So I just got a new Mossberg 590 20" shotgun and I have a Streamlight TLR1 weaponlight that I would like to mount to it. Which of the following would you recommend?
-Mesa Tactical barrel clamp rail mount. Would mount the light at 9 o’clock, but it would be in front of the bayonet lug, which might be a bit too far forward. Where can this be found for a good price?
-railed forend, would mount the light at 6 o’clock most likely. Which one? Looking for lightweight and inexpensive.
Thanks guys
Mesa. You will like it.
Im inclined to agree. Where can I get one? I have seen a few around, but im not sure which ones will fit; im thinking any of them because they are all 12 ga.
additionally, do you think that it will place the light too far forwards if I put it just in front of the bayonet lug?
I have looked more into it, and it seems that if I install the mesa mount, I will be unable to remove the barrel from my shotgun without also removing the mount, which I dislike. What options allow me to still disassemble my weapon, while having the light accessable? Maybe the laserlyte mount that is compatible with a heatshield? Or how about a bayonet stud mounted rail?
Thanks again
I’d go with the railed forend option. If you use the barrel clamp, you have to either leave the light on or take your thumb off the momentary switch while racking, thus losing the light. Mounting to the forend keeps the option of using the momentary switch if sound.
Nordic Components
I decided to go with the LaserLyte tri-rail on my 590A1 and Streamlight TLR-1s. The light is actually mounted at 3 o’clock because the 6 o’clock position is blocked by the pesky bayonet lug and the 9 o’clock side is where my sling mount plate lives.
The point above is valid though, I can only trigger the light with my support hand index finger and it moves out of range while racking the slide, so if I should choose to use momentary-on, light goes off while working the slide (which may or may not be a good thing).
Something you might want to check as well, is if the shadows cast by the barrel bother you at all… this can affect your choice of mounting location as well.
Its been a while since an update, but I too have once again chosen the laserlyte option, and im very glad. It does exactly what I want it to, and I can still remove the barrel.
For my 590 I used the Surefire railed forearm. It has a VTAC light mount with a 6P barrel light (w/ LED head) and is activated by a pressure pad that attaches to the rail. VTAC mount is at 3 o’clock as mentioned by scootie for the same reason.
Another option for someone in need, is the GG&G replacement forend with integrated rail. They offer the replacement forend for the 590/500 or Rem 870. It has a short piece of pic rail integrated into the forend. They have them for left or right handed shooters. I have one on my 14" Rem 870 with a TLR1 mounted on it and it works really well. I like it WAY better than using a Surefire lighted forend.
Something that was pointed out to me in a shotgun class is that you need to be careful with pressure-pad switches… esp on shotguns. A fellow student had a Surefire fore-end on his shotgun and every time he racked his slide he’d fire off a burst of white light in the process.
This may or may not be a liability – and you can probably be trained to minimize the occurrence, but just keep this in mind. I for one, sort of prefer the configuration where the switch for my light is discrete and positioned such that it takes a defined movement on my part to trigger it on (or off).
The Surefire integral forends come with a switch-blocker plate for just that reason.