Mounted flashlights and laser sights for home defense

Sure, you shouldn't search with a weapon mounted light, but consider what the majority of people will actually do, rather than what they ought to do.

And weigh the risks.

How many of the people who buy a gun and put a light on it are going to search for the bad guy (assumed to be waiting in ambush) in total emcom, and only flash them with the light for target lock?

Not many, I'm thinking.
 
OP,
You already have the right start. Get the firearm first. Learn it. Learn how to will utilize it. Later, learn what you may need in addition to it.
Many are good accessories but will it be a good one to have for you application?
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For me, I like a handheld light more than a weapon mounted light.
Also, I like FO or Glow in Dark front sights more than laser. A laser can be a hindrance to learning for a beginner.
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Are mounted flashlights and laser sights worth it for home defense? I'll probably get a handgun first for home defense and wondered if some accessories were worthwhile.
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I was curious about what percentage of people use a weapons mounted light for home defense so I looked at the last 3 years of my sales that are directly related. Three years ago it was 28%. Today it is 33%. A small increase as it steadily grows each year.

I still use a handheld flashlight as my HD gun is a Gen2 G17 which doesn't have a rail. My home has lots of windows and at night I can see pretty well in the dark (to my advantage).
 
I prefer a weapon mounted light, used IN CONJUNCTION with a handheld SureFire flashlight. The SureFire is useful for searching, etc, and can be used to keep the bad guys focus AWAY from your weapon. The weapon mounted light can be used in the event of a loss/failure of the handheld light and for positive target ID "in the moment".

I have not used a laser yet, but I plan to try them soon and will probably outfit the missus's gun with one and possibly my own.

Papershotshells
 
I like my TLR-1. The spot light beam is 6-8" at inside distances and my groups land consistently within that circle. So I can identify the threat, as well as use the beam as an aiming device.
 
My preference in a light is detached from the gun. Hand held in weak side hand, high and a bit forward as to not light up my body. Also want a bright, stout bodied light that can be used as a weapon as well.

Far as a laser goes, I like them but only the type that has the on/off button in the grip. Such as the Crimson Trace styles for many revolvers. And no, they absolutely should never replace practicing with irons.

But FWIW, in the ideal world, I will be hunkered in the bedroom with a shotgun aimed at the door and there will only be ambient light. No real need for a light when someone is kicking in the locked BD door and they have been warned that LE has been called and that I have a gun.
 
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This past Sunday, there was an interesting conversation on this very subject at
the handgunworld.com podcast radio show.
Here's the introduction preceding the podcast.

"A very large number of citizens who defend their life with a gun, do so in low light or night time conditions. Yet, due to range availability, most people practice and train in daylight. It’s a completely different world, shooting at night and incorporating a flashlight or weapon mounted light while shooting. It’s also tough to identify your target. This episode is about using lights, night sights, red dot optics and more, in low light and night time shooting."

http://www.handgunworld.com/
 
My house is never so dark that I can not see at night. Small automatic night lights are cheap to run in dark areas.

An old saying is tracer bullets work both ways. I don't wish to give an intruder a target.
 
If I hear an intruder and have time, my plan is to get my family into the closest room I can. Lock the door and call the cops. If I hear footsteps outside my door, I will announce to them my intentions. I will ask for a name and reason for being in my house and if I do not get a satisfactory answer I will fire upon anyone that opens the door. This is if I am awoken in the middle the night. Any other time of the day I will have enough lights in my house. I do have a flashlight in my bedside though.

If I do not have time I can grab my flashlight and be able to find my family members without having to point my gun where there is no threat.

My house is old and creaky. No way into my house without making noise. Trust me I have tried. Windows are all old wood. Front and back door are very tight and require a bump to open. Entire first floor has creaky hardwood. Stair way door at the bottom of my steps from the bedroom has to be pulled shut very hard like its on a spring. Anyone unfamiliar will without a doubt make lots of noise when they turn the knob and it springs open. I can hardly do it without making some noise. So unless they are ninjas I should hear them at some point. I am less than 10 seconds from awake to weapon in hand and ready. I have pets and have been woken up from them going up and down the stairs. Why is it that pets wait till you are asleep to start their partying?

Also, my children leave out the "home alone" toy booby traps as well.
 
you are talking both equipment and tactics...they need to work together. we use lights on our weapons, you have to have tactics to match.
 
While i don't personally use a rail mounted light, i don't see a problem with one. Lasers I'm not a fan of, but lights i see no problem with.
 
Derbel, offered some very good advice. I'd add this, Marine MP's (my #2 son is one) are taught to expect 50% casualties in clearing houses during urban warfare training. I don't think my searching the house then confronting a burglar at bad breath distance is in my best interest. For that reason, our bedroom door is locked, giving us add'l time to respond and call the police, and short of obvious 'dog knocked over a chair' we don't come downstairs to investigate.

We have a lab, who's a light sleeper...and defensive about 'her' house. Her job #1 is warning us. She's vary serious about it! In over 50 years of home and apartment living as an adult, I've called the police once...and that was when we arrived home to find the front door on our farm house open...no problem, wind and my inexpert lock up were the cause, and we made a new friend in the county officer who responded, he's now a regular on my improvised outdoor range set-up here on the farm.

That said, the bedside guns sport a laser on my wife's J-frame, and a TLR-1 flashlight on my Sig. Here's Derbel's very good advice....Best Regards, Rod

AVOID using it to search (i.e., hunt the burglar) whenever possible.

LE and military work in teams. They also have training and experience.

Training with a partner in low-light, using something as simple as a single-shot Airsoft pistol, will show you the vulnerabilities of searching with a flashlight.
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