Tactical flashlights for home defense

[tyler500e]

Does anyone here use a tactical flashlight mounted on their autoloader? Is this a good accessory for a home defense pistol? What are some good websites for checking out accessories for autoloaders? ..perhaps specific to awesome ones, like my SA XD45 Tactical.

 

[Darthbauer]

Some will say its good cause then you can see what your shooting at and others will say its bad because your letting the bg know where you are. It's your house, you should be able to find your way in the dark better than the bg so you shouldnt really use a light is what i think.


I have a Surefire x200 on my hd handgun but its only there if i need it. Better to have it there and not need it than need it and not have one.

 

[Al Thompson]

Also shouldn't shoot what you can't identify. Lights help bunches.

 

[wep45]

keep low stay in the shadows put several in the brain

 

[gotime242]

Its a good idea if you know how to use it.

At night i would prefer to have most lights off, and manuver in the dark as I know my own house, and briefly light up an area if i need to, but then turn the light off as soon as possible and MOVE, so you arent constantly giving away your location.

 

[CWL]

Many gun trainers offer "Low Light" or "Night" training.

These classes will teach you how to handle firearms in low-light conditions (the most likely condition for when a SD gun is needed). Flashlight & attached white light usage is taught as 'part' of overall low-light SD tactics.

LEO training is different than civvie use in that LEOs usually leave their lights on when entering a building. For SD use, you do not have to keep the light on, just flash it to identify target.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The best approach is "lights out," but with a night light at the far end of the approach to your safe room -- so the intruder is backlighted.

 

[possum]

there are alot of naysayers about weapon mounted lights, i love and i use them not only in a hd situation, but as well in training and in the sandbox. if you know the technique then you won't have to worry about the enemy as much as some people would like to have you think. light on, shoot, light off (all the way off) move etc.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Tacticool Claplights

Double-tap with two blanks loaded on top of a magazine full of Extreme Shock Fangface ammunition to activate all lighting.



Seriously though, I'm all for lights. Weapon-mounted, another in your weak hand, lasers. They're all tools that can do nothing but help if you know how to use them. Weapon-mounted is probably more intuitive, but they're a bit pricey. The best value in GOOD flashlights, in my opinion, is a Surefire G2L (LED version) for about $60. Bright enough to (allegedly) temporarily blind someone whose vision is currently acclimated to the dark and small enough and light enough to carry around every day. You'd be surprised how often you'll use it.

 

[Rinspeed]

In my opinion the light belongs in your hand and not everywhere the muzzle is pointing but to each their own. When trying to identify a potential bad guy I want the light pointed directly at their eyes.

 

[MachIVshooter]

IMO, the biggest advantage to a weapon-mounted light for HD is that you only have to locate one thing in the dark. That, and how many here have ever tried to grab a flashlight in the pitch black and had it go rolling off the table and across the floor?

 

[Mad Magyar]

Is this a good accessory for a home defense pistol?

No. You have all the advantages of "knowing" your own home.
The idea of shooting one's own family member in low-light conditions is a favorite ploy in salesmanship....

 

[Kind of Blued]

The idea of shooting one's own family member in low-light conditions is a favorite ploy in salesmanship....

...and also much easier to do accidentally when you can't tell who they are.

 

[Storm]

In my opinion the light belongs in your hand and not everywhere the muzzle is pointing but to each their own. When trying to identify a potential bad guy I want the light pointed directly at their eyes.

I'm with you on that one.

I also like the option of being able to put some distance between myself and the light rather than provide a point of aim just above center mass.

Also, I have a little Fenix with a strobe setting that absolutely disorients folks looking into the light. I recently used the strobe alone to end a potential situation.

 

[Mossberg88]

wep45

keep low stay in the shadows put several in the brain

+1

 

[Mad Magyar]

...and also much easier to do accidentally when you can't tell who they are.

Rule 4. Always be sure of your target!

 

[Tirod]

Lights work. Unmounted lights have their advantages, as said, they can point where the muzzle isn't, and not give away your center of mass.

