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Posted: 12/9/2013 7:26:16 AM EDT
Just how much need is there for a weapon mounted light on a handgun for conceal carry?
Is it better to have a handheld or both? ETA: Poll spelling got fucked up. |
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For me an attached light adds too much bulk, I carry a hand held light.
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Need? No.
A small handheld would be more versatile. That being said, they do have their advantages such as being able to keep both hands on the gun. |
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Regular carry a G19 w/ X300 in Raven OWB strong side w/ cover garment.
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Quoted:
For me an attached light adds too much bulk, I carry a hand held light. View Quote I carry while driving cab. My Commander doesn't have a rail. Even if it did I wouldn't use it. I hate handguns with light rails. They're a deal breaker. I use my handheld light from 4am to sunrise. Usually lighting up a house to see the address. It's in my hand most of time. Having another light on the gun would be pointless and uncomfortable. |
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I'd suggest that you try mag changes, opening doors, navigating obstacles, carrying something, clearing malfunctions, etc in the dark.
first with no light then try it with a handheld light with no lanyard. then try a handheld with lanyard then try a weapon-mounted light then you'll know what works best for you |
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I tried it for 6 months. I never once saw a need for it. I carry a handheld as well. For a regular citizen that has to conceal a gun for SD use I can't see how it's useful.
LEO's...maybe. Your everyday Joe not IMHO. |
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My PPQ has an Inforce APL on it for nightstand use and outside the waist band carry. The APL is great since it requires just the flip of a switch to remove and then I can do IWB appendix in seconds.
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Heavy Heavy Heavy.
Bulky Bulky Bulky. I just stick a quality handheld. Bedstand...WML all the way. |
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Need? No. A small handheld would be more versatile. That being said, they do have their advantages such as being able to keep both hands on the gun. View Quote This. In a perfect world you'd get both. That isn't practical for ME and the way I carry right now so I carry an EB1T. Ideally, I'd like to have an APL to reduce bulk and a handheld as well. |
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Quoted: I'd suggest that you try mag changes, opening doors, navigating obstacles, carrying something, clearing malfunctions, etc in the dark. first with no light then try it with a handheld light with no lanyard. then try a handheld with lanyard then try a weapon-mounted light then you'll know what works best for you View Quote Thanks
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Psssstt... Over here...
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Yes.
M&P9 with an Inforce weapon light, riding in a KT-Mech holster, FTW. |
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View Quote That should read HD gun... From experience I disagree with all that for a normal conceal carrier. |
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That should read HD gun... From experience I disagree with all that for a normal conceal carrier. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
That should read HD gun... From experience I disagree with all that for a normal conceal carrier. Me too. I see a lot of comments that are more offensive (HD) rather the defensive (CCW). If you're pulling your CC weapon on someone you had better of already identified them as a target and therefore the mounted light doesnt matter. You can't pull your gun on someone, flip the light and say "Oops, I thought that was a knife in your hand not a tire gauge...My bad". You get arrested and have your license taken away for doing something like that. |
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Weapon light does not stop the need for a hand held also. Came here to post what socom stated, you better have target identified before you draw down, period
I have had several instances, night and day, that have been defused with hand held light when I was seconds away from drawing. Most recent was a few weeks back at a gas station outside Atlanta, broad daylight two thugs approached without saying a word to me, got a bad feeling, most beggars are begging as soon as you make eye contact. These two just kept coming without saying a word, I pulled my 300 lumen light and shined it in their eyes, and loudly stated "I can't help you", and they almost tripped over each other getting turned around and scampering off. For me, CC no weapon light, two hand held lights. Home Defense, G23 has weapon light with laser, and hand held right next to it in quick access safe, and my Home Defense AR has two lights mounted on it, but it lives in the big safe with a hand held right next to it. Whatever you choose, train and practice with it, learn it's limitations. |
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Quoted: Weapon light does not stop the need for a hand held also. Came here to post what socom stated, you better have target identified before you draw down, period I have had several instances, night and day, that have been defused with hand held light when I was seconds away from drawing. Most recent was a few weeks back at a gas station outside Atlanta, broad daylight two thugs approached without saying a word to me, got a bad feeling, most beggars are begging as soon as you make eye contact. These two just kept coming without saying a word, I pulled my 300 lumen light and shined it in their eyes, and loudly stated "I can't help you", and they almost tripped over each other getting turned around and scampering off. For me, CC no weapon light, two hand held lights. Home Defense, G23 has weapon light with laser, and hand held right next to it in quick access safe, and my Home Defense AR has two lights mounted on it, but it lives in the big safe with a hand held right next to it. Whatever you choose, train and practice with it, learn it's limitations. View Quote They probably got blinded by the light.lol
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Its a must have !
