Your Views On Weapon-Mounted Lights

[Cosmoline]

I've run across a certain contingent who believe firmly that weapon mounted lights are a bad thing. I've never quite followed the logic. Esp. when I lived out in the sticks and had no streetlights, a bright weapon mounted light was an absolute necessity if I planned on hitting what I was aiming at. If the concern is not pointing at things with the weapon, there's no rule against having a second light as well. But I could be wrong. I thought I'd poll the assembled throngs.

 

[dcal]

I voted under some circumstances. Like you said in a no light environment it's a necessity. I currently live in a apartment that is some what lit at all times by street lights. The light is far less a necessity in my case.

 

[Geno]

I like the light w/laser for home defense. I don't carry it when I go out at night.

 

[Fleetwood_Captain]

You can't shoot what you can't see.

But then again, there's a reason they seldom use them in the military.

 

[jbird714]

I voted "under some circumstances". For home defense, the fact that you have to point the weapon at a "target" in order to illuminate it, can be dangerous. I know, keep your finger out of the trigger guard until ready to shoot, etc., etc. I still prefer not to point my .45 at anything until ready to shoot.
That said, I have one and it stays on the pistol when in the night stand. Also, I have a Surefire G3 right next to it to handle target identification.

Jay

 

[M2 Carbine]

All my defense guns have lasers or better yet laser/lights (if available).

 

[Mark K. C.]

This is one of those things where I think that a weapon with a mounted light is a great idea but not on all weapons and not all the time. The only gun I have with a light attached to it is what I call my coyote-getter.

 

[RancidSumo]

Just please dont ruin a 1911 with them/rails.

 

[Riss]

They have their place and function like everything else. My preferance is to have a rail on a gun, Glock 35 has one, my AR forend has one, That way I just keep the light around and use it to find my gun, whichever it may be that I need.

 

[psyopspec]

In Certain Circumstances

Civilian - When I take off my carry gun at the end of the day and move it to the nightstand, I put on the streamlight. My reasoning is that it frees up a hand - to dial 911, manipulate locks, etc. I live alone; I will add that if part of my home defense plan included checking on the kids in an emergency, I'd strongly consider going with a handheld so I wouldn't come close to flagging loved ones with my muzzle. Consider getting some training regardless of which you go with, and keep in mind that lights/lasers can give away your location.

Military - Room clearing. Yes, they work both ways, but if there's no other light and it takes two hands to hold you're rifle, they can be convenient. Also, they help with the shock and awe factor.

 

[bwavec]

For home defense it seems like a no-brainer. You have the light pointed where the barrel end is.....and you have the chance to positively ID your target before you fire.

Unlike a police officer or military person, I am not searching unknown areas for bad guys (where the light makes me more of a target than it does what I am searching for). Instead, I am in my own home (which I can navigate silently without the lights on), so I know what should be there....and what doesn't (and is a possible threat). I am not sweeping the light around to search for something in the house. The light allows me to positively ID what looks like it doesn't belong, before I open fire on it.

I have one mounted on my shotgun for HD.....I cannot imagine trying to deal with door handles, a hand held flashlight and a pump gun all at the same time.

Having it mounted on the weapon means you have it there when you need it....if you choose to turn it on or not is up to your own needs. Better to have and not need/want....rather than need/want it and not have it.

 

[JoeSlomo]

But then again, there's a reason they seldom use them in the military.

What military?

Anybody that has a modicum of proficiency in room / building clearing uses gun mounted lights and keeps them mounted 24 / 7.

For those that have NOT been on the receiving end of a 65 lumen or greater gun light, I highly recommend you enroll in a sim course that allows you to be OPFOR as well as aggressor at close quarters during limited / no visibility.

Night vision and IR sources are OK for static clearing techniques, however, the lack of situational awareness created by a lack of depth perception and limited field of view can be problematic in confined spaces.

White light, or more appropriately, high intensity white light, allows for rapid clearing of sectors, and greatly impairs the ability of a potential threat to accurately engage the good guys. Gun mounted lights allow the shooter to maintain both hands on the weapon for greater control and accuracy, and do NOT offer any disadvantage over an offset hold when the shooter is using his light properly. This fact has been proven time and time again during sim and blank fire training I have conducted for almost 20 years now.