Weapon lights are a bagdad fad from spec ops/MP use. Most civilians don't or won't learn how to really use them, nor will they do any better than a hand held. Please be reminded most weapons mounted light users are working as a team with 2 to 9 others. Alone, things can get very complicated trying to control a situation if the BG's buddy steps out of a hallway.

I would definitely recommend a light. LED's above 60 lumens, with a low level 5-10 lumen secondary, will help navigate and illuminate better overall. Be careful about buying lights that work off of 123 lithium's from a cost standpoint. They can be cheap if bought in bulk, but you're almost forced to. Rechargeable AA's are a better deal, work in lots of other stuff, and don't cost you an arm and a leg if you need more at the 'Mart. You can always just stick in alkalines. There a bit smaller and take up less space, too.

If there is an incident, the weapons mounted light may go with the firearm when the police need it for evidence . . .

 

[possum]

In my opinion the light belongs in your hand and not everywhere the muzzle is pointing but to each their own. When trying to identify a potential bad guy I want the light pointed directly at their eyes.

the light dosen't have to go strainght into thier eyes to effect them, thier night vision and/ or thier o.o.d.a loop.

there is no one light technique that is best for every situation, it is omportant to get familiar with various ones, see what you like best and then apply that to your training. i use weapon mounted primarily, like i said in the sandbox there is no better option in my opinion with a long gun, yes there are other options but the weapon mounted light is better. i prefer 2 hands on the gun when possible, so in a hd scenario the weapon mounted light is perfect.

when using a hand held light which i have when i carry i pretty much stick with the syringe, or harris style and that about covers all my needs.

 

[Rinspeed]

the light dosen't have to go strainght into thier eyes to effect them, thier night vision and/ or thier o.o.d.a loop.

I don't want them to be effected, I want them to be totally blind which is fairly hard to do with the light pointed at their feet. Like I said this is my opinion and the OP was talking about home defense. I do have a Surefire mounted on my AR but that is different. If it gets to that there's no question in my mind that there is a verified threat. I agree with you that's it's all about training and accurate assessment of the situation.

 

[possum]

I don't want them to be effected, I want them to be totally blind which is fairly hard to do with the light pointed at their feet. Like I said this is my opinion and the OP was talking about home defense. I do have a Surefire mounted on my AR but that is different. If it gets to that there's no question in my mind that there is a verified threat. I agree with you that's it's all about training and accurate assessment of the situation.

i am not talking about the light being at thier feet, and i was talking about home defense, and why is there any difference between the light on your ar? you don't use a long gun for hd? i tell you what you know better than i do so i will let you go at it, take a course in low light and come talk to me.

 

[Rinspeed]

i am not talking about the light being at thier feet, and i was talking about home defense, and why is there any difference between the light on your ar? you don't use a long gun for hd? i tell you what you know better than i do so i will let you go at it, take a course in low light and come talk to me.

I'm not sure why you're being so defensive but as I've said this is just my opinion, you don't have to agree with me and it certainly won't hurt my feelings. Sure I use a long gun for HD but that's not what the OP was asking about.

 

[KINGMAX]

Lights draw fire and give away your position as well

Think about it; Lights draw fire and give away your position as well. Do tou really want that???

 

[Big Daddy Grim]

I like lights but mine has a button switch on the handle of my gun so I go dark until I hit him with the light in the eyes Surefire disorientation.

 

[Kind of Blued]

Rule 4. Always be sure of your target!

By... smelling them? Or asking them their name? Does that not give away your position?

I really don't see why being able to identify what you might shoot at is a disadvantage.

 

[benderx4]

Great thread! I'm learning a lot, but I doubt anyone's opinion of the usage of a tactical light is going to change.

In my case, I have a teenage boy who sleeps upstairs, a teenage girl who lives on the other side of the house, and a restless dog. I absolutely need to identify what it is that goes bump in the night.

We don't normally leave a light on although I do have a few motion detector lights plugged into wall sockets that turn on in low light scenarios with motion.

Should there be no light at all, I want a strong flashlight immediately available when I pick up my USP45. My M2 UTL has the toggle that allows short light bursts. I like that it leaves my weak hand free to open doors, turn on lights, etc.