{"id":153027,"date":"2023-08-08T23:12:29","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T03:12:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=153027"},"modified":"2023-08-08T23:12:29","modified_gmt":"2023-10-06T17:46:47","slug":"the-steiner-mk7-a-slick-scattergun-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/the-steiner-mk7-a-slick-scattergun-light\/","title":{"rendered":"The Steiner Mk7 – A Slick Scattergun Light"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Mounting lights to shotguns can be tough, especially pump-action shotguns. You are trying to find a way to balance control with light capability and likely find it tough to do so. Recently I posted a review of my Mossberg 500 Retrograde and got a few questions about the light mounted to the end of the magazine tube. The light is a Steiner Mk7 battle light and, unfortunately, has been discontinued. The good news is that they are easy to find on second-hand websites and seem to be priced to move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Steiner<\/a> Mk7 comes in various configurations, including the Remington 870, the Mossberg 500 (NOT 590), the Beretta 1301, and the Benelli M4\/Nova series shotguns. They replace the endcap of the magazine tube and turn it into a place to mount a light. It\u2019s a simple solution to an often painful problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Length – 3.5 inches
Weight – 4.1 ounces
Battery – CR123
Battery Life – 1 Hour
Lumens – 350 Lumens<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Mk7 is a small but rugged light that can be submerged to 3 meters in water. It\u2019s an unusual design that allows you to easily wield a weapon light without the need for any type of special mount or rail. The controls are two buttons that provide an ambidextrous location to access the light and fire it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of the Mk7<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Steiner Mk7 provides numerous benefits to its design. With the right combination of barrel and tube length, the Mk7 completely eliminates barrel shadow. Popular pump-action lights like the TL Racker and Surefire DSF are humbled by the presence of barrel shadow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s very small and provides an option that can eliminate barrel shadow. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Second, unlike pump-mounted lights, the Mk7 stays pointed constantly in one direction. With a pump-mounted light, the light reciprocates when the action works and functions. The Steiner Mk7 allows you to maintain perfect situation awareness as you work the action and prepare for a follow-up shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO: <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Olight Odin: The 2,000 Lumen Weapon Light – Review(Opens in a new browser tab)<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, you don\u2019t need a light mounted to your magazine tube to utilize this light. A lot of those mounts work well but add anywhere from 45 to 100 dollars extra to your light setup. It just replaces the endcap and boom; now you have a light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Mk7 can be detached without disabling your shotgun. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to remember is that the light itself isn\u2019t your endcap. Steiner provides an endcap that is then threaded to accept the Mk7. This design choice allows you to dismount the Mk7 and use it as a handheld light while keeping your shotgun ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, at only 4.1 ounces, the Mk7 is super lightweight and doesn\u2019t make the weapon off-balanced. It keeps the gun easy to point and easy swinging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Downsides to the Mk7<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Steiner Mk7<\/a> does have a few downsides. The biggest is ergonomics. You have to reach forward of the pump to activate the light. When doing so, you lose your grip on the pump. An Mk7 would benefit greatly from a pressure switch with a coiled cord that could attach to the pump action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It’s quite the reach to activate the light. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, there is no momentary mode for the Mk7. It\u2019s on or off, and that\u2019s it. Also, 350 lumens isn\u2019t a ton of power. My pistol light is half the size but packs 1,000 lumens. I\u2019d like to see more power, as well as published candela ratings. Steiner doesn\u2019t seem to publish their candela for any light, and that\u2019s a silly stance in 2021. A one-hour run time on a single CR123 isn\u2019t terrible power, but it\u2019s not impressive either. I don\u2019t see why it can\u2019t last longer with the limited lumens it\u2019s blasting forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a short-barreled shotgun, the Mk7 is also going to add a few more inches to your made-to-be short gun. These work best for standard 18-inch barreled shotguns. Barrel shadow can pop up when you use a long barrel, like a sporting shotgun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going Outdoors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Steiner might not publish the Mk7\u2019s candela, but I would bet it was rather high. The Mk7\u2019s range is impressive, especially for a 350 lumen light. Thirty-five yards is a fairly reasonable range for most shotguns, especially those tactical scatterguns. At 35 yards, I can easily establish PID on a threat. Seeing an IPSC target isn\u2019t an issue by any means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Mk7 provides a handy little light for home defense <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

At 35 yards, I can see and hit that target with the right buckshot or a healthy 1-ounce slug. Being able to see these targets is great when it\u2019s perfectly dark, but you\u2019ll find issues when other light creeps in or when barriers show up. I\u2019m talking about photonic barriers. These barriers can be another light source, fog, smoke, etc., and will prohibit the light from illuminating a potential threat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Beam does okay outdoors, but the low lumen count hurts it. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The relatively low power of the light makes it tough to cut through these barriers. Even with the somewhat decent candela, it doesn\u2019t outperform the lights for shotguns from Surefire and Streamlight. These barriers will provide substantial challenges which will keep the light from becoming a real proper duty light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So What\u2019s It Good For?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Well, inside a building, the Mk7 really shines, pun intended. That\u2019s why I keep it on my Mossberg 500 Retrograde. It provides a bright and handy light for indoor use. It\u2019s a clear beam that\u2019s wide, with a beam more appropriate for shotgun use. The light is bright and wide and fills a room with powerful white light. Nothing can escape your peripheral vision when you are shining on with the Mk7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
It’s not the rightest, but indoors it works well. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For home defense, the light hits hard enough to very easily identify a threat. It\u2019s a bright, cool beam that\u2019s almost perfectly white in design. When mounted on a shotgun like the Mossberg 500 extends a hair beyond the barrel and eliminates barrel shadow. I\u2019d fired hundreds of rounds with this configuration, and that little extra past the barrel hasn\u2019t harmed the light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
Plus being able to detach and use it makes the Mk7 quite handy. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Mk7 wouldn\u2019t be a great option for duty use, especially for police officers in urban environments with tons of photonic barriers around. However, inside the home, it\u2019s a capable home defense light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shine On<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sadly the Mk7 has been discontinued. I wish Steiner<\/a> would release a gen 2 model and provide more power to the system, as well as better control options. If someone did that, we\u2019d have the best shotgun light on the market. Amp it up to 1,000 lumens and say 10 to 15K candela (or more) and add a pressure switch, and we\u2019d have a tier-one option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, for now, you can often pick these lights up cheap on the aftermarket. I have one for my Remington 870 and Mossberg 500 and paid less than 50 for each. Watch eBay and Gunbroker, and they pop up every now and then. Let me know what you think about the Mk7 below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n