I have read several threads here on similar questions with some good info, but haven’t found exactly what I’m looking for, so I’m posting in the hopes of getting some recommendations.
I’m looking for a flashlight to mount on a 12 gauge shotgun that will stand up to 3” slug recoil, for use at close range (<30m) in low to zero light conditions. I hope I never need it, but there is a realistic possibility it will be used in a defensive situation against a large predator while camping/hiking/hunting in northern BC this fall, so reliability is important - both in the field and after hundreds of practice rounds.
Here are the requirements I have in mind:
Dimensions 1” diameter to fit mount, single battery length. Prefer small/body diameter head, but not a deal breaker. Beam Flood more important than throw due to close range and need for peripheral illumination for fast target acquisition. Battery Single 14500 with AA compatibility as I am trying to standardize my batteries to AA in all devices for availability in remote areas or emergency situations. Willing to consider 18650 if no options filling other requirements available in 14500/AA. Battery life is not important because it will only be on for a few minutes at most - any longer than that means a light is the least of my concerns Emitter Leaning towards xm-l, but realize this may not be possible given my battery preference. Open to suggestions. Modes 1-3, the less the better for both reliability and simplicity of operation in a high stress situation. Will only be operated in high mode. Switch Rear or side clicky, no pressure pad. Construction Must be able to withstand repeated high recoil. From what I have gathered this means the battery (unprotected so no circuit to crush) needs to have springs on either side, and emitter/driver must be securely seated. Must be waterproof as it will see heavy field use in snow and rain. Finish Black. Coating type not important, I can refinish if necessary.
I realize that I may be looking at a non-budget flashlight given the above, so higher end recommendations are also welcome. This is life insurance, so I’m willing to spend what it takes, particularly to meet the reliability requirement, but my pockets aren’t that deep, so I don’t want to waste money on a designer brand so to speak.
I can't suggest any 14500 size lights that are 25.4mm. I have a Mossberg 500 Chainsaw and I recently added a Solarforce L2P with custom single mode XP-G dropin at 1.4A. I have to say it is rock solid! I fully potted and soldered it. There is zero flicker, it's bright as hell with decent flood but the nice thing is the small hotspot allows me to pinpoint my target even if shooting from the hip. If that spot is on the target I know I will hit it when I pull the boom switch.
A gun light on a hunting weekend should not see that much real use anyway and a single 18650 should last the whole time. You wouldn't use it to navigate the woods, only when you need to shoot something. A handheld light is what you'd need for everything else.
Dayum…. pretty sure thats too short for where I live. Would probably be classified AOW. Looks cool though.
I agree with others that CR123A or 18650 lights would probably be a better bet. You could build your own p60 Solarforce and swap modules to your hearts content.
The barrel is 8.5”. The firearm laws here are fairly restrictive but we do luck out with a few things like this - it is classified non-restricted so I can take it anywhere and it doesn’t have to be registered. The stock doesn’t fold, and yes it hurts haha, just temporary while I am making a recoil absorbing one. Too many projects on the go!
I will check out these solarforce lights. 18650 or cr123 is fine, as much as I’d like to standardize it won’t see enough use to matter that much. Is there an advantage to one or the other between those two batteries?
Guess you’re right handed. Hopefully you’re not taking the HD shotgun in the picture, if you do you should consider changing the sights, your stock, and then working out how you’re going to articulate speed loading administrative rounds when you need to rapidly transition from trail-ready status, which presumably you’ll need to do, as your shotgun appears to be not drop-safe. However in the defensive situation you describe, the latest science is indicating you are statistically more likely to have a better outcome with learning to use and deploy pepper spray anyway. (Hmmm, maybe pepper spray mounted throwers where the beam throw matches the maximum throw range of the pepper spray)
The rounded corners on your picatinny rail look like a good touch however, so don’t forget to make sure the weaver mount you place on it to mount your light doesn’t have sharp corners to cause post recoil nicks to your pinkies, or do it proper and forget that, and replace the whole firearm with something that has a decent forend on it.
wouldn’t OC shells be the best of both worlds, then? The loud report of the cartridge fired combined with a huge blast of oleoresin capsicum should make a good repellant against any four-legged opponent, at least I would imagine so.
