carry pistol light?

I'm a firm believer in weapon mounted lights and probably have more guns with lights mounted to them than the majority of shooters own guns without them. None of them are concealed carry guns for two reasons. Primarily, because I'm lazy and don't think I need it. I don't habitually go to violent places (ahem, Memphis) and I'm usually at home when it's dark. That said, I sure as hell don't begrudge anyone who does, nor do I believe any of the arguments against it stand up to much scrutiny.

IMHO, if you're a civilian and you're "searching", you're probably in your home or on your property. If I encounter someone in the dark in my home, it's a guarantee they need a gun pointed at them but Ayoob loves his pet theories.

Bill681911 said:

on a carry pistol how many people would consider mounting a light to the gun (TRL-7)
or another new small gun mounted lights ???

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I have the TLR 7 on my Glock 48. Very nice light!

TarDevil said:

Gun in one hand, flashlight in the other.

That might be my son I illuminate.

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Outside can be different, but inside your house/building, this can be faulty logic. You do not have to hold the firearm muzzle up to get benefits of a WML. Most have wide light spill.

Regardless which WML I have, I can point my muzzle at low ready and light up the room I’m in. You do not have to point the firearm directly at a threat to use the WML to ID someone.

If you have a WML, you should go through your house when it is pitch black, unloaded. Point the gun at the ground 5 ft in front of you and see how much of the area is lit up…

Buzznrose said:

Outside can be different, but inside your house/building, this can be faulty logic.

If you have a WML, you should go through your house when it is pitch black, unloaded. Point the gun at the ground 5 ft in front of you and see how much of the area is lit up…

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Another couple of exercises that may be useful.

Have either yourself or a friend/family member, sit in a central location in your house, such as the living room or kitchen (don't tell your partner what spot you've chosen), with the lights out. Then, using the most efficient tactics you know, have the other begin a house search, starting in the master bedroom with either their weapon mounted light (make sure your gun is unloaded) or even a handheld 500+ lumen light.

Two observations to make
1. How easy is it for the observer in the central location to track the searchers movement through the house?
2. How long after you illuminate your 500+ lumen light do you get your night vision back (one eye or two eye even)?

Other considerations
1. Do you know the layout of your own house well enough that you can walk it with the lights out?
2. Is there more light in your dark house, or outside your house at night? It may be different answers depending on whether you live in the city or in a rural home.

There are no right or wrong answers. This is merely to provide yourself with as much information as possible to help you choose the right equipment for your own situation.

I like the TLR-7A Flex. That’s probably the best weapons-mounted light, in my opinion, for compacts.

In a concealed pistol, my priority is minimal foot print, so no mounted lights, optics, etc. for me- but I do carry a small flashlight on me if I know I will be about during darkness, or in a place where it will be dark (like a movie theater). Its not always appropriate to point a gun at something that you want to illuminate.
I have 2 pistols in the house with mounted lights.

FL-NC said:

In a concealed pistol, my priority is minimal foot print, so no mounted lights, optics, etc. for me- but I do carry a small flashlight on me if I know I will be about during darkness, or in a place where it will be dark (like a movie theater). Its not always appropriate to point a gun at something that you want to illuminate.
I have 2 pistols in the house with mounted lights.

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I’m not law enforcement, but this article (and way of thinking) has always resonated with me.

https://www.police1.com/police-prod...t-technique-youll-ever-need-c2aKPdQzukCVKx3N/

Anchorite said:

I’m not law enforcement, but this article (and way of thinking) has always resonated with me.

https://www.police1.com/police-prod...t-technique-youll-ever-need-c2aKPdQzukCVKx3N/

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There are many techniques to using white lights- the best method is to learn every technique (through legitimate training) and determine what is the right one to use at the time and place you find yourself in.

Armored farmer said:

I carry a pocket flashlight seven days per week, so I don't carry one on my edc gun. I do, however, have one on my nightstand gun.

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Second the motion.

I am one that likes having a WML and a flash light handy at all times.


Again there is no right or wrong answer here as long as you train to use any light.

12Bravo20 said:

I am one that likes having a WML and a flash light handy at all times.


Again there is no right or wrong answer here as long as you train to use any light.

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Excellent point. Train for both. Because when it comes to an encounter or gunfight, you get what you get….you don’t get to dictate the circumstances.

12Bravo20 said:

I am one that likes having a WML and a flash light handy at all times.


Again there is no right or wrong answer here as long as you train to use any light.

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Here is my spin on that. My EDC firearm wears a light. I also carry a pocket light. I recharge the batteries in both lights at a set time, usually every two weeks. At times I train my low light shooting like my weapon light isn't there. Battery dead, I forget to put it on etc. Something where I say that light is not usable on the weapon. Okay, now train with your pocket flashlight. The chance of my WML failing is low, the chance of both lights failing is almost non-existent. These are the 4 light techniques I know of and were taught. I personally like the Harris technique because you are still using your support hand to help stabilize your shooting hand.

https://www.shootingillustrated.com/content/4-flashlight-techniques-for-concealed-carry/

I just got a TLR-7 to try. If I were going to put one on a carry gun, it would be something like it. Something small and sleek.

