2021 - Do you have a light on your carry pistol?

Space Ghost said:

It's not hard to ID a threat when it's actively attacking you in a Wal Mart parking lot... but when you're walking down some dark street from the restaurant to the car 2 blocks away, or when the power is out in the storm, and the opportunists come out, or when you're changing a tire on the side of the highway on a dark rainy night, and a predator rolls up...

But hey, attacks in general (per capita) are actually pretty rare. We just want to be prepared in case one does happen to us, so with that in mind...
Wouldn't even packing around a gun all day, (at all) every day be kinda "Tactical Timmy"?
Light, or no light?

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In the hypothetical situations you described, I'm not using a light attacked to my pistol as a flashlight that I'm going to be pointing around at everyone walking past or who looks suspicious. Lights go out, power lost, and you're point a gun at me or even L.E. while walking down a public street, it might not end the way you imagined. You might catch a brandishing charge or a bullet from someone who would have the law on their side and be completely justified in defending themselves from you. Plus, if the "opportunistic predator" rolls up to attack you, unless they have night vision on or giving away their position and giving you a target to shoot at because they're shining a flashlight, there is probably enough light available for them to see you and you them else how else are they going to know where you are? How do you rob someone in pitch black darkness where both you and a criminal can not even see your hands in front of your face?

I do not see much use for a weapon mounted light outside of the home or private property. It just doesn't make much realistic sense for probable situations. I'm sure someone can think up some improbable, unrealistic, and imaginative 1 in a trillion "what if" scenario to support having a weapon mounted light on an EDC, but there are more everyday cons you have to contend with vs and pros that can be conjured up.

In the hypothetical situation you described in your post and in most situations outside of the home, it's just best to EDC a separate flashlight.

I haven't seen a police officer with a light on their pistol so this leads me to believe that it isn't all that necessary. As others from the south have stated it is hard to conceal a pistol when wearing light weight clothing so no I don't have a light on mine. Why add more weight and bulk to a concealed carry weapon, the name of the game is concealment, right?

No, not on a carry handgun. If I have time to turn on a light to identify a target, I'm probably far enough away to have time to GTHO of that situation without needing to fire a shot. If it's up close and personal, a light probably isn't necessary and would only slow things down.

I do keep a light mounted on my nightstand gun, but I also keep a separate flashlight in the nightstand safe so I'm not pointing the muzzle at random things throughout the house. All my handgun safes in the house have flashlights in them with fresh batteries.

I have them on my home defense pistols, but for EDC I carry a light on my belt. If I can’t see who/what I’m engaging in a street encounter, I probably shouldn’t be shooting.

George Dickel said:

I haven't seen a police officer with a light on their pistol so this leads me to believe that it isn't all that necessary. As others from the south have stated it is hard to conceal a pistol when wearing light weight clothing so no I don't have a light on mine. Why add more weight and bulk to a concealed carry weapon, the name of the game is concealment, right?

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Many large departments have weapon mounted lights as a standard, many others allow officers to buy their own. For a police officer it makes a lot of sense to have a weapon mounted flash light. My son is with a major department in a dangerous city. He works nights and there is barely a night when he does not have to pull his gun. On his personal carry guns he does not have a weapons mounted flashlight and neither him, nor me see the need for it.

In and around the house, even in complete darkness my best friend does not need a flash light, his ability to see in the dark is amazing.

It wouldn't fit in my pocket if I did

Nope, I don’t think it’s positive attributes would out weigh it’s negative attributes.

Sometimes. Why is there no occasionally, or sometimes option. [Like I'm some peasant with just 1 ccw?] Besides, the light pops right off. Surefire xc1 on a Glock 23.

I'll agree that lighting is rarely a factor at all.

The guys that shoot their own family members, tend to be morons. They'd find a way to curtail their gene pool one way or the other. I'm not sure that their experience should be used as a data point.

But, if you need a light, it's way easier mounted. And I can light you up by aiming at a wall, or your feet. I dont have to point directly at you.

Just get the low light training, then use what works for you.

I'm also in Ohio. I could conceal a 12 gauge with half the barrel showing. Maybe I'd be more concerned about deep concealment, in NY or Chicagostan.

Sometimes I have a light, sometimes I dont. But it's in my quiver.

I have a strong flashlight and I practice shooting with my wrists locked. I want to be able to illuminate without pointing my weapon.

sequins said:

I have a strong flashlight and I practice shooting with my wrists locked. I want to be able to illuminate without pointing my weapon.

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Exactly...

Black rifles said:

Every gun I carry whether concealed or in the woods has a light on it. Half the time is dark, something goes bump I want to be able to light the world up. As to how it’ll affect your carry setup, I’m not sure, I use a different system but today most well made kydex holsters that are light bearing do not add much bulk and typically zero width.

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Exactly. With kydex holsters being made for most firearms, adding on a light to a mold is a negligible obstacle.

My carry gun is too old to have a rail. But... I might weld one on, not a bad idea.

I don't use one on a carry gun and for my particular old age lifestyle I never would. I prefer to depend on situational awareness and avoiding circumstances where one might be necessary.

When I go out somewhere after dark I don't stop or walk or park in places that are pitch dark. I pay close attention to what is going on around me. If I even suspect anyone nearby is a threat I prepare myself mentally and move if necessary.

