Laser / light on HD gun

[SharpDog]

You are getting the basic concept. Its best to use the light sparingly, and if possible to move- even if just a little bit- after flashing. Most people use a weapon light in the way one would use a flashlight looking for the family cat in the yard, or as an aid to navigation- because they haven't been properly trained.

I've been using these lights for quite a while (ever since the Glock 21 came out with rails, maybe 20 - 30 years ?) and have thought about it a bit. In fact it was the fact that the 21 could take a light that finally switched me from 1911's to Glocks (I've now moved on to Sig)

 

[entropy]

Ahhh, it's not marked. I believe I got it from Amazon like 4-5 yrs ago. I do know that when I wanted one for my PM400 it was not available and I got one of these (I got blue bc it's less 'tactical', but the FDE more closely matches the one in the pic) Note that the blue is 30" and the FDE is 34" (the one under my AR is a 34"):

View attachment 792428

https://smile.amazon.com/UTG-Battle...=5KAov&refRID=GZ7D1KQPK7S434A2GN3R&th=1&psc=1

Thanks, I'll have to look into those 30" inch ones.

 

[Mike .45]

I keep a light on my two primary HD handguns.

 

[Al-jim19]

Anyone know what size light would fit on a XDm sc. The TL1 looks a little bit big

They just came out with the tlr7, which is pretty compact and brighter than the 3/4. You may also want to look into the inforce apl/c (cheapish) or the surefire xc1 (expensive). I don’t have firsthand experience with those lights but they are all well respected brands and each are popular these days.

 

[mdauben]

I didn't mean to offend you. Yes, that is a rule of gun safety.

Sorry if I was too touchy about your post. When I first read you original post, what I heard in my head was "you feel that way because you don't train enough, if you are unwilling to put the training in you are better off not doing things like us better trained individuals." That's one of the problems with online discussions, its easy to misinterpret the posters meaning.

With a little research, you will find different rules in different places, and for different activities.

Not sure I agree with this when it comes to basic gun safety.

How often do law enforcement professionals or our military guys and gals end up with a "suspect at gunpoint", but end up NOT shooting them because it wasn't required or appropriate?

First off, I would say "apples and oranges" because law enforcement and combat operations and not the same as home or self defense. As a civilian in many places, I'm not entitled to hold a "suspect at gunpoint". There is also the fact that LEOs and MILs are not likely to be pointing their guns while on duty at family members.

Your refusal to get a proper sight picture on a possible bad guy would be your ticket out of many organizations. Again, its a matter of your level of training.

Again you seem to be assuming my competence or training is inferior. I never said anything about shooting at shadows in the dark or failing to ID targets. I've got a powerful LED flash that sits right next to my HD gun, and I do train in using them together so I can do that without pointing my gun a someone I don't want to shoot.

 

[FL-NC]

Basic gun safety rules err on the side of sporting activities and general gun handling. A lethal encounter generally means that at least one party doesn't care about gun safety. You may have to shoot PAST a friendly to hit an adversary, or otherwise in close proximity to a friendly. Is this a violation of basic gun safety? Absolutely- on a range. The first rule of a gunfight is to win. There are other rules too- like not engaging non-hostile targets- be they family members or anyone else. Lethal encounters are almost always reactionary in nature to the intended victim(s). This means that this person or group is playing catch-up from the outset. Chaos is in full effect, and the best you can hope for is to control the chaos and seize control of the situation. These principles are the same, whether you are a deployed SEAL during an insider attack in the chow hall, a police officer responding to a routine call, or just a normal guy sleeping in his own home.

 

[Jesse H]

I'm not comfortable with the idea of mounting a flashlight on a gun though. IMO the problem is in order it ID a target, I need to point the weapon at them.

Not necessarily.

Any decent light will spill and reflect enough that it isn't necessary to point your pistol and light at the subject to identify them.

We're talking about realistic pistol distances and a quality 300-1000 lumen light.

 

[SwampWolf]

I have a Streamlight TLR-2 (light and laser) mounted on my SIG Model 226. I like the set-up a lot but I've pretty much given up on accessing the strobe feature in any kind of a quick, reflexive way. Maybe with a lot more practice wasting more than a few batteries.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

No light on my HD pistol. Quality LED hand held is nearby to the gun should I feel I need a light.

1100sf home with enough lighting running all night throughout the little bit of home that needs it. Just the wife and I.

Had I a much larger home and other inhabitants I might feel differently.