miamivicedade
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Hi all - did not see definitive results in the search. Please feel free to explain your answers. Thanks!
2021 - Do you have a light on your carry pistol?
- Thread starter miamivicedade
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Corpral_Agarn
Member
Not yet but I'm working on it
NorthBorder
Member
I just don't see the need.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
I do not have any gadgets on any of my handguns. Carry or range toys.
Pat Riot
Contributing Member
I have never had a light on a carry gun. I do have a lights on two of my home defense guns.
Space Ghost
Member
In my book a weapon mounted light is mandatory for ANY defensive firearm... handgun, rifle, or shotgun.
1. It's dark out 50% of the time.
2. Bad guys love the night.
3. The ability to ID a target as friend / foe is paramount.
Here is the nightmare scenario I use as an example to get my point across...
It's 3:37am Sat morning. You hear a noise. You wake up, somewhat still groggy. There are shuffling sounds coming from the living room, then a bang of something, hitting something else, and a muffled voice cursing. (someone is in the house) You grab your light equipped handgun, rifle, whatever... and wake the wife to have her call 911. As you round the corner of the hall to check things out, you see the shadow of a figure. A man appears to be unhooking the big screen TV in the living room. You bring the weapon up to a low ready, pointing at his feet. (ready to raise, and engage if needed), You hit the light, telling him to get out of your house, the police are on the way... Your heat stops as you realize it's your 22 year old son, home from college for a surprise visit... and he was trying to hook up his Playstation without waking you up...
Had you no light, had you been scared, (and you probably will be) had you fired at a dark figure, THINKING he was a thief, and a possible danger to yourself, and your wife... this could have been the tragedy of your life.
Had this been an actual dangerous situation. (NOT you son) you could quickly, and easily come up to the target from that low ready in a fraction of a second to protect yourself, and your family, again, lighting the subject, to get a good silhouette of the sights, to asses the need to shoot, or not shoot, and possibly blind or disorient the intruder.
Yes, you also need a hand held light, for those times when you need light, without a weapon. You need both.
My daily carry gun has a mounted light...
My defensive long guns have lights.
I also I carry the aforementioned hand held light in my pocket. There will be times (many more times) you need light, but not a weapon, and there may be a time your weapon mounted light fails.
Here is one such thread on the subject.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/laser-light-for-hd-pistol.879729/page-3#post-11758979
1. It's dark out 50% of the time.
2. Bad guys love the night.
3. The ability to ID a target as friend / foe is paramount.
Here is the nightmare scenario I use as an example to get my point across...
It's 3:37am Sat morning. You hear a noise. You wake up, somewhat still groggy. There are shuffling sounds coming from the living room, then a bang of something, hitting something else, and a muffled voice cursing. (someone is in the house) You grab your light equipped handgun, rifle, whatever... and wake the wife to have her call 911. As you round the corner of the hall to check things out, you see the shadow of a figure. A man appears to be unhooking the big screen TV in the living room. You bring the weapon up to a low ready, pointing at his feet. (ready to raise, and engage if needed), You hit the light, telling him to get out of your house, the police are on the way... Your heat stops as you realize it's your 22 year old son, home from college for a surprise visit... and he was trying to hook up his Playstation without waking you up...
Had you no light, had you been scared, (and you probably will be) had you fired at a dark figure, THINKING he was a thief, and a possible danger to yourself, and your wife... this could have been the tragedy of your life.
Had this been an actual dangerous situation. (NOT you son) you could quickly, and easily come up to the target from that low ready in a fraction of a second to protect yourself, and your family, again, lighting the subject, to get a good silhouette of the sights, to asses the need to shoot, or not shoot, and possibly blind or disorient the intruder.
Yes, you also need a hand held light, for those times when you need light, without a weapon. You need both.
My daily carry gun has a mounted light...
My defensive long guns have lights.
I also I carry the aforementioned hand held light in my pocket. There will be times (many more times) you need light, but not a weapon, and there may be a time your weapon mounted light fails.
Here is one such thread on the subject.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/laser-light-for-hd-pistol.879729/page-3#post-11758979
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Space Ghost
Member
OK, I'll bite. Why not?
Armored farmer
Member
I have a good quality weapon light FOR my edc pistol. It goes with me in my travel kit when I'm away from home.
I ALWAYS have a flashlight. Usually my Streamlight micro stream.
I've been thinking about upgrading to a full size 1911 with a rail for my HD needs. I want one just like my truck gun....I also have a light for this one, but don't keep it on the gun. If I'm going to use it at night, I'll slide it on.
I have a light on my AR.
I ALWAYS have a flashlight. Usually my Streamlight micro stream.
I've been thinking about upgrading to a full size 1911 with a rail for my HD needs. I want one just like my truck gun....I also have a light for this one, but don't keep it on the gun. If I'm going to use it at night, I'll slide it on.
I have a light on my AR.
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Lennyjoe
Member
House guns yes, carry pistol, no.
JR24
Member
Same.
I've tried it a few times but the holster adds more bulk IWB and makes concealment more difficult, IMO.
