Flashlights on a shotgun

[Cteve]

Looking for some info before I "flip the switch" and get a light for my Benelli M4. I am considering the Streamlight TLR HL-X, anyone have some experience using this pistol light on a shotgun?
or the older version TRL1-HL?
Will it hold up to the recoil of 12 guage?
Is there a different, better option I should look at?
I dont want anything with pressure switches as the wires look like they would just get in the way and hung up on things.
let me know what you think.

 

[Scarheart]

I had the older one on a pistol for a course in the winter several years ago. The switch fell apart in the cold. Might not apply now but it might help.
BTW. It got fixed on warranty but fell apart again. At that point it was out of warranty so I just ditched it for a Surefire.

 

[griffin86]

I like my M600 with an impact weapons mount.

 

[SilentKnight]

Yes. I run a light on my shotgun currently.

I am using a Surefire M600 Scout light with an Arisaka mount on my 14" 870. It holds up to recoil great, being a potted Surefire light.
But I did previously use the rifle sized HLX on it, also on an Arisaka mount.

The HLX is a great light for the money and gives you multiple mounting options and a pressure pad right from the box (I know you don't care about a switch but it is good value for it to be included so worth mentioning). It's a plenty bright light.
That said, I switched to a Surefire as it's a lot smaller size/footprint and offers basically the same or very similar output. Surefire also has the combat record to prove their lights are tough, so you can rest assured it won't fall apart. Unlike the Streamlight, which although good and plenty of LEO use their TLR1, I have seen more fail in some capacity then the Surefire, in my personal experience.

If you're on a budget, HLX is definitely a great choice but if you don't mind spending a little extra and not getting extra mounts etc. included out of the box, then go with a Modlite or Surefire.
Modlite is by far the brightest of the bunch, I use their handheld light with their OKW head and it's like a lighthouse tower light lol. I can PID targets at 300y with it easily in pitch black darkness with it's focused hotspot and candela output.

 

[Cteve]

Good info....I was looking at surefire but the price jumps quite a bit. But buy once cry once right.
This will be rail mounted so the one I was looking at was the X300U, agin its a pistol light...I guess I like the compact size of these.
Should I stay away from the pistol lights and get more of a long gun light?

 

[themacguy]

I have an Olight PL-3S mounted to my Mossberg 940 Pro. It's a pistol light and has held up very well with the recoil. I'd buy another one.
1000 lumens on high, plus a strobe mode. There's a bit of a shadow effect with the mag extension, but not enough to compromise illumination of the target.

 

[Bangalore]

Fenix PD36 Pro on Beretta 1301

 

[Cteve]

Fenix PD36 Pro on Beretta 1301View attachment 1000716

Is that the phoenix detachable flashlight mount? I have it and a Phoenix TK20 and that mount on a 7.62 rifle but was iffy about that mount holding up on the 12 guage.
has it held up ok under recoil?

 

[SilentKnight]

Good info....I was looking at surefire but the price jumps quite a bit. But buy once cry once right.
This will be rail mounted so the one I was looking at was the X300U, agin its a pistol light...I guess I like the compact size of these.
Should I stay away from the pistol lights and get more of a long gun light?

It all depends on your use case and your budget.

Pistol lights can work for sure, I had an X300U on a Mossberg years ago, it did fine. I will say, although it did work, the controls are less intuitive and easy to use on a long gun, as the X300 was specifically designed for it's primary use being infront of the trigger guard on a pistol, so it has the paddle switches on either side for controls.
If you're focused on size, a Surefire M300 Scout, is a single cell version of the M600, so it has a smaller overall size than the M600 and would work better than an X300 on a shotgun but it would have less battery power and output than the M600. Always a trade off.
You can also build your own setup though. I used an Arisaka M600 body, Surefire M600 head, Surefire M600 tailcap and an Arisaka mount, runs great.

Olight will likely work just fine, if you are constrained by funds, but just know what you're buying, as it is a cheaply made Chinese light. I've had multiple Olights fail over the years and so I stopped bothering with them entirely.

Basically, if you want the best option available from an American company then get a Modlite, if you want the very close runner up and most widely used light by Mil and LE guys then get a Surefire and if you are more budget minded, go for a Streamlight. Those are the 3 big dogs in the light world and all work well, coming in at different price points and features. If you are really pinching pennies but absolutely need a weapon light, then go with the Olight.

 

[SilentKnight]

3 different 14" shotguns and 3 different light setups.

- Custom M300 setup with parts from Surefire, Arisaka and Malkoff Devices on a Mossberg 590a1.
- Stock Streamlight HLX on a Benelli Super Nova.
- Custom Surefire M600 with parts from Surefire and Arisaka on a Remington 870.

Second photo is of my current 870 setup.

