I test a lot of products but when I test CDM Gear products, I feel unbelievable aesthetic pleasure from them. This time, I received a bunch of new barrel/magazine/flashlight clamps for the Remington 870. They are also available for other shotguns like the Mossberg 500. The clamps are great as always, the design is perfect, the form is beautiful and the products are full of features. I remember the first time I received the CDM Gear MOD-C flashlight clamp and it was love at first sight. It looked awesome and the form of the barrel/magazine clamp was futuristic and functional. It is still one of the best ways to attach a flashlight to your Remington 870 or just stabilize and protect the extended magazine tube.

Thanks to CDM Gear for clamps for review!

Night shotgun training I participated recently proved them to be the best. I have tested several clamps and flashlights and was impressed by CDM Gear MOD-C Flashlight Clamp again. I have it on my shotgun but this was the first time when I spent several hours working with it and shoot many night drills with flashlight.

There were several other shooters with different flashlight clamps. All I can say is that magnetic clamps are not 100% reliable, there is always a chance of such clamp falling off under recoil. If it won’t fell off under recoil you may hit something with your flashlight and it will fall off anyway.

There are many other shotgun flashlight clamps which you can use. Some are made of plastic like the Elzetta flashlight clamp some of made of aluminum like CDM Gear MOD-C Clamp. I prefer aluminum magazine clamp because it’s sturdy, lightweight and low profile.

New Improved CDM Gear Barrel/Magazine/Flashlight Clamps

CDM Gear Clamps

CDM Gear Clamps

So, let’s start with the new features of the CDM Gear barrel/magazine/flashlight clamps for shotguns. First of all, the manufacturing process was changed. This isn’t something you can see but it is more important than even the look and features of the clamps. CDM Gear does not cut threads into them either. The usual process of cutting threads removes material to form the thread so that the threads are no harder than the rest of the clamp. CDM Gear “forms” them into the aluminum before they are anodized. The forming threads compress the aluminum into the thread shape, like a forging, while making the material that forms the threads much denser and harder. Then, a hard coat is placed on top of that to make a very durable thread. This is extremely important because the barrel/magazine/flashlight clamps can be removed and installed thousands of times without any problems. I know this because I use and disassemble my shotgun very often.
Clamps are made from two pieces of machined metal and are very durable. I’ve used previous versions of the CDM Gear flashlight clamps for years without any problems. I’ve fired thousands of rounds, disassembled shotguns and clamps hundreds of times and they still look and work perfectly. Clamps are made of aerospace quality 6061 aluminum, which makes them lightweight and durable.

Another thing that I always expect from CDM Gear clamps is a very cool design which looks perfect on all the shotguns they are designed for. The design was changed slightly with time but I think that it became better and more modern looking.

Stabilize and Protect Magazine Extension

CDM Gear MOD-C Flashlight Clamp

CDM Gear MOD-C Flashlight Clamp

Let’s have a closer look at the features they give to shotgun shooters. First of all, the main function of all barrel/magazine clamps for shotguns is to stabilize them and protect the magazine extension tube from damage. It is pretty easy to damage the magazine extension especially if it’s longer than +1 round. I think that every tube which adds more than one round needs to be stabilized using a clamp. That is often overseen by many shotgun owners and it can lead to the magazine extension tube getting damaged which will make it useless.

Some extensions come with a barrel/magazine clamp, for example, the one made by Remington. But it doesn’t have many features and it can be placed only in one position on the magazine extension. You can be more flexible with CDM Gear clamps by installing them in any place on the barrel/magazine tube that you want. You can place them anywhere along the barrel and magazine so that if you want to add a light, you can fine tune where it is in relation to the forend. CDM Gear magazine/barrel/flashlight clamps also give you additional features like a QD sling swivel cup, flashlight holder or rail. CDM Gear clamps are lighter and sturdier.

