Posted: 10/12/2009 4:12:39 PM EDT
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I am strongly thinking about retiring the S&W 686 from home defense mode and want to replace it with my 1st Gen G17. I would like to place a light of some type on this but can only find them for newer railed models.
Does anyone make this type of set up? Thanks |
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Learn proper light technique using a surefire hand-held light. I am a big believer against having a light mounted on a handgun that you are using for home defense. Depending on your application and training, pointing a loaded handgun at a target that you have not yet identified is questionable and quite possibly very dangerous to your loved ones, expecially when your "amped up" at 310am wondering what that noise was in the house.
Through many training clases and real-life playtime I vaguely remember a gun safety rule that goes something like "do not point the firearm at an object you are not willing to destroy". And yes, I'm being sarcastic, but serious. ID'ing the target with a hand held then bringing up your weapon on target can be done very quickly with practice. This way you now know your target is a threat and you can act accordingly. I know it looks cooler on TV with the LEO room searches using handgun mounted lights, but remember LEO's have a little different priorities then civilians. Check out the surefire website, they have a lot of tips on light applications via hand held lights. Other clases that I've attended even touched on using the hand held light as a compliance/stike weapon. LINK ––Surefire light education |
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Quoted:
Learn proper light technique using a surefire hand-held light. I am a big believer against having a light mounted on a handgun that you are using for home defense. Depending on your application and training, pointing a loaded handgun at a target that you have not yet identified is questionable and quite possibly very dangerous to your loved ones, expecially when your "amped up" at 310am wondering what that noise was in the house. Through many training clases and real-life playtime I vaguely remember a gun safety rule that goes something like "do not point the firearm at an object you are not willing to destroy". And yes, I'm being sarcastic, but serious. ID'ing the target with a hand held then bringing up your weapon on target can be done very quickly with practice. This way you now know your target is a threat and you can act accordingly. I know it looks cooler on TV with the LEO room searches using handgun mounted lights, but remember LEO's have a little different priorities then civilians. Check out the surefire website, they have a lot of tips on light applications via hand held lights. Other clases that I've attended even touched on using the hand held light as a compliance/stike weapon. LINK ––Surefire light education If you're pointing the weapon at something while attempting to ID it with a mounted light, you're doing it wrong. |
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Quoted: If you're pointing the weapon at something while attempting to ID it with a mounted light, you're doing it wrong. Care to elaborate? Do you mean that proper technique is to not point your weapon-mounted light (thus the weapon) at what you are trying to ID? I don't use a weapon-mounted light, so I haven't been trained in their proper use. |
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From my personal experiences my advice 1) Sell the S&W and get a new(er) third generation G-17. You will then have two guns that share the same magazines. 2) Learn to use a handheld light and keep it with the weapon. I have a 3rd generation G19 and a rail light. I tend to keep the light off the gun and keep a SureFire G2L in the nightstand with my pistol and loaded magazines. I like having the option of a weapon mounted light, but I have yet find a good enough reason to keep it mounted over using a handheld light.
If my house is invaded, I am turning on all the lights from my bedroom anyway as they point toward whoever is approaching up the stairs. My plan is light up, call in the cavalry and hold my position. I personally see no reason to search and clear my house. This all being said, I have practiced moving and taking cover in my house in the dark should the situation warrant, I am ready, weapon mounted light and all. My 2 cents, YMMV |
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I am not selling the S&W. A good revolver is always useful in my opinion.
