Does your SD long gun have a light?

just cannot help but be curious
how many here who posted in favor of having a light on a long gun (or a short gun) have ever once used the light to advantage during an actual home invasion ?

Oldfool, I doubt 99% of the people here have never been involved in a self defense shoot in any situation. But many of us have had training of some sort to prepare for the situation.

And I can tell you this. On a Clear night with a full moon you can't make out targets very well. Inside your house will only be worse.

Situations for each of us may be very different. Like several have said, the light gives you an option, you don't have to use it. My CAR-15 wears a TLR-1.

Also, in my area of the country, I may have two and FOUR legged critters roaming my backyard. You know...javelinas, coyotes, foxes, skunks, maybe a mountain lion. A light may actually be enough deterrent to chase them away.

Good luck.

M

I have a Fenix TK12 with a pressure switch attached to my 20 gauge 500 Mossberg with 2 3/4 inch #3 Buck . Short barrel, night sights, quick adjust 2 point sling kept parade ground tight unless I need my hands free and a full reload on the stock. Fast, light, comfortable, fits me and has never failed. The switch has constant on and pressure switch mode and I leave it set to strobe. A half twist gives me constant at 240 Lumens. I carry the same model light in my car and have been hit with the strobe at night. Nauseating/dizzying/blinding and almost physically painful to the eyes. Being behind it is just like watching an old black and white movie. I've shot at an empty indoor range (friends) with the lights off and dark as a cave. No problems with target acquisition and ID with the strobe and unbelievably bright.

For others, use whatever you are comfortable with. But remember, like a laser, just because you have it doesn't mean you have to leave it on.

I still stand by my statement that the people who won't use a light are those with the least actual experience.

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Except that I actually did this for many years... So, I guess you're wrong on that.

just cannot help but be curious
how many here who posted in favor of having a light on a long gun (or a short gun) have ever once used the light to advantage during an actual home invasion ?

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I have.

but I was doing the home invasions.

I think it might be better to discuss the pros and cons of lights without questioning the motives or experience of the other posters.

I have no idea of what their house looks like. My hallway is surrounded by bedrooms, at the far end of the hallway is a living room. The living room has a large window. Outside the window is a very large tree.

My house is dark without artificial lights, and I prefer to have a light that I control rather than relying on the BG not to kick the night lights out.

I'd rather have a gun and not need it than need it and not have it.

Same goes for a light.

light? I just plan on opening up, the muzzle flash with light up everyone's world.

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lmao

The Streamlight TLR1-S that I have mounted on my 9mm handgun and 870 doesn't have to be pointed at the possible threat in any way whatsoever at all. The light is very bright and will light up any room even pointing the weapon at the floor. If you have to point the light at the possible threat to see who or what it is then get rid of it cause its junk in my opinion.Plus it has a momentary or steady on switch.

White light and visible red laser.

just cannot help but be curious
how many here who posted in favor of having a light on a long gun (or a short gun) have ever once used the light to advantage during an actual home invasion ?

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Well, the number that have will only be slightly lower than the number of those that have actually used a long gun during a home invasion.

No need to. All my entrances and the hallway to my bedroom have emergency lighting that will come on at motion or power failure. They hook to my battery bank that has a 4 day reserve. After the need arises I may mount the light on the 500. My SD handgun does have the laser and light however.

I keep a light on my carbine which I might very well have to use for a HD-type situation. I can think of many reasons that my family may get separated from my side, even for an instant, in which a light may prove very useful. The Streamlight TLR on my carbine adds virtually no extra weight so whether I use it or not, it is handy to have just in case I need it.

I dont keep a light on any of my handguns.

Jed Carter said:

Personaly I think for HD a light just gives away your position....

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Somebody always comes up with this whenever lights are mentioned. HD is NOT combat. You simply can't blast away at a dim figure across a dark room. If you do it will turn out to be your son sneaking in after curfew, your neighbor coming home from the bar through the door you left unlocked etc. You have to identify your target first.

Besides, the light has a switch. You don't have to turn it on if the situation doesn't call for it.

After reading the different arguments for and against having a weapon mounted light, I have come to the conclusion: Tritium night sights are a must, and a light is a good "option to have". I am going to get a good weapon light, possibly with a strobe feature, I am going to try it out in the Practical Shooting Pits at my gun club. If my shooting does not suffer then I will probably attach one to my HD pistol. I still maintain that the first encounter should be a suprise, lethal counterattack, then use the light to make sure the threat is neutralized. I would guess that if the attacker is not alone, the others are heading for the exits, if not then the light will help to confirm the next target. It has been said if invaders have entered your home you have already failed in securing yourselves. I would recommend other security measures besides your wits, weapons and tactics. First good locks on all doors and windows, make the attacker break in making a lot of noise. Storm doors with impact resistant glass (tempered glass) are on all my entrances. My Bedford stone home has the high tilt out windows that would very dificult to enter even if opened, all are locked and double pane glass. Motion sensor lighting (outside is common) inside home's common areas, could give the defender a definite advantage, and are cheaper to acquire than a good tactical light. Be proactive, be creative, like a steel security door to bedroom ( I don't have one ), yet. I do not have a tactical weapon light, yet.