CDM Gear MOD-C Flashlight Clamp with Streamlight Polytac

CDM Gear MOD-C Flashlight Clamp with Streamlight Polytac

The CDM Gear MOD-C clamp holds the magazine extension/barrel reliably and protects the extension from damage. What is the next advantage? You do not have to remove your light to remove the clamp. It makes disassembly much faster and easier.

If you have just a rail, there is a hole in the rail which lets you access the screw so you don’t have to remove the rail in certain configurations. That is a very handy feature which makes disassembly/reassembly easier and faster.

CDM Gear MOD-C Light Mount – One of the Best Ways to Add a Flashlight to Your Shotgun

You can attach almost any 1-inch flashlight with the CDM Gear MOD-C clamp. I recommend one of the following flashlights:
-FAB Defense Speedlight
-Streamlight Polytac
-Surefire G2X

The flashlight is held in place very well. You will not see any movement after hundreds of shots are fired. I tested this many times during numerous training exercises. But as always, I recommend that you test everything you have on your shotgun yourself. You must follow this rule for any home defense or tactical upgrade you install on your shotgun.

There is another advantage to the Mesa Tactical, Nordic Components, and CDM Gear mounts. It is the mid mount of the light rail that keeps the peripheral sight picture open. It is extremely important in home defense or tactical situation.

Anti-scratch and anti-movement pads included

Anti-scratch and anti-movement pads are included only with CDM Gear and Magpul clamps. They are great and make the MOD-C clamp even better. You will receive two pads for the barrel/magazine tube clamp and flashlight holder. They look different but have almost the same features by protecting the finish and reducing any possible movement. No slip tape pads are great to protect your shotgun’s finish and reduce movement under recoil.

CDM Gear MOD-C and BMT flashlight clamps fit the Remington 870, 1100, 1187; Benelli M1/M2/M4/M104 (not SuperNova); Mossberg 500 7 shot, 590 (not the 590A1 or SPX models, see MTC clamp); Winchester 1300, 1200 and SXP Defender.

BMT Clamp with QD Sling Swivel

BMT Clamp with QD Sling Swivel

CDM Gear MOD-C Clamp with QD Sling Swivel

CDM Gear MOD-C Clamp with QD Sling Swivel

CDM Gear MOD-C and BMT clamps accept quick release sling swivels. The clamp bolt is hidden inside the QD dock, so simply removing your QD sling swivel exposes the bolt for easy disassembly. Another good product which you can buy together with CDM Gear clamps is a heavy-duty sling swivel. It is tough; it is rock solid and looks indestructible. It is a very reliable way of adding a sling to your shotgun. Cheap sling swivels may let you down in the most unexpected moments.

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Three Slot Rail

CDM Gear BMT Clamp

CDM Gear BMT Clamp

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Three-Slot Rail

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Three-Slot Rail

BMT Clamp is for those who like rail-mounted flashlights like:
-TLR-1/TLR-2
-Nebo iProtec.
-Inforce
-Surefire Mini scout
-Elzetta Mini-CQB

This barrel/magazine clamp has all the advantages of the MOD-C clamp with the only difference that you can attach a three-slot Picatinny rail to it. This rail is good not only for flashlights but also for other accessories like lasers too. CDM Gear manufactures very sturdy rails which you can purchase together with the clamp. The BMT Clamp is low profile and perfect for the installation of the flashlight on your shotgun.

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Rail on Remington 870

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Rail on Remington 870

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Flashlight

CDM Gear BMT Clamp with Flashlight

The BMT Clamp with a rail is for those who like quick detaching flashlights. It is a handy feature if you want to be able to remove/install your flashlight in a matter of several seconds. It is good for quickly swapping your flashlight between different firearms. You can have a flashlight on the rail of your AR-15 and then simply remove it and install it on your Remington 870 in less than a minute.

