]

Surefire is the only light system that allows you to instantly select on/off, or momentary on, whether or not you are pumping or shooting the weapon. Nothing else comes close to this.

 

[zhyla]

Surefire is the only light system that allows you to instantly select on/off, or momentary on, whether or not you are pumping or shooting the weapon. Nothing else comes close to this.

I don't think operating a light while racking a shotgun is a realistic use case. It is a good way to be $300 poorer though.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

Hey Starlingiron, how well is the Choate forend holding up for you?

 

[leadcounsel]

$3 hose clamp from an automotive store...

 

[RatDrall]

I don't think operating a light while racking a shotgun is a realistic use case. It is a good way to be $300 poorer though.

The point is that you can turn the light on or off no matter what you are doing, your thumb never moves from the controls. With a semi automatic longarm a hand light clamped on isn't so bad, because your left hand stays put. When you add a pump to the mix it doesn't seem like such a good idea.

A light that is on or off, in the dark, when you need it to be otherwise, could be a serious problem.

 

[Snarlingiron]

Hey Starlingiron, how well is the Choate forend holding up for you?

Well I have it on a shotgun that has been shot a lot, and has been through a shotgun course. It is just a chunk of plastic, so I don't really see anything to fail. I mounted a Surefire G2 on it in a left over scope ring. Works great. If you adjust the tailcap to just short of the constant on setting all you have to do is slightly pull on the end cap to fire up the light. All in all it works quite well. I need to change the bulb assembly to an LED, but the original halogen bulb has held up well.

For me, it has been a good "El Cheapo" solution.

 

[Vyacheslav]

i think if you need to pump your gun the second you need to turn your light on you need to reevaluate your hd setup

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

I don't think operating a light while racking a shotgun is a realistic use case. It is a good way to be $300 poorer though.

My surefire foreend was $200 shipped. You could duct tape a G2 to your foreend if you want a sub $40 setup but for all the surefire does I think it was worth it.

This is another possible option similar to the choate one (but a bit pricier): http://www.xfighterdefense.com/product/INF-1390

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Here's a real cheap solution for a VERY bright LED light:

Flashlight for $27.95 (claims 300 lumens):

http://www.solarforce-usa.com/product.sc?productId=46&categoryId=12

Neat rail mount for 1" flashlights, $5.95:

http://www.solarforce-usa.com/product.sc?productId=14&categoryId=10

Battery charger for $17.99 (cheap, but it works good):

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire...3-37-volt-Lithium-Battery-Charger_p_2279.html

Rechargeable battery for $15.99 (will last about 3 hours, or so, before needing to be recharged, also, this battery has been highly rated on candlepowerforums.com):

http://www.lighthound.com/AW-18650-...able-Lithium-Battery--New-Version_p_3125.html

Here is an even cheaper light for $19.99, but I have had no experience with it (claims 250 lumens):

http://www.lighthound.com/Ultrafire...chargeable-Flashlight--250-lumens_p_3670.html

All you need is something like the Streamlight rail that has been linked to in the previous posts and you are set.
Solarforce provides free shipping to the lower 48. Lighthound charges reasonable shipping rates.
I really recommend rechargeable, because you'll get tired pretty quick for shelling out about $2.00 - $5.00 per lithium battery. The charger and rechargeable battery pay for themselves quickly.
Also, the 18650 battery in the above link has a lot more capacity than regular CR123A batteries, so your light last for hours, not minutes.

 

[swinokur]

Make sure your LED light is designed for and can handle 3.7 volt Lithium batteries. They are NOT interchangeable with CR123 batteries which are 3 volts. Using Lithium batteries in a light not designed for them can cause your LED light to be permanently damaged.

Lithium batteries are great in lights designed for them. Please read on safety concerns with using and charging lithium batteries before using them.

Make sure whatever charger you buy has auto shutoff rather than trickle when the battery is charged. Going over 4.2 volts can damage the battery permanently.

 

[zhyla]

Here's a real cheap solution for a VERY bright LED light:

Flashlight for $27.95 (claims 300 lumens):

http://www.solarforce-usa.com/product.sc?productId=46&categoryId=12

I've got this light except with the momentary switch. I don't know how it compares to the higher end tactical lights as far as brightness but it's an instant headache if you shine it in your eyes.

 

[DBR]

Using just any available flashlight on a serious purpose shotgun can be a problem. Good quality lights intended to be mounted on a gun have a way to shock proof the batteries. A standard flashlight, even a good one, seldom does and the recoil pounds the ends of the batteries. At the least it can make the light unreliable and in the extreme it can make the batteries leak. The battery contacts in the light can also be damaged by recoil.

I suggest if you are going to use a standard type light you shoot the gun with it mounted enough to insure the battery problem doesn't happen.

Regarding rechargeable batteries: on a self defense gun the light is seldom used. I prefer the more reliable charge holding of replaceable batteries in a gun light or any standby emergency light. Rechargeable batteries die from age and have to be replaced whether they are used or not so for a light that is seldom used they are not really much cheaper.