Tactical rails

[crestoncowboy]

I tend to agree as far as self defense one is rarely if ever going to find himself in an area so low on light that they can't see at all. I do carry a small streamlight just in case. However in the woods or caving ive been pretty dang close to absolute darkness. (And have been in total darkness in caves, though I wouldn't want to fire a round in one, being deaf would be better than dead I suppose) I do carry my light equipped guns often in those situations.

 

[tarosean]

I started to figure a flashlight mounted to my gun would help the bad guy as much as at would help me. Just start shooting at the light. Now I have night sights on my hd guns,

Have you ever tried to look at one of these 1000 lumen weapon lights?????? These are not your 30 year old mag light.

As as far as I am concerned.. Night sights are only good for locating your pistol. If I cannot identify what I am looking at then they are worthless.

 

[tarosean]

Yep. Totally. Especially on 1911s ..

Do I like em.. No
Do I find them extremely handy... Yep

 

[Sergei Mosin]

I am a little leery of identifying a possible target by pointing a weapon at it. Never point a weapon at anything you're not willing to destroy, and all that. Better to have the light off the gun.

 

[rskent]

I am a little leery of identifying a possible target by pointing a weapon at it. Never point a weapon at anything you're not willing to destroy, and all that. Better to have the light off the gun.

If you point a decent (in my case a TLR1) weapon mounted light toward the floor (low ready) it will light up the whole room. It least it will in my house. If I shoot a hole in my floor I guess I will have to fix the floor.

 

[Zerodefect]

Outside of my house, I'm leery, and use a handheld Surefire E2d or E2d LED (painful bright).

Inside my house, .......yeah you're going to have the bore of a pistol or shotgun in your face when you light up.

The 5 rules have redundancy. ''Finger'', and ''safety'' lever, will make up for ''point''. You can flood the room with your pistol light, you don't have to actually point it. (there's a reason why my main floor is monochromatic white, and upstairs is brown)

I'm a convert. I've abandoned my handheld for ''bumps in the night''.

 

[Kaybee]

The CZ Pcr looks a lot nicer than the cz p01.

I think a light could be a good idea sometimes so hard for me to choose the rail less option if all else was the same.

 

[crestoncowboy]

Ive pulled my gun and light on many dogs sneaking up in the woods, Never went off, and they left peacefully. even my glock which either has 3 safeties according to glock or none according to many people. I tend to agree with the latter.
I've also watched many animals play or hunt through the scope of a rifle that I didn't intend to destroy, but I guess that's terrible too. I don't think anyone is talking about using their gun light to carry the groceries in or light up the sidewalk while picking up the kids from a school function. If I have my gun out, especially with the light on, things have devolved to the point that I have a good enough probability of needing to "destroy" something, that I'm ok with it. But like I said I don't have one on my normal ccw.

 

[Old Dog]

Go shooting in the dark with a handheld light in one hand and a pistol in the other......then shoot with a rail mounted weapon light.
See which one you like then.

Yeah ... no. Combined 39 years active duty and military; small arms instructor for 25 years ... Understand the rationale for WML, used 'em for work in a few different environments over the years ... but the question pertained to one's preference about accessory rails on pistols. I still vote "nay."

 

[Deanimator]

I am a little leery of identifying a possible target by pointing a weapon at it. Never point a weapon at anything you're not willing to destroy, and all that. Better to have the light off the gun.

That's why I'll never have one.

 

[Deanimator]

Ive pulled my gun and light on many dogs sneaking up in the woods, Never went off, and they left peacefully. even my glock which either has 3 safeties according to glock or none according to many people. I tend to agree with the latter.
I've also watched many animals play or hunt through the scope of a rifle that I didn't intend to destroy, but I guess that's terrible too. I don't think anyone is talking about using their gun light to carry the groceries in or light up the sidewalk while picking up the kids from a school function. If I have my gun out, especially with the light on, things have devolved to the point that I have a good enough probability of needing to "destroy" something, that I'm ok with it. But like I said I don't have one on my normal ccw.

I recall something about "be aware of your target and what's beyond it". I don't really want to become aware of it by pointing a loaded firearm at it. This is much more so when I'm more likely to encounter a person rather than a dog or a deer.

 

[Old Dog]

This is much more so when I'm more likely to encounter a person rather than a dog or a deer.

Exactly. Even more so as a private citizen. Obviously in a combat zone or as a SWAT/SRT cop raiding a known threat area, things are much different.

For those who claim that a WML is absolutely necessary to shoot better in low light/darkness, my suggestion is that they need to practice much more, both one-hand shooting and the proven techniques with a hand-held light.

 

[Nuclear]

I only have one weapon mounted light, and it is on my home defense gun. It is there in case someone cuts the power and comes into my house. I don't have one one my daily carry, as I don't want my light, thin, easily concealed pistol to be longer, wider, heavier and therefore harder to carry & conceal.

So rails hold very little attraction for me, as they don't provide a function, can add to the chance of snagging, are slightly heavier, and are ugly.

 

[tarosean]

For those who claim that a WML is absolutely necessary to shoot better in low light/darkness, my suggestion is that they need to practice much more, both one-hand shooting and the proven techniques with a hand-held light.

Situation dependent.

Personally I got sick of opening barn doors, gates, paddocks, etc. with a handheld light and a gun. WML's are the bees knees as far as I am concerned even though I dont care for the ascetics.