elzetta and soldiers’ angels

So you have a home-defense shotgun; a lot of people do. So when Things Go Bump In The Night and you are employing it to defend your home and family, how are you going to go about ensuring you abide by Rule 2 and Rule 4 of the Four Rules of Gun Safety? Sure, you could always turn on the lights in the room you are in… unless you are not near the light switch, or unless you value your night vision. Sure, you could run around with a set of night-vision goggles, but, really, who has a budget like that? Sure, you could hold a flashlight in one hand and your shotgun in the other, but unless you are running a double-barreled coach gun, I would imagine the manipulation of that arrangement would be… difficult, even with a semi-automatic.

Well, enter Elzetta and their Made in the USA ZSM Flashlight Mount, which allows you to affix a flashlight to any tube-fed shotgun with at least 1.75 inches free on that tube… oh, and did I mention you could potentially win this (along with a kickass t-shirt) for donating to the Soldiers’ Angels Fundraiser and Giveaway? I guess now I did! From their webpage:

Have there been any independent third-party reviews of the Elzetta ZSM Tactical Shotgun Mount?
[...] The Elzetta ZSM has also been awarded "NTOA Member Tested & Recommended" status by the National Tactical Officers Association.

What flashlights will work with Elzetta ZSM Tactical Shotgun Flashlight Mount?
Every Elzetta ZSM comes with Sizing Adapters, giving the Flashlight Mount the ability to hold flashlights from 0.70 to 1.05 inches in diameter (18 to 27 mm). This includes flashlights from popular manufacturers such as InForce®, Streamlight®, Pelican®, Laser Devices®, SureFire®, and of course, the 235 Lumen Elzetta ZFL-M60. (Sizing Adapters are not required when using an Elzetta ZFL-M60 or other 1-inch Light.)

From what material is the ZSM Tactical Shotgun Flashlight Mount made?
The Elzetta ZSM is made from the same advanced glass-filled polymer that has proven itself in the popular Elzetta ZFH1500 Flashlight Mount for AR15 rifles.

What are the advantages of this material?
This glass-filled polymer provides outstanding durability, impact resistance, scratch resistance and light weight. It also withstands high temperatures, vibration, and most chemicals.

Will the Elzetta ZSM Tactical Shotgun Flashlight Mount work with my shotgun?
The Elzetta ZSM will work with Remington 870, Remington 1100, Remington 1187, Mossberg 500, Mossberg 590, Mossberg 590A1, Mossberg 835, Mossberg 930 SPX, Benelli M1, Benelli M2, Benelli M4, Benelli Nova, Benelli Super Nova, Winchester Defender, and many other shotguns that have 1-3/4" (44 mm) of free space on the magazine tube and barrel.

What Gauge Shotguns will work with the Elzetta ZSM Tactical Shotgun Flashlight Mount?
The Elzetta ZSM is designed for 12-Gauge Shotguns and also comes with Gauge Adapters that allow the Elzetta ZSM to be used with 20-Gauge and .410 shotguns.

Will the Elzetta ZSM Tactical Shotgun Flashlight Mount attach to either side of the gun?
Yes, the Elzetta ZSM can be mounted to either side of the shotgun to accommodate left-handed or right- handed shooters.

Will the Elzetta ZSM Tactical Shotgun Flashlight Mount resist movement under recoil?
Yes, the Elzetta ZSM has been tested extensively under harsh recoil. When installed correctly, the Elzetta ZSM will not move under recoil nor allow the flashlight to move. See the video demonstration below.

So who is Elzetta? Up until a few months ago, I was completely unfamiliar with the name myself, but the short story is:

Elzetta Design, LLC was founded in 2007 by two mechanical engineers devoted to producing innovative, high quality, American Made, premium LED flashlights, flashlight mounts, and tactical weapon accessories. For too long, gun owners have had to choose between cheap, poorly made parts from overseas and outrageously expensive components made domestically. Elzetta has broken that paradigm by offering top quality, precision engineered accessories, Made in the USA, at affordable prices.

At Elzetta, performance is an art. Elzetta products look good because they are good. Elegant form is the natural result of covering every detail, considering every situation, and coordinating every feature. Elzetta products fit the gun and fit the person. Precise specifications and stringent tolerances ensure proper function while thoughtful design and innovative layout provide intuitive operation. Uniting form and function, Elzetta is A New Standard in Tactical Lighting.

Since 2007, Elzetta has been blessed with strong growth, a rapidly expanding product line, and fierce customer loyalty. We greatly appreciate the support of our police, law enforcement, military, and civilian customers. We pledge to maintain your trust by providing the highest quality American-Made products at affordable prices with outstanding service, all to the glory of God (Colossians 3:23-24).

And on top of being entirely Made in USA, they are actually made right up the road from me in Lexington, KY. Unfortunately, I cannot swing their "no compromise" price on flashlights at the moment (and I have been gravitating more towards single-CR123-cell lights myself, as I told them in email), but they have been extensively (and generally positively) reviewed by others and appear to live up to all the hype, which is sadly more than most flashlight companies can say these days. On top of making dependable products here in the States, their donation to this cause is greatly appreciated!

So, like I said, the prize on the table is one Elzetta ZSM Flashlight Mount for Tactical Shotguns and one Elzetta t-shirt, which you could win by way of donating to Soldiers’ Angels and following the rules here. Given how prevalent home-defense shotguns are, if this is not enough for you to donate, I honestly do not know what would be!

And speaking of getting people to donate, I would like to thank Les Jones, Mr. B, and Armory Racks for spreading the word about the fundraiser. Can you believe how much we have raised thus far?