Holsters and Lights?

[Panzerschwein]

Anyone have a holster for your pistol with a rail-mounted light that allows the light to be attached with the pistol in the holster?

What are the pros-cons of such a setup? Thanks!

 

[JeffG]

I have a kydex OWB with rail light holster for my Glock 23 & TLR1. It's not really easily concealable; more of a sport or range holster. There is noticeably more noise with the light, than drawing just the pistol. Holstering just the pistol with no light, the pistol wobbles inside the holster. And the age-old problem of a weapon mounted light, if you use the light mounted to navigate, you point your pistol at everything you shine your light on. Keeping that all in mind, it's a pretty good setup.

 

[Panzerschwein]

I have a kydex OWB with rail light holster for my Glock 23 & TLR1. It's not really easily concealable; more of a sport or range holster. There is noticeably more noise with the light, than drawing just the pistol. Holstering just the pistol with no light, the pistol wobbles inside the holster. And the age-old problem of a weapon mounted light, if you use the light mounted to navigate, you point your pistol at everything you shine your light on. Keeping that all in mind, it's a pretty good setup.

Extremely cool, thank you for the input. I've a lead on one for my B92A1. Interesting...

 

[JTQ]

Anyone have a holster for your pistol with a rail-mounted light that allows the light to be attached with the pistol in the holster?

Could you clarify your question.

Are you asking...

1. Does anyone have a holster that is designed to work with a light mounted on a pistol?

or

2. Does anyone have a holster that allows you to holster your pistol and then mount the light on the gun while the gun is holstered?

 

[Panzerschwein]

Could you clarify your question.

Are you asking...

1. Does anyone have a holster that is designed to work with a light mounted on a pistol?

or

2. Does anyone have a holster that allows you to holster your pistol and then mount the light on the gun while the gun is holstered?

Sorry I meant #1 as in does anyone have and use a holster that allows them to carry their gun with a light attached.

 

[Telekinesis]

I have a holster for my Glock 19 with a TLR1. The disadvantages are that it is generally going to be a larger holster and will be less comfortable. Advantages are that you have a light on your gun.

You could look into the Surefire XC1 which is designed to fit the form factor af a gun like a G19 which means you'll have a smaller footprint than something like a TLR1. I think that would be about the perfect concealment light.

If you're interested in the pros and cons of having a light on the gun, that's a bit of a different question.

It is a good bit easier to illuminate/shoot (at the same time) with a weapon mounted light when compared to holding a normal handheld flashlight. There are several different techniques out there for using a handled light with a gun, but with all of them you give up some grip on your weapon to have the light. Not so with a weapon mounted light. My TLR1 is also brighter than my handheld light.

A weapon mounted light should NOT be used like a handheld light for general illumination. If the situation doesn't call for a gun, it doesn't call for the gunlight. Carry a separate handheld light for general use. If you're searching (in a situation where you'd be searching with a gun without a light), point the gun/light at the floor (think low ready) and activate the light - you'll have plenty of light to figure out what's going on. Remember we're talking 200-600+ lumens, not a maglite.

Basically, don't point a gun with a light at someone unless you'd point a gun without a light at them too. The gunlight just simplifies the point where you'd want both the gun and the light at the same time.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Thanks, gang. I've already been berated and borderline attacked for saying I prefer weapons mounted lights on pistols on this forum and others.

So barring that, I am just seeing if such a setup would cause a slower/awkward draw or be too bulky or something like that. It just seems like if my full-size duty pistol (Beretta 92A1) has a light rail on it, it'd be cool to have a holster that would allow a light to be attached but am looking at the drawbacks of such a setup.

 

[herrwalther]

The drawbacks are pretty insignificant to having a carry weapon with a light. The biggest drawback, is finding a holster to fit your specific light. While holster companies are pretty good at making holsters for guns X, Y, and Z. They are a bit behind on making a holster for gun X with light Z. Also depending on the size and weight of your gun w/ light your draw may be slightly clumsy or slow. A bit of training will greatly reduce this.

I carry a Walther handgun with a Viridian light. Two rather uncommon companies together compared to say a Glock and Surefire. The largest selection I have ever seen from a non custom holster maker is White Hat. They add cut outs in the kydex for Viridian, Surefire, Streamlight, Crimson Trace, and Inforce lights lasers or both. So I would recommend checking them out for a holster.

 

[9mmepiphany]

What are the pros-cons of such a setup? Thanks!