I really was wanting the weapon light for more of a back up as the last poster uses his. I keep a surefire and a 4-D cell maglight next to the bed already. Having enough light isn't a problem. The CAA adapter looks cheap and I am not sure I want something like that on a weapon I may have to bet my life on. I was thinking of buying a S&W M&P 9 to fill the role (Just to have something new and different) but a new G-17 would be more logical (though much more expensive) since I already have about 20 mags. Need to think about what will work best for me a bit more. |
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Quoted:
If you are not certain that your object is a threat, especially in a home defense situation, your firearm should not be pointed at it. You may accidentally shoot your... fiance (as in yesterday's news) I think this is why we KEEP OUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!! I keep a weapon mounted light on my G23 and have no doubt about my abilities, it's all about training, training, training!! What do you think cops do???? |
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Quoted:
I am not selling the S&W. A good revolver is always useful in my opinion. I really was wanting the weapon light for more of a back up as the last poster uses his. I keep a surefire and a 4-D cell maglight next to the bed already. Having enough light isn't a problem. The CAA adapter looks cheap and I am not sure I want something like that on a weapon I may have to bet my life on. I was thinking of buying a S&W M&P 9 to fill the role (Just to have something new and different) but a new G-17 would be more logical (though much more expensive) since I already have about 20 mags. Need to think about what will work best for me a bit more. I beg your pardon, I had a senior moment and did not realize your S&W was a revolver......I agree whole heartedly about keeping a good revolver. Are you LEO or MIL? That would really tip the scale towards a new G17 to supplement your battery of handguns. |
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Quoted:
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I am not selling the S&W. A good revolver is always useful in my opinion. I really was wanting the weapon light for more of a back up as the last poster uses his. I keep a surefire and a 4-D cell maglight next to the bed already. Having enough light isn't a problem. The CAA adapter looks cheap and I am not sure I want something like that on a weapon I may have to bet my life on. I was thinking of buying a S&W M&P 9 to fill the role (Just to have something new and different) but a new G-17 would be more logical (though much more expensive) since I already have about 20 mags. Need to think about what will work best for me a bit more. I beg your pardon, I had a senior moment and did not realize your S&W was a revolver......I agree whole heartedly about keeping a good revolver. Are you LEO or MIL? That would really tip the scale towards a new G17 to supplement your battery of handguns. Yep, 4 inch BBL 686 .357 Mag. A large weapon for the intended use. In the past my wife had a hard time pulling back the slide on many semi-autos so I used the wheel gun as it is point and shoot. I have her trained on a Makarov now and she is good enough with the Glock that she could bring it to use it under stress. My training.......I do OPFOR against some National Guard and ROTC units once or twice a month. In house to house - room to room, they kick our arses any more - mostly due to quicker target identification i.e. lights and NVG. I understand that is a different environment than at home but I see the usefulness. The use of lights by us cut down on "friendly fire" by 25% the first time. (Us bad guys shooting our buddies in the back in the dark) Again, not the same as home, but lead with the weapon and identify before firing concepts are similar. Wanting a new S&W M&P9, but a new G17 may be a much smarter idea since I am used to using it. |
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Looks like you a lot more trained than I am (and probably most) in low light fighting, thank you for your service. It is just that reason that MY plan is to hold behind cover and call in the police. If the intruder steps foot on the stairs, it is another story. I like options, so I have railed Glocks (G19s) and also SureFire handhelds. My weapon light for the pistols is the TLR1, really good light, IMHO much better than the Glock light.
Thanks again for the thread, I really appreciate the Surefire link. BTW, I also have S&W revolvers. For a while I collected K Frames, now I only have one M66-0 and one M25 1955. Revolvers in .357 mag and .45ACP, does'nt get much better. Thanks again. Quoted:
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I am not selling the S&W. A good revolver is always useful in my opinion. I really was wanting the weapon light for more of a back up as the last poster uses his. I keep a surefire and a 4-D cell maglight next to the bed already. Having enough light isn't a problem. The CAA adapter looks cheap and I am not sure I want something like that on a weapon I may have to bet my life on. I was thinking of buying a S&W M&P 9 to fill the role (Just to have something new and different) but a new G-17 would be more logical (though much more expensive) since I already have about 20 mags. Need to think about what will work best for me a bit more. I beg your pardon, I had a senior moment and did not realize your S&W was a revolver......I agree whole heartedly about keeping a good revolver. Are you LEO or MIL? That would really tip the scale towards a new G17 to supplement your battery of handguns. Yep, 4 inch BBL 686 .357 Mag. A large weapon for the intended use. In the past my wife had a hard time pulling back the slide on many semi-autos so I used the wheel gun as it is point and shoot. I have her trained on a Makarov now and she is good enough with the Glock that she could bring it to use it under stress. My training.......I do OPFOR against some National Guard and ROTC units once or twice a month. In house to house - room to room, they kick our arses any more - mostly due to quicker target identification i.e. lights and NVG. I understand that is a different environment than at home but I see the usefulness. The use of lights by us cut down on "friendly fire" by 25% the first time. (Us bad guys shooting our buddies in the back in the dark) Again, not the same as home, but lead with the weapon and identify before firing concepts are similar. Wanting a new S&W M&P9, but a new G17 may be a much smarter idea since I am used to using it. |
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Quoted:
I think this is why we KEEP OUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!! I keep a weapon mounted light on my G23 and have no doubt about my abilities, it's all about training, training, training!! What do you think cops do???? Cops don't usually have lights mounted on their handguns, rifles are a different story. Keeping your finger off the trigger is important but it doesn't change the rule of "never point a weapon at someone unless you intent to use it." In a stressful situation this is even more important, IMO. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I think this is why we KEEP OUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER!!!! I keep a weapon mounted light on my G23 and have no doubt about my abilities, it's all about training, training, training!! What do you think cops do???? Cops don't usually have lights mounted on their handguns, rifles are a different story. Keeping your finger off the trigger is important but it doesn't change the rule of "never point a weapon at someone unless you intent to use it." In a stressful situation this is even more important, IMO. Which would you rather hear "Please get the light out of my eyes" or "GUN!" BANG..... Even if you train with a weapon mounted light, I would have a secondary hand held to use when not covering. Again, this is only my opinion based on my experiences and perceived needs. . |