Best value tactical light for 870?

Philo_Beddoe · June 16, 2009, 01:35 PM

I want to put a weapons light on my 870, what would be the best bang for the buck in light and mounting hardware?

The surefires are supposedly the best but they cost more then I got in the gun.

Any other suggestions?

rantingredneck · June 16, 2009, 01:43 PM

http://store.gmstactical.com/stre870shlim.html

Use one of these mounts and then buy a light and hardware to mount it.

Surefire G2 LED is a good value or buy a standard G2 and a CREE R2 drop in from here:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=291907

For mounting there are any number of QD mounting units for surefire 1" lights from FAB Defense, ASAR or others. Or you can go budget and use a standard 1" Weaver style scope ring.

All total you'll come in probably around 90-100 bucks for this stuff vs. 230.00 for the surefire foreend.

candewman · June 16, 2009, 03:25 PM

For a 1" light, these are new for 2009.
You can mount a rail on the other side
or a sling swivel dock for a QD push button sling swivel

Philo_Beddoe · June 16, 2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

All total you'll come in probably around 90-100 bucks for this stuff vs. 230.00 for the surefire foreend.

Is a surefire fore end realy worth the extra $130 for home defense?

rantingredneck · June 16, 2009, 05:46 PM

My personal opinion........no.......

But then again I'm a cheap SOB and my HD guns also pull double duty as hunting guns. Nice to be able to pop the light off with a QD mount and then head to the woods. With the Surefire forend it takes a little bit more time, not much, but a little to swap out forends.

The biggest thing with using a standard surefire (or other) light as a weapon light is to get an LED model. The LED's are less recoil sensitive than the incandescent bulbs.

Michael Anthony · June 17, 2009, 04:09 AM

I went with this: http://www.opticsplanet.net/caa-flas...p-adapter.html

It's on an 870 with a tri-rail forend. I use a Surefire G2 LED in it. If you don't have or want rails then the gizmo Candewman posted looks pretty good.

candewman · June 17, 2009, 02:54 PM

and if you want rails we offer...

The thing about these is that you can remove the clamp without removing the rail and adjust them back over the barrel lug so you can reach it from your forend. You can get a smaller rail as well. There's a lot of different configurations for whatever light or laser you have. You can even add a sling mount. They start at about $30 and run up to $50.

IanS · June 17, 2009, 09:06 PM

Any weapon mounted light must have the ability to be switched on and off at will by the user. Whether by remote switch or integral with the fore-end. If the light is too far forward and out of reach you'll likely have the light constantly on giving away your position. The light then becomes more of a liability than an asset or aid. Whether hand held or weapon mounted, for low light shooting, the rule is

1. light potential target
2. assess
3. switch off light
4. move!
Repeat as necessary

According to people far more knowledgeable than I am the Surefire fore-ends is the only game in town. Esp. now that is available as an LED.

Philo_Beddoe · June 19, 2009, 03:07 PM

Yes I want something that can be easily switched on and off.

Ben_I · June 19, 2009, 03:31 PM

Wow way better response here than on THR, eh?

June 16, 2009, 01:35 PM	#1
Philo_Beddoe Multiply registered, multiply banned troll. Join Date: March 3, 2008 Posts: 239	Best value tactical light for 870? I want to put a weapons light on my 870, what would be the best bang for the buck in light and mounting hardware? The surefires are supposedly the best but they cost more then I got in the gun. Any other suggestions?

June 16, 2009, 01:43 PM	#2
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	http://store.gmstactical.com/stre870shlim.html Use one of these mounts and then buy a light and hardware to mount it. Surefire G2 LED is a good value or buy a standard G2 and a CREE R2 drop in from here: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/...d.php?t=291907 For mounting there are any number of QD mounting units for surefire 1" lights from FAB Defense, ASAR or others. Or you can go budget and use a standard 1" Weaver style scope ring. All total you'll come in probably around 90-100 bucks for this stuff vs. 230.00 for the surefire foreend. __________________ NRA Member NC Hunter's Education Instructor PCCA Member (What's PCCA you ask? <- Check the link)

June 16, 2009, 03:25 PM	#3
candewman Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 23	For a 1" light, these are new for 2009. You can mount a rail on the other side or a sling swivel dock for a QD push button sling swivel __________________ www.cdmgear.com

June 16, 2009, 05:46 PM	#5
rantingredneck Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2007 Location: North Carolina Posts: 4,728	My personal opinion........no....... But then again I'm a cheap SOB and my HD guns also pull double duty as hunting guns. Nice to be able to pop the light off with a QD mount and then head to the woods. With the Surefire forend it takes a little bit more time, not much, but a little to swap out forends. The biggest thing with using a standard surefire (or other) light as a weapon light is to get an LED model. The LED's are less recoil sensitive than the incandescent bulbs. __________________ NRA Member NC Hunter's Education Instructor PCCA Member (What's PCCA you ask? <- Check the link)

June 17, 2009, 02:54 PM	#7
candewman Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 23	and if you want rails we offer... The thing about these is that you can remove the clamp without removing the rail and adjust them back over the barrel lug so you can reach it from your forend. You can get a smaller rail as well. There's a lot of different configurations for whatever light or laser you have. You can even add a sling mount. They start at about $30 and run up to $50. __________________ www.cdmgear.com

June 17, 2009, 04:09 AM	#6
Michael Anthony Member Join Date: April 28, 2007 Posts: 83	I went with this: http://www.opticsplanet.net/caa-flas...p-adapter.html It's on an 870 with a tri-rail forend. I use a Surefire G2 LED in it. If you don't have or want rails then the gizmo Candewman posted looks pretty good.

June 17, 2009, 09:06 PM	#8
IanS Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2000 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,632	Any weapon mounted light must have the ability to be switched on and off at will by the user. Whether by remote switch or integral with the fore-end. If the light is too far forward and out of reach you'll likely have the light constantly on giving away your position. The light then becomes more of a liability than an asset or aid. Whether hand held or weapon mounted, for low light shooting, the rule is 1. light potential target 2. assess 3. switch off light 4. move! Repeat as necessary According to people far more knowledgeable than I am the Surefire fore-ends is the only game in town. Esp. now that is available as an LED. __________________ Owning a certain handgun isn't a Lifestyle Choice nor is it a Personal Statement. It either works for you or it doesn't. The best article about the 1911 on the internet: http://www.10-8performance.com/1911_Duty_Use.html

June 19, 2009, 03:07 PM	#9
Philo_Beddoe Multiply registered, multiply banned troll. Join Date: March 3, 2008 Posts: 239	Yes I want something that can be easily switched on and off.

June 19, 2009, 03:31 PM	#10
Ben_I Junior Member Join Date: June 17, 2009 Posts: 8	Wow way better response here than on THR, eh?