Use and purpose of tactical lights

[I0sens]

Hi

I have been looking into getting a tactical light recently, but the more I look the less I am convinced that it is a such a good thing for self defense purposes.

I understand that a flash light will be advantageous to see what is going on AFTER a suspect or intruder has been cornered and surrendered. (But at that point I can turn on the normal lights).

But as a home defense tool I doubt the benefits of current designs because:

- I feel that in my house - if I hear some suspicious noise - I have the advantage that I know the lay of the land and he might need a light
revealing his position.

- If I use a light I give away my advantage.

See pictures: perfect targets:

http://www.hendonpub.com/resources/articlearchive/details.aspx?ID=207612

Also somehow I feel that reaching for the switch (rifle) or having both hands occupied with gear (flashlight and pistol in the other hand), distracts from good aiming.


I can see that a bright light might disorient the suspect as especially the ads for strobing flashlights want you to think. But again: I give up my advantage.

I wonder if one big strobe "speed light" would do a better job.
If you ever have been "flashed" by a big photographic speed light in the dark, you know what I mean: A big blind spot wherever you look for possibly minutes.
Why isn't there something like that?

Curious about the answers.

 

[gladi8tr]

A light on any self defence weapon is a good idea. Thru training and research you can learn the proper way to deploy a light in a defence situation. The weapon light should be used to clear areas and also to identify bad guys. Once you light em up and identify the target you engage it. You should not shoot at things you cant see you might not know who it is. They do make a strobe light for rifles but I dont mess with them. A 85 to 125 lumen light is perfect for buldings and such. Also your light should have a nice wide beam and not a narrow beam those are more suited for outside use. A little piece of sun on the end of your rifle in a room with white walls will blind you and your target and that is no bueno.

 

[cottonmouth]

I use them on my AR and my SOCOM II. Ever tried to shoot an armadilo with peep sights at night? And thet don't shoot back!

J.B.

 

[AWorthyOpponent]

See pictures: perfect targets:

you're right, those pictures are perfect targets, however the purpose of a light is to light up in front of you. If you shine a light down hallway, anything that is not down that hallway, to the rear of the light, will have only ambient lighting to give your silhouette away. Im sorry to say, those pictures have seen Photoshop.

Also somehow I feel that reaching for the switch (rifle) or having both hands occupied with gear (flashlight and pistol in the other hand), distracts from good aiming.

Many pistol lights that are attached to a firearm use your trigger finger to light, reinforcing the thought of keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire, even in a stressful situation. Use of a tactical light, such as the Brite-Strike you linked to, is rather in effective, and can be counter productive if you have not trained in that situation. Effectively, you are going from two handed shooting to one handed shooting, in a stressful situation. This means you are more likely to miss your intended target, drop your firearm, drop the light, or something similar. If you are put in that situation however, unless you have family in the house that you are searching for (where the light would come in handy) you should protect yourself by staying in a room where your back is covered. In that case, I would call the police and yell out to the burglar that I was armed and if he came within sight of the room I was in, I would open fire.

If you wanna go all mall ninja, you can pick up a set of night vision goggles for fairly cheap, and Brite-Strike's "IR Tactical Balls" that you can throw into the living room, hallway, etc, therefore fully lighting up the room for you, but not the criminal.

Personally, I have a "bullet proof" vest I picked up for myself. That's as mall ninja as I can get without feeling sick in the morning...

 

[rcmodel]

Why isn't there something like that?

There is.

The high power TAC lights will blind a person unfortunate enough to look at one in the dark.

I guarantee you they will see spots for some time, even after reflexively closing & shielding there eyes the instant the light hits them in the face.

I have a Surefire LED that actually hurts to look at if you are dumb enough to try it.

TAC lights are in no way comparable to the old Everyready D-cell in the junque drawer.

rc

 

[benEzra]

- If I use a light I give away my advantage.

How old are you?

Odds are that if a twentysomething violent criminal with dark-adapted vision is in your house, he'll have the advantage in low light, not you, unless you're also twentysomething or have unusually good night vision for your age. Younger people see in the dark like cats compared to people with older eyes, particularly if the older eyes also need corrective lenses, and if the bad guy also has twentysomething hearing then he can likely pin down your location by the sound of your steps on the carpet, if you're moving and he's stationary. I remember when I was 18, I could usually tell if someone else was in the same room as me in the dark because I could hear them breathing, and I could differentiate colors by moonlight; I probably can't do that now (39), and I'm pretty sure I won't be able to at age 60.