CDM Gear BMT Jr Clamp

CDM Gear BMT Jr Clamp

CDM Gear BTM Jr Clamp

CDM Gear BTM Jr Clamp

One of the products is the BMT Jr. clamp which is a half-inch version of the larger clamp, but is just a clamp with a QD sling swivel dock. It is awesome and a must have for Remington 870/Mossberg 500 owners which like minimalistic looks. It doesn’t add weight at all but serves its function. It is a pity that it’s not available for the Benelli Supernova because I would be happy to have such a compact, light, and nice looking clamp on my competition shotgun.

20 Gauge CDM Gear Flashlight Clamps

The CDM Gear released the BMT light mount which was designed especially for 20-gauge shotguns. There are not too many accessories for the 20-gauge Remington 870, so it is good to have one more great accessory. It has all the features of the 12-gauge version.

Another option for 20-gauge Remington 870 owners is the UL light mount. This mount cannot be used with a magazine tube extension. It works on newer shotguns with the internal magazine tube detent. It doesn’t require any tools for installation and removal.

Installation is very simple. There is only one Allen key bolt holding it on. The rails on the BMT clamps are held by two bolts. The flashlight on the MOD-C clamp is held by one bolt.
CDM Gear clamps are highly recommended. They are good for adding a light, sling, or other accessories to them. But also, they are lighter, more durable, and don’t scratch the finish of your firearms. They are becoming increasingly popular, so you may find some of the models out of stock. I recommend getting the CDM Gear clamp, you won’t regret it.

Shotgun Recoild and Flashlight Clamps

So, what was the main problem with flashlight clamps on a night shotgun training? They were moving under recoil or even falling off. Scratches on a magazine tube and a barrel weren’t the biggest problems. The biggest problem is that you cannot be 100% sure in such flashlight holders. You need something rock solid you can rely on. That is why I really liked how my Remington 870 with CDM Gear MOD-C clamp was functioning. No movement under recoil, no scratches because 3M polyuerathane pads were attached to the clamp. Such pads are included and not only protect finish but also eliminate any movement.

Some people don’t know but you can attach quick detach swivels on the other side of the CDM Gear MOD-C clamp. This feature is very handy when you need to attach a sling.

CDM Gear MOD-C Flashlight holder is not only holds your flashlight reliably but also works as a barrel and magazine clamp. So it has lots of features which you receive in a low profile, light weight, compact and reliable piece of equipment.

Conclusion

This is my favourite way of attaching flashlight to a shotgun. I highly recommend it to any shotgun owner. And remember that flahslight is one of the most important upgrades you can get for your home defense or tactical Remington 870.

CDM Gear is a small business which makes great products. And I am very pleased to know that the first review of their products appeared on Rem870.com. Keep up the good work and keep making new fantastic products.

Recommended Products:

Candewman (CDM Gear) Clamps – Story of Creation

Scott Dew, owner of the CDM Gear shared the very interesting story of creation of his unique clamps:

CDM Gear Clamps

CDM Gear Clamps

So, I started making clamps about 4 years ago but I actually started out doing a lot of custom, one-off stuff for people. I was also designing an adapter like the Mesa Tactical stock adapter about the same time they did. This all started with the FN TPS shotgun. You may know that it has a stock that adapts an AR15 stock and pistol grip to the shotgun. I liked the look and started developing my own.

Mine was a little more complex and had a built in scope rail. It was going to be investment cast and then machined. It was really nice and better than anything on the market. I didn’t make it because Knoxx was coming out with a recoil reducing stock and I felt that it would revolutionize the stock adapter industry.

I didn’t want to sink a lot of money into something that was going to be outdated so I stopped development. Looking back, I should have continued ahead with my plans…and I still might.

In the meantime I was still making clamps but they looked like everyone elses out there. I like simplified form and after looking at the clamp assembly with the scope ring and the rail and everything I felt there was a better way. It litterally came to me in my sleep and I got up about 3 in the morning and started drawing the cad work for the MOD-C, which stands for Multi Optional Design Clamp. I’ve included a .jpg so you can get an idea of where the idea came from.

