Flashlight Setup for 870?

[Snowblind]

My shotgun has been through a bazillion different configurations over the years, but my current trend has been to streamline things. Gone are all the tacticool accessories, save for my shell-holder buttstock pouch.

Unfortunately, this also meant ditching my flashlight setup. I liked having a flashlight on the gun (it's my go-to "problem solver") but the rig was far too heavy, complex, and obtrusive. I had a Streamlight TLR-1 mounted on the Mesa Tactical magazine clamp with the little side-rail. The TLR-1 is a great little light, but besides jutting out to the side the whole mag clamp had to be taken apart with allen keys to field-strip the gun. (I strongly prefer being able to disassemble it with no tools).

I had considered the Surefire DSF, but besides some less-than-stellar reviews, it looks expensive and heavy. What else is there?

Alternatively, is there a method of carry for a standalone flashlight that works well with shotguns?

 

[AI&P Tactical]

There is an alternative to the Surefire. I am a Surefire Professional Dealer and upset with the fact they discontinued the 318 and 618 series. I don't like the DSF so I checked out the EO Tech 870 Forend. It can be had for around $250 to $260 so is cheaper then the DSF. It has 10 lumes on the low end and 250 on the highend and a kill power setting.

Having a dedicated forend light keeps all the switches at your finger tips, no cables to hand up, no velcro pads to fall off. Also, not clamps, rails and screws to come loose.

 

[Girodin]

I use an MOE handguard with HSP WML. I rather like it. It is light weight and well integrated.

 

[Snowblind]

I use an MOE handguard with HSP WML. I rather like it. It is light weight and well integrated.

It doesn't bother you to have it sticking out sideways? Or can you mount it on the bottom?

 

[basicblur]

I just installed one of the EOTech IFLs on my Mossberg 590A1.

I was looking for something cheaper, wanting to keep it tucked in nice and tight, but the thick barrel of the 590A1 eliminates a lot of clamps, so I bit the bullet and went with the IFL. You can read my review of it here. It's also available for 870s.

If you can find some way to clamp it to your gun, I do like the CAA flashlight mounts - I have one on my Tavor (QD model) with a Streamlight ProTac HL mounted.
The CAA mounts pivot to 5 positions, and you can swing the light down / in and keep it tighter than a lot of mounts I've seen. The positions are probably 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 o'clock.

Check out the flashlight mounts on the Tavors in the slideshow at iwi.us home page. They have the light swung down to the lowest / tightest position.
I have the same setup (sans the VFG) as slide show pix 3 & 5.
(I installed the MeproLight sight cable button where the factory hole plug is).

 

[RustyShackelford]

EOTech 250 light source for 870 12ga ....

I don't own any 12ga 870s at the moment but if I was going to buy a 870 pump for home protection, Id look at the EO Tech 250 series light with strobe feature.
The older Surefire styles looked better. They were in use for several years with cops & security firms. Id heard a 870 pump 12ga with a Surefire light was a standard issue item for the elite detectives in the LAPD's SIS(special investigations section). The undercover cops would use the 12ga pumps along with the Glock 21 .45acp & some 1911s.
I like the "strobe" concept on a HD shotgun. You will not be deploying lethal force in a critical incident as much as you'll be holding a felon at gunpoint or using the white light to chase them off.
Thugs & felons want a "easy lick" . When they see a bright light or know you are armed most will flee ASAP.

 

[Snowblind]

The EOTech IFL seems nice. Dedicated forend light seems to be the way to go- the other mounts you mentioned are a bit bulky, plus they'd require some kind of rail system which I've been trying to move away from.

My other idea was to mount my TLR-1 to the bottom of the Magpul MOE forend. The MOE rail accessories seem nice and tidy.

 

[tiamat]

That EO Tech....Nice to finally see a competitor to the Surefire. Looks better too. 2.2 pounds is pretty beefy though. Can't say that I'd be too worried about the barrel throwing a shadow (on the ceiling I'd imagine?). The chance to mistakenly turn it off or change modes mid-use could be of concern though. Did the updated model make any difference to it's useability?

