joesolo
Member
....so mounted I point my firearm at what may not be something I want to destroy when something goes bump in the night. But it makes a tidy package. So do you use a frame mounted light or use a stand alone light? I have both.
Gun mounted light
- Thread starter joesolo
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OpticsPlanet
Member
With a handgun, I use a handheld light. I've been trained that light can draw fire, and I would prefer not to have the light in front of my face if that happens.
Don't laugh here - try to close one eye when you use the light - there was actually a reason you see drawings of old seafarers with eye patches. It was so they could see beneath deck better, having one eye accustomed to darkness.
With one eye closed when the light goes on, you retain your biological night vision for when the light goes off. Try it with the fridge when you go to bed tonight. Close one eye, open the door, look inside quickly, close the door and then see which eye works better in the dark. Of course, all bets are off when adrenaline starts pumping. If I identify something bad, the light is staying on and both eyes are open.
YMMV.
On a rifle, I use a TLR-1 with a remote switch, because i only have two hands, and I practice light and move, so I'm not where i was when I used the light. The remote switch was money well spent.
Mark H.
Don't laugh here - try to close one eye when you use the light - there was actually a reason you see drawings of old seafarers with eye patches. It was so they could see beneath deck better, having one eye accustomed to darkness.
With one eye closed when the light goes on, you retain your biological night vision for when the light goes off. Try it with the fridge when you go to bed tonight. Close one eye, open the door, look inside quickly, close the door and then see which eye works better in the dark. Of course, all bets are off when adrenaline starts pumping. If I identify something bad, the light is staying on and both eyes are open.
YMMV.
On a rifle, I use a TLR-1 with a remote switch, because i only have two hands, and I practice light and move, so I'm not where i was when I used the light. The remote switch was money well spent.
Mark H.
SwissArmyDad
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Elzetta mount with fenix 21 on my AR.
TLR-1 on my XD9
TLR-1 on my XD9
AKElroy
Member
I have a TLR 1 on my 12 gage, and a TLR2 on my 226. I know it's not tacticly ideal, but having an easy identifier is worth the risk of drawing fire with kids in the house. I have a sure fire on a 22/45 for spotlighting coons.
herrwalther
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I use a weapon light on my CCW and on the bedside shotgun. When something goes bump in the night or when I am out of the house, I have a light on the weapon. I also carry a Streamlight 180 lumen flashlight, you know, for those awkward situations where you don't point a firearm at someone to use the light. One school of thought is lights attract fire and the other is lights blind attackers to surprise them, strobe or not. Both are correct. When faced with a situation where you are the defender and the attacker is engaged, you are already at a disadvantage. Lights, Lasers and handguns are tools you use to offset their advantage to your favor. You may not always win, but it helps the odds. Long story short, train the way you fight. Then train the way you don't expect to fight.
Chuck R.
Member
I’ve taken 3 low light classes, and I’m a huge fan of weapon mounted lights. I prefer the pistol type sights mounted on a rail, so I can move the light from gun to gun if needed.
1. No chance of leaving a light behind.
2. Hitting a target is much easier with a mounted light, especially with a long-arm VS a hand-held light. We practice low-light with hand-helds during the fall and spring when sunset is early, even new comers, can hit well with a mounted light, hand-held, not so easy.
3. Opening doors, windows, dialing a phone, reloading, carrying a child etc. are much easier with a light attached to your weapon (again especially with a lomg-arm) VS a handheld light.
4. Lights with a high lumen beam are actually in some ways a non-lethal deterrent. Don’t believe me, just let your night vision kick in and then get flashed by one, you will wince and look away, then see green dots for a while. (you’ll also learn where the mirrors in your house are)
5. In a pinch, they make a good poor man’s laser for close quarters. On my Benelli, IF your center beam, your center pattern.
6. Most important, it’s like any other tool, just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you have to turn it on. This is where some training comes in. You don’t leave the light on constantly, you strobe, move, strobe, shoot, etc.
Nightstand gun, with SureFire X400 light/laser:
Colt LE6920 with SureFire X300:
Benelli M1S90 with Insight M3X:
Chuck
1. No chance of leaving a light behind.
2. Hitting a target is much easier with a mounted light, especially with a long-arm VS a hand-held light. We practice low-light with hand-helds during the fall and spring when sunset is early, even new comers, can hit well with a mounted light, hand-held, not so easy.
3. Opening doors, windows, dialing a phone, reloading, carrying a child etc. are much easier with a light attached to your weapon (again especially with a lomg-arm) VS a handheld light.
4. Lights with a high lumen beam are actually in some ways a non-lethal deterrent. Don’t believe me, just let your night vision kick in and then get flashed by one, you will wince and look away, then see green dots for a while. (you’ll also learn where the mirrors in your house are)
5. In a pinch, they make a good poor man’s laser for close quarters. On my Benelli, IF your center beam, your center pattern.
6. Most important, it’s like any other tool, just because it’s there, doesn’t mean you have to turn it on. This is where some training comes in. You don’t leave the light on constantly, you strobe, move, strobe, shoot, etc.
Nightstand gun, with SureFire X400 light/laser:
Colt LE6920 with SureFire X300:
Benelli M1S90 with Insight M3X:
Chuck
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