What does for rifle and shotgun lights and kills them dead is the repeated recoil. For true dependability in a crisis life or death situation, only a dedicated shotgun light will do, ideally permanently mounted on (ie, in) the fore end. Can't go wrong with the Surefire version, if you can find one. I have a older Streamlight very similar to the forend replacement one I see is currently available and it works just fine. I also suggest that a light operating with lithium batteries, ie the CR123s both the lights mentioned use, is the best option due to their 10 year shelf life, power, and the fact that they won't leak even if unused for years.
Flashlight recommendations for tactical shotguns
- Thread starter Buco1
- Start date
One issue I see with the lights mounted directly under the barrel, is the barrel will shadow any light going forward when the gun is pointed downward. Seems a side mounted light would be more effective? I wouldn't want to be in a position where the only way I could see is to point the weapon directly level.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
...
That first picture would bother me. Especially at closer range it could easily obscure the head of whatever/whoever one was pointing at. Hence my settling on right-side light mounting for both my 870 short shotguns. The shadow cast is minimal and well off to the left of the direction in which the barrel is pointing in one case, so not a problem identifying what I'm pointing at, and in the other case no shadow appearing at all as with your second photo due to proximity of flashlight and muzzle.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
The first picture is with the forend back with the action open, even on my 20” barreled shotguns with lights mounted under the barrel there is no shadow cast by the barrel.
Sorry. Where's the embarrassed emoticon...
Right. My bad. Was looking at the picture with two different shotguns and managed not to notice one of them had the action open, then for a second amazingly stupid oversight looked at the two flashlight beam pictures and assumed they were the two shotguns I'd barely glanced at just before. I'm an idiot, fine. Carry on.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Sorry. Where's the embarrassed emoticon...
Sorry, I was wrong. That’s a semi auto so the forend is that far back while the bolt is closed, I only own pump shotguns which is why I thought it was with the action open. My bad, I’d definitely mount the light closer to the muzzle. That shadow might bother me too.
Holy crap. I just keep missing the obvious. Of course it's a semi-auto. I must be distracted or something... yeah, probably thinking too much about what kind of gun to buy next, or maybe to put more into ammo... distracting stuff these decisions. I'm a bit surprised the forend would be that far back when cocked and ready to fire. Yeah, if that were mine I'd definitely consider a flashlight mounted nearer the front to get rid of the shadow.
Thanks for the pics, I'm fairly new at this so forgive me but... The picture on the right is irrelevant as the front of the flashlight is in front of the barrel. Obviously the barrel won't cast a shadow. I'm not familiar with the gun on the left and what state it's in. But that's exactly the shadow I'm asking about. Can you show a picture of the gun from the side with the action closed, and then a picture of the light patter with the action closed?
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
You want lerch641 as those are his shotguns, but the gun on the left is a semi auto and the forend is stationary. The action is likely closed in the pic, the position of the forend doesn’t change if the bolt is open or closed unlike a pump action.
If I could ever get my hands on another working UTAS UTS-15 laser light!! I’m tellin ya that was the bomb! Now they stopped making them I have to come up with another solution myself... as well as for my newly acquired MH12! Picatanny rail offset mount, or foregrip with integrated light.. guess options are endless..
Olight Valkrie PL-Mini 2
I got an Amazon gift card worth $125 and was wondering what to get, so I opted to try a tactical light. I didn't realize this one was so small until I got it. $118 on Amazon.ca right now. My only experience with a firearm designed light was an Inforce WML ( ? I think) which I liked but primarily wasn't used and I sold it. Bought an Olight Valkrie PL-Mini 2 and put it on my Mossberg 500 Tactical, which has rails already attached. If this holds up to 12G recoil, I guess I have something I could swap onto my pistol as well. The very small size adds very little weight and it doesn't interfere with the pump action.
(Product pic)
The momentary ON of the Inforce I thought was better than this one, but the Olight is easily 3x brighter. Picture was taken in daylight at 4pm in overcast skies.
I shot a few shells and was thinking this thing was going to break loose or die on me (6:30pm at night), but it didn't. I basically had no gloves and forgot my target holder so I was cold and called it quits after a few minutes. Definitely not a long term review but it survived a magazine of 12G shells.
My camera switched to a long exposure so it may look brighter than it did with my naked eye. If I were to estimate, a target at 30M would be illuminated with this light, minimum. If I remembered my target I could have measured.
Maybe this will help someone, I basically got this for free as it was from a gift card. I have no reason to send it back but if Inforce still has the same model and has upgraded it's light output, I might look for it. I know they are well above $118 though.
I got an Amazon gift card worth $125 and was wondering what to get, so I opted to try a tactical light. I didn't realize this one was so small until I got it. $118 on Amazon.ca right now. My only experience with a firearm designed light was an Inforce WML ( ? I think) which I liked but primarily wasn't used and I sold it. Bought an Olight Valkrie PL-Mini 2 and put it on my Mossberg 500 Tactical, which has rails already attached. If this holds up to 12G recoil, I guess I have something I could swap onto my pistol as well. The very small size adds very little weight and it doesn't interfere with the pump action.
(Product pic)
The momentary ON of the Inforce I thought was better than this one, but the Olight is easily 3x brighter. Picture was taken in daylight at 4pm in overcast skies.
I shot a few shells and was thinking this thing was going to break loose or die on me (6:30pm at night), but it didn't. I basically had no gloves and forgot my target holder so I was cold and called it quits after a few minutes. Definitely not a long term review but it survived a magazine of 12G shells.
My camera switched to a long exposure so it may look brighter than it did with my naked eye. If I were to estimate, a target at 30M would be illuminated with this light, minimum. If I remembered my target I could have measured.
Maybe this will help someone, I basically got this for free as it was from a gift card. I have no reason to send it back but if Inforce still has the same model and has upgraded it's light output, I might look for it. I know they are well above $118 though.
Last edited:
The point was to show how much light gets blocked depending how long of a magazine or barrel is above it.
Thank you very much for the review and pictures. Excellent, I've been keeping an eye out for my next light and the Valkyrie Mini 2 looks just perfect. Especially the quick attach to any pic rail, the magnetic charging cable, and what seems from a couple of other reviews to be a very bright light for about an hour per charge. Just ordered one. If it works as well for me as what I'm seeing online I'll probably get a second one.