The biggest Con is finding a holster made specifically for you gun/light combo...since there is no standardized size for the lights.

After that would be:
1. the added weight at that point of the belt
2. the slower draw due to the extended length and need to bring the gun higher to clear leather
3. the compromised concealability with the longer holster being worn lower on the belt

I have a couple of friends who do carry a WML on their CCW. They are carrying a Glock 19 IWB in the appendix position under a draped shirt

 

[JTQ]

What are the pros-cons of such a setup? Thanks!

I've already been berated and borderline attacked for saying I prefer weapons mounted lights on pistols on this forum and others.

What would "berated and borderline attacked" be? Are you really looking for potential cons?

Tucker Gun Leather http://tuckergunleather.com/faq/

Q. Does Tucker recommend carrying a defensive pistol with a light attached to an accessory rail?

A. Tucker says, "If you're on a SWAT team, go for it. If not, your pistol is a quick-response tool for a sudden and extreme self-defense situation. If you have a light on the gun, you may find it distracting enough to slow dowin your response."

A couple of articles by/about Tom Givens

American Handgunner https://americanhandgunner.com/when-citizens-fight-back/

Civilian Defender https://civiliandefender.com/2016/04/01/low-light-red-sights-and-tom-givens-glock-35/

The key takeaway...

...in the 60 plus defensive shootings his students have been involved in, the lighting (or lack of lighting) was a factor in the outcome in exactly ZERO cases.

I'm not trying to convince you one way or the other. I'm just giving you a couple of data points from folks that focus on the concealed carrier, rather than the LE/Mil perspective that often seems to dominate the "do I need a light on my gun" threads.

The typical kydex light mounted holster is the pancake style, like the now discontinued Raven Concealment Phantom. These are very thin holsters, but have a large footprint.

I have a Phantom, and it is borderline useful as an IWB holster due to the large footprint. It is just tough to find a flat spot on my body large enough to put that holster IWB. The most apt description of the kydex pancake is it is like sticking a dinner plate in your pants.

It works better OWB. However, my holster is not light capable, and a light capable holster would have an even larger footprint. I suspect you'd need to be a pretty large person to comfortably wear a light capable kydex pancake IWB comfortably.

There are very few leather light capable holsters, and most of those are "duty" style holsters and not concealment holsters, though there are some leather concealment holsters for mounted lights. The issue is the light is a retention point. It is tough to do with a leather holster without a thumb break, though some do it. In addition, the light capable holster won't work if the light is not mounted on the gun.

 

[JTQ]

PureKustom makes a leather concealment holster for guns with mounted lights

http://www.purekustom.com

 

[herrwalther]

1. the added weight at that point of the belt

Streamlight TLR-1 is one of the bigger WPLs on the market for duty/concealed use. It weighs 4.18 ounces. Not a whole lot of weight if you are carrying a medium or bigger gun. For smaller guns, the Viridian Reactor light weighs 8 ounces.

2. the slower draw due to the extended length and need to bring the gun higher to clear leather

Moot point. It is personal preference and comfort on whether you want a light to extend past the muzzle of your firearm. I don't. Which is why I use the (compact) C5L model instead of the X5L (full size). You will not have to draw the gun any higher to clear the light if the muzzle is still longer.

3. the compromised concealability with the longer holster being worn lower on the belt

Another relatively moot point. I carry IWB so the muzzle is concealed anyway. Longer length only plays into concealment if a) the light extends past the muzzle and b) when carrying OWB.

Q. Does Tucker recommend carrying a defensive pistol with a light attached to an accessory rail?

A. Tucker says, "If you're on a SWAT team, go for it. If not, your pistol is a quick-response tool for a sudden and extreme self-defense situation. If you have a light on the gun, you may find it distracting enough to slow dowin your response."

That sounds like a holster maker coming up with excuses to not offer light compatible holsters. I get it. It takes time and money to make a good holster. It takes more time and money to make a good holster that can carry a weapon and light. And some companies don't want to extend that extra effort for customers.

