MCFLYFYTER
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I think you are speaking of long guns, and kinda missed the point entirely.
Debate on accessories/tactics for a new gun owner
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Phaedrus/69
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Primarily long guns but I've never seen a RDS-equipped pistol without at least a front sight. Not even one although it might exist. Nearly everyone that uses red dots has sights as a backup. But maybe you making a point that I missed.
MCFLYFYTER
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If a shooter has trained enough to subconsciously switch from looking for a red dot to looking at their sights, surely a light mounted on the weapon wouldn't trip them up too badly.
I once read an interesting piece from a fella who claimed backup iron sights that had to be flipped up were essentially worthless, and I tend to agree. Someone ran a road block and his eotech died. He did not stop to flip his sights up, he just looked through the tube and shot.
Chances are that if you dont see that red dot, you are probably just going to panic and just start shooting. The point was that not all accessories have the liability if it fails.
I once read an interesting piece from a fella who claimed backup iron sights that had to be flipped up were essentially worthless, and I tend to agree. Someone ran a road block and his eotech died. He did not stop to flip his sights up, he just looked through the tube and shot.
Chances are that if you dont see that red dot, you are probably just going to panic and just start shooting. The point was that not all accessories have the liability if it fails.
Thing is, that’s a training issue and not a hardware issue. Any modern lowlight course will train students how to illuminate a room while pointing the weapon in a safe direction. If the instructor is good they’ll also explain the difference between a handheld light (information gathering tool) and a WML (threat engagement tool) and why it’s advantageous to have both in the HD toolbox.
MCFLYFYTER
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Just dont forget that training is nothing more than the best case scenario of the worst case situation.
A weapon-mounted light is not a substitute for a hand-held light. A weapon-mounted light, if used unwisely, can be a dangerous liability. A weapon-mounted light, used properly, can be a wonderful force-multiplier at the right moment in time. I will emphasize the “moment in time” part.
I do not normally use a weapon-mounted light on carry guns, as the extra bulk is not worth the sacrifice in concealment, and, because I tend to carry revolvers, anyway. I do tend to keep one or more favored hand-held lights on or about my person.
I have several Surefire X200/X300-series lights, that I can affix to long guns and handguns, for various roles, as needed.
I do not normally use a weapon-mounted light on carry guns, as the extra bulk is not worth the sacrifice in concealment, and, because I tend to carry revolvers, anyway. I do tend to keep one or more favored hand-held lights on or about my person.
I have several Surefire X200/X300-series lights, that I can affix to long guns and handguns, for various roles, as needed.
Ed Ames
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I’m not following that. I have owned one pistol with a red dot, so I’m not going to claim to be an expert on them, but the standard way of setting up a pistol red dot is to mill the slide down in front of the rear sight, to allow the red dot to cowitness with the iron sights. Initial zeroing of the dot is done by adjusting the sight so the dot floats just on top of the front sight.
In my case I had an RMR alongside tritium night sights. If the RMR failed for some reason I still had sights.
MCFLYFYTER
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Yes, it is getting much more common to mill the slide for mounting a red dot. That is not my point. When you shoot and train with a red dot, you learn to focus on the target. That's just the way red dots work.
When your red dot quits working, and you have worked hard in your training to focus on the target, focusing on the front sight will not come naturally. Asking your body and brain to do something it's not used to doing is not something I want to do in a bad situation.
I'm not bashing red dots or lasers, just pointing out the differences of accessories.
Ed Ames
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That’s a fair point, though I’m not sure it’s a major issue. Maybe it’s because I’ve never had a red dot that wasn’t cowitnessed with iron sights. I’ve had a few on rifles and one on the pistol and practicing transitioning was something I did because that’s the whole point of cowitnessed setups. I imagine it’s harder for people who trained themselves to use the old tube style red dots that weren’t cowitnessed.
old lady new shooter
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That's how I learned also. When you're using the flashlight to see what's going on, hold it in your support hand way out to the side of your body, when it's time to shoot cross your support hand under your strong hand. If you can see where BG is without the light once you find him, you can turn it off prior to bringing your support hand to underneath your strong hand.
BTW, you need to be able to shoot accurately one-handed with either hand. Not only because you might be holding a flashlight or G-d forbid a small child in the other hand, but also in case BG shoots you in one arm.
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old lady new shooter
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An AR "pistol" is going to require two hands to shoot well, unless you have incredibly strong arms and wrists, consider it a long gun. For an AR pistol I would definitely use a weapon-mounted light. Just not on a handgun. And I agree with the strobe idea for either type.
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old lady new shooter
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Yep. In my old house in a high-crime neighborhood with master bedroom facing the street with old-fashioned windows that were actual separate panes of glass with flimsy wood dividers, BG could have been in my bedroom in like 5 seconds. I slept with the flashlight lanyarded to my support hand wrist (wrapped around double) so as not to lose time fishing around for it in the event of need. (Gun was in a bed holster, the kind with a flat part that goes between the mattress and box spring and then the holster hangs down, so when you take out the gun it's in the right position in your hand.)
old lady new shooter
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Consider whether leaving it on the nightstand is a good idea. In a moment of stress you might knock it onto the floor, costing valuable time. And in any case picking it up and properly positioning it in your hand will be two separate actions. A bed holster solves both problems. Here is a link to the one I have:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00POOTWYW
I see it is currently unavailable on amazon, but it might be available elsewhere. Or now that you know what one looks like you could check reviews of other brands.
Trunk Monkey
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Lose the Taurus.
Take a few classes from a REPUTABLE trainer.
Draw your own conclusions.
marsofold
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All pistols need as a minimum: #1 a tactical mace sprayer, #2 a spring-loaded tactical bayonet at least a long as the slide, #3 a tactical whistle to call for help, and #4 a tactical scrolled white flag that opens up for surrendering as last resort. 
Trunk Monkey
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I think it's worth noting that the OP hasn't logged in in just over 3 weeks.
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