How much weight to give a rail?

[Nico Testosteros]

I'm looking to get a 9mm auto as a range/nightstand gun to supplement or supplant my KelTec P11. I'm looking at various 3 gen S&W police trade ins or SW99 or a CZ P01.
How much weight should I place on the presence or absence of a light rail in my decision making?

Only the SW99 or P01 have a rail but I do like the looks of the stainless and or alloy S&Ws, the 5903 or 5906 primarily.

Thanks y'all!

 

[Bobo]

Since one of it's major uses will be as a nightstand gun, a light and/or laser might be a really useful accessory, so a rail would be very handy.

Bobo

 

[M2 Carbine]

Personally all my defense guns are equipped with a laser and better yet a laser/light. So IMO a rail is important for a HD gun.
But you have to decide for yourself.

I recently bought a 9mm Beretta PX4 pistol. Since it has a rail and has proven itself to be totally reliable I put a Streamlight TLR-2 on it for a nightstand gun.

 

[JAguirre]

I concur, if its gonna be a nightstand gun, a light will be important, and hence the need for a rail.

 

[basicblur]

How much weight to give a rail?

Always nice to have options, and as one who has a rail on 'bout every gun I own, I'd say not so much?

I have a TLR-2s on my bed gun, but I also keep a Streamlight Nightfigher C4 LED with it. Learn how to use the adjustable ring on the Streamlight for 2-handed shooting and I don't know that the rail carries that much weight in your purchase?

Streamlight lowered their LED prices a while back and I've been upgrading-it's a impressive little light (120 lumens) with no gimmicks etc to fumble with should you need it (doesn't have 10 different modes etc).
Optics Planet has free shipping over $29.95 and you can Google for a 5% coupon code-they're not hard to find.

 

[psyopspec]

Are you trained in the use of a light or laser? Do you intend to seek such? It's your firearm and you hang whatever you like on it. I've generally found in the accessory debate that many of the opinions you'll get going against lights and lasers will be from people who have come to uninformed conclusions, as opposed to putting in the time to train with the tool before making a judgment call on whether it works for them. I believe each can be useful, especially in HD.

I don't go so far as to only purchase guns with rails, but if I'm in the market for an HD firearm it will have the mount.

 

[Nico Testosteros]

I neglected to mention I have a 180 lumen Fenix hand held light that is very bright for two handed operation. Probably the best combination of what I need is to find a S&W with a rail, one of the TSW series.

Thanks for y'all's input.

 

[basicblur]

Train yurself 'til you can do/afford more?

Lenny Magill's stuff is often hit or miss, and it was made 'bout 10 years or more ago, but the info/techniques seem current-you might try Night Master: Low Light Shooting & Flashlight Techniques DVD?
'Course, cheap SOB that I am, don't know that I'd pay $39.95 for it (who am I kidding-ain't no way in heck I'd pay $39.95 for it)!
I once bought 5 or 6 of his DVDS for $109 at his site (with a free belly band) and got this one-the 5 or 6 I got were a mixed bag.

The DVDs he produces with pros doing the teaching are pretty darn good-the ones Lenny does himself...well, hit or miss.

House Clearing & Cornering Tactics & Techniques-DVD is also good.

I'm sure others will chime in with other videos? I've seen a number from the usual suspects, but often at $45 or more a pop (and did I mention I was a cheap SOB?).

UPDATE: Just cruised by his site to give the link, and he now has 5 videos for $79! You'll have to check yourself to see all the particulars (which videos are included/not included etc).

 

[Fumbler]

The first priority for house duty is to get the gun you like to shoot and can shoot well.
If you can shoot all the guns you're considering well then I think you should pick whichever one has a rail.

I used to think it was silly to stick lights on guns until I purchased a CZ SP-01 (very much like a P01). I happened to get a lightly used Streamlight TLR-1 for dirt cheap from the FFL I got the SP-01 from.
The SP-01 was purely a range gun purchase, but it ended up replacing my Sig for a house gun because I shoot it as well, it holds more rounds, and I have the TLR-1 mounted on it (the Sig doesn't have a rail).

I keep many high powered flashlights in the house, but when something bumps in the night it's just a heck of a lot easier to just hold the gun/light combo and know I have both hands on the gun instead of fiddling around with a light in one hand.
BTW, there's plenty of side spill from the TLR-1 that I don't have to point the gun at something to light it up and identify it.