nightwolf1974
New member
i'm thinking of building a couple 1911A1s this summer and will probably get frames with rails.
are weapons lights feasable?
pros and cons?
are weapons lights feasable?
pros and cons?
weapons light on handguns?
- Thread starter nightwolf1974
- Start date
THEZACHARIAS
New member
Depends on how you plan to use it.
nightwolf1974
New member
being carried open carry.
THEZACHARIAS
New member
Probably get a lot of questions like "are you a SWAT guy?". I dont mean it in a disrespectful way, just thats how itll look. I dont know that i'd carry it that way during daylight unless you're going into low light locations on a fairly regular basis.
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nightwolf1974
New member
no, i'm not a SWAT guy. not even a LEO
just thought it might be handy sometime.
just thought it might be handy sometime.
I have an issue with a light mounted on a gun
And that is, basically, you use the light to look around with, and you are pointing a (loaded) gun at everything you are looking at.
Yes, it does have the "advantage" of using the light to aim with, but balance that against the possibility of shooting someone or something accidently, because you were looking at it, for instance, a family member up late at night, etc.
I have always felt it better to have the light well away from the weapon. IN an actual defense situation, it is the natural thing to focus on the light, and if an intruder shoots at the light, I would rather not be right behind it.
A police/swat officer who has an AD and shoots someone because their weapon light was on them usually has the weight of the system behind them. As long as the dept says they followed proper procedure. The city might pay, in the end, but the individual officer seldom does. You and I don't have that kind of security blanket.
So balance the potential liability and risks, and make your own decision. For me, if I have to check out something in the dark, my light is in my other hand, well away from my body.
A laser is a different story, as it is a targeting device, which you don't (and can't) use for looking around. Just my opinion, but a light on the gun, no. A laser, yes, if you want one.
And that is, basically, you use the light to look around with, and you are pointing a (loaded) gun at everything you are looking at.
Yes, it does have the "advantage" of using the light to aim with, but balance that against the possibility of shooting someone or something accidently, because you were looking at it, for instance, a family member up late at night, etc.
I have always felt it better to have the light well away from the weapon. IN an actual defense situation, it is the natural thing to focus on the light, and if an intruder shoots at the light, I would rather not be right behind it.
A police/swat officer who has an AD and shoots someone because their weapon light was on them usually has the weight of the system behind them. As long as the dept says they followed proper procedure. The city might pay, in the end, but the individual officer seldom does. You and I don't have that kind of security blanket.
So balance the potential liability and risks, and make your own decision. For me, if I have to check out something in the dark, my light is in my other hand, well away from my body.
A laser is a different story, as it is a targeting device, which you don't (and can't) use for looking around. Just my opinion, but a light on the gun, no. A laser, yes, if you want one.
You will end up with either custom holsters or a duty sized police rig. Option three is the most pratical. Buy a regular holstel and carry the tactical light of your choice in a seperate pouch and put them together if need. I have a light on my home defense guns, but they never leave the house.
Technosavant
New member
I don't really see the need for one on a carry gun- holster choice for guns with mounted lights is rather limited, and you don't need to go looking into dark corners when out and about.
I do have one on my home defense pistol (and rifle). Yes, I'm potentially pointing a loaded weapon at whatever I'm investigating, but in my situation it isn't an issue- if my wife is next to me, then whoever else is in my house doesn't belong there and will have to get over being muzzle swept. You can also use the "scatter" from the light to see who it is- the weapon is pointing slightly away from the potential target yet can be brought to aim quite quickly. For long guns there's no practical way to employ one with one hand, for pistols you're still better off with a two-hand grip. It's a choice you have to make- risk covering somebody with a loaded weapon or have a less effective weapon. You make your own choice.
I do have one on my home defense pistol (and rifle). Yes, I'm potentially pointing a loaded weapon at whatever I'm investigating, but in my situation it isn't an issue- if my wife is next to me, then whoever else is in my house doesn't belong there and will have to get over being muzzle swept. You can also use the "scatter" from the light to see who it is- the weapon is pointing slightly away from the potential target yet can be brought to aim quite quickly. For long guns there's no practical way to employ one with one hand, for pistols you're still better off with a two-hand grip. It's a choice you have to make- risk covering somebody with a loaded weapon or have a less effective weapon. You make your own choice.
Shadi Khalil
New member
I agree with carrying it seperatly, it seems like they just slide on.
This has come up a few times, and most every possible argument can be found via searches. Having run handheld lights and weapon lights in drills and in house clearances (drills and my own when something went "bump in the night", albeit against my better judgment), the answer is yes, no, maybe.
