Friday, June 19, 2009

Shotguns at Dark Thirty - Improvised Shotgun Light






While tactical gear for your shotgun is great to have, it can wreck your budget if you are not careful. When considering how much practical use you will get from it versus the cost ($$$), it sometimes leaves you looking for a simpler and more cost effective solution. Here is my $20 solution for an improvised light for my Mossberg shotgun.













Using a set of Weaver Open Sight Scope Mounting Rings (Part # 49713 / cost $13) that mount directly to the receiver of my shotgun (the mounting rings aligned perfectly with the existing receiver mounting holes) and a 9 LED push button flashlight (cost $7) with a 1 inch barrel, I made an improvised light for my shotgun. The open sight mounts were originally intended for my wife's Marlin 30/30. They would allow me to mount a scope and still be able to use the iron sights. I will now need to purchase another set of open sight scope mounting rings for the wife's rifle.












The light when mounted is easy to turn on and off with your thumb and is easily accessed from the safety. Flip the safety off and flip the light on. Simple but effective. The light has an effective range of approximately 9 meters which is more than sufficient for most home defense scenarios but I'm sure there are probably stronger lights out there with a 1 inch barrel that will fit the open sight mounting rings. The open sight mounting rings also allow an unobstructed view of the sights and the light actually enhances the hi-viz bead sight already on my shotgun. Making it easier to put the bead sight directly on the target.











This is a fairly low cost solution that makes carrying a flashlight and a loaded shotgun at the same time no longer necessary. Having both hands free makes your shotgun a lot easier to handle effectively. If the light should fail due to some reason or other, it is simple enough to change out and cheap enough to make it affordable. The need for a light on my shotgun enabling it's effective and safe use at night may never materialize but it is clearly better to have the option of identifying any intended target and avoiding any mistakes that could have severe consequences.





When the means and opportunity presents itself, I will probably seek a better and more professional light set-up for my shotgun but this will work for the time being until a more permanent solution is available.


You can read the original post here: Shotguns at Dark Thirty




Staying above the water line!




Riverwalker

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

It looks great RW, and you can't beat the price!

matthiasj
Kentucky Preppers Network

Anonymous said...

Now that's a handy piece of info.
Thanks RW
YeOldFurt

scoutinlife said...

Like the economical set up River great job!

APN said...

Nice Job, I like it

Anonymous said...

RW,contact me,I'd like more info on your setup!
Dean in Az

Anonymous said...

What a great idea RW - thank you for posting this. I'd bought an extended magazine / sling clamp, but this idea works better - light is right at fingertips, rather than stretching to have to operate.

riverwalker said...

To: matthiasj

While not a high dollar professional set-up, it does the job more than adequately even though the odds of having to use it in a home defense scenario still remain pretty low at this time. Of course, if the government should decide to start letting criminals out of prison early to save money...

RW

riverwalker said...

To: YeOldFurt

Simple solution to a simple problem. I'm the original tightwad when it comes to spending a dollar.
My daughter says I squeak when I walk! LOL

Thanks.

RW

riverwalker said...

To: scoutinlife

Hope you are doing well. Haven't been to your site lately and I feel really bad about that.

Gotten some new officer duties that have been eating up my time until I get it worked into my schedule. A full time job with two part-time jobs plus stuff around the house, at the farm and a little blogging keeps me kind of busy. I'm coming to visit soon! Send me an e-mail if you get a chance. I'd like to do another guest post for you if you'd like!

Thanks. Glad you like the set-up.

RW

riverwalker said...

TO: AP

Thanks Tom!

RW

riverwalker said...

TO: Dean

Sent you an e-mail! Just send me an e-mail with your questions if that would be easier.

RW

riverwalker said...

To: anonymous 12:16

I've looked at the different ones that mount up front on the magazine tube but didn't like the idea of having to take my hand off the shotgun. I feel better when I have good control of my shotgun. Plus, if necessary, I can turn it off quickly also. Thanks.

RW

Ryan said...

Nice, Very creative.

riverwalker said...

To: theotherryan

Thanks. It's an expedient solution until I can afford a better set-up.

Thanks.

RW

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