flashlights (handheld vs. weapon mounted)

[mr_dove]

This could go in accesories but the reason for asking the question is tactical.

What kind of flashlight is better for a HD situation? Do you prefer a handheld flashlight or a weapon mounted flashlight?

I can see some advantages to both but, overall, the weapon mounted seems to be easier to use. A weapon mounted light goes where you point your gun while a handheld is free to point in different directions. It seems wiser to light the area that you may need to shoot though.

It also seems that handling a weapon mounted light would be easier to learn then learning how to shoot while holding a flashlight. 1 handed vs. 2 handed.

 

[fix]

Shooting while holding a light is not that big of a deal. You're better off training to shoot one-handed for typical defensive scenarios anyway. Reloading is another matter entirely.

 

[Blackhawk 6]

While you can certainly shoot well while holding a flashlight, I have yet to see anyone who employs a hand-held flashlight technique proficiently enough to shoot better than with a weapon mounted light. In fact, the extra weight of a weapon-mounted light often improves performance slightly. A weapon-mounted light also frees up your other hand for other tasks (reloading, using a phone, carrying a child, etc.)

However, if you choose a weapon mounted-light, you should have a hand-held light available for searching. Using your weapon-mounted light as a searchlight is generally a bad idea.

 

[Eskimo Jim]

Mr Dove,
This is my opinion on hand held flashlights vs a handgun mounted flashlight.

I use a hand held flashlight becuase I can search anywhere with it independently of the muzzle of my handgun. I find that mounting a flashlight on a handgun makes me more prone to violating the firearm safety rule of not pointing a firearm at someone or something unless I want to shoot it.

I can also use the bright light of the flashlight as a non lethal weapon to mementarily blind a potential threat without also pointing the firearm at them.

I've practiced the Rodger's/Sure Fire technique enough to be very comfortable with it. I use a Sure Fire Z2 Combat Light. It is small enough to fit into my pocket.

There are many other techniques that are worth trying and learning.

I'm sure there are people who favor mounting a flashlight on their firearm. I think that this topic is becoming more similar to the 9mm vs 45ACP discussion.


-Jim

 

[Brass Balls]

I think that the weapon mounted light has an advantage for HD. Although it isn't as practical for carry so I think it's best to practice with both.

For HD I think the advantage is having both light and gun in one easy to grab handful. This leaves the other hand free for opening doors. Grabbing kids etc. It also makes the task of keeping the light and muzzle in alignment, while still maintaining a good two handed grip, a much simpler task.

Even with a mounted light having a non mounted light in your home isn't a bad idea. In the event that home invaders first shut off your power a locked on handheld light can be set down apart from yourself in order to light a hallway or stairway.

For carry not only is a weapon mounted light a bit unwieldy for carry it also necessitates pointing your gun at anything you want to illuminate, not a good idea. Having the light seperate in this case allows you to use white light as a step on the force escallation scale without tipping your hand(gun). It's also handy for more mundane lighting tasks.

 

[fix]

In the event that home invaders first shut off your power a locked on handheld light can be set down apart from yourself in order to light a hallway or stairway.

Danger Will Robinson!!!

Backlighting is evil. It turns you into a nice silouette target for the BG. Never move in front of a lightsource, no matter how convenient it may seem.

 

[Brass Balls]

Backlighting is evil.

Agreed. However backlighting only occurs when the light is in back of you. I guess that's just the way that you perceived what I said, however it's not what I'm suggesting.

Let me clarify, when I say apart from you I'm not only recommending putting the light in front of you but also off to the side. For instance on the floor at the top of a stairway. This way, in a completely dark house, the BG has to make his way up the stairs with the light shining on him. If the light becomes a target it is away from you and the BG is now in the undesirable position of being illuminated in a fatal funnel.

Furthermore if one uses a bright white light, like a 2 cell or better Surefire, the person approaching this light in the dark will not be able to see beyond it.

 

[fix]

Gotcha.

 

[Brass Balls]

Fix, since you mentioned this important topic, although it's a bit of a tangent from the original topic, it might be a good time for us to consider other backlighting sources in a darkened home.

In our home we leave a few lights on at night, however if the power is shut off the scene that I'm accustomed to will change considerably. Now the concern has shifted to light emitted from outside street lights and moonlight coming in from the windows. In this scenario the backlighting hazzards have shifted. Just something to consider.

 

[Gewehr98]

If you hang enough lights on it, the gun becomes a weapon even without ammo.

 

[zahc]

Both.

Because I used to coon hunt with shotgun mounted lights and found myself WAY too often (once or twice) shining the 'light' on my dog, the truck, that shape over there, etc.

It's sometimes helpful to light something up without pointing a gun at it.

 

[444]

As has been said in probably every thread ever posted like this: everyone's situation is different.

First of all, I use a long gun for home defense. And, my defensive long guns have weapon mounted lights on them.
Second: I live alone. I am not worried about point my weapon at something I dont' intend to shoot. If someone is in my house uninvited, they are going to have a weapon pointed at them whether or not the light is turned on.
Third: I have a large dog that becomes very aggressive when someone gets near my property. If someone is in my house, the dog will be on them. I won't be doing any searches.

I have trained with handguns and flashlights. I am fair at the skill. I wouldn't hesitate to employ a handheld flashlight with a handgun or long gun. But, I much prefer the long gun for it's infinitely better stopping power. Most long guns are much easier to operate with both hands on the gun making a weapon mounted light the way to go.

 

[tetleyb]

I think its a very simple scenario. If you can have a weapons mounted light, have one. It eliminates all the problems associated with a hand held flashlight; dealing with reloading issues, malfunctions, how to hold the light, etc. However, make sure you train with the light on the weapon and, make sure the light works (key point here).

Backlighting is problem which, sometimes, cannot be avoided. The way to defeat a backlighting problem is with frontlighting.