 

[Royroy]

I’ve used the Streamlight protac HL-X on an m4 and it’s never yeeted off for a few thousand rounds. It will come loose if you don’t loctite and torque both the light and the mount it sits on. It has strobe which is cool if you want to do a shotgun disco. Might be a bit better than the one you’re looking at for the shotty but I’m sure yours is fine as well.

Personally I wouldn’t use the pressure pad on a shotgun.

I’d avoid olight since it’s crap but in the same price range as Streamlight. I’ve never used the fenix that I have so I have so can’t speak to it. Modlight is unacceptably unreliable for the price.

Surefire will work but for your reasons Streamlight is the best bang for your buck.

 

[tiho74]

3 different 14" shotguns and 3 different light setups.

- Custom M300 setup with parts from Surefire, Arisaka and Malkoff Devices on a Mossberg 590a1.
- Stock Streamlight HLX on a Benelli Super Nova.
- Custom Surefire M600 with parts from Surefire and Arisaka on a Remington 870.

Second photo is of my current 870 setup.

Looking at this pic I have to ask: Are you left handed? or is there a preferred reason the shell holders are on the left? I ask because I bought a couple of those cards to add to a shotty of mine and was debating left or right side of the stock? (I am right handed) any advice is appreciated and sorry for taking away from the lights, I was also interested in lighting.

 

[SilentKnight]

Looking at this pic I have to ask: Are you left handed? or is there a preferred reason the shell holders are on the left? I ask because I bought a couple of those cards to add to a shotty of mine and was debating left or right side of the stock? (I am right handed) any advice is appreciated and sorry for taking away from the lights, I was also interested in lighting.

I am right handed but I reload by keeping my shooting hand (right) on fire control and then I feed the tube with my support hand (left).

The shotcard is on the left of the receiver for a couple of reasons but 1 main reason.

1. The gun ejects to the right, so there is no room on the receiver for a shot card on the right side. I personally don't like running shot cards or anything else attached on the stock, as it gets in my way with my cheek weld and can make reloading slower, opposed to having them right beside the loading gate on the receiver and you just roll the gun over and load quickly. I find it also throws the gun's balance point off when the card is loaded, by having the added weight so far back.
2. I also personally prefer to have all my attachments on one side of the gun anyways to streamline things as best I can.

 

[padawan]

Anyone know of a forum Sponsor that sells the HRT Advanced Weapon light ? I know Arctos Industries sells them, however, I have idea if they are legit or not.

 

[Painkillers]

I have an Olight Balder on my 1301 mod 2. No problems yet.

I hear what Royroy and others are saying about the light (Chinese crap). It may be Chinese, but I don't think it's crap. Holosun is also Chinese and are excellent and durable optics. The Chinese also make Spyderco's "Tenacious", and for what it is, it's a great, well built knife. The Chinese can build quality product when forced to. I believe Olight to be in that category.

 

[Bangalore]

Is that the phoenix detachable flashlight mount? I have it and a Phoenix TK20 and that mount on a 7.62 rifle but was iffy about that mount holding up on the 12 guage.
has it held up ok under recoil?

Purchased Fenix ALG-00 which mounts flashlight on a pic rail. Easy to put on/off with spring loaded pic clamp

 

[themacguy]

I have an Olight Balder on my 1301 mod 2. No problems yet.

I hear what Royroy and others are saying about the light (Chinese crap). It may be Chinese, but I don't think it's crap. Holosun is also Chinese and are excellent and durable optics. The Chinese also make Spyderco's "Tenacious", and for what it is, it's a great, well built knife. The Chinese can build quality product when forced to. I believe Olight to be in that category.

Agreed. If I was an Operator, I wouldn't use Olight. But I'm not an Operator.
Olight is less expensive, and I've had zero failures over the course of firing hundreds and hundreds of rounds.

I have the OSight S on the Mossberg Pro, and it too has been rock solid over 100's of rounds.
It's not recommended for Operators either.

 

[Cteve]

3 different 14" shotguns and 3 different light setups.

- Custom M300 setup with parts from Surefire, Arisaka and Malkoff Devices on a Mossberg 590a1.
- Stock Streamlight HLX on a Benelli Super Nova.
- Custom Surefire M600 with parts from Surefire and Arisaka on a Remington 870.

Second photo is of my current 870 setup.

thanks for the visual...I like how compact the mini is but don't like the run time. May have to consider getting the full size scout light.

 

[Royroy]

I have an Olight Balder on my 1301 mod 2. No problems yet.

I hear what Royroy and others are saying about the light (Chinese crap). It may be Chinese, but I don't think it's crap. Holosun is also Chinese and are excellent and durable optics. The Chinese also make Spyderco's "Tenacious", and for what it is, it's a great, well built knife. The Chinese can build quality product when forced to. I believe Olight to be in that category.

I say that because I’ve broken them

 

[SilentKnight]

Like I said in my earlier post, all this boils down to a personal choice based on the intended use case of the item and the budget of the end user. I don't know if there is a "right" answer here, as everyone has different needs and budgets. Do what's right for you.