In winter when I wear jeans and longer shirts more it's less of an issue, but I like to stay consistent if I can.
herrwalther
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- May 1, 2013
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- 8,130
Yes. Streamlight TLR7A on my full size carry and Viridian C5L on the compact. I have taken enough low light shooting classes to explore the pros and cons of having a light. Have even put a few rounds into people in the dark using a light or night vision. I also carry a handheld light. No one can convince me against otherwise against having a weapon light.
CoalCrackerAl
Member
Reason i don't need one. There is enough ambient light in the house at night to light up what or who may be lurking around. The fish tank gives off light. Plus the heat lamps from the reptile cages give off light. Out side we have motion activated lights. And the best of all is the dogs will let us know if someone is around who should not be. Another argument is if the intruder is armed. But i understand not everyone has ambient light. A light or laser gives them a target.
Shawn Dodson
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- Dec 28, 2002
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WhoMe?
Member
Yes. Much like SharpDog, I have a TLR-6 on my P365. Since I'm not the aggressor, I don't get to pick the time or place of any confrontations. So even though I do my best to avoid stupid places at stupid times, the light is a must for me.
Shawn Dodson
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- Dec 28, 2002
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Firearms trainer Tom Givens has had 67 of his students accosted by armed criminals. Three of his students were murdered when they decided they didn't need to carry a gun that day. The remaining 64 students successfully defended themselves by shooting the aggressors. 61 out of the 64 defensive shootings occurred between 3-7 yards, with the overwhelming majority being between 3-5 yards (within 1 car length). The other three shootings were beyond 7 yards, with the farthest being 21 yards. None of the students, when debriefed, used a flashlight of any kind nor did they feel they needed one to see and ID their adversaries. Givens' findings are validated by shootings involving plainclothes FBI and DEA agents that are working in sketchy areas and are mistaken as private citizens by armed robbers - the statistics mirror the circumstances of Given's students.
The overwhelming threat to armed citizens in public is armed street robbery, which happens in places that are well lit. The most dangerous places are parking lots at Walmart and convenience stores, ATMs, and gas stations.
IMO, a light on a CCW pistol is unnecessary. It's a Tactical Timmy fad.
Link to Ballistic Radio podcast - "Handgun WMLs Are Not Necessary"
The overwhelming threat to armed citizens in public is armed street robbery, which happens in places that are well lit. The most dangerous places are parking lots at Walmart and convenience stores, ATMs, and gas stations.
IMO, a light on a CCW pistol is unnecessary. It's a Tactical Timmy fad.
Link to Ballistic Radio podcast - "Handgun WMLs Are Not Necessary"
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NorthBorder
Member
There's enough ambient light in my home at night that I can see what's what. I pocket carry pretty exclusively me EDC and a light would make it more difficult.
What are you gonna do when the power is off. About a million homes in Louisiana right now with no power and looters in the streets.
We have one pistol suitable for carry with a light on it. That is the one my wife carries. It fits in her purse easier than any practical way for me to carry it. For home defense and when camping I have a light on the handguns. I also have one on 2 of my AR's and a shotgun.
shoobe01
Member
Yes. A thousand times yes. I have been in a LOT of places where I had to pull out the flashlight just to find the light switch, etc. I have had to light up loose neighborhood dogs to dazzle them until I could sneak away, but any moment that could have been shooting in the dark instead. Power goes out. Dark parking garages. Carjackings at night. Handheld light usage is for suckers so an emergency backup to the WML. And a lot of other stats and logic.
Both of them (and yeah all the carbines also):
Not a problem At All. Carried the big one IWB today in shorts and a T-shirt, driving and walking and sitting and climbing, in the heat, and ended the day by even chasing around a 4.5 year old. Not uncomfortable, not printing.
Both of them (and yeah all the carbines also):
Not a problem At All. Carried the big one IWB today in shorts and a T-shirt, driving and walking and sitting and climbing, in the heat, and ended the day by even chasing around a 4.5 year old. Not uncomfortable, not printing.
Nope, not on my pistol.
I do always carry a light that is strong enough to be suitable for self-defense use and have practiced using it in conjunction with firearms with and without night sights.
I use it quite frequently. I don't know how people who don't carry lights do without them.
I do always carry a light that is strong enough to be suitable for self-defense use and have practiced using it in conjunction with firearms with and without night sights.
I use it quite frequently. I don't know how people who don't carry lights do without them.
JCooperfan1911
member
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- Oct 8, 2020
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Absolutely not.
JeffG
Member
No. The Glock 23 I have on a magnet for a house clearing gun has a TLR-1.
I carry a Glock 19 with night sights wherever, whenever, it doesn't have a light; I'd have to buy a light and new holster.
Odds are high that many unexplained (gun not specified) "no" answers are handguns not conducive to a light, 32 acp / 380 / 38 snub.
Majority percentage of those may not be straightforward about why they carry a minimal gun IME, unlikely to be so about the light either.
Odds are high that many unexplained (gun not specified) "no" answers are handguns not conducive to a light, 32 acp / 380 / 38 snub.
Majority percentage of those may not be straightforward about why they carry a minimal gun IME, unlikely to be so about the light either.
jdavis123
Member
Anything that adds to bulk of my concealed weapon is not a consideration. Where I live, the attire is light clothing year round. Most times I am wearing shorts and a T-shirt making concealment without printing a priority. Besides, very little of my time outdoors is at night.
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