CraigC said:

I'm a firm believer in weapon mounted lights and probably have more guns with lights mounted to them than the majority of shooters own guns without them. None of them are concealed carry guns for two reasons. Primarily, because I'm lazy and don't think I need it. I don't habitually go to violent places (ahem, Memphis) and I'm usually at home when it's dark. That said, I sure as hell don't begrudge anyone who does, nor do I believe any of the arguments against it stand up to much scrutiny.

IMHO, if you're a civilian and you're "searching", you're probably in your home or on your property. If I encounter someone in the dark in my home, it's a guarantee they need a gun pointed at them but Ayoob loves his pet theories.

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Same. But I also have a farm and at least a day a month I have dogs barking or chickens start raising hell and me and my Glock with a TLR go check on it. Or my AR with an olight Odin. That Odin is a beast of a light. My old duty lights like the Inova T4 are not even visible when the Odin comes out. Lol. Just like the old mag lights weren't when the inovas came out.

I don't have one on my carry guns simply because the more weight I add the more weight I'm carrying all day. I do carry a small light all the time though in my Leatherman pouch for mechanical diagnosing and more often than not, pointing things out to people at the factory. Ive since quit wearing a watch or carrying a pocket knife. My cellphone (required for the job) and my Leatherman do more than my knives, watch, calculators, laptop, desktop, maglight, etc etc did 20 years ago. But the light gets used most.

It's almost comical how good we used to think the big D-cell Maglites were. We had no idea.

ClicheBro said:

Tactics developed by cherry picking statistics are trash.

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Yeah live rural where you need to open gates, barns, etc. a WML is quite handy

CraigC said:

It's almost comical how good we used to think the big D-cell Maglites were. We had no idea.

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The new LED ones are pretty darn good. I received one as a Christmas present a couple of years ago and was surprised how well it lit up the night compared to the old ones. Trouble is they are big and heavy but if it comes down to blows you have a very good club. I live in the country and my checking on strange noises at night light is a pistol grip LED one that is seriously bright but light weight. Shine it in someone's eyes and they will be blind as a bat for a few minutes. It resides right beside my full size handgun. All of my night time boogers have been heard by my wife and have turned out to be noting more than a stray dog knocking something over a couple of times. The others have been products of a fertile imagination.

CraigC said:

It's almost comical how good we used to think the big D-cell Maglites were. We had no idea.

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The retired LEOs at my local FOP still swear by them. Something about how persuasive they could be when used as a baton?

Haven't tried them since they switched to LED's. I'd still rather have something lighter, with a crenelated strike bezel. Plus I just like saying "crenelated strike bezel".

CraigC said:

It's almost comical how good we used to think the big D-cell Maglites were. We had no idea.

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We keep one in the desk drawer at work. My Nightcore EDC light on setting 2 (of 4) is much brighter than the D-cell Maglite. In addition mine only has to be charged about once a month instead of looking for those holdout stores that still sell D batteries. The technology advancements have been impressive when it comes to lights.

I'm a firm believer in WML's and the advantages they offer. The only draw back for concealed carry is that they add a little more weight and bulk on an alread small pistol and finding holsters can be a challenge.

dweis said:

I would not mount a light on a carry pistol. I prefer to carry a separate small flashlight on my belt. My carry light has an adjustable beam, a strobe function, and a hardened bezel that is scalloped to make it a good defensive tool. If I ever need a light in a self defense situation when I might have to scan an area I do not want to be pointing my gun at a person when I light them up. By keeping my light in my left hand with arm bent at elbow and raised chest high I can place my right hand across the arm and keep the muzzle pointed downward. If I see a hostile it only takes a flip of my wrist to adjust the gun for firing. If I see a friendly I will not be pointing a gun directly at him. In any event I will be able to see and ready to shoot.

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A WML isn't a substitute for a regular light for casual tasks, but if you need a gun out of the holster it's time to use the WML. Keep in mind that you don't need to actually point the pistol at someone to illuminate them. Pointing the gun at the ground in the low ready with the light on provides ample light to identify a threat without having to point the gun directly at them. I always recommend that people go into a dark room with a flashlight and experiment this for themselves.

When I'm working and need both hands free I can reach back and turn on my Streamlight which I carry on my duty belt at the 8-9 oclock position and without even taking it out of its holder there is enough splash off walls and ceiling to identify threats or write things down while keeping hands free.

I see your point. still take my hand-held light with strobe effect over an attached light that (to me) just makes the we-on heavier an holsters more limited an more expensive.