Forend Light Question

[P.O.2010]

I was looking to get a Forend Light for my Remington 870 Express. I found the Surefire 618 Forend Light online and it appears that it would fit the bill for home defense. My question is whether or not it can be applied to my 870. Remington says that the 870 Express isn't designed to accept "law enforcement accessories". Can I still change out the factory Forend for one that holds a flashlight?

 

[stalkingbear]

The 879 express forearms will directly interchange with other 870 parts. I personally wouldn't want light mounted to weapon as all the bad guy has to do is shoot at the source of light if he sees you 1st.

 

[Fred Fuller]

"law enforcement accessories"

I think that's code for "no magazine extensions."

You shouldn't have any problem swapping forearms on your 870. I'd advise trying before you buy if possible- the 'hump' for the SureFire light takes up a lot of room on the forearm, and in my case it tends to pound on the support hand too. But that's just me, plenty of people love 'em.

FWIW I prefer rail-mounted detachable lights (mostly on Streamlight #69906 mounts), and prefer LED lights for shotguns (Streamlight TLR-1, Insight SSL-1 etc).

hth,

lpl

 

[357wheelgunner]

the 'hump' for the SureFire light takes up a lot of room on the forearm, and in my case it tends to pound on the support hand too. But that's just me, plenty of people love 'em.

I was hurt badly shooting my 870 the first time after I installed the Surefire light. I wasn't warned about the hump effect, and wore my thicker than average wedding band. The fingers on each side of the ring were bruised so badly I was afraid they were fractured (I was shooting S&B buckshot).

It's not bad if you know what to watch out for. I either take my ring off before I shoot, or hold my hand a fraction of an inch back.

 

[ugaarguy]

I personally wouldn't want light mounted to weapon as all the bad guy has to do is shoot at the source of light if he sees you 1st.

You need to learn how to use a weapon light, rather than perpetuating internet rumor. There's a reason weapon lights have momentary on switches.

As to the light itself, go LED no matter what you do. The LEDs hold up under recoil much better than the filament of an incandescent bulb.

 

[Hostile Tree Sloth]

I am not sure I understand how to avoid the ring finger injury. I have a surefire on my shotgun, but have not yet fired it. Not being a fan of broken or gashed fingers, I'd like to hear a bit more on this topic.

Thanks

 

[possum]

The 879 express forearms will directly interchange with other 870 parts. I personally wouldn't want light mounted to weapon as all the bad guy has to do is shoot at the source of light if he sees you 1st.

It is so funny how this always comes up anytime there is a low light thread.

You need to learn how to use a weapon light, rather than perpetuating Internet rumor. There's a reason weapon lights have momentary on switches.

exactly, and well played sir. I would put ugaarguy in the "shooter" category it sounds like he knows what he is talking about, on of the been there done that types, that doesn't make post based off of Internet bs, but the facts.

there are many schools out there that offer low light instruction, if you have never taken a course in low light, or you have never been trained by someone/ school/ an organization that knows what the heck is going on you should be banned from being able to post about low light period.

 

[ugaarguy]

exactly, and well played sir. I would put ugaarguy in the "shooter" category it sounds like he knows what he is talking about, on of the been there done that types, that doesn't make post based off of Internet bs, but the facts.

Possum thanks for the compliment, but full disclosure; I'm not a BTDT type myself. I'm just a former (Ch)Air Force Comm / Electronics guy turned poor college student / gun salesman. Finances haven't allowed the luxury of a good carbine class. I have, however, been blessed with some darn good mentors who have BTDT. They've given me quick crash courses when they've had time. The equipment I worked on in the AF was a heavily deployed asset, so they did give us some bare base defense training. One of the biggest things they taught was light discipline - how not to light yourself & your buddies up, and get yourself & them shot up. Luckily I was on a large air base surrounded by an Army base when I did go to the sandbox, so I didn't have to put most of that training to use in actual combat.

I do enjoy shooting at local ranges as the ammo budget allows. I think the USAF's stress on light discipline has been a major help to me. My training was to use light minimally; just enough to get around a bare base and do my job in the middle of the night. Adding that light discipline training to weapon light use crash courses from experienced mentors is the only reason I have half a clue. I'm not an expert.

there are many schools out there that offer low light instruction, if you have never taken a course in low light, or you have never been trained by someone/ school/ an organization that knows what the heck is going on you should be banned from being able to post about low light period.

I've had some formal military training in light discipline, and informal weapon light crash courses by folks who know what they're doing. I'm not a low light expert by any means. I do however understand a few basics:
1) You don't have to keep the light turned on constantly - goes back to that momentary on switch thing.
2) Real weapon lights are bright enough to ID an unknown person as friend or foe by indirect use (you can reflect the light off the wall / floor / ground / ceiling and not point the light - and by extension loaded, chambered, weapon - at an unknown target).
3) Real weapon lights are bright enough to at minimum distract a person when pointed directly at them under low light conditions.
4) Where is the rule that says once I activate the light I have to remain stationary?
5) LEARN LIGHT DISCIPLINE

Plan to defend your home. Think of ways to use the layout of your dwelling to your advantage. Keep your mind sharp. The gun and the light are just tools. Learn the basics of weapon retention. If you can't afford a big name class seek people out locally and you can find someone who knows what they're doing. Using a light for home defense does not require the same level of training as using a light for entry and house clearing. If you can, gather your family and hunker down. Leave the house clearing to the police - they have training, practice, body armor, and lots of back up.

Weapon lights don't have to be prohibitively expensive. I've learned from experience that the Surefire 6P LED and G2 LED lights work well as weapon lights when clamped into a sturdy 1 inch Weaver style ring. The 6P's back end threads are compatible with the XM-07 Universal Weapon Light switch assembly, so you can upgrade the 6P as your budget allows.

 

[possum]

ugaarguy,
one day when i write a book, no wait i am gonna come up with the ideas and if you would you could be the one that puts the pen to paper, i think we would make a great team.

anyone that has any qualms about using a light, or a weapon mounted light read the above post. this should be a sticky.