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 gunner76
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Joined: Mar 2009  IA, USA
 Posts: 1157 Feedback: 100% (14) |
Posted: 2/27/2012 10:10:40 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT |
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Posted: 2/27/2012 10:25:24 PM
Weapon light if you can. Allows you to use the weapon and light with one hand.
But you will also need to carry a handheld for when you don't need to be pointing your handgun at everything. |
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Posted: 2/28/2012 12:34:53 PM
[Last Edit: 2/28/2012 12:45:20 PM by Custom-X_Sponjah]
I personally prefer a handheld light.
It allows me to point the light in various positions that I couldn't get an accurate shot off with if attached to the weapon.
There are Various shooting positions when holding a hand held light and you can flow seamlessly between them while searching a house with enough practice.
Example is modified FBI, allows you to see over an object while keeping your pistol in a good position for sight alignment.
 Plus when the attacker shoots for the light, they wont hit you in the chest multiple times..
Unlike what many say about a strobe light, it does not disorient you.
We ran a test at a low light class with one, and all bullets impacted around the light that was strobing directly at our eyes.
That would suck if you were the one holding the weapon mounted strobe light and took some rounds thinking the strobe was disorienting the threat..
CXS
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Posted: 2/28/2012 12:39:35 PM
Handheld. Llights and lazers draw fire, and its nice to be able not to have them at center mass.
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Currahee
STANDS ALONE!
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Joined: Jul 2004 MS, USA
Posts: 14276 Feedback: 100% (3) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/28/2012 12:56:19 PM
I'm torn on this now, I have always thought and practiced that a handheld light is better. More options, I mostly used the FBI and Harries (they flow back and forth if you are celaring right.) I have practiced this a good bit, but at our last night match I shot with a light and did waay better.
I have some thinking to do about this. Switching to weapons lights would cost me about $200 off the bat. |
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Posted: 2/28/2012 12:59:50 PM
I have both..
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Posted: 2/28/2012 2:17:58 PM
Originally Posted By Currahee: I'm torn on this now, I have always thought and practiced that a handheld light is better. More options, I mostly used the FBI and Harries (they flow back and forth if you are celaring right.) I have practiced this a good bit, but at our last night match I shot with a light and did waay better. I have some thinking to do about this. Switching to weapons lights would cost me about $200 off the bat. I will agree that I am "faster/more accurate" with a weapon light when gaming. Especially on a rifle, but targets don't shoot back.. Try a FoF scenario with weapon lights and whatnot.. For pistol I will stick with a Handheld, for my Long Gun weapon mounted..
CXS |
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Posted: 2/28/2012 2:37:57 PM
Handheld. Ive drawn my light 1000 more times than my weapon.
YMMV but for me personally im not out much after dark anyways. Flashlights for me get used alot at work and in non-threatning situations. I suppose if I were more noctournal id choose the everpopular Arfcom option: "get both". Something to consider as well- good luck finding holsterwear that will fit your light if you choose to do so. Youll either have to make your own or shell out for a custom. |
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Posted: 2/28/2012 3:06:12 PM
[Last Edit: 2/28/2012 3:21:30 PM by bluefalcon]
Ideally both, of course. If not, probably the handheld, I guess. One option is to get the weapon light and carry it on your belt (like this) when you are out. That allows you to use it as a handheld or mount to the weapon if you had time.
Originally Posted By ex_dsmr:
Something to consider as well- good luck finding holsterwear that will fit your light if you choose to do so. Youll either have to make your own or shell out for a custom. Custom holsters don't HAVE to cost a lot. Jason at TCB Firearms made the one below for me, with mag pouch for about $100, including shipping (gun and holster had to be shipped back to me because I have a weird gun). His holsters start at $50 and go up, depending on options. If you are using a weapon mounted light correctly, the enemy shouldn't have much opportunity to shoot at the light and the advantage of being able to shoot WAY more quickly and accurately more than outweighs the disadvantage. The point is to put holes in the bad guy in a right now way so he can't put holes in you. You don't see a lot of go fast guys using the offset handheld technique. They all roll with weapon mounted lights. The various handheld techniques were developed to reduce the huge disadvantage of using a handheld in the first place. For the record, when I carry that pistol with the light attached, I also have a Surefire E2E or L2 in my offhand pocket.  |
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America-first
Tired of all the bullshit
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Joined: Oct 2005 FL, USA
Posts: 25943 Feedback: 0% (0) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/28/2012 7:26:58 PM
I prefer handheld because I don't want to point a loaded weapon at something I only want to illuminate.
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Posted: 2/28/2012 7:59:42 PM
Originally Posted By America-first:
I prefer handheld because I don't want to point a loaded weapon at something I only want to illuminate. Thats why if you use a weapon light you need to also have a handheld. |
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gunner76
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Joined: Mar 2009 IA, USA
Posts: 1159 Feedback: 100% (14) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/29/2012 12:14:34 AM
I think I'm going to go with a hand held light for now. I really don't see myself getting much use out of a weapon mounted light since it will only be on the gun when at home, but I can carry the handheld light all the time and use it for more than just with the gun.
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Posted: 2/29/2012 1:00:10 AM
Originally Posted By Custom-X_Sponjah:
I personally prefer a handheld light. It allows me to point the light in various positions that I couldn't get an accurate shot off with if attached to the weapon. There are Various shooting positions when holding a hand held light and you can flow seamlessly between them while searching a house with enough practice. Example is modified FBI, allows you to see over an object while keeping your pistol in a good position for sight alignment. Plus when the attacker shoots for the light, they wont hit you in the chest multiple times.. Unlike what many say about a strobe light, it does not disorient you. We ran a test at a low light class with one, and all bullets impacted around the light that was strobing directly at our eyes. That would suck if you were the one holding the weapon mounted strobe light and took some rounds thinking the strobe was disorienting the threat.. CXS This... |
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Currahee
STANDS ALONE!
