Wade
Member
I have a KelTec Sub2000 for home defense. I've been thinking about adding either a laser sight or light (Surefire, etc). Opinions?
Laser or light for home defense carbine?
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benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
My personal preference would be a good light. Long guns are very "pointable" at inside-the-house range, so the laser doesn't give you much in added precision, but the light can blind an assailant and also serves as one last check of target ID. I don't know if this means anything, but most SWAT and HRT guys seem to have lights on their longarms rather than lasers.
SapperLeader
Member
My take on lasers is
that outside of military/law enforcement, the only area I see them shining in usefulness is on a handgun being fired from a awkward position. By this I mean If you are already on the ground, firing from the hip, or injured with your dominant hand. Some situation where your normal firing stance is not possible. Lights though, Lights on the other hand allow you to see which noise is a neighbors cat or a junkie on crack looking for some loot. Most importantly, is it a friend or loved one making noise downstairs, or the already mentioned junkie. I recently purchased a surfire weapons light for my 870, and highly recommend a designated weapons light for any home defense/self defense longarms wether they be carbines, rifles or shotguns.
that outside of military/law enforcement, the only area I see them shining in usefulness is on a handgun being fired from a awkward position. By this I mean If you are already on the ground, firing from the hip, or injured with your dominant hand. Some situation where your normal firing stance is not possible. Lights though, Lights on the other hand allow you to see which noise is a neighbors cat or a junkie on crack looking for some loot. Most importantly, is it a friend or loved one making noise downstairs, or the already mentioned junkie. I recently purchased a surfire weapons light for my 870, and highly recommend a designated weapons light for any home defense/self defense longarms wether they be carbines, rifles or shotguns.
Kestryll
member
This guy should be the real deal and his weapon is sporting a light.
El Tejon
Member
Hey, I've never been in the movies (although I should be, I'm just that good looking
) and my bedside 870 wears a light. You think it's just all my skuling and the fact that I've seen real bad consequences to violations of Rule #4?
Nah, must be the movies.
) and my bedside 870 wears a light. You think it's just all my skuling and the fact that I've seen real bad consequences to violations of Rule #4? Nah, must be the movies.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
My shotgun has a light on it, the local PD's shotguns and submachineguns all have lights on them.
Lights are way, way more useful than a laser is. get a light.
Lights are way, way more useful than a laser is. get a light.
for a long gun I would say a light but one with a momentary on switch that you can press with your normal hold on it...
my 870 has a light on it
my 1911 has laser grips and a light next to it.
I would not want either that took any steps to activate other than normal grip (no extra switches, or levers to remember).
my 870 has a light on it
my 1911 has laser grips and a light next to it.
I would not want either that took any steps to activate other than normal grip (no extra switches, or levers to remember).
Andrew Wyatt
Member
I guess we figure that giving away our position by shining a 120 lumen flashlight in someone's dark adapted eyes (and making them effectively blind) is better than accidently shooting a family member.
Not to mention of course that when you are giving away your position, you are pointing a rifle at them.
Professionals the world over from Special Forces to police use weapons lights. A light is a very good, possibly essential piece of hardware. You can use a handheld light for shooting, but it is much harder. If time permits, I would also take a handheld flashlight .
Professionals the world over from Special Forces to police use weapons lights. A light is a very good, possibly essential piece of hardware. You can use a handheld light for shooting, but it is much harder. If time permits, I would also take a handheld flashlight .
benEzra
Moderator Emeritus
QUOTE]Only in the movies do they put flashlights on their handguns or long guns[/QUOTE]
If you look at photos of the elite French gendarmes that pulled off the successful raid on the Airbus A320 that was hijacked by Algerian terrorists, you'll see lights on the MP5s. (There was one on the cover of SOF that year, I remember.)
If you look at photos of the elite French gendarmes that pulled off the successful raid on the Airbus A320 that was hijacked by Algerian terrorists, you'll see lights on the MP5s. (There was one on the cover of SOF that year, I remember.)
Smoke
Member
Get a light. Get a good light. Doesn't have to be mounted on your gun.
Get a cheap laser pointer at the local dime store. Duct tape it to your gun. Try to point it reliably at a target. Rip ducttape off and throw laser in the trash. Thank me for saving you money on a overpriced gimmic.
Get a cheap laser pointer at the local dime store. Duct tape it to your gun. Try to point it reliably at a target. Rip ducttape off and throw laser in the trash. Thank me for saving you money on a overpriced gimmic.
Wade
Member
Ok, you've all convinced me to skip the laser and "see the light."
Now, how about some suggestions on which light to get. I've got a picatinny rail ordered, so a light with mount would be preferable.
Now, how about some suggestions on which light to get. I've got a picatinny rail ordered, so a light with mount would be preferable.
Andrew Wyatt
Member
I learned the harries flashlight technique from harries himself, and my nightfighting skills from andy stanford. I'm plenty qualified to say that a flashlight is a good idea to have on a longarm.
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El Tejon
Member
jem, I have studied under many different instructors, all of whom have stressed Rule #4. Many skuls offer low light/night shooting only. At no time has the instructor told us not to bring a flashlight and rely on prayer or The Force to identify our target.
Could you please tell me who is telling you to ignore Rule #4? What instructors have you been to that are teaching that?
Could you please tell me who is telling you to ignore Rule #4? What instructors have you been to that are teaching that?
to all those who worry about giving away position,
those who are recommending a light (like me) are not saying to walk around with it on all the time!! You can only turn it on when you need it, but if you don't have one and need it, you are SOL!!
it's dark, and you find yourself behind someone in your house, if you have a light you can turn it on then before firing (because hey, firing gives your position away just as well as a light) to be 100% sure BEFORE pulling the trigger....
just my .02
those who are recommending a light (like me) are not saying to walk around with it on all the time!! You can only turn it on when you need it, but if you don't have one and need it, you are SOL!!
it's dark, and you find yourself behind someone in your house, if you have a light you can turn it on then before firing (because hey, firing gives your position away just as well as a light) to be 100% sure BEFORE pulling the trigger....
just my .02
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Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Lord help us! Folks who get to barking and growling over this sort of small beer oughta stick to cap pistols! Real guns are for grownups...
, Art
, ArtEl Tejon.......by this time you should know who is in your house concerning rule#4, which you seem to bring up all the time.....how about the rule about pointing a loaded firearm at someone?......and of course you think the bad guy is not going to hear you fumbling around with the gun and light attachment.....but, then again I don't use a rifle or shotgun for home defense, just a S&W Model 66 357 mag and a Witness 10MM compact, so, I will just bail out of this argument and let everyone just do their own thing.....
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