Not in the US, from Canada, so let’s not get in to that debate here
Still working up this configuration, so I’m open to constructive criticism but I’m not sure I understand all that; can you clarify the problem with the sights and stock? Re: drop safety and speed loading - if I am alone and expect to need it in short order I carry with one in the chamber, 2-3 in the tube; if I am not alone or expect to have slightly more time to react, the chamber is empty and 2-3 in the tube. If I am alone and drop it in such a way that I shoot myself then that is natural selection at work and I have consciously balanced that risk against the benefit of faster reaction time. Speed loading is irrelevant because there will not be time to load more rounds given proximity and closing rate.
The ‘latest science’ does not sufficiently control for all the variables involved in these encounters IMHO - ie. type of encounter, operator skill and amount of practice, firearm/pepper spray carry position and readiness, operator mental preparedness to kill without hesitation, percentage of reported incidents vs non-reported for both tools, etc. That said, I do carry pepper spray instead of a firearm a good percentage of the time when the threat of a violent encounter is low.
If there is 1000lbs of predator closing at 60km/h, I would prefer to have the heaviest most solidly constructed slug I can get my hands on chambered. But YMMV, perhaps the four-legged critters on your side of the pond are smaller, slower, and less hungry :).
But I digress, back to the original topic. I do like the look of the P1D a lot, or the L2M/N, but the P1D may be too large to fit the mount. A few of you have mentioned xpg drop ins, but from the beam shots I’ve seen the xml’s appear to put out more light in the outer part of the beam with a wider hot spot, which I think would be better suited here. Or am I missing something?
First of all, XPG2 is much improved over XPG. Beyond that, XML does put out more lumens, but in a floody way. The XPG has a more pronounced hotspot which throws much better. XPG2 still has plenty of useable spill light too.
Generally, XML are better for indoors and XPG for outdoors, but that is a really sweeping generalization to which there are many exceptions (not necessarily in your size req though).
I am fairly confident you could find a mount for the P1d if you like that host. I would not let that rule it out.
I don’t have the luxury of being able to accessorize so you’re lucky in that regard. The best configuration I’ve had was open tritium sights and a forend light. Now I have to live with reflective sights and a picatinny rail. While theoretically I’m not allowed to change the light, I’m going to try a Convoy M2 with Cree XM-L2 T6-1C emitter and see how that goes. The rail does a good job of nicking my finger when I have to rapidfire slugs, and that configuration is not very transport friendly for such things as deploying from a cramped space such as a helicopter. About the only advantage I’ve seen so far is you can unmount the light from your bump helmet and put it on your rail if you need to. The human wildlife conflict scenario you describe is similar to operating in an HD environment so opens sights are generally prescribed.
You’re right you can carry your firearm with an administrative round when you are on your own no-one would suffer the consequences of an unplanned drop except perhaps yourself if you’re unlucky.
It would be a shame to kill an innocent animal that is growing rare on the landscape because it just thinks it’s discouraging you from trespassing on his territory. Don’t forget that over something like 90% of all Grizzly charges are bluff charges (I can’t remember the exact figure but it is something in that range), this is a good read as I recall.
Agreed, when I can find an L2 with the 3C that is already mounted a 17mm I’ll definitely grab it and try it, I just grabbed that one as it was the one L2 that was/is stocked at FT, but I would also like a more neutral tint. At the moment I’m not brave enough to try some of the other suppliers after reading some of the stories on BLF, and I’m not talented enough to reflow.
hmmm, convoy l2 on a shotgun, really? I suppose you could clip it off and beat bears to death with it if you run out of shells lol, I guess its the little one with the horrible crappy dropins
Thats what I was wondering too. Would be a bit large lol. Might help to reduce muzzle rise haha.
Above he said Convoy M2, then just L2. Don’t see either convoy M2 or L2 with T6-1C available on fasttech… so must be referring to solarforce L2. I guess?
If solarforce L2 is indeed the pick there is no reason to settle for the T6-1C if you want neutral tint. There are prefab drop-ins available from a number of vendors, including solarforce direct. Pretty confident you could find a 3C (or better still, 4C) somewheres. Thats the whole idea of those p60 drop-in lights… easy to swap modules as you like.
