Need help selecting a flashlight for a shotgun

[Art M.]

This past weekend I went coyote hunting at night, yes it is legal where I live.
I was using a handheld spotlight, which did a good job, but since I was by myself at my post it was hard to hold the light and the shotgun at the same time, so I am looking for a small to medium size flaslight which I can attach to the shotgun.
I do not need to have a clear beam further than 70-80 yards, I will not shoot further than that, if that far.
What would you guys recommend?

 

[jhc37013]

Eagletac T100C2 with Weapon Kit.

http://www.pts-flashlights.com/products/product.aspx?pid=152-154-6717

 

[RedLED]

All the fashionable shotguns this season are wearing a Surefire on the front!

 

[hyperloop]

Take a look at this link they showcased Jetbeams mounted on rifles and shotguns but didnt really show how far the lights shone but focused more on the lights being able to withstand the recoil.

IMHO, the Jetbeam RRT-1 will suit you, it throws better than the RRT-2 IIRC from some thread somewhere comparing their beamshots.

hope this helps you get those darn wile e coyotes

 

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

I hunt fox and rabbit with a double barrel shotgun a lot. I don't use a shotgun like a rifle, I use it like, well, a shotgun ie for close range shots at fast running animals. That means that I don't like my torches to be pointy like a rifle light but more spread of beam.

Obviously it's often best to have someone else to work the light but I do prefer to shoot on my own and I've quite often used a led lenser P7 taped under the barrels (near the forestock, not at the end of the barrels) with a soft rubber block between barrel and torch . This was easy since it's a side by side (I'm very old fashioned and love my side by sides and it's a modern one wiht changeable chokes so I still shoot AA grade Five Stand clays with it too).

My choice of LL P7 wasn't based on anything other than the fact that it's a case of run what ya got and it would not be my first choice now that I have a number of other torches.

I did use my Fenix L1d in the same situation taped under the barrels and it was ok but really needed more power.

Now that I've gone and bought all these quarks, of late I've been considering taping my Quark 123-2 under there because it looks like it's brighter than the LL P7 at shorter ranges and with a decent width spot.

I actually think I'd be even better off with the R5 version 123-2 Quark because it supposedly has even wider spread of the spot but with a larger amount of lumens too.

If you use a shotgun in the way I do then a pointy light designed for rifles isn't going to be real good so maybe do some improvising to see what normal torches work best for you, just remember to have some soft isolation between barrels and torch if you're going to attach it in the half baked way I do.

 

[Art M.]

I do use the shotgun as a shotgun especially for follow up shots when required.
I am not looking for a pointy light, the idea is to be able to scan the field looking for the eye reflection, this is done by pointing the hot spot a little high off the ground (over the predator eyes) so you catch the reflection with the soft flood and then bring the hot spot down to the predator eyes to blind them when ready to shoot, this will freeze them for a moment.
The reason for doing this is because sometimes you get to see the reflection a little too far and if you blind the coyote when you take the light off its eyes it will run away, by using a soft beam you have a chance to call them closer for the shot.
The cheap lights (spot lights) from Wal-Mart actually do a decent job because they have such a broad beam but still keep somewhat of a hotspot (take my words with caution, I don´t really know anything about lights so I may be talking out of my @ss) I like to have this type of beam in a small package I can attach to the shotgun.
I hope this will help to clarify what I am looking for a bit more.
Thanks for the links provided; I will check them out and keep the suggestions coming.

 

[hyperloop]

I do use the shotgun as a shotgun especially for follow up shots when required.
I am not looking for a pointy light, the idea is to be able to scan the field looking for the eye reflection, this is done by pointing the hot spot a little high off the ground (over the predator eyes) so you catch the reflection with the soft flood and then bring the hot spot down to the predator eyes to blind them when ready to shoot, this will freeze them for a moment.
The reason for doing this is because sometimes you get to see the reflection a little too far and if you blind the coyote when you take the light off its eyes it will run away, by using a soft beam you have a chance to call them closer for the shot.
The cheap lights (spot lights) from Wal-Mart actually do a decent job because they have such a broad beam but still keep somewhat of a hotspot (take my words with caution, I don´t really know anything about lights so I may be talking out of my @ss) I like to have this type of beam in a small package I can attach to the shotgun.
I hope this will help to clarify what I am looking for a bit more.
Thanks for the links provided; I will check them out and keep the suggestions coming.

Yo, take a look at this site which features many many beamshots in different locations and settings. This may help you to choose the light that suits your needs.

 

[Art M.]

Thanks for the link, those beam shots are really helpfull.
I am leaning towards the Tiablo A9 and the ultrafire wf-1000l.

 

[shortstack]

a shotgun for a coyote? isn't that WAY too big unless you don't wont much of the animal? wouldn't a .223 be sufficient?

 

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

a shotgun for a coyote? isn't that WAY too big unless you don't wont much of the animal? wouldn't a .223 be sufficient?

Shotguns don't really get used the way they show in the movies.

They don't really make mincemeat of things (unless your very very close) but instead fire a wide spread of very small balls (that's a laymans explanation, in reality it quite bit more complex than that).

You choose different size balls (called shot) for different size animals and ranges. I've shot things as small as a quail with a shotgun and had a perfectly intact bird to eat.

 

[shortstack]

i was thinking of slugs and didn't think you could get close enough with "lead shot" to penetrate it.

 

[Art M.]

We are not allowed to use slugs for hunting; they are reserved for military / law enforcement use only (yes it is stupid). I use BB size shot (lead), and it does a good job killing them out to 65-70 yds.

 

[JaguarDave-in-Oz]

didn't think you could get close enough with "lead shot" to penetrate it.

that is the true art of "hunting".