A couple of articles by/about Tom Givens

American Handgunner https://americanhandgunner.com/when-citizens-fight-back/

Civilian Defender https://civiliandefender.com/2016/04/01/low-light-red-sights-and-tom-givens-glock-35/

Read both. Holding a sight up to static, well lit objects does not prove Tom Given's point. And the 60+ cases is a useless contrast. There is no way to tell how a shooting MIGHT have turned out better or worse, with or without a weapon light on a firearm. I find it funny that the "4 Rules" are conveniently forgotten when the subject of weapon lights or lasers comes up. One of the rules is "know your target and what is beyond it." I have been on tons of static ranges, and a few 2 way ranges, where a light was needed. Or at the very least would have helped. Even in broad daylight, I kept a weapon light on my service rifle. At the drop of a hat you could go from a sunlit day into a dark house. Same thing as a civilian. Underpasses and parking garages are dark places in the urban jungle even during the day. My overall point is, there is no reason not to explore every possible advantage when it comes to a defensive shooting to save life.

 

[DT Guy]

The biggest concern I've personally had with WML's and holsters is the way the holster, when molded to allow the light to enter/draw, often exposes a great deal of the trigger. Not sure there's a way around it with certain light/weapons, but I wouldn't carry such a rig.


Larry

 

[JRadice45]

A big issue I have noticed with a holster designed for a wml is SIZE. In the winter up north there is little problem concealing such a holster with a jacket / parka.

Spring, summer, fall it can be tricky. Im talking about is holsters as Iwb holsters with wml's are too large for comfort for me.

I don't find the draw of a handgun with a wml any slower than the draw of a similar handgun without a wml ( both 1911 full-size models and glock 19's).

 

[JeffG]

I bought a WML holster, just to teach low light options at the range I work at. Having said that, using and wearing a WML on a pistol is going to be a personal choice, but you have to realistically justify the need. Out in the woods, and low light home defense, ok. My HD pistol carries a light, and night sights but otherwise my WML holster is something I left behind on my police duty belt when I retired.
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4657/39095509115_392ea36829_m.jpg
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4604/39095509025_1c79939518_m.jpg

 

[bullseye308]

I purchased my IWB holster from Concealed Concepts on evilbay a few years ago to carry a G17. Loved it and it was so comfortable I emailed and asked if he could make another just like it but allow me to carry a Glock 17L with a TLR-1HL on it. He said sure, order another and put it in the notes about the light, so I did. Less than a week later it arrived and has been carried 80% of the time, with the basic no light model getting the rest.

Once on and adjusted just right I forget that I’m even wearing it, playing with the kids, driving, shopping, whatever. I hang it off of a Bull Belts Indestructible SuperBio Belt that holds everything I need on it.

I’m waiting on my taxes to come in and get my G19 MOS with another TLR-1HL and red dot on it, and if he can do the holster for it, I’m already happy with it. As to the pistol mounted light crap, I have one, I use one, and it works for me. I have no interest in anyone’s opinion on what I carry, how I carry, and/or what accessories/loads I use. I only have to satisfy myself/answer to myself at this point in my life.

 

[If1HitU]

View attachment 778722 View attachment 778721 I purchased my IWB holster from Concealed Concepts on evilbay a few years ago to carry a G17. Loved it and it was so comfortable I emailed and asked if he could make another just like it but allow me to carry a Glock 17L with a TLR-1HL on it. He said sure, order another and put it in the notes about the light, so I did. Less than a week later it arrived and has been carried 80% of the time, with the basic no light model getting the rest.

Once on and adjusted just right I forget that I’m even wearing it, playing with the kids, driving, shopping, whatever. I hang it off of a Bull Belts Indestructible SuperBio Belt that holds everything I need on it.

I’m waiting on my taxes to come in and get my G19 MOS with another TLR-1HL and red dot on it, and if he can do the holster for it, I’m already happy with it. As to the pistol mounted light crap, I have one, I use one, and it works for me. I have no interest in anyone’s opinion on what I carry, how I carry, and/or what accessories/loads I use. I only have to satisfy myself/answer to myself at this point in my life.

I'm going to have to buy me this holster,because I just bought a AIM sports compact flashlight for my G21 sf.

 

[If1HitU]

I'm going to have to buy me this holster,because I just bought a AIM sports compact flashlight for my G21 sf.

 

[Al-jim19]

I have a G19 with a tlr1 on it. I carried it in a bravo concealment owb kydex holster with pancake wings. It’s very chunky with the light attached and I can only conceal it with oversized hoodies. I swapped out the pancake wings for iwb clips and it conceals well now, but it’s a very chunky setup to have inside the belt.

Contrast that with the G19 in a Don Hume leather owb pancake holster: easily concealable in an untucked button down or T-shirt. The light really changes the pistol, in some ways for better, in some ways for worse. It’s all a compromise, as always.