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Joined: Jul 2004 MS, USA
Posts: 14280 Feedback: 100% (3) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/29/2012 7:23:22 AM
Originally Posted By cole454:
Originally Posted By America-first:
I prefer handheld because I don't want to point a loaded weapon at something I only want to illuminate. Thats why if you use a weapon light you need to also have a handheld. Holding a flashlight eliminates the advantage of a weapon light (ie stable shooting position) while pointing a weapon light at the ground will illuminate well enough to see most of the things in a room. Plus I see myself as confused, discombobulated an in my boxers at 3AM (When I will most likely be called upon to use this) So steam-lining and simplifying my tactics and training are the order of the day. I'm not swayed in either direction an I'm not putting you down but please explain how you would use both in an HD situation. |
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Hero
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Joined: Mar 2003 FL, USA
Posts: 19625 Feedback: 100% (133) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/29/2012 7:31:55 AM
Similar to what Currahee is getting at above, for a bedside home defense gun, I want a weapon mounted light. I know I'm not grabbing both at 0'dark-thirty if I hear bump in the night. I want the light mounted on the weapon.
For carry, I see the advantages to having both, and may even prefer a handheld if I could only have one. |
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KimberTLE45
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Joined: Jul 2006 MI, USA
Posts: 4326 Feedback: 100% (142) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/29/2012 7:44:41 AM
[Last Edit: 2/29/2012 7:45:05 AM by KimberTLE45]
I carry both. If I need to light something up, I use my pocket light and if I intend to shoot something I use my weapon light. Shooting is MUCH MUCH easier with a weapon light, I've run through courses of fire with with both.
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socommatthews
God Bless Our Troops, Especially Our Snipers!
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Joined: Jan 2007 USA
Posts: 4017 Feedback: 100% (93) Link To This Post |
Posted: 2/29/2012 8:29:57 AM
Originally Posted By DLaw:
I have both.. This. I have a mounted light on my HD gun but carry a small handheld while out and about with my CCW. |
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Posted: 2/29/2012 4:57:37 PM
TLR-1 on my M&P45 for HD. Surefire in my pocket when for CCW. i figure if someone i breaking in the house i want one hand free to move kids around to the safe room. dont forget that to illuminate a room, all you need to do is point your weapon mounted light at the ceiling. that way no one is flagged....
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Posted: 3/3/2012 4:03:56 AM
Ah, yes, the "hold the light away from your body because the bad guy will shoot at it" trick. I chuckle every time I read that.
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netofficer3710
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Joined: Jan 2007 IA, USA
Posts: 1409 Feedback: 100% (5) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/5/2012 12:24:54 AM
I have 3 weapons of choice, my AK, Mossberg 500, and Glock 17
the long guns have polytacs and the glock has a G17 and these lights are mounted at all times... ok, they will be as soon as my light bearing hybrid holster arrives. I also carry a hand held streamlight pro-tac AA if I happen to carry a revolver (j or k frame which is rare) I obviously stick to just the hand held light |
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Posted: 3/5/2012 1:27:40 PM
IMO
If you open carry then I don't really see much of a reason not to have a weapon mounted light. But you should also carry a handheld. For CCW if you can't conceal a weapon with a mounted light then you should carry a handheld. Basically you should have a handheld no matter what. Weapon mounted lights are optional but recommended if you can. Again just IMO |
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Posted: 3/5/2012 1:28:37 PM
For CCW, I carry a G19 or M&P with a surefire pocket light, EDL or something like that. I simply cannot conceal a gun and a weapon mounted light. Just not gonna happen.
So I opt for a handheld, much more concealable and versatile. As well, you can use the light as a weapon if you have a strike bezel. Imagine a hammer fist on a attacker across the eyebrow. They will bleed. Not to mention a bright flashlight in my experience has deterred trouble. Note: I hate the modified FBI technique with a passion. If you are holding the light in your left hand above your head. Your head is low left in relation to the light from the shooter's view. Most shooter suck, most of those shooter are right handed. So most shots are going where...low left, right where your head is. Force on Force training really hammered this home. Anyways, this isn't a low light technique discussion and per typical arfcom... 
If I was carrying OWB, sure i'll have a weapon mounted light like a TLR-1 or x300. |
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ishoot2live
Stay in a Round Room You'll Never get Cornered
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Joined: Nov 2002 NV, USA
 
Posts: 8737 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/5/2012 1:41:58 PM
Two Handhelds for me.
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Posted: 3/5/2012 1:45:35 PM
Originally Posted By ishoot2live:
Two Handhelds for me. Two is one, one is none I typically carry a Streamlight Protac 2AA on me and have a spare light in the glove box and another in the trunk in my emergency kit + spare batteries |
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ishoot2live
Stay in a Round Room You'll Never get Cornered
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Joined: Nov 2002 NV, USA
Posts: 8738 Feedback: 100% (1) Link To This Post |
Posted: 3/5/2012 1:52:56 PM
Originally Posted By cole454:
Originally Posted By ishoot2live:
Two Handhelds for me. Two is one, one is none I typically carry a Streamlight Protac 2AA on me and have a spare light in the glove box and another in the trunk in my emergency kit + spare batteries I carry two on my person (actually three, I have a Nano on my key ring). I also have doubles along with batteries in my truck, ruck, plate carrier, and a few other places.  |
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Posted: 3/7/2012 10:28:01 AM
On my duty rig and light duty rig I carry weapon light and handheld. On off duty rig I just carry handheld light.
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