 

[tiamat]

My other idea was to mount my TLR-1 to the bottom of the Magpul MOE forend. The MOE rail accessories seem nice and tidy.

I don't care at all for the looks of the Magpul forend, but I did buy one of their sections of rail that I was thinking I'd mount to the underside of my Hogue forend. Still haven't done that yet, so I don't even know if the screws will clear. So far I'm still rockin' the CDM Gear BMT mount with the TLR-1, but like you, I don't particularly like it being off to one side. I have no issues with requiring a tool for takedown, but now that you've put that into my head, I'm sure I'll be thinking about it more now...thanks for that. I'm betting there's going to be another $250 purchase in my future.

 

[Snowblind]

That EO Tech....Nice to finally see a competitor to the Surefire. Looks better too. 2.2 pounds is pretty beefy though. Can't say that I'd be too worried about the barrel throwing a shadow (on the ceiling I'd imagine?). The chance to mistakenly turn it off or change modes mid-use could be of concern though. Did the updated model make any difference to it's useability?

2.2 pounds sounds pretty heavy... that's almost twice the listed weight of the Surefire DSF.

 

[Girodin]

It doesn't bother you to have it sticking out sideways? Or can you mount it on the bottom?

Not only does it not bother me, overall I think it is a much better place for that particular light (and a number of others). It puts the switch in a much better, easier to use, place than it would be if it was at 6:00. The surefire style foregrip has the switch in a similar place. The bezel is at six o'clock which might give a bit less shawdowing. However, I don't find shawdowing to be an issue with the WML. The Surefire is obese, the weight is a big draw back IMHO. The WML is cheaper and much much much lighter.

That said one could mount a light on the bottom if one was so inclined.

The below is a good overview. This is a similar setup to what I use.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfm4SKf-3tU

I don't care at all for the looks of the Magpul forend

We aren't dressing up barbies. But if the aesthetics are a deal breaker on your defensive shotgun there are other options. I find the MOE to be pretty functional. To each his own though.

 

[basicblur]

the other mounts you mentioned are a bit bulky, plus they'd require some kind of rail system which I've been trying to move away from.

Before I settled on the IFL, I'd seen a number of rail system clamps that bolt to the barrel / magazine tube. I was thinking about one of those, with something like the CAA light mounts - could swing the mount to the 7 o'clock position (if on the left side), and hopefully keep a light (something like the Streamlight ProTac HL on my Tavor, but probably smaller?) tucked in nice and tight.

I finally had to give that idea up as the heavy barrel threw a lot of clamp / rail devices for a loop - the fine print in a lot of stuff I was looking at said "not for 590A1".

I did order one of these at the shop today. Since I have the light mounted under the mag tube, I didn't want to mount the sling on the swivel sling adapter on the bayonet lug - doing so would probably block the light even more?
The rail clamps I was referring to mounted like the Magpul Forward Sling Mount, but had a rail section where the Magpul has the swivel / QD hole.

'Course, until you get it all in your hands and play with it, I wouldn't know exactly how tight / neat an installation would be.

The CAA mount / flashlight works great on the Tavor, as it's sitting right against the gun.
Actually, it might make for a neater installation with a simpler flashlight mount stuck on a barrel / mag clamp rail? If you didn't need the multiple positions available with the CAA mount, a simple straight mount might be neater / cleaner.

I've not been real happy with any flashlight setups that I've seen - most seemed to have a lot of "snag" points?

 

[Shotgun Sergeon]

I guess I'll add my 2 cents here. I like the idea of a light, but I'm hesitant to put one on an HD shotgun, but IMHO it just gives the bad guy a nice big bullseye to start shooting at. Same thing with racking a round into the chamber to intimidate an intruder. What might cause one bad guy to flee might cause another to start shooting through the door.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Weight, uses....