CDM Clamps

CDM Clamps

I also worked on the patent, which is still in process. I have a provisional patent that will be converted to a regular patent application in February. I will be doing the actual patent work as well.

The clamps can interchange with other components as well, such as rails and the Sling Swivel dock. The sling swivel dock is made out of steel, instead of aluminum. I believe the steel to be a better way to go than aluminum for long term durability.

Since the sling swivel dock needed a hole for the sling swivel, I lined it up with the bolt hole for the clamp. I followed through with the rails putting an access hole in the same place for the clamp.

With other clamps you need to take the rail off to take the clamp apart. You don’t need to do that with mine. I am the only maker that does this. I also wanted to have the light or laser as close to the shotgun as possible. I don’t believe there is another railed clamp out there that holds the light as close to the shotgun as mine does. It is also the lightest of it’s kind on the market.

Scott, thank you very much for sharing this story with me and readers of the Rem870 blog!

CDM Gear 20-ga Rail/Sling/Light Mount Review

NnF000 posted review of the CDM Gear 20-ga Rail/Sling/Light Mount on Remington 870 Forum

Package content; show accessory pkg instructions and BMT Mount.

Package content; show accessory pkg instructions and BMT Mount.

This Mount can be ordered with an Optional Rail and Optional Quick Connect System for Slings (which I did not buy) and all the screws you need, an Allen Wrench and four pieces of adhesive material to help hold things in place; everything you need to mount it to your Gun.
Look at first half of Mount in the next picture, you will see the Quick Disconnect Mounting Hole.
Also, from these two pictures you can see the finish both in the edges and the surface, nice job.

Two halves flat next to each other; Left half shows QD Mount.

Two halves flat next to each other; Left half shows QD Mount.

Two halves with mounting screw.

Two halves with mounting screw.

Although you do not need instructions for this part, I felt the direction in the package a little lacking for which end is “up” but again the instructions are not necessary. See picture”Package Content”.

I tried the part on the barrel and on the +2 Mag Tube Ext and they fit well, nice and tight and looks good but I am short the Coupler Nut for my Mag Tube Ext and as soon as it arrives I will post more pictures about the actual install.

I plan on using this clamp as a Barrel/Mag Tube Support and Front Heat Shield Mount, it should work out.

CDM Gear will have an additional item available for 20-ga REM870 soon, see their site, and hopefully more new items as time goes on.

Thanks for reading,
ltr

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

One more review from Remington 870 Forum:

My latest upgrade to my 870 Express Tactical is a new barrel clamp from CDM Gear. It is the BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail. There are a few reasons why I purchased one of these.

First, it is a little lighter than the stock steel unit. It is made from two pieced of machined metal and is very durable. The weight difference is not too noticeable, but I am a big fan reducing the weight of anything I need to carry, especially if there are other added benefits.

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

Second, it is more versatile. It comes with a three slot rail, so I now have a spot to mount a light, likt a Streamlight TLR or equivalent.

It also has a spot to add a sling swivel. I have not mounted one yet, as I removed the sling for range use, but I will be getting a swivel for it soon.

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

The BMT clamp also comes with four 3M polyurethane no slip grip pads that stick on. This protects the finish of the barrel and magazine. This is great. However, I found that the heat of the barrel after firing made these slightly stick to the barrel. It did not mark the barrel but required a little tapping to get them off.

Installation is easy. There is only one (Allen key) bolt holding it on. You can also place it anywhere along the barrel and magazine, so if you add a light, you can fine tune where it is in relation to the forend. The factory clamp could only be installed in one location, and did not facilitate mounting anything except the sling to it.

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

Remington 870 CDM Gear BMT Clamp with 3 Slot Rail Review

Overall, I would recommend this upgrade to anyone who is a little serious about their 870. Even if you don’t add a light or a sling, this unit is lighter, more durable, and a lot nicer to the finish of your firearm.