There's also the fact that if you see a shadow in the dark, you don't know if it's a bad guy or your teenage son/daughter sneaking out/in or shuffling to the fridge; but if a home invader sees a shadow in the dark, he knows it's the resident and a threat to him. So in the dark, he can shoot without hesitation, but you have to squint in the dark to try to ID the shape. Again, the dark advantage goes to the bad guy.

Also somehow I feel that reaching for the switch (rifle) or having both hands occupied with gear (flashlight and pistol in the other hand), distracts from good aiming.

Not being able to see your sights or your target in the dark distracts from good aiming. Activating a light with your nonshooting hand doesn't, if the light is properly set up.

 

[I0sens]

Ok, ok

that was to be expected.

I am not in my twenties anymore (multiply be 32 and add X), and I do not have teenagers robbing the fridge anymore.

It's probably still better to have a light than not - just in case...


Thanks for your insights

 

[Destructo6]

The officer in those pictures on that website had a light on him for demonstration purposes.

Having a light available for your use does not require its use. It is there to allow you to identify and deal with a threat, if necessary. Light on: shoot, light off: move.

 

[M2 Carbine]

This is in my house in the dark (the only target I had handy is the hostage target)


I guarantee you the BG can see nothing but a blinding light and spots before his eyes. He may start launching bullets (if I haven't already shot him) but he isn't aiming.

Add a laser to the light on your 12 ga shotgun, loaded with #4 buckshot and slugs, and this is easily done.
Even aimed wide to save the hostage.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

There's also the fact that if you see a shadow in the dark, you don't know if it's a bad guy or your teenage son/daughter sneaking out/in or shuffling to the fridge...

A verbal challenge, such as "Who's There! What are you doing?!", should be the first step of your threat identification process.

 

[benEzra]

A verbal challenge, such as "Who's There! What are you doing?!", should be the first step of your threat identification process.

Except you still need a light, because the hypothetical teenager in the dark could be wearing an iPod or be drunk or disoriented. A lack of response doesn't automatically equate to a threat.

When discussing tactical lights, Massad Ayoob cites a couple of tragic LE innocent-person shootings in the dark that led departments to start issuing lights and training officers on their proper use, and I thought that at least one of those did involve a verbal challenge, but I may be wrong.

 

[Onward Allusion]

This subject has been debated quite a bit. Some old school die hards will never mount a light to their weapons. Others won't buy a pistol unless it has a rail. Personally, the weapon mounted light is useful if you're familiar with using one (i.e. practice with one). I think of the weapon mounted light as a backup light to the one I have in my weak hand holding a primary light - scanning the room, hall...etc. A mounted light is especially handy when one has to open doors or call 911.

As for giving away your position, in a HD/SD situation I would want to know where the BG is rather than fumbling around in the dark myself. Sure, the BG could shoot where the light is, or where your shadow is, but if that were to happen, odds are that the BG already got the drop on you.

I guess if money was no object, I would use a set of thermal imaging night vision goggles.

I0sens
I have been looking into getting a tactical light recently, but the more I look the less I am convinced that it is a such a good thing for self defense purposes.

I understand that a flash light will be advantageous to see what is going on AFTER a suspect or intruder has been cornered and surrendered. (But at that point I can turn on the normal lights).

But as a home defense tool I doubt the benefits of current designs because:

- I feel that in my house - if I hear some suspicious noise - I have the advantage that I know the lay of the land and he might need a light
revealing his position.

- If I use a light I give away my advantage.
<SNIP link>

Also somehow I feel that reaching for the switch (rifle) or having both hands occupied with gear (flashlight and pistol in the other hand), distracts from good aiming.
I can see that a bright light might disorient the suspect as especially the ads for strobing flashlights want you to think. But again: I give up my advantage.
I wonder if one big strobe "speed light" would do a better job.
If you ever have been "flashed" by a big photographic speed light in the dark, you know what I mean: A big blind spot wherever you look for possibly minutes.
Why isn't there something like that?
Curious about the answers.

 

[Tim the student]

Ever had a good tac light shined at you, even in daylight? Its not like pointing a mini maglight at him. Those things are painful to look at - you can't look at, need to look away, and will be disoriented to a certain degree. Run a scenario with a buddy in your house with a GOOD tac light and without, and I bet you will be in favor afterwards.

 

[Tirod]

I had some urban training while in my local MP unit. Having a light is superior. If you are checking an outbuilding because the door is open and a unknown vehicle is parked close by, you'd rather have the ability to spot the intruder first. They don't always have a gun, but they are motivated to resist and flee. At the very least you can ID the snoopy brat from down the street who should have been in bed. Shoot him outright, problems.

