Flashlight Strategy & Tactics

[Craig_AR]

I plead total ignorance on this topic, and am kicking off the thread to look for advice based on the training and experience of THR members.

My initial question: How should you use various flashlights in different situations related to self defense?
Consider location, such as home, residential property, general public area, commercial property.
Consider various scenarios, your option to describe.
Consider type of light, including basic utility flashlight, headlamp, high power distance light (e.g. 6 D-cell), and high intensity, extra high lumens tactical light.
Consider means of carrying, including handheld, weapon-mounted, and clipped to body.
Where should you aim the light during the scenario?
When and why should you use special tactical options like red filter or strobe?
When might you leave the light on versus using it in brief button-pushes for momentary illumination?

I understand most tactical lights are designed for use as a physical weapon, also, but I'd appreciate it if all kept this thread focused on use as a light source.

This topic is an offshoot of a valuable thread kicked off by Trunk Monkey, who I thank for generating the discussion.

As I was getting ready to leave a crackhead tried to ride through the parking lot on his bicycle. If he had been going through that would have been one thing but he couldn't have been because the parking lot ended in a 20-foot drop off.

So I got out of my car, lit the guy up with my flashlight and asked him to stop.

The light was a thousand Lumen Fenix and I put it right in his face. I wanted him blind. Anybody I encounter at 2 in the morning in a restricted area isn't supposed to be there.

Thank you, all.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

You left out my reasoning. I didn't bright beam him just to be an ass.

Like I said it was a restricted area. It was 2 O'Clock in the morning and he wasn't supposed to be there.

I wanted him blind and I wanted as much advantage on my side as I could get

 

[shafter]

If in public, a bright handheld flashlight would be best used by illuminating the ground just in front of someone to avoid escalating the situation needlessly or blinding an innocent person. If it's a high lumen flashlight the splatter is usually more than enough to see what you are dealing with. It takes a fraction of a second to raise it fully if needed. The same principle goes for a weapon mounted light.

I don't have much use for using light as a weapon either with or without a strobe. I think it would have more use if you were to use it offensively by blinding someone just before attacking. If your plan is to run away then I doubt it would buy you much of an advantage based on the experimenting I've done with it.

 

[herrwalther]

One of the most overlooked firearm rules is: Know your target and what is beyond. This is nearly impossible when it is dark outside or inside an area with no/off lights. Flashlights are an important tool in positively identifying a target as hostile or non hostile.

A very bright light beam, especially into someone's eyes, gives a distinct tactical advantage in a dangerous encounter. Strobe can add to the disorientation of an assailant but much of that is based on personal preference and the complication of the light's interface going from strobe back to white light. The critical aspect of light fighting is using the light illumination to move off the axis of attack. In light fighting courses and live fire events I have participated in, there is a remote chance an assailant will fire along the axis of the light or shoot at the light. Moving off the axis of the light beam while the hostile is disorientated reduces the risk of getting hit.