Does the G22 have a bad rep due to the snappiness of the .40 S&W round?
The Glock frame mitigates .40 recoil, quite well. The Gen3 G22 pistols had a bad reputation for malfunctioning, with a WML mounted. Actually, they had a reputation for malfunctioning, even without a WML attached. One of mine was an example of the latter, until I replaced the magazine springs with stronger Wolff springs, at the recommendation of a local armorer. (I had three G22 pistols, because I liked to have a pair, plus, ideally, a spare, of any pistol I used for police duty. So, that was one problematic G22 pistol, among a sample of three.)
Anyway, you will be using a G17, Gen4, so, should have no worries about functional reliability. I have no experience with any of the TLR-series sights, so cannot comment specifically on them. (I stayed with Surefire, from the original X200, through the X300U-A and X300U-B.) If you plan to holster the pistol, with light mounted, be sure to buy a light that already has holsters ready to use, with it. I transitioned away from my G22 duty pistols, in a quest for better accuracy. I returned to Glocks, when my then-chief OK’ed 9mm duty pistols, as .40’s Snap & Whip was vexing my arthritis. By then, it was Gen4, which fits my hands much better than Gen3. I can attest that the Gen4 G17 is a wonderful weapon, suitable for the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
Holsters that I like, that are compatible with WMLs, include the Phlster Floodlight, and JM Custom Kydex OWB series. The Floodlight is made to fit the WML, and will accommodate a range of pistols attached to that light. The trade-off for that versatility is more bulk.
The numbers of lumens that one wants, is going to vary. Not all of us want 1000 lumens of light, for indoor environments, especially in small rooms with white walls and ceilings. I happen to really like the nicely compact, now-discontinued Surefire X200b, which has a rather modest lumen count, by today’s standards.
OTOH, having 1000+ lumens allows one to better overwhelm an opponent with light, which makes it difficult to return effective, aimed fire, because a massive wall of light allows an opponent no reference point. (To be clear, one does not just stand there, and face incoming fire, as light is not “cover.” There is training, that one should obtain.)
Notably, a light, mounted on the weapon, is not a substitute for having a really good hand-held light.
I worked almost 34 years of night shift police patrol, which does not make me an expert, but it does mean that I encountered quite a few situations, over time. I considered it important to have TWO really good hand-held lights, making the WML of tertiary importance. Then, one of our command staff became aware of the existence of WMLs, resulting in an immediate ban on my ability to use a WMLs, for the rest of my career, while in the line of duty. (I could continue to use a WML for home defense, only, as “line of duty” included off-the-clock incidents.) So, most of my actual experience, using WMLs during real-life building searches, was with older Surefire X200 lights.
