Shooting during the night can be extremely tricky. The best shotgun light may not just provide you with temporary illumination, but it can also save you more trouble than necessary.
When shooting a dangerous animal at night, you may feel confident about acquiring your target. However, if your surrounding is dark, you may not see that there are other animals on the background. This can cause real danger and potential fatality. This can also be true if you are trying to protect yourself and your home at night.
We took a closer look at five of the most popular shotgun lights in town to determine which model is the best shotgun light for your use.
Top 5 Best Shotgun Lights To Buy In 2023 Reviews
1. Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL Weapon Mount Tactical Flashlight Light 800 Lumens with Strobe
The Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL Weapon Mount Tactical Flashlight is equipped with a C4 LED that produces 800 Lumens and 12,000 candela. It’s not only ideal for shotguns, but it can also fit several types of firearms. Y
ou can illuminate an area within 245 meters. It is also equipped with a CR123A Lithium battery that cannot be charged, but it can run for almost two hours. Moreover, it is made of aircraft aluminum metal that is able to withstand extreme heat.
On one hand, the lenses have been shock-mounted. You can easily snap it on your firearm and tighten it to ensure that it will be securely fastened.
Moreover, the tightened interface allows you to keep you hands off of the muzzle when you attach or remove this flashlight. On the other hand, it uses the TIR optic to ensure that the beam produced is concentrated to allow peripheral illumination.
Pros
- Easy to mount
- Lightweight
- Compatible with most firearms
- Bright illumination
Cons
- Short battery life
2. Orion H40-W 500 Lumen LED Tactical Flashlight with Pressure Switch and Rifle Mount
The next shotgun light that we have tested is the Orion H40-W 500 Lumen LED Tactical Flashlight with Pressure Switch and Rifle Mount.
It is equipped with a Cool White Cree XM-L U2 LED, which produces 640 lumens and it has a runtime of 75 minutes. The light that it produces is also quite bright, which allows for great illumination during the night.
On the other hand, the lens is a Waterwhite glass lens that has been treated to maintain its hardness. It also has a smooth aluminum reflector and it is can be mounted with the use of the Picatinny or Weaver rail mounting system.
In terms of structure, it is made with air-grade aluminum with a hard-anodized finish to keep your flashlight durable. Moreover, it is also resistant to heavy recoil and waterproof.
It is also quite lightweight at only 3.4 ounce with a dimension of 5.2 x 1 inch. For the power button of this flashlight, there is a constant on button switch. There is also a power button if you want the light to operate intermittently.
In terms of the beam profile of this tactical flashlight, it has a 6,400 lux and a 9.6 degree center spot angle. Moreover, it has a beam distance of 160 meters.
Pros
- Affordable
- Durable
- Bright illumination
- Lengthy beam distance
Cons
- Poor mounting system
- Momentary switch produces inconsistent result
3. WindFire® Tactical Flashlight Cree Xm-l T6 Led 1000 lm 3.7-18V
The next shotgun light that I have tested is the WindFire® Tactical Flashlight, which produces an extremely bright light.
This tactical flashlight has been made using the 6061T aluminum steel. It is also lightweight and compact.
This tactical flashlight measures 0.22 kg. It is 13.5 cm long and the diameter of the head and the body measures 3.2 and 2.9 cm, respectively. The lens is made of glass, while this shotgun light is made of smooth aluminum reflector.
For the batteries, it can be powered with the use of the 3.7V 18650 battery. Ideally, it should be used for shotguns and rifles, but it can also be mounted to other types of firearms.
There are five modes that you can use when it comes to this shotgun light. There is the high, mid, low, strobe, and SOS mode.
It is also great for outdoor use since it is equipped with the Cree XML -T6 LED that produces 1,000 Lumens, which allows for a throw distance of 100 meters. You can be confident when it comes to night shooting due to the bright illumination of this flashlight.
