Carry a Flashlight

[atlctyslkr]

I've noticed alot of you posting flashlights with your guns. Should I start carrying a small flashlight with me? Is there some way a flashlight could help me in a tactical situation that I haven't thought of? If I was being shot at I don't think I would turn on my flashlight --Three on a match?--

 

[uspJ]

A good light is worth its weight in gold. It can be used to find your way or find something in the dark. It can be used to blind a threat, as well as be used as an impact weapon should you not be able to access your gun right away. Most importantly it helps you identify the threat before you have to use force...hopefully. I prefer a light that is minimum of 65 lumens. I carry a Surefire 6P defender daily. It fits in my pocket next to my spare mag and I use it almost daily, it gets used second only to my Leatherman blast.

I would not turn on my light while being shot at either, but if you see the threat coming you could shine the light in his eyes to blind or deter an attack.

 

[Cosmoline]

I keep an everday carry mini maglight with me. Nothing high-tech about it, but it's very durable and it works well. Plus it's one of the very few things still actually made in the USA.

 

[Patriotme]

Somebody made a good point about those in the towers having to walk around in darkness on 9/11. A penlight would have made their evacuation easier. I'm sure that those that have been in blackouts would recommend having some kind of light with them. Even a little keychain light would be a benefit when the lights are out.

 

[geologist]

My edc light is a Fenix LD10. 120 lumens, single AA battery and it is small enough to carry in your jeans pocket.

 

[mljdeckard]

It's kind of like carrying a knife. You are going to have to cut a lit more things in life than you are going to have to shoot. Likewise, a flashlight come in handy in a lot of ways you never thought of until you started carrying one. I dropped the third magazine for a Surefire 6P.

A flashlight can be crucial in a dark encounter. Do some homework and get some training on how to use it.

 

[mcdonl]

Be careful. Flashlights and knives are even more addictive than guns!

 

[Creature]

Somebody made a good point about those in the towers having to walk around in darkness on 9/11.

Heck...ever been in a department store when the light go out? It can get VERY dark in some stores even in midday.

 

[Rusty Shackleford]

I think people who hate getting caught without the tools necessary to get out of a jam usually carry a pistol, a small knife, and a flashlight everywhere. My light wouldn't be of any use in a fight, but it's extremely useful for other unrelated things. If you start carrying one, you'll be surprised how often you use it. You'll wonder how you got by all these years without it on you all the time.

I use my pocketknife most often (several times a day it seems like), my flashlight second most(at least a couple of times a week), and I haven't had to shoot my gun at anyone yet(knock on wood).

Also, when other people need a flashlight and you just whip one out of your pocket on cue, some of them will look at you like you fell from heaven and some will look at you like you are weird. The former will think you are the handiest person ever, and the latter might call you McGuyver... don't worry about the second type. They are the ones who are needing to use your flashlight. I just say, "hey, you needed it didn't you?"

 

[JohnBiltz]

I have one those mini flashlights Cabella's sells for the key chain. It can be a lifesaver or handy for finding something you dropped in the dark. Its pretty bright for its size.

 

[pitsmile]

Carry a streamlight scorpion or my surefire 6P LED. Getting the new SOG Strobe for xmas. They are def addicting!

 

[deputy tom]

I carry a flashlight at all times.I just used it no more than ten minutes ago to look under my car attempting to locate a leak.I use a light ten times or so per day,a knife maybe three times and almost never need my gun.YMMV.tom.

 

[Doug S]

As the others have already said, there is a lot more application for a edc flashlight than just defensive situations, and it's just not always convenient to go looking for one after the fact (or in an emergency situation). My primary EDC light uses a single CR123 battery, and measures only 2 3/4 and puts out 180lumens on high. It's way brighter and lasts way longer than any of my old full-size Mag lights, and it's small and light enough that you don't even notice it in a pocket. It gets used many times throughout the week, and this is even true during daylight hours. I also keep a AAA model on my keychain which get used even more. Just added a Quark Mini CR2 which is only two inches long. Smaller than my SAK, and pen yet it puts out 180 lumens on high. It lights up a room almost as well as turning on a light switch. These new LED allow you to have very bright light, as well as lower light for longer lasting applications. Both of these lights can go over 20hrs in low mode, which would be helpful if the power goes out for any length of time. Last winter the local area had power out for a week after a snow storm (and I don't even live in an area that gets all that much snow).

In response to the twin towers comment above, someone has posted the 911 Commission report that states that people who had flashlights in the towers, fared much better than those who did not, and I'm sure most of the people who didn't, never thought they'd need one working in their nice office buildings in the middle of the city.

 

[gofastman]

I try to carry my Streamlight PT-2L everywhere when im not at work (I use a Blue Point pen light there, AAA bateries are alot cheaper than CR123 lithiums) I ordered it thinking it was just gonna be another thing to lug around in my pocket but I use it all the time now.
I keep extra flashlights in my car too.