Safety may be an issue for some, however, the ability to recognize and engage a threat from a non-threat has nothing to do with a white light and everything to do with the competency of the individual behind the gun.

 

[Keegan]

Considering that I'm on THR right now because I was woken by the furnace panel falling off for no particular reason (which sounds just like a gang of ninjas breaking into your house when it wakes you up) and couldn't see a thing in the pitch black house, I think weapon-mounted lights are a great idea!

 

[Thernlund]

They're ok. But keep in mind that you're pointing a gun at anything that you need to shine a light on. God forbid it's your daughter in the kitchen pouring herself some milk.


-T.

 

[Jeff White]

But then again, there's a reason they seldom use them in the military.

What military are you talking about? Weapon lights are used extensively in the US military. In fact they are purchasing an M9 with integral rails.

Despite the fact that the US military is extensively equipped with the latest passive night vision devices, white light is still preferred for indoor work.

Jeff

 

[coloradokevin]

They are great on a duty weapon.

I have a Surefire X200 mounted on my Glock for work, and it sure makes building clearances, and night time encounters more pleasant (only one item to deal with, not a flashlight/gun balancing act).

You can live without them, but they make life easier... I'd say that at least 60-70% of the guys in my department are using them these days.

 

[crankshop1000]

Like this? You hardly know it's there.

 

[Fred Fuller]

My mom (82 years young) has a TLR-2 light/laser on her Beretta Storm carbine, and a Streamlight M-3 on her Marlin Model 60 armadillo gun (they dig up her flowers at night- she HATES 'dillos). She thinks weapon-mounted lights are the best thing since sliced bread, and LOVES that laser. The Beretta and the Marlin are the only long guns she has (well, except for her NEF .30-30 single shot deer rifle, but the game warden would frown on putting a light on that one).

I like lights too...

lpl/nc

 

[sacp81170a]

Weapon mounted lights are great. Small, high intensity flashlights are also great. I use both. Ain't no law says you can't keep a light mounted on your weapon and still have a flashlight in the other hand on a lanyard. That way, you have the best of both worlds. If you're clearing and want to use the handheld light, you've got it. If you need to open a door or use that hand for something else, you still have the weapon mounted light. Of course, that only works with a handgun. On long arms your weapon mounted light is the way to go.

 

[Biker]

I'm in the minority, but I'm not going to give a BG a light to shoot at, especially if it's in front of my face.

Biker

 

[buzz_knox]

With the proper light, you can light up an area without the weapon being pointed at the target.

Having some form of light is mandatory when carrying a weapon, as one must not shoot a target one cannot identify. Having a light that doesn't tie up the support hand is a great idea. Having a weapon light along with a handheld light available is an even better option.

On defensive long guns, a weapon light is a must. Your support hand has too many tasks to perform to encumber it with a light.

 

[RevolvingCylinder]

But then again, there's a reason they seldom use them in the military.

Maybe in your military but they're standard issue in the US Army now.

I don't see them as a hindrance at all. They do have power switches after all. Light isn't projected when they're off. I find them more useful on a rifle or shotgun than on a pistol.

They're ok. But keep in mind that you're pointing a gun at anything that you need to shine a light on. God forbid it's your daughter in the kitchen pouring herself some milk.


-T.

That's why they shouldn't be the only flashlight you have on you at the time. Especially with a pistol when you can use both quite easily. They're great as an additional flashlight.

 

[roo_ster]

I currently have no weapon-mounted lights on my weapons. No rails and no desire to go through the trouble of jury-rigging the mating of the two.

I do appreciate them, however, and think they are a good idea in some circumstances.

They are not appropriate in other circumstances. For instance, my CCW will not sport a weapon light. Too much bulk for a CCW holster. At night I also tote a 6P off-weapon.

Also, keeping the two separated provides a bit more flexibility. If you know how to use several of the various off-weapon light techniques, this flexibility can be more fully utilized & appreciated.

 

[freakshow10mm]

For police officers and dedicated night stand guns, yes. Other than that, just tacticool.

 

[Langenator]

Considering that I'm on THR right now because I was woken by the furnace panel falling off for no particular reason (which sounds just like a gang of ninjas breaking into your house when it wakes you up)

Ninjas don't prowl in gangs. And you'd never hear them breaking in even if they did.

Unless they're Mall Ninjas.