If you have a feeling that someone has intruded, calling the cops is the first move. It's like being on fire - STOP - DROP the notion its' silly, dial 911, ROLL with the police being there or at least on the way. A lot of folks would do well to then wait and observe, rather like watching a bear and her cubs from a distance rather than running into a campsite to scare them off.

There are a lot of what-if situations brought up on the net. They are generally a forced confrontation that doesn't happen that often in real life, and what is really revealed is that most who discuss it won't commit to continous training to keep their skills fresh. Handling a light and firearm does take practice - hours a month at minimum if it's never used otherwise. The average homeowner eventually decides there are more important things to do.

At the very least, shop for a new home in a better neighborhood.

 

[Shawn Dodson]

Except you still need a light, because the hypothetical teenager in the dark could be wearing an iPod or be drunk or disoriented.

Good point!

A few strategically placed night lights can also aid in threat identification. If power is cut, the night lights won't be on (unless they have battery backup), which may be indicative of a higher threat level.

Radio Shack used to offer an inexpensive control system for lightswitches & power outlets that could be remotely operated from anywhere in the house. I don't know if they still offer it, but I installed it in one of my homes and could operate key indoor & outdoor light fixtures from the master bedroom.

A lack of response doesn't automatically equate to a threat.

Which is why I suggested it should be the FIRST STEP of the threat identification PROCESS; not as the one and only step.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Another advantage of night lights is you can use them to "shape the battlefield" so to speak. Place the nightlights in areas like the entryway, hallway, living room, kitchen etc. Keep the bedrooms and interior areas dark as night.

An intruder without a light will have a couple of problems with this. First, if he attempts to move from a lit area to an interior area, he'll be silhouetted nicely against the backlit area. Second, his eyes pupils will not be fully dilated due to the nightlights and it will take him a few seconds of adjustment before he can see into any of the darkened interior areas. That is not a good combination for the intruder.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

A light gives you the tactical advantage. Stand in darkness, have someone shine a good flash light in your face. You will temporarily be stunned, among other things. Then change positions. Tell me which person has the advantage in that case.

 

[tinman080]

A lite with a push switch can be flashed on or off in a split second with the back of your hand. 100+ lumens will blind you in a dark hallway or room. This picture was taken in my den with two table lamps on.

 

[Hammerhead6814]

Too many shooters have bought into the tactical craze. So long as the word "Tactical" is somewhere in the product description, it will sell to the North American Shooter. For example:



CMMG received orders!

 

[benEzra]

Too many shooters have bought into the tactical craze. So long as the word "Tactical" is somewhere in the product description, it will sell to the North American Shooter. For example:

The corollary, that anything someone attaches the word "tactical" to is automatically worthless, is not the case. That is probably some pretty good bacon you have there, and a Surefire LED is a better light than whatever Ray-O-Vac model one might find at Walmart.

And weapon lights have been a good idea long before the word "tactical" became a buzzword. (FWIW, the "tactical bacon" was a joke by CMMG, and was purchased on that basis.)

 

[sonrider657]

A light is an absolute necessity in a defense gun IMO. The user interface should be extremely simple (no mult-modes to add confusion, etc). It is also important to buy a quality light (Surefire, Elzetta, NovaTac, etc.) to be confident that it will work as intended.

 

[Gord]

Too many shooters have bought into the tactical craze. So long as the word "Tactical" is somewhere in the product description, it will sell to the North American Shooter. For example:

I don't know if you noticed, but that's what is called, in layman's terms, a "joke."

 

[Maverick223]

Ben, what is the story on the SureFire. Looks like a Nitrolon body with a 6P head assembly. Interesting little booger.

Anyway, my thoughts are as follows:

Pistol: keep it clean and simple with a good flashlight handy to use in conjunction with it. That way you can use one independently of the other.
Rifle/Scattergun: Attach said light to forestock, complete with remote switch, aligned with the bore for CQ aiming and target identification.

 

[Arkady]

Don't knock the tactical bacon. That was marketing genius.

That said:

Never underestimate the ability to identify your target.
Just make sure that your light has a positive On/Off switch... no fumbling, to twisting--you don't want to waste any time when it counts.

Anyone who ever sleeps in hotels or other unfamiliar environments should respect the ability to bring ones own daylight anywhere they please.

 

[RockyMtnTactical]

Looks like a Nitrolon body with a 6P head assembly. Interesting little booger.

It's a G3 Nitrolon.

Newer ones have the aluminum bezel.