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suggestions please

Hawkshaw
I am assembling a home defense shotgun ( rem. 870, or Mossberg 535). I would like some input on various tactical lights, and there mounting systems. THX HAWKSHAW
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10 comments

Date Votes
  • RtWngExtrmst
    You've been watching too many movies. Lights mounted on guns make no sense unless you're shooting rabbits at night. In a self-defense situation, a light just gives your advesary a good target to shoot at. If you carry a light, hold it in an outstretched arm, as far away frm your body as possible. Not practical when handling a shotgun or rifle.
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  • partisan
    Rtwing is correct! All of these new mounted lights are really useless, especially in a dark home def situation.
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  • Shansei45
    The nighttime home invader won't see all the fancy gadgets on your defensive weapon, but he'll CERTAINLY see any lights which give HIM a point of aim. If the powers been cut, slip on a pair of night vision goggles instead.

    Best regards ~ ~ ~ Shansei45
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  • quickmajik
    Well Me being a farm boy with wide open dark spaces and what not I have some need for lights on my guns..

    For shotgun shooting distances, and navagation a Surefire E2D LED would be perfect for all around use.. That said I am not sure if anyone makes a shotgun mount for them, the tube diameter is oddball...

    I dont like curly cords on pumps, ever.

    A Surefire fore end light would be something to look at, especially now that surefire makes LED replacement lamp assembles.. I'd opt for something with a lumen output between 120-200 with a battery life as long as possible.


    there are several different styles of light mounts that clamp to the magazine tube or barrel. keep in mind, it can be awkward to use them with pumps.. On a semiautos this syle of mount can be somewhat more forgiving.

    I'd recomend the sure fire fore end light for its ergonomics and ease of use. It is kinda heavy though.
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  • Hawkshaw
    Thanks quickmajik, I'll check them out. I also agree with the curly cords comment. As for the other three responses. I don't recall asking for advice on the pro's, and con's of such a set-up, I only asked for info. on various types etc. Next, please explain to me how you operate a pump action shotgun properly, while holding a flash light at arms lenght. Lastly, I suggest that you check with any compent prosecuting "CIVIL" attorney, about lights, on defense guns, before your wrongfull death lawsuit convenes. THX Again
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  • quickmajik
    quote:Originally posted by Hawkshaw
    Thanks quickmajik, I'll check them out. I also agree with the curly cords comment. As for the other three responses. I don't recall asking for advice on the pro's, and con's of such a set-up, I only asked for info. on various types etc. Next, please explain to me how you operate a pump action shotgun properly, while holding a flash light at arms lenght. Lastly, I suggest that you check with any compent prosecuting "CIVIL" attorney, about lights, on defense guns, before your wrongfull death lawsuit convenes. THX Again

    +1 with a proper mindset and control a weaponslight is a force multiplier. The only thing better is a Ir laser and NVGs, and a bright white light will shut down NV devices that may be used against you for a few seconds. Tactically a light can only help you if you arent stupid with its use.
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  • beantownshootah
    Honestly, I don't think the type of light or the specific mount makes all that much difference, so long as it works FOR YOU (see below).

    Like many of these things it comes down to personal preference.

    If you want to go this route, just make sure you use a dedicated weapons light, put it where you can easily flip it on and off preferably from a shooting position (or use a remote/tape switch), and make sure it doesn't get in the way of your sighting plane, your shooting or support hand.

    One possible disadvantage to a light mounted UNDER the gun is that the light can cast an upwards shadow from the barrel. Many will use a side mounted light (usually on the right side for a right handed shooter) for this reason.

    quote:Hawkshaw:
    I don't recall asking for advice on the pro's, and con's of such a set-up, I only asked for info. on various types etc.
    Welcome to the internet. In fairness, if the responding "experts" legitimately think that you're trying to do something not necessarily helpful or in your best interest, they'd be right to point that out. You asked for suggestions. If you don't care for them, feel free to ignore them.

    No, you didn't ask, but on the topic of gun-mounted lights, personally, I'm fairly ambivalent about these.

    If one of the rules of safe gun handling is not to point your gun at anything you don't want to kill or destroy, then how are you going to safely check a room or anything else with a shotgun-mounted light?

    If the light is pointed where the shotgun is pointed, and you are looking at the light, then by definition you're pointing a gun at what you are looking at, right?

    EG: You hear a noise. . .you're nervous. . .you point your light at it to see what's going on. . .NOW YOU'RE POINTING YOUR LOADED SHOTGUN AT THE NEIGHBORS KID (or dog. . .or your wife. . .etc). You get the picture.

    I'm not saying you can't have a light mounted on your gun, I'm just saying there are potentially serious issues with doing so worth thinking about.

    quote: Next, please explain to me how you operate a pump action shotgun properly, while holding a flash light at arms lenght.

    One way to use a non-gun mounted light and a gun at the same time is called the "harries" technique, and there are several others. Here are some illustrated techniques used for a pistol. I couldn't easily find a good picture, but most of these have adaptations to apply to long arms:

    http://www.nrapublications.org/si/HB_handgun.html

    Obviously, if you choose to use a version of the FBI technique with the gun at arms length, you don't keep your arm out there when shooting or working the slide.

    quote:Lastly, I suggest that you check with any compent prosecuting "CIVIL" attorney, about lights, on defense guns, before your wrongfull death lawsuit convenes. THX Again
    I'm not sure where this came from, but to address the issue, so long as you don't shoot anyone/anything you're not supposed to, you'll be fine.

    The question/issue is whether having a light mounted on your shotgun may increase your likelihood of doing exactly that.

    I don't think its so crazy to think that there is some reason why it might.
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  • nmyers
    Brownell's sells several sizes of Tac Star universal barrel mounts that might work, depending upon the size of your shotgun's magazine & the light you pick.

    Neal
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  • cwi555
    quote:Lastly, I suggest that you check with any compent prosecuting "CIVIL" attorney, about lights, on defense guns, before your wrongfull death lawsuit convenes. THX Again

    People who use lasers and lights on defensive guns are portrayed in a very negative light in court. In some cases almost as premeditated. The act of turning on the light or laser can and has been construed as premeditation. The thought behind that is if you have time to turn on the light and use it to aim, you could not have been in immediate fear of life and limb.
    I disagree with that, but it's happened. All of the criminal cases I am aware of have been overturned. That did not stop the civil cases.
    Many wrongful death suit's have been won on the premise listed here.

    From a tactical standpoint, a light is a target.

    All in all, I have to side with the folks who are saying it's a bad idea.
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  • armilite
    I took a Nitrolon (Surefire ) G2 flashlight about $35.00 any ware put in one of those Chinese made cree 400 lumen bulbs (bought on ebay) and a Tac Star remote switch. About $90.00 total investment and will blow away any light in the $200-$300 range. It uses any 1" weaver type ring to mount to a rail. They now make rail forearms for pump shot guns. I guarantee you you can not look into this light for a second yet alone try to shoot at it. If some one comes into my home and they don't vacate it upon hearing the action of the shotgun being racked I'm prepared to do what it necessary to defend my home. I'd rather have a light on the gun to see what I'm shooting at so I don't shoot the neighbors kids than to shoot blindly and hitting the neighbors kids. I have only a 25 year old daughter, and there are no neighbors kids. As far as worrying about some wrongful death suit I'd rather be judged by 12 then carried by 6. Since the perp is dead who's to say I had any light on the gun.
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