From: purtilo@cs.umd.edu
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: tac light and tapping holes
Date: 14 Nov 92 02:57:46 GMT

Hi, two quickies on tech-talk, away from the rec.guns introspection thread...


1.  I'd like to put ghost-ring sights on a defensive shotgun.  Didn't get
much response to my post on this before (more than a month ago), but found
some sights in Brownells that look like they could work.  But these would
entail drilling the receiver to mount.  I tentatively plan on getting a
parkerized 870, chambered for 3" shells, mount a 20" cylinder; the sights
would be tritium, and I'd probably go for a mag extension, side saddle and
maybe a small tac-light, with pressure switch.  Straight synthetic stock,
no pistol grip.  So ... the question is, can you good folks guide me through
the wonders of getting the mount on the receiver?  (Aside:  Some of you had
helped me with advice on glass bedding before.... still haven't jumped in
to that one, mostly preoccupied with an NSF proposal that had to move.  Why,
you might ask, am I moving on to yet another project when the last is not
done....?  Why indeed.  I think its a guy thing.)

2.  I'm looking for a decent tactical flashlight to use with my pistol. 
That is to say, not ON my pistol, but in weak hand.  I use a cross hand
position, and would like a smaller flashlight (maybe a little stubbier
too, for better grip) than I use now, but especially one with an end cap
switch for "momentary contact".  The AA-cell maglight is about the right
size if I had the end switch (and maybe a foam grip to widen it just a little
and reduce opportunity for slip).  Any suggestions????     Currently I'm 
looking at the TacStar Industries (aka Adventurer's Outpost) product, and
wondering if its worth the money.

Having two implements for low light situations (pistol and light) is more
awkward than having the light on the pistol (which I've tried and liked).
But I recently had a "situation" where it became clear that I need to have
the flexibility of having them separated.  Went to investigate two neighborhood
kids (my inference before hand, else I would never have gone into this as I
did, i.e. unarmed), turned out to be the kids next door junior high age, in
bushes by my house late one very rainy night.  I stalked, in order to confirm
my suspicion, then approached to ask them politely to go peep in other windows.
When they saw me come, at a distance of about 25 yards, they shocked me by
bringing to bare what at the time looked like a very real stainless revolver
and a very real carbine.  A firm voice (that never actually said I was armed,
as I was not) coupled with my maglight in their eyes, plus their shock at being
discovered, convinced them I must have had the drop on them, and I had their
weapons on the deck in short order. Within yards of them I discovered these
were just a replica, plus a pump air rifle.  The rest of my evening was spent
expressing to my neighbor how I had a problem with their behavior, and then
cleaning my shorts.  But my lessons from this:  I need the flexibility of two
tools.  While investigating a problem on my own property, I should have been
armed; but the weapon needs to be concealed, since I do not want to become
an aggressor, or escalate needlessly.  With light on pistol, I could not check
something out, in condition orange, without also covering down on all points
that I illuminated.  I need to be able to scoot kids (not carrying weapons)
from my property without having them tell daddy that the mean old neighbor 
pointed a gun at them. For only a house gun, this would be different, I think;
but I prefer the flexibility.  Sorry, long justification behind a short request!

Jim