Pros
- Affordable
- Lightweight
- Great for outdoor use
- Lights up brightly
Cons
- Structure is quite flimsy
4. UTG 126 Lumen Combat Xenon Light, Handheld and Ring Mount
Another shotgun light that caught our fancy is the UTG 126 Lumen Combat Xenon Light, which is made from aluminum steel.
It also comes with a remote pressure switch and power button that can keep the light on permanently or momentarily.
The Xenon bulb produces a maximum output of 126 lumens with a tactical front head. You can mount it to any Picatinny and Weaver railing system to ensure that it maintains great stability when you attach it to your shotgun. Purchasing this tactical flashlight entitles you to a mount and a remote pressure switch.
The installation of this tactical flashlight can be a bit tricky, which means you have to be extremely specific when it comes to following the instruction manual.
You should use two pieces of CR123 if you want to begin operation of this shotgun light. With the use of these batteries, you can use the light for over an hour. The focus has been preset for your convenience and for maximum efficiency.
When it comes to the measurements of the UTG 126 Lumen Combat Xenon Light, it is 5.22 inches long. On the other hand, the tube diameter is 1 inch and it weighs 5.6 ounces.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Light can be turned on permanently or momentarily
- Consistent illumination
Cons
- Lights produced is not as bright
- Structure is a bit unstable
- Tricky to install
5. NcStar Weaver Mount Tactical LED Light Flashlight
We are down to our final shotgun light that is vying for the title as the best shotgun light. The NcStar Tactical LED Light Flashlight can be mounted to your shotgun easily with the use of a Weaver type rail.
It employs the quick release system when it comes to its mounting for easy attachment and detachment. The 3 Watt LED used on this shotgun light has a power output that ranges from 90 lumens to a maximum power output of 150 lumens.
It uses one piece of CR123A lithium battery and it has a running time of approximately an hour. It also employs an ambidextrous sliding power switch.
This shotgun light is quite compact as it measures 3.1 x 1 x 1.16 inches and it is also lightweight as it tips the weighing scale at only 3 ounces. It is also constructed with anodized aluminum materials.
Pros
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Affordable
- Durable
- Bright
Cons
- Inconsistent reliability
- Poor quality control
Best Shotgun Lights – Buying Guide
Now, we are off to discuss the criteria on what makes a shotgun light the best. There are several considerations that you should take into account like the ease of use, illumination, construction, and cost of the shotgun light.
Ease of Use – When picking a shotgun light, it is important that it is easy to turn it on and off. The ease in using the power button allows you to immediately begin operation. When the need for the light arises, you do not want to keep scrambling for that power button. It is vital that the shotgun light should be easily mounted to ensure that it will remain securely attached to your shotgun with minimal worries. It should be able to withstand rugged use since a shotgun may produce heavy recoil.
Illumination – The light produced by the shotgun light is measured by the lumens. When considering the lumens of your shotgun light, it is important to consider where you will use the shotgun light. If you will use the shotgun as a security option for your home, the lumens can be a little lower. However, when you want to use it outside the house, higher lumens may be required. This is because you need to illuminate a wider space.
Construction – It is important that your shotgun light should be made of high-quality materials to ensure that it is durable. Moreover, it would help if the shotgun light is lightweight and compact. This is vital because you do not want a shotgun light that will add unnecessary weight to your firearm.
Cost – You must consider your budget when buying a shotgun light. However, it is important that your chosen model should provide great value for the money. The best value for the money may not necessarily come from the cheapest model.
Conclusion
And we have reached the most important part of our review.
It is time to declare the best shotgun light.
Our choice for the best shotgun light is the Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL Weapon Mount Tactical Flashlight Light 800 Lumens with Strobe.
It provided great illumination during the night, which results for added security and confidence when shooting during the evening. Moreover, it was durable and it was extremely easy to use, which provides me with great relief as I use it.
And that wraps up our review of the best shotgun light. We hope that we have helped you pick the model that is right for you and your shotgun.