The weight might be a issue over time(extended target shooting or training) but overall I wouldn't say it is a big problem. It may lower the barrel & aid with recoil mgmt.
Much like a Surefire or 1913 rail light on a combat pistol(P226R/Glock 22-21-17/M9A1/PPQ/etc).
If the wt comes from a protective polymer or overmold to make the light; "Ford-tough" for ERT/SWAT ops or security teams then so be it.
I wouldn't plan on doing any drug house raids or climbing onto a oil platform with a 870 12ga but if my gear can take that level of wear then all the better.

Prices might be more of a -. The Surefire older designs cost almost the same as a LE trade in 12ga shotgun!

I'd add that the Magpul 870 series stock looks impressive too.
note; do not buy or use the Knoxx Blackhawk 12ga 870 system, it has a safety recall. The spec ops series shotgun stocks are no longer on the site for sale either. Stick with a Magpul or Choate.

 

[jbauch357]

Magpul MOE forend with side rail section and Streamlight TLR1-HL is what I'm running. Very natural operation where my thumb naturally rests on the activation switch. Insanely bright and with a wide enough pattern that it lights up the whole room, so the tiny bit blocked by the barrel matters not.

The only issue is that it does interfere a bit when you sling it, depending on which shoulder and orientation you go with.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Slings & arrows.....

The sling(s) are a good point for a HD set-up. I'm leery of using any kind of sling on a carbine or 12ga pump.
I could see my long gun being strung up or snag it on a door-knob, stair railing, latch, etc.
Don't laugh, I once got a belt-loop on my slacks caught on a door handle!

I'm left handed & do like the well designed BATL sling from Galco; www.USgalco.com . Blackhawk & 5.11 Tactical also sell good slings.
I'm keen on the "high speed" styles that allow you to transition quickly to a sidearm or switch hands in a critical incident.

 

[Snowblind]

I had a forward sling mount point with the Mesa Tactical mag clamp that works just like the magpul one, but I've since ditched the mag extension for a Scattergun tech +1 ext with the sling loop plate.

I have a Mesa tactical LEO AR stock adapter with a magpul grip and stock as well. I use the QD point on the adapter with a magpul ms3 sling and just clip the other end to the sling plate.

I really like having a sling on an HD gun. It's nice to be able to quickly sling it if you need to do something else with your hands without having to put the weapon down. Having it mounted as I do lets me shorten the sling as far as it will go so there's not as much risk of snagging it.

But back on topic, without a mag ext I lose a lot of options for lights it seems. Most of these recommendations seem dependent on a longer ext, which I don't want to return to at this point. It adds a lot of weight to the front of the weapon. Right now With the 18" barrel and short ext tube it balances nicely towards the pistol grip.

 

[AI&P Tactical]

As often with forums there is incorrect infomation being posted here. The Knoxx SpecOps does not have a Safety recall. It has a Safety notice and that is simply that it is not for 3.5" magnum shells. There is a major difference between a recall when the products are removed from use and a notice which gives information on how it should be or not be used.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Knoxx shotgun stocks....

Well, on www.Blackhawk.com there are no 870/500 12ga stocks listed.
I bet there's a good reason there, too.
I'm not going to jump in & scoot around in any 1974 Ford Pintos either.
You can choose to add or use what you want for your 12ga pump.

 

[Snowblind]

So, um, back to flashlights...

Any major issues with running the MOE forend with something like the TLR-1? I remember the first setup I had with my TLR-1 I had it mounted right by the forend, and every shot it would jump back and bite me in the hand. Seems like the best place for it to be is on the bottom of the forend so it doesn't stick out, but I wonder if I'm going to have a repeat experience...

 

[Girodin]

I have a TLR but don't use it on the MOE. The HSP is the same price but is more to my liking for the MOE/shotgun. If you want to mount it on bottom then the TLR might be a better choice.

The good thing about the MOE is you can move the rail sections about to get things positioned where it works for you.