Weapons lights are a must if you plan on using your support hand for anything other than holding a light. Holding the light in your hand when turning a knob or performing some other task is funny to watch but not when it's you. Keeping a weapon with a good weaponlight at the low ready will illuminate the area nicely while allowing you to do whatever you need and not sweep someone unintentionally.
Handheld lights are a must if you aren't sure deadly force is indicated, if you might have to deal with a target blocked by shadows, or if you've got multiple areas to check around.
Having both is the preferable solution if the weapon/weapon light/holster combo allows (a Glock with an X300 in Kydex isn't that much bulkier than no light, while a Beretta 92 with the old Surefire clamp on system is a no go). If you can only go with one, go with the handheld unit and practice your manipulation techniques (reloading, malf clearing, etc) and accept the compromise. Make sure you get a light whose body tastes acceptable because eventually, you'll have nowhere to put it except in your mouth.
As for slipping one on should you need it, I wouldn't. It's easy enough when there is no pressure, but occasionally you'll sweep your hand, miss a rail, or otherwise have to fiddle with it. Doing that when you think deadly force is indicated is not the best solution as 1) you'll be dealing with a loaded weapon and 2) you'll likely be a wee bit nervous.
Weapons lights are a must if you plan on using your support hand for anything other than holding a light. Holding the light in your hand when turning a knob or performing some other task is funny to watch but not when it's you. Keeping a weapon with a good weaponlight at the low ready will illuminate the area nicely while allowing you to do whatever you need and not sweep someone unintentionally.
Handheld lights are a must if you aren't sure deadly force is indicated, if you might have to deal with a target blocked by shadows, or if you've got multiple areas to check around.
Having both is the preferable solution if the weapon/weapon light/holster combo allows (a Glock with an X300 in Kydex isn't that much bulkier than no light, while a Beretta 92 with the old Surefire clamp on system is a no go). If you can only go with one, go with the handheld unit and practice your manipulation techniques (reloading, malf clearing, etc) and accept the compromise. Make sure you get a light whose body tastes acceptable because eventually, you'll have nowhere to put it except in your mouth.
As for slipping one on should you need it, I wouldn't. It's easy enough when there is no pressure, but occasionally you'll sweep your hand, miss a rail, or otherwise have to fiddle with it. Doing that when you think deadly force is indicated is not the best solution as 1) you'll be dealing with a loaded weapon and 2) you'll likely be a wee bit nervous.
bufordtjustice
New member
Have some of you actually had training with weapons mounted lights? I am guessing no because I keep hearing things that are descriptions of things you absolutely shouldn't be doing touted as SOP.
The reason I say that is of all the training I have attended, you don't wave the light/weapon around willy-nilly. It is always pointed in a safe direction until engaging a threat. The amount of light that is produced when activating a good WML is enough to illuminate hands, dark corners, etc. You also don't run around with them turned on all the time either.
For a concealed pistol, they are usually too bulky to use all the time. Having a frame also doesn't mean you have to actually attach the light to the gun at all times. You can use many WML's as a separate flashlight and then attach it if desired (depending on timing,situation, etc).
Also, and most importantly, just because you know how to use a flashlight in the general sense of the word and you know how to shoot a gun, doesn't mean that you are instantly qualified to use a combination of both. Professional training and continued practice are a must.
The reason I say that is of all the training I have attended, you don't wave the light/weapon around willy-nilly. It is always pointed in a safe direction until engaging a threat. The amount of light that is produced when activating a good WML is enough to illuminate hands, dark corners, etc. You also don't run around with them turned on all the time either.
For a concealed pistol, they are usually too bulky to use all the time. Having a frame also doesn't mean you have to actually attach the light to the gun at all times. You can use many WML's as a separate flashlight and then attach it if desired (depending on timing,situation, etc).
Also, and most importantly, just because you know how to use a flashlight in the general sense of the word and you know how to shoot a gun, doesn't mean that you are instantly qualified to use a combination of both. Professional training and continued practice are a must.
Unless there is some sort of new, super secret ninja flashlight technique I'm not aware of, dont all current techniques have the light and gun looking in the same place at the same time?
As was mentioned, if your using the weapons mounted light (or any light for that matter) properly, its no more of an issue than any other technique, and it frees up a hand for other uses.
As was mentioned, if your using the weapons mounted light (or any light for that matter) properly, its no more of an issue than any other technique, and it frees up a hand for other uses.
Well, yes, and that's the problem. Whatever you point the flashlight at is also being covered by a loaded firearm. Since the entire purpose of pointing a flashlight is to illuminate something you can't adequately see unaided, this action will inherently result in pointing a loaded firearm at an object which hasn't been necessarily identified as a target. How is that safe?