Pistol lights are small and can weigh under 3oz And there are a ton of IWB -Light holsters to be had. I cant even tell when I mount the APL to my P30. I also carry 2 handhelds surefire E2Defender & P2X Defender BUG = S&W 642 in left front pocket of cargo shorts with a spare load. P30 IWB at 3:00 with spare mag between 11-12:00 in a wilderness horizontal mag holder and a cell phone and side opener keys wallet etc. Untuck Tshirt and cargo shorts pretty much all year around here in SWFL |
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I would if Crossbreed made a holster for an M&P9/TLR1 combo.
I can't see myself spending $90 on something from raven either. I always carry a surefire handheld on my person, but the more lights, the merrier. |
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I would if Crossbreed made a holster for an M&P9/TLR1 combo. I can't see myself spending $90 on something from raven either. I always carry a surefire handheld on my person, but the more lights, the merrier. View Quote There are some many holster makers out there it aint funny. BTW I don't know why Crossbreed wont make them? |
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Crap, page 2! Going to have to get on my regular computer (versus my kindle) to post an image. Picture coming later to top post......
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right now on my hip is a full size 1911 with a TLR-1HL
Do I need it? Probably not, do I need the gun? Probably not again I don't do handheld lights, I personally find them not only useless but that they make the actual gun less useful. For simple things like walking around looking for stuff, perfect, but weapon mounted lights allow two hands on the gun and allow the light to go wherever the gun is pointed without any doubt. |
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I would if Crossbreed made a holster for an M&P9/TLR1 combo. I can't see myself spending $90 on something from raven either. I always carry a surefire handheld on my person, but the more lights, the merrier. View Quote mine came from gunners custom. no issues, fits well. I also have one from Griffen for another gun but this one works just fine and for the light. |
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There are some many holster makers out there it aint funny. BTW I don't know why Crossbreed wont make them? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted:
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I would if Crossbreed made a holster for an M&P9/TLR1 combo. I can't see myself spending $90 on something from raven either. I always carry a surefire handheld on my person, but the more lights, the merrier. There are some many holster makers out there it aint funny. BTW I don't know why Crossbreed wont make them? Comp-Tac's M-tac series is a great holster. However, they only make WML holsters for Glock's only, . |
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A separate light is far more useful for me. View Quote This is how I feel as a home owner. If I was .mil or .leo, I would go for an attached light. As a home owner, concealability and non-aggressive outward appearance is more important to me. One time I had a car parked out in front of my house for 1/2 hr. Finally decided to investigate figuring it was kids getting high. Put my gun in my pocket and walked out with just a flashlight. Was just a realtor lost, and on her Iphone trying to figure out how to get home. I see many more situations like this that end up being non-issues, than situations where I'm going into a room and will have to shoot at someone. Going out with a gun and using its light to illuminate that car would have probably gotten me in the police report at a minimum. In Mass I'd probably have to untangle myself from some legal issues. |
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At night, I carry an M&Pc with a TLR-3. I have a small handheld light, but if I have to pull at night, a pistol mounted light may not be a bad thing to have. I would rather have both hands on the gun.
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