Combat light mounted to a wooden 870 fore-end

[fistful]

I know synthetic stocks are super-handy and everything, but I want to keep the pretty wooden stocks on my 870 Express - which I am using as a home-defense gun. There are only two things that bother me.

1. Can the wooden stock handle a few healthy pugil stick maneuvers (buttstrokes and the like)?

2. My Tac-Star light is clamped to the mag extension, and slides forward under recoil. After firing a full magazine, it moves about an inch or so. I realize I could solve this problem with a Wilson fore-end with integral light. But I don't want no ninja-fied scattergun.

Then I got a crazy idea, the kind that made me get up in the wee hours, pull Old Betsy out from under the bed, and take her apart to see how I could mount a flashlight underneath that wooden fore-end. Ya know, sink some screws or bolts right in there. Seems real neat, but once I had the fore-end off the magazine, it didn't seem feasible.

Is there another way to secure my light? Is there something I can do to block its forward travel?

If I were Billy Wilson, owner of Scattergun Technologies (tm), I'd build me a mag extension with a rail on it, for holdin' goodies. But, I is just me.

 

[dfariswheel]

Depending on how HARD you hit someone, the stock on the Remington will be OK.
The strongest wood stocks are the older "hardwood" stocks used on the Police model, and the current wooden Express model.

To secure your light on the extension, slip a thin piece of rubber under the clamp and tighten it down. It'll provide enough friction, the light won't move.

 

[USMCsilver]

HERE YA GO!!!

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

You're willing to stake our life on asthetics?


I'd get a weaver or mil1913 base, router out a recess in the inside of the forend, make a backer plate with the right curvature, drill and tap it, and run machine screws through the base and forend into the plate. if you go this route, go ahead and get a surefire light with a battery stop.

 

[Fred Fuller]

http://www.speedfeedinc.com/frameset_new.html

Works with the M3lights or with any other light in an adapter, mounts on the extension. Or you could attach a short piece of Weaver rail to your existing fore-end, as you were talking about, and do the same thing as the mount that fits on the extension. Just remember to set up a 'stop' to keep the light from being pushed off the back of the rail.

Won't cost $100+ either.

If you plan on working to attach the light rail to the extension permanently, make sure you have enough room to install/remove the extension with the rail mounted. It has to clear the barrel... .

Have fun,

lpl/nc

 

[fistful]

You're willing to stake our life on asthetics?

Hmmm.... Interesting question. I don't know if I am staking my life on an aesthetic. Were that the case, I wouldn't mount a sidekick shellholder to the reciever as I am planning to do. It's just that millions of people have waged war or defended themselves with wooden-stocked guns, and I think I can as well. And a flashlight is by no means incompatible with a wooden stock. My shotgun has never failed to function so far, so I think it can do the job. I have received plenty of suggestions so far, none of which interfere with my stock, and some of which can be accomplished more cheaply and easily than shipping my 870 to Wilson for an overhaul.

Thanks for the help, y'all.