Is a quad rail overkill?

[Caseless]

To fully utilize a quad rail on a semi-auto shotgun such as the Saiga 12, you can mount a red dot sight, a light, a laser, and a foregrip.
Aside from the light, do the other three add-ons really improve the shotgun that much?

Since slugs and buckshots have different impact points, wouldn't a red dot be a drawback in a 3 gun match since most of them do not have quick elevation adjustment?

[socaldsal]

Personally, I would just use the light. Awkward with fore grip. Red dot is just added weight. Laser is best left in the closet or not bought at all for a shotgun.

If you train with your shotgun you should have no problems at all putting a bead on your target very fast.

[mydogsmonkey]

personally i would'nt either, flashlight and you're GTG, remmeber lasers work both ways
everything else adds weight that i don't think you need, its heavy enough, leave it lighter so its more manuverable when you need it

[Ishoot]

No need for all that weight. I'm don't plan on ever clearing my house at night either so the light is useless for me as well. Look at what you're planning on using the shotgun for and don't add things just for cool sake.

[slick_711]

Look at what you're planning on using the shotgun for and don't add things just for cool sake.

+1,000,000

[BVamp]

well, if you do decide on either a quad or trirail, Mr Cameron has a july 4th sale on either rail right now for 100 bucks.

chaosus.com

[maxicon]

There's something to be said for any of the above.

Light - must have - that's the first thing to add to a HD gun.

Red dot - Improves target aquisition in the dark (though at HD ranges, my the spot from my TK11 light is a great aiming aid). It also depends on how well the gun fits you. My 1300 Defender with Specops stock doesn't have enough drop, so it doesn't point well any more. I'm going to put an optic on it to see if it makes it better, but if not, the Specops will have to go, as a shotgun that doesn't point well is somewhat impractical.

Laser - Another aiming aid, good for quick aiming if you can't get your gun into the correct position before you need to get a shot off.

Foregrip - I don't see much use for those, but that's a matter of style and preference.

Aiming aids are always useful, IMO - they're just additional tools.

The problem is that each one has a control that complicates things. The light is what you'll use the most, so you need to practice the controls so you can use it without thinking.

The red dot would need to be turned on, unless you get a T1 and leave it on all the time, which there's something to be said for. Once it's on, you're good to go, though - no active control management needed.

The laser needs to be controlled like the light - turned on when you need it, turned off when you don't. That can be tricky, and unless you practice a lot, it's easy to get confused.

Personally, I'd put the light first, an optic second, a laser third (or replace the optic with the laser if you choose), and wouldn't bother with the foregrip.

In any case, back to the original question, I'd avoid hanging a heavy, bulky, uncomfortable quad rail on a shotgun, and would go with the right set of dedicated mounts for whatever you go with.

[joelogic]

I would even challenge the need for a light. Turn all your light off and walk your house. There is hardly a spot that dark in my house I would need a flashlight. Plus adding a flashlight adds another training dynamic.

[coop44]

bingo joe logic has a point, besides a light makes a great target, it says " hey, lookie here, shoot at this" Besides that all this stuff is extraneous, just learn how to shoot, develop a situational awareness of your location, and remember there is nothing scarier to the bad guys than an old naked white man with a big gun and an empty spot on his trophy wall. I want the bad guys to have lights, makes them easier to shoot.

[sonicbuff]

I would even challenge the need for a light. Turn all your light off and walk your house. There is hardly a spot that dark in my house I would need a flashlight. Plus adding a flashlight adds another training dynamic.

How do you see in the dark and ID your target when the power is cut ?

Night vision ?

[stix213]

I would even challenge the need for a light. Turn all your light off and walk your house. There is hardly a spot that dark in my house I would need a flashlight. Plus adding a flashlight adds another training dynamic.

The flashlight is just as much about blinding your attacker as it is about seeing in the dark. In the dark if you have a flashlight shining in your face, it is nearly impossible to see anything else including what is behind the flashlight.

You shine a flashlight in someone's face, especially a strobe, and then rack the action on your gun as you scream for them to get down on the floor... I would bet they would be more cooperative than if they could actually see you and get a chance to try to grab at your gun.

[Ishoot]

How do you see in the dark and ID your target when the power is cut ?

Night vision ?

Seriously?? How often does this happen in your neighborhood? I understand the "...it'll only take once..." saying but there's a fine line between preparedness and paranoid schizophrenia.

The flashlight is just as much about blinding your attacker as it is about seeing in the dark. In the dark if you have a flashlight shining in your face, it is nearly impossible to see anything else including what is behind the flashlight.

You shine a flashlight in someone's face, especially a strobe, and then rack the action on your gun as you scream for them to get down on the floor... I would bet they would be more cooperative than if they could actually see you and get a chance to try to grab at your gun.

..or they just shoot at the light source...

[socaldsal]

I USED to think a light wasn't necessary, then one day when the power went dead around my area of SD and I heard someone coming through the window that I forgot to close. It turned out to be my little brother who forgot his cell phone and his house keys and didn't realize that I was home. A series of bad coincidences can enable the right conditions for a BIG mistake to happen. Thankfully he hurt himself coming in and I recognized the voice saying "OW! F**K!" The light is the minimum, and in my opinion, maximum amount of stuff you'd bolt onto a HD shotgun without it feeling more like an unwieldy club.

If you mount the light in the right spot and it's got a push to turn on type feature, you just need to light up any movement that your normal eyes can see.

It's not paranoia, I almost blasted my brother with 00.

[coop44]

After 3 hours in the dark (sleeping) your night vision is at a peak. The biggest mistake made is waking up to noise and immediately turning on a light (Blink Blink) once your eyes have adjusted to the light you are at a disadvantage. Try it it's suprising.

I don't think lights are a good idea solo. They are made use of best in a squad situation. send in one guy with a light, look for the muzzle flashes of the bad guys shooting him, and shoot them.

Know your home, the sound of every door, window and squeaky floor board.

put yourself in the bad guys situation,think like he would, this is real life, not a movie or a video game.

[Toolbox X]

Yes.