At home I know every square inch of the house. If I hear unexplained noise I proceed with extreme caution to investigate. We have enough little bits of ambient light to be able to see when your eyes are already accustomed to the dark. And I can get to any light switch without hesitation. And I have enough security lights outside to light up the entire yard.

Maybe if I tended to frequent extremely dark locations I might think differently. But I tend to avoid any such places. And I do keep a good flashlight handy for the odd occasion when I could use one like for reading the label on a beer can when the refrigerator light is broken.

I have to side with the Timmy Tactical opinion on this one.

I don’t have a wml on my carry pistol, but I’m also not without a light either. Streamlight 1L 1AA is often clipped in a pocket, especially if traveling or going out after dark.

Good for illuminating a potential threat, or attaching jumper cables in the dark.

My nightstand pistol has a light if I need it. A separate flashlight is best for carry in my opinion- no need to be muzzling everything with your pistol when you just need some light on the situation.

I don't play Hawaii Five-O. No light.

I do not have a light on my EDC, but I do have one on my nightstand pistol.
I prefer that my carry pistol have nothing additional on it to snag, or otherwise get in the way in the event that I do have to quickly draw it from its concealment.

No but I probably should. Every single firearm I employ in the home defense role has a light on it. I've been kinda stuck on the LC9 as a carry gun and it has no rail. Might need to go ahead and make the jump to the 365 and either find a leather holster that accommodates a light or make one.

I have NEVER heard a valid argument against mounted weaponlights. Only the repetition of myths and misconceptions.

CraigC said:

No but I probably should. Every single firearm I employ in the home defense role has a light on it. I've been kinda stuck on the LC9 as a carry gun and it has no rail. Might need to go ahead and make the jump to the 365 and either find a leather holster that accommodates a light or make one.

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Lasermax makes a light/laser combo for LC9.
https://www.lasermax.com/cf-lc9-c-r.html

A lesser known company called Viridian makes a LC9 light too. I have a C5L by them and it has held up very well.
https://viridianweapontech.com/reactor-tl-gen2-tactical-light-for-ruger-lc9-380

Thanks!

Short answer: No, I no not have a light on my usual carry handguns, that I am presently using.

Longer answer: I do have X200- and X300-series weapon-mounted lights, that I can use on some of my firearms. I have holsters that enable carrying handguns, with the lights in place. Two of these holsters firmly hold the hold the X300 light, and enable using a variety of pistols. (Bawidamann Gotham, and Philster Floodlight.) There are, however, BULKY holsters, somewhat negating the “concealed” part of concealed carry. I have to really, seriously, dress-around a WML-equipped pistol. There are time this is worth the effort, and times that it is not. I have my eyes open, for a better mousetrap, but have yet to see one.

I regularly carry powerful hand-held lights. I have received training in how to fight, at night, with light. Some of this was in-service training, when I was a police officer.. Powerful lighting is a force multiplier. I regard carrying a hand-held light as being MORE important than carrying a handgun. A light on the weapon can be an valuable asset, but, I do not regard it an vital, or mandatory. I do regard a hand-held light as vital.

Yes, on the one which I carry, or might carry at night. My daytime version does not, I keep going back and forth on whether I am going to keep it or not.

Has anyone really considered just how often they happen to be in total darkness, in a situation where a gun might be necessary? C'mon -- think about it. Unless you're out in the deep woods on an overcast, moonless night, there's always some degree of ambient light. Well, unless you hang out in the proverbial "dark alleys." Gas stations or convenience store parking lots at night? Walking to the parking garage from the movie theater or restaurant? Pretty much where I tend to go after dark, even in the work context, there's always lighting. And when I'm out in the wilderness, I don't tend to be moving around much after dark.

Rexster said:

Powerful lighting is a force multiplier. I regard carrying a hand-held light as being MORE important than carrying a handgun. A light on the weapon can be an valuable asset, but, I do not regard it an vital, or mandatory. I do regard a hand-held light as vital.

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Sums up my beliefs on the matter.

Old Dog said:

Unless you're out in the deep woods on an overcast, moonless night, there's always some degree of ambient light.

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Until there isn't. Unrelated to self defense but in the vein of the above quote. Last year, I left the shop/man cave after dark and was walking out to get the mail before going to the house. Mind you, this is my own driveway. It was dark, I mean pitch dark. I thought there was enough ambient light from traffic to be able to see where the driveway was. The wasn't. I stepped on the edge of the pavement, rolled my ankle and the next thing to contact was my knee on that same edge of the pavement, right before my face hit the dirt. I laid there for what seemed like 10mins, praying that I didn't land in a coyote pile. While I was in no physical altercation requiring the use of deadly force on my way to the mailbox, the point is that "it" happens and it's usually when/where we least expect it. I now carry a flashlight if I walk out there after dark.

Space Ghost said:

In my book a weapon mounted light is mandatory for ANY defensive firearm... handgun, rifle, or shotgun.

1. It's dark out 50% of the time.
2. Bad guys love the night.
3. The ability to ID a target as friend / foe is paramount.

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All three are great points, but they only support having some kind of light, not necessarily a WML.