Best Shotgun Lights for Home Defense for 2023

Shotguns are like any other weapon. If you decide to use one for home defense, you’ll need a light to make it as efficient as possible.

Unfortunately, the lights/shotgun pairing isn’t as easy as handguns and rifles.

But that’s why you have us. We’re going to walk you through your options and help you navigate the confusing world that is lights and shotguns.

We’ll talk about what makes shotguns troublesome when it comes to lights and then give you our top recommendations for the best models for home defense.

So keep reading!

Summary of Our Top Picks

1. Best Low Lumen Budget Light

   Axeon Shotlight

   Only 120 lumens but at a very affordable pricepoint.

   $36 at Amazon Jump to Details
2. Best Pump Action Budget Light

   Adaptive Tactical EX Performance Tactical Light

   300 lumens and ambidextrous controls makes this a good option if you're on a budget

   $119 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details
3. Best All-Around Light

   Streamlight TLR RM2

   1,000 lumens and a durable, reliable design but you will need a mounting device to use it

   $136 at Brownells Jump to Details
4. Editor's Pick

   Streamlight TL Racker

   Great overall light for pump action, a little pricey but worth the cost.

   $136 at Amazon Jump to Details
5. Most Lumens

   Nightstick SFL-13GL

   1,200 lumens, a little heavy but still manageable if you want the most illumination

   $199 at OpticsPlanet Jump to Details

Why You Should Trust Us

Though I served as Marine machine gunner and now teach pistol and concealed carry classes as an NRA-certified instructor, there’s just something about shotguns that speak to me.

I have written many articles about shotguns and their accessories for Pew Pew Tactical and other publications. I spend countless hours researching and testing firearms and gear to ensure I bring the PPT audience the best of the best.

Shotguns + Lights

So what makes shotguns a little more difficult when it comes to mounting lights?

Shotguns make it tough to attach a weapon light…especially pump-action shotguns.

Moving the pump back and forth proves tricky when attaching a light. The manual action makes pressure switches a pain as they will likely come loose as the user works the action.

When the light is mounted to the pump, it can be hard to keep control of the light and utilize the weapon.

The gun’s recoil can also give your thumb a nice smack against the light with every shot.

Semi-auto shotguns, however, are a little more polite due to fewer moving pieces.

Luckily, if you still love shotguns and want a weapon light, you have options and a means to outfit your weapon for defensive use properly. In my experimenting, I’ve found a few solutions that work, so let’s check out which lights you should consider.

Best Shotgun Lights Under $150

1. Axeon Shotlight

The Axeon Shotlight isn’t going to give you a whole lot of lumens, but it makes up for that with a very affordable price.

This light offers an underwhelming 120 lumens and runs off a single CR123A battery.

The light adopts a single constant-on mode with a very simple design. However, it presents the same ergonomic issues I saw with the Steiner Mk7.

Additionally, the Axeon seems a bit longer. This length pushes the button a bit further forward, probably making it a little harder to reach.

All that said, it’s under $50 and that price is really hard to beat, especially if you are on a budget.

Besides the price, the upside is that it also comes with various adapters to fit the Mossberg 500 series, Remington 870, and the Winchester 1300.

2. Adaptive Tactical Light

Adaptive Tactical makes an interesting integrated pump-action light option.

It all begins with a Mossberg 500/590 series or the Remington 870. From there, the light is attached to the end of the pump via a handy rail.

Adaptive Tactical’s light slips onto the rail and fits naturally with the pump-action design. Its position at the forward end of the pump won’t smash your hand with recoil.

Another plus side to this integrated design? The 300-lumen light can be removed.

Controls are ambidextrous, using a switch platform to give you momentary, constant-on, and strobe mode. Two AA batteries also power it with a runtime of three hours.

Adaptive Tactical makes some very cool stuff, especially for shotgunners, and this light system builds on their unique platform.

Best Shotgun Lights Over $100

3. Streamlight TLR RM2

A 1,000-lumen light, the Streamlight TLR RM2 brings the power. The design is ergonomic with an awesome rear switch.

Simply put, the RM series is absolutely fantastic! And I should know…I wrote a whole review about the RM 1 and RM2.

With a relatively small and lightweight design (especially for long gun lights), the RM uses the limited space on shotguns and does so well.

The ramped rear design certainly keeps fingers from getting smashed and gives you a little more room on the pump.

Streamlight also has a pressure switch system for semi-auto guns that allows you to mount the light further forward on the gun and still access the on/off switch.

These new lights are perfect for shotguns and perfectly matched with the Streamlight rail. 

While the TLR Rm2 itself is less than $150, you will need a mounting solution for it which pushes the price up to that $150 threshold.

To mount, I suggest using the Streamlight Mag Tube Rail.

This little device attaches to your shotgun magazine tube and gives you a short rail to mount almost any light you want.

I use this magazine tube rail on my Benelli M4, and it locks down extremely tight and allows you to mount the light at various angles.

4. Streamlight TL Racker

The TL Racker is the answer to a shotgun light for your Remington 870 and Mossberg 500/590 series shotguns.

Streamlight’s device packs a punch with 1,000 lumens and 20,000 candelas.

Powerful enough to work for duty, it makes target identification and even slug use possible. The TL Racker opts for a massive control pad fitted to both sides of the pump. And this design proves easy to use.

Featuring momentary and constant-on modes, TL Racker also comes in at a lightweight 12 ounces. It’s smaller and sports an aggressive texture granting a sure grip.

No lie, it’s become my preference for shotgun stuff.

Did I mention it’s affordable?

Retails for around $150! Not a bad deal for such an excellent light.

The TL Racker also comes in a Shockwave variant and a bright orange model for less-than-lethal shotguns.

What do you think of the TL Racker? Rate it below!

5. Nightstick SFL-13GL

Similiar to other models listed, Nightstick followed the same pattern as other companies with their SFL-13GL. Their light is mounted within the housing of the foregrip.

However, Nightstick wanted you to have all the lumens, so they crammed in 1,200 for this model. In addition, they added a green pointing laser.

The SFL-13GL mounts up easily and is available for Remington and Mossberg shotguns. They even include a castle nut wrench for both brands.

Nightstick made this model for the Remington 870/Tac-14s, and Mossberg 500/590s. While it comes in black, law enforcement will appreciate the orange model for less-lethal applications.

After mounting, we took the unit out to the range to try it out. The light has a great throw and the green laser is extremely easy to pick up.

The grip is well-ribbed and aids traction when running the action. The button to activate is intuitively placed, though it is not as large as some other offerings.

With the powerful 1,200-lumen cast, this unit works perfectly well outdoors and is extremely potent for clearing halls and rooms inside. It is a little heavy, coming in at 17.5 ounces but the brightness outweighs this minor drawback.

The SFL-13GL is ruggedly built, IP-X7 waterproof, and impact and chemical resistant. It runs on two CR123 batteries and at around $200, is a steal compared to some other products.

Final Thoughts

Like any other firearm used for defensive purposes, shotguns need a weapon light. Identification of a threat is vital and, without a light, you’re flying blind.

The above options should get you started in the world of lights and help illuminate whatever comes at you.

What do you have on your shotgun? Let us know in the comments below. Looking for another shotgun to add to your home-defense strategy? We got you covered with our round-up of the Best Home-Defense Tactical Shotguns.

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