Photo by Mitch Barrie / CC BY

An old saying in the firearms world is to “always be sure of what is behind the target.” In the dark or a dimmed room, it can be very difficult to tell what is behind your target and this presents an obvious safety issue even in the event that your target is an immediate threat.

Most firearms experts and enthusiasts agree that a reliable shotgun is one of the best, if not the best, home defense options that you can have. But having a light mounted on that shotgun will make it far more effective, and could also be a potential life saver for you and your family. You need to make sure that your target is indeed a burglar and not a family member, and just as importantly, you must also make sure that no one you know is standing behind the burglar as well.

Another advantage to having a light on your shotgun is that it can, for a few moments, disorient your assailant. This could allow you to possibly scare them away without having to fire a shot, which is the ideal scenario most of us would prefer in the event of a home invasion.

With that in mind, here are the 4 best shotgun lights on the market. And following these products will be a lengthy discussion as to what you should look for in shotgun lights.

Windfire Tactical Cree XM-I T6 Flashlight

• WindFire Tactical Flashlight Led 1200 lm 3.7-18V 1 Mode Light Tactical Flashlight Torch with Pressure Switch/Tactical Switch and 45°Side Picatinny Mount Rail Offset Ring Side Mount
• Price: $25.98
• 
• Price as of 04/15/2024 15:30 PDT
  (more info about ad)

  

The Windfire Tactical Cree XM-IT6 Flashlight emits a white bright beam with a maximum output of 1000 Lumens.  Not only can your target definitely be illuminated down your sights in the darkest of conditions up to a distance of five hundred meters, but if your target is a home intruder, than the light is sure to temporarily blind them as well, giving you the advantage to fire first before they can react.  One of the best shotgun lights, the XM-IT6 is powered by a 18650 Li-Ion battery that is rechargeable (but must be bought separately from the light).  As for the rail mount, it can attach to any Weaver or Picatinny style of rail and  mounts at a forty five degree angle so that additional accessories such as red dot sights or lasers can be added as well.

Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL High Lumen Rail-Mounted Tactical Light

• Streamlight 69260 TLR-1 HL 1000-Lumen Weapon Light with Rail Locating Keys and Lithium Batteries, Box, Black
• Price: $148.81
• 
• Price as of 04/15/2024 19:43 PDT
  (more info about ad)

  

The 69260 Tactical Light delivers a 630 lumen light beam to illuminate a room or an alley to the maximum. The beam is also very wide so that it lights up almost the entire area immediately and you can identify any potential threats without having to scan the light around. Streamlight also included a strobe in this light, which can be activated by double tapping the momentary paddle. The 69260 mounts onto any Picatinny rail system, so any shotgun with picatinny rails you have the 69260 will work for (in addition to rifles or pistols with picatinny rails as well). The 69260 is capable of operating in conditions of -40 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and is waterproof up to one meter.

UTG Defender Flashlight

While having a high quality bulb is absolutely imperative to a good shotgun light, it’s also not the only thing that will lead to a good performance light. You need to complement that light with an optimal circuit board and reflector, and that’s what the UTG Defender Flashlight gives you. The company has been steadily improving in their equipment ever since they began manufacturing tactical lights in 2002. This light can be mounted onto both Weaver and Picatinny rails, with a total length of just over 5.2 inches. It operates with a remote pressure switch, and has a total output of 126 lumen. This is one of the best home defense shotgun lights period.

Orion H40-W 500 LED Tactical Flashlight

Orion designs their products to operate at their optimum even in the harshest of conditions, and the H40 is definitely no exception. The LED emitter that Orion installs on the H40 is virtually recoil proof as they are nearly indestructible. Redesigned in 2013, the Orion H40 displays a very powerful white beam of 500 lumens. Orion also sells the H40 with a one year free warranty. This should be on anyone’s list of the best tactical shotgun lights.

Important Qualities to Look For in a Shotgun Light

Any of these lights will do well for your shotgun, but it’s still perfectly fine if you want to do a little more research. There’s plenty of other good shotgun lights out on the market; the four that we have listed are just the ones that we recommend the most.

But when you do go shopping for a shotgun light, there are certain qualities that it must have. The first is the lumens. If you’re using your shotgun light only for indoor self-defense purposes, than anywhere from one hundred to two hundred lumens are going to get the job done. But if you’re going to go outdoors, then you’re going to want something that has more lumens and that is also more robust to handle the outdoor elements.

You also have to take your budget into consideration. The best shotgun lights can cost hundreds of dollars, and some don’t mind spending this kind of money. But other people only want a good reliable light that they can have for a lot less. That’s why we have striven to include lights in our list that are around this budget range. You can have a decent shotgun light without making your wallet go empty (save your money for things that really matter, like scopes and red dots for your shotgun!).

Finally, take the functionality of the light into consideration. The most important manual function is the on and off switch. If you cannot access that switch easily enough, then that shotgun light should be an immediate no. This will come as an issue to anyone who is a left hander, since most shotgun lights are designed for right handed people.

Weight is another important functional issue; it’s absolutely a good thing for your light to be heavy and robust if it’s going to be for outdoor use, but if that light is going to be used mostly indoors, then there’s little reason to weigh down the barrel of your shotgun. If you keep these considerations in mind, we’re sure you’ll find the right light for your shotgun. Good luck!