I said it and I stand by it. I think pretty much every single pump action weapon light, light mount, light style, sucks. And I want to fix it. Because, I don't think, in 2022, we should be stuck trying to make sub-optimal things work. We have the technology to rapid prototype and test things we can and should work out some innovations. SO, let's talk about how to do just that.
Here is what I have identified as problematic thus far:
1) Existing foreend integrated lights are an ergonomic nightmare.
The Surefire smashes the index finger, unless the gun is run with the index finger pointing forward. The current switches on those are hot garbage.
The Streamlight variants have better switches, but also dumb ergonomics with push-pull not really being easily possible with them.
2) Existing ring-type mounts are too bulky and have poor ergonomics as well.
The Elzetta mount is HUGE and like the GG&G and other cheapo mounts it puts a round flashlight outboard from the barrel by nearly 2", before you add in the bulk of the light. This adds unnecessary lateral bulk to an already hefty weapon. Once you add the additional weight of the light, the ring, the batteries, etc. I've found it makes guns unnecessarily muzzle heavy and swing awkwardly.
Handheld lights have sub-optimal switches for pushing with a thumb or index finger. Try as I might, my hand does not stretch that far. If you don't train hard to get the activating finger off the light, welcome to finger jam time.
3) Picatinny/Scout Mounts - Also too bulky/ergonomically bad.
Similar to the situation with ring-type mounts (and also because many rings are mounted to pic rails), the pic rails end up laterally 2"+. We then typically run a square'ish pistol light that further puts bulk out laterally and offers no ergonomic improvement over other setups. Often it places the light too far forward for reliable activation with the offhand. The mounts themselves are typically sharp cornered (fixable) but most aspects of a pistol light have some kind of edge that can inevitably catch you.
4) MLok/Keymod fore-ends - Probably the best option, except you still end up with a light mounted in a sub-optimal position to smash your thumb or index finger under recoil and taking up vital real-estate on a relatively small fore-end.
5) Switching, switching, switching.
What a pain. A button on the back of a round light. Or a lever/button on a pistol light. Or the terrible rocker switch on a Surefire. They ALL suck. Best case, you use a coiled remote switch and then have that 'ish to lug around and round around on your gun.
6) Sling interface
Basically, I haven't found a solution that lets me run a light AND a sling on the same side of the gun, without risking a serious tangling/fouling (fowling?) issue.
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So what is the solution? (Besides, buy a 1301 or M4)
Well, I have some ideas myself, but I'll hold off and ask the crowd - particularly our heavy shotgun users (@LHS, @TCinVA, @GJM - tag others as needed)
What would an optimal pump shotgun light look like to you?
Where should the beam be sourced from (above, below, beside the barrel?)?
Switching, how should it function (should there be a momentary or is On-Off fine?)?
How should the light and switching be integrated (i.e., are you okay with a dedicated forend or should it be something as universalized as possible?)?
What would your upper price limit be (I know the lower is $0)?