 

[Big Boy]

My edc light is a Fenix LD10. 120 lumens, single AA battery and it is small enough to carry in your jeans pocket.

I have the same light. Check it out. Only about $55 very bright, can do strobe, SOS mode, and lower lumen levels to save battery.

It's a great little light. It clips inside my left butt pocket.

 

[bikerdoc]

Carry a streamlight scorpion

Me too. Every day.

Great tool, 110 lumens, very handy thing to have in a variety of situations.
Cost = 40 bucks or so.

 

[FruitCake]

I work as a mechanic and I'm constantly using my streamlight led lights. I've even gone shopping for holsters for all my flashlights. I've changed over to led because the battery life is A LOT better. I've got the rechargable and regular battery ones. YES they are very addictive. I wouldn't know what to do without them. I even gift them out to my friends and neighbors.

 

[rhenriksen]

I rolled my eyes for years at all the chatter over "tactical" flashlights. Finally bit the bullet and started carrying a Fenix PD30 about 6 months ago. I love it - is constantly coming in handy! And 260 lumens is hugely painful for anyone who gets the light directly in the eyes.

 

[LAK]

IMO in all but a few special circumstances a flashlight attached to a handgun (or rifle) is a silly idea. Still, a good flashlight is a great idea to carry after dark, and with technique and practice you can use it to light up a badguy. For this a moderate to high output flashlight with a runtime of about 20 minutes or more is fine.

I have a Streamlight Scorpion, Stinger rechargable, and a SureFire E2. I recommend the Scorpion because it is very reasonably priced from about $35 and an excellent light. The downside is that it eats CR123 litium batteries. The Stinger is also an excellent light but not really pocket sized; a better carry light is the rechargable Streamlight Strion model (next on my own shopping list) which is about $80 and up including chargers.

Or you can beome proficient in low/almost no light shooting; this is more diffcult the greater the distance involved.

However, it is worth carrying a general purpose light as well, just for those unforeseen circumstances when you find yourself needing one. For this longivity is more important than lumens and low to moderately powered LED models are the best choice. You need enough light for utility with longer runtime. I have a number of these ranging from the smaller Half-a-penlights to a Streamlight Survivor LED.

The latter is a really great light and one that is not as popular as I think it should be. It is more than a "pocket" light, alittle on the bulky side. But if you are wearing a coat with a good size pocket, or carrying any kind of bag or case you will probably find room for it. Runtime is about three hours on high setting and six on low, plus it has a strobe setting. It is tough, versatile and reliable, incorporates a removable and rechargable pack, and will also work with regular AA batteries.

--------------------------------------------

Je Suis Prest

 

[Sheldon J]

With flashlights brighter is usually better especially in tactical situations, strobing is very useful too that is if you move after doing it to your perp.... Most LED tactical's are in the 120-200 lumen (brighter if they strobe) area with one 700 monster 700 lumen tatical light.... all this from the incandescent bulb days when we thought 90-100 was bright....

 

[mcdonl]

And 260 lumens is hugely painful for anyone who gets the light directly in the eyes.

No kidden! I have "shot" myself in the eye with my 80 lumen SF before, I cannot imagine 260!

 

[Creature]

IMO in all but a few special circumstances a flashlight attached to a handgun (or rifle) is a silly idea.

And some people think flu shots are silly too...

 

[Deanimator]

I often carry the small LED flashlight I got from the NRA. It's handy both for illuminating things and as a weapon, either where a gun isn't justified or isn't permitted. It's got a sharp crenellated edge around the bezel. I ALWAYS have it when I have to travel to Chicago.

 

[sidheshooter]

Short answer: yes. Carry a light.

Soooo many choices; here is a recent thread of mine taking survey of what THR folks carry:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=554985

By the time you Wade through that one, a couple of top contenders will likely start vying for your wallet's attention.

 

[OregonJohnny]

In the last couple of years, I have walked out of the house on many occasions without a firearm.

However, I can't imagine leaving the house for any length of time without a small flashlight, and I simply feel naked without some kind of pocket knife on me.

As others have said, a good flashlight comes in handy much more than a firearm (99% of the time). I use a flashlight every single day, especially now that it gets dark around 4:30pm. Walking to my car after work, checking our office warehouse doors, walking the dog, grilling outside, working on cars, etc.

I actually can't understand people who "suit up" each day with a firearm, perhaps extra magazines, knives, keys, wallet, phone, etc., and never consider carrying a decent flashlight. They must live somewhere that it never gets dark!

These days, for about $20-40, you can get a good (Maratac, iTP, Fenix) single AAA keychain flashlight that can easily outshine old incandescent monsters from 10 years ago. And they're the size of your pinky finger. For a few dollars more, you can move up into AA and CR123 lights from dozens of manufacturers that throw hundreds of lumens worth of light and are no bigger than a spare compact Glock magazine.

As others have warned, however, once you play around with some modern compact high-quality LED flashlights, you'll see what you've been missing and your wallet will immediately start getting lighter.