It has been said if invaders have entered your home you have already failed in securing yourselves.

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True....castles (fortified positions) have been stormed by invaders for a very long time.

All of my defensive long guns have lights. I put a surefire fore end on my 590, I tried a lot of less expensive options before I bought the fore end, and wished I got the fore end first. I do use the less expensive options on my other long guns though. My AR15 has a G3 mounted to the quad rail, and I have a G2 mounted to the handguard of my 7.62 Saiga.

On a side note, my beater/car/truck/HD pistol, a G19, also has a light.

yes. All of my guns used for HD/ SD have lights.

Really? Four ounces of weight won't make a difference in how a gun handles? And point shooting is an ineffective short-range combat shooting technique?

I can feel the balance shift after firing and chambering another round in my 20 gauge quail gun and it's even more noticeable in my "house" gun (an 870 Marine) with a 6 round mag. That's less than half the weight and it's placed a lot closer to the center of balance. A well balanced weapon is simply faster to maneuver than a poorly balanced one. For example, handle a Colt SAA and a Ruger Blackhawk. See how long it takes to get the gun on target. They're both good guns, but the Colt is faster. Why? It's a very well balanced weapon, whereas the Ruger is a pig.

Same goes for shotguns and rifles too. Even .577 Nitro double rifles tend to point like a birdgun, despite weighing upwards of 15 lbs. Why? because when there's a 1.7 second window to shoulder and deliver a shot (or even better two) accurately before getting pounded by 12,000 pounds of angry pachyderm, pointing that rifle like a shotgun is the only method that won't get you killed. And, if you shoot a shotgun properly, you're really focused on the target and not the gun. If you can see the target, you can hit your target.

A well balanced gun, coupled with good reflexive fire training produces lightning fast hits even under poor conditions. It works when there isn't much light or the shooter is startled. It bypasses the reactions that makes you miss. It's been in DoD training manuals for nearly 70 years and is still preferred for sudden close range encounters. Huh.

I'm not saying lights aren't a good thing, but I much prefer them seperate from my guns.

Really? Four ounces of weight won't make a difference in how a gun handles? And point shooting is an ineffective short-range combat shooting technique?

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Actually correct on both counts. If 4oz makes a difference then you are not controlling the gun, the gun is controlling you.

A well balanced gun, coupled with good reflexive fire training produces lightning fast hits even under poor conditions. It works when there isn't much light or the shooter is startled. It bypasses the reactions that makes you miss. It's been in DoD training manuals for nearly 70 years and is still preferred for sudden close range encounters. Huh.

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Reflex fire training? According to the manuals, it isn't enough to get the training. The training has to be repeated frequently as reflexive fire skills are perishable and lost quickly. Huh.

Reflexive fire training provides the fundamental skills required to conduct short-range marksmanship. It involves the practical application of all four of the fundamentals of SRM. All soldiers must receive a go on the task Conduct Reflexive Firing, before proceeding with training. Reflexive firing should be conducted as refresher training as often as possible to insure that soldier's skills are always at the highest possible level. This is a perishable skill that must be constantly reinforced.

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So who do you envision beiing fully up to speed on reflexive fire training?

Your average home defender? Nope.
Your average High Road member? Nope. Both your average home defender and most forum members are not only not going to have the necessary proficiency, but of those who do shoot regularly don't have ranges that will allow for defensive style shooting practice and where it is allowed, very few places will allow folks to practice in low light.

Your average cop? Nope.
Your average military person. Nope.

Who then? SWAT-type LEOs and soldiers either prepping to go in country or soldiers already in country where there are hostilities.

And what about having that well balanced gun? After seeing what a lot of SWAT type officers carry/use and configurations of various long guns being used by our military, a lot of those highly trained folks are not going into conflict with well balanced guns.

No doubt that being highly trained in reflexive fire and having continual participation in reflexive fire training can and should be beneficial to those in that position. The rest of us are going to have to compensate in various ways to make those necessary shots.

yep, i do. not only is it useful for target acquisition, but it also quite blinding in a dark house. so if there is a home intruder, that bright white light may be the last thing they see. mounted on a youth model 870.

Home defense guns are a Remington 870 and a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm. The M&P has a Streamlight TLR-1 mounted on it. I have other guns but the listed are handy for SD. I strongly prefer not to have a hand tied up with holding a light.

788Ham said:

I'm like Jed, I want them to guess where I am. If they want to kick in the door in the middle of the night to come scavenge, I want them to have as big of a surprise as they've ever had when arriving!

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I agree with 788Ham and Jed Carter lights only give your position away. First off you shouldn't be moving through your house if you believe that there is a intruder in the first place. Doing so only provides a opportunity for the intruder to get the drop on you! Stay put and defending your position is a better strategy seeing that you don't know where the intruder is but they might know where you are.

If you have to move (a child in another room) then you have the advantage of knowning your home where the intruder doesn't, no sense in lighting it up for them and show them your location. Personally, with the cost of III Gen. nightvision equipment not being that expensive. I've pickup a ITT monocular to allow me to move covertly through my house or wait in ambush. Of course nightsights are a must and extremely easy to see through night vision.

Needless to say the only lights that the intruder will see is the muzzle flash and then the light at the end of the tunnel.