light mount for my 870

switch625 · July 14, 2002, 03:37 PM

just picked up an 870 home defense at the show. i need to mount a light to it. as much as i'd like the surefire they are too much.

comments/suggestions welcome.

NIGHTWATCH · July 14, 2002, 03:51 PM

Gotta a sale going on right now over at www.cheaperthandirt.com

Add the cat# LEG-145 to the search engine. Also check out www.firequest.com for a not too expensive mount I saw there under shotgun accessories. Good luck!

9mmMike · July 14, 2002, 04:54 PM

An nice alternative:

http://sidearmor.net/catalog/default.php?cPath=24

switch625 · July 14, 2002, 06:03 PM

i saw the sidearmor but $70 plus $115 for an m3 is too much, i can get a surefire fore end for that. trying to avoid paying that much.

think i'm going to find a '1 ring and clamp and strap on a g2. can't find a clamp though.

switch625 · July 15, 2002, 09:44 PM

thanks for the replies. i'm surprised at what little is out there.

jthuang · July 15, 2002, 10:58 PM

switch625,

Alas, the Surefire Responder is arguably the penultimate in shotgun weaponlights. Merely clamping a Surefire or other light to your longarm will not give you a combat-reliable light as the Responder, as that unit incorporates three shock-proofing features that are not found in typical non-weaponlights:

1. Shock proof bezel -- cushions lamp from slamming into the lens assembly;
2. Machined "shoulder" in light body -- prevents batteries from slamming into the lamp assembly;
3. Buffered multi-cell batteries -- prevents battery cells from slamming into each other.

Lose any one of the three and you could end up with a dead light due to weapon recoil. Weapon recoil might not be so bad with a 5.56 NATO gun but we're talking 12 bore whomp here. Recoil proofing a weaponlight to be used on a shotgun is all that more important.

However ....

If Mark Penman's website was still up, you could refer to his article on his own improvised Surefire mount which I believe he made for his Beretta 1201FP. Mark took his own life recently so I expect his website is no more. Anyway, he used a hose clamp and various Surefire parts to create a makeshift but serviceable weaponlight, at a much reduced cost over the pricey Responder.

You may be able to do the same -- IIRC he took a Surefire 3P, replaced the bezel with the Surefire shock-resistant bezel and somehow hose-clamped the light to the fore-end. This solves all but one of the recoil problems noted above -- the sole problem remaining is that the 3P's light body does not incorporate the machined shoulder to prevent the battery from crunching the lamp assembly during recoil.

Justin

July 14, 2002, 03:37 PM	#1
switch625 Member Join Date: October 5, 2001 Location: texas Posts: 80	light mount for my 870 just picked up an 870 home defense at the show. i need to mount a light to it. as much as i'd like the surefire they are too much. comments/suggestions welcome.

July 14, 2002, 03:51 PM	#2
NIGHTWATCH Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 410	Gotta a sale going on right now over at www.cheaperthandirt.com Add the cat# LEG-145 to the search engine. Also check out www.firequest.com for a not too expensive mount I saw there under shotgun accessories. Good luck!

July 14, 2002, 04:54 PM	#3
9mmMike Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: SE PA Posts: 1,049	An nice alternative: http://sidearmor.net/catalog/default.php?cPath=24

July 14, 2002, 06:03 PM	#4
switch625 Member Join Date: October 5, 2001 Location: texas Posts: 80	i saw the sidearmor but $70 plus $115 for an m3 is too much, i can get a surefire fore end for that. trying to avoid paying that much. think i'm going to find a '1 ring and clamp and strap on a g2. can't find a clamp though.

July 15, 2002, 09:44 PM	#5
switch625 Member Join Date: October 5, 2001 Location: texas Posts: 80	thanks for the replies. i'm surprised at what little is out there.

July 15, 2002, 10:58 PM	#6
jthuang Senior Member Join Date: January 21, 2000 Posts: 823	switch625, Alas, the Surefire Responder is arguably the penultimate in shotgun weaponlights. Merely clamping a Surefire or other light to your longarm will not give you a combat-reliable light as the Responder, as that unit incorporates three shock-proofing features that are not found in typical non-weaponlights: 1. Shock proof bezel -- cushions lamp from slamming into the lens assembly; 2. Machined "shoulder" in light body -- prevents batteries from slamming into the lamp assembly; 3. Buffered multi-cell batteries -- prevents battery cells from slamming into each other. Lose any one of the three and you could end up with a dead light due to weapon recoil. Weapon recoil might not be so bad with a 5.56 NATO gun but we're talking 12 bore whomp here. Recoil proofing a weaponlight to be used on a shotgun is all that more important. However .... If Mark Penman's website was still up, you could refer to his article on his own improvised Surefire mount which I believe he made for his Beretta 1201FP. Mark took his own life recently so I expect his website is no more. Anyway, he used a hose clamp and various Surefire parts to create a makeshift but serviceable weaponlight, at a much reduced cost over the pricey Responder. You may be able to do the same -- IIRC he took a Surefire 3P, replaced the bezel with the Surefire shock-resistant bezel and somehow hose-clamped the light to the fore-end. This solves all but one of the recoil problems noted above -- the sole problem remaining is that the 3P's light body does not incorporate the machined shoulder to prevent the battery from crunching the lamp assembly during recoil. Justin