Weapon light for home defense.

[LaEscopeta]

This subject has been debated on several posts over the months. Some think a weapon light to positively identify a target is a good idea, even essential. Others say you give your position away to the BG, and anyone can shoot at a light, no matter how bright it is. Also they say with a weapon light you have to point the muzzle at your kids, the responding LEO, etc to identify them; unsafe at anytime but extremely so while experiencing an adrenalin dump after just being woken up in the middle of the night.

I don’t remember where I read this, but does this seem like a good drill? Keep the muzzle pointed at the ceiling with the weapon light either to the side or over your head. Flash the weapon on to identify who just entered the dark room with you. The 100+ lumens of most weapon lights should disperse enough dim light around the room to be able to see everything but not have to focus on anyone place. If it is a BG, release the momentary on switch and either kneel or move to cover and start shooting. The assumption is the BG shoots where the light was.

Also, does anyone know of actual home defense situations where weapon lights were used? Failing that, how about LE situations with weapon lights?

 

[1911 guy]

Muzzle up/muzzle down

If your going to keep muzzle up or down, which is a very good idea so you're not pointing the thing around like a complete boob, keep it down. If you get in a wrestling match over control of your weapon it's easier to bring it up and fire than to fight your way down to position. A grappling session may happen, too. Think about the tight quarters you'll be dealing with.

 

[Arc-Lite]

if your addressing theory... you will be dealing with all the ya buts....of a made up situation....if your addrssing reality... lights light up the dark....go to surefires site for many actual applications for a light...and its use in the past.

 

[TMM]

i was always thinking to have a light that was adjusted to light up a large area - dosn't have to be bright, just enough that i can see.

i don't plan on having kids, and my wife/girlfriend will know not to make noises in the night. so then, i can be almost 100% sure that there's an intruder in the house. then, with the light illuminating the whole room i'm currently clearing, i can identify and decide whether to shoot or not.

~TMM

 

[yellowcarbon]

Massad Ayoob did an article years ago on this very subject. He used a weapon mounted light as well as a hand held light with his home defense set up. He said that way he could ID potential threats with the hand held light. Using the method, he wouldn't have to sweep the house (and wife/daughter) with a loaded gun. Then if there was a threat, he could drop the hand held light and use the weapon mounted light.

 

[Mannlicher]

I dont have any use for weapon lights myself. Course I dont like Ayoob either.

 

[NMshooter]

To answer this question for yourself, go shooting at night with the weapons and ammo you intend to use.

 

[bcochran]

scattered responses

The thoughts appear to be fragmented, so I will consolidate them.

Who puts a light on his/her weapon.
What light is put on the weapon.
When is the light put on the weapon.
Where is the light on the weapon.
Why is there a light of the weapon.
How is the light put on the weapon.

You don't need a light on a weapon to shoot in low light or darkness.
You would need a light of some sort if you want to do target identification.

Light sources:
1. weapon light;
2. hand light;
3. permanent on switch on led on chain around neck.
4. led rolled into a room with the light permanently on.

A weapon light is focused and a target indicator.
A led rolled into a roomlights up the whole room.
A led permently on and on a chain around your neck leaves the hands free and gives you the ability to see in what would be darkness. It is less of a target indicator than a flashlight, or a weapon mounted light.

If you are walking around in low light or near darkness and need illumination, an led on a neck chain is one heck of a lot better than carrying a flashlight in one hand. It is also better than pointing a gun light at everyone you encounter so that you can identify him/her.

 

[neoncowboy]

A led permently on and on a chain around your neck leaves the hands free and gives you the ability to see in what would be darkness. It is less of a target indicator than a flashlight, or a weapon mounted light.

Wait a minute...

You want me to enter a potentially hostile environment, in a dark room, weapon drawn, ready to fight...with a LIGHT AROUND MY NECK!?

That sounds like a terrible idea.

I like a surefire light since it gives me the flexibility of several different stances/grips. I can have the light near me or out from my body, easy on/off, bright enough to blind the bad guy.

The weapons lights look helpful if your job is clearing dark rooms but not nearly as practical for a defensive weapon as a good flashlight. In fact, I almost think that the new weapons lights we're seeing are for people who didn't learn how (or physically can't) to handle a gun and a flashlight at the same time.

Go do a good low-light handgun/tactics class and see for yourself that it really isn't hard.

 

[444]

I know that people like to debate subjects such as this, but, NMshooter gave you the only answer you really need.
Go out, with your own gun, set up some senarios that you consider likely, in conditions as close as you can get to your home (close to same light, same distances etc.) See how you perform with your equipment. Then try to throw a little crap into the game such as a malfunction or a reload, unlikely but you really never know. How about a phone in your hand. How about carrying something or turning on light switches or opening doors ....... with the gun in one hand. If you prepare for the worst and it doesn't happen, things are very good. Use your imagination.
You can answer your own questions based on real experience.

 

[Ivy Mike]

Most would probably call me crazy, but the light I use is mounted to a small metal box which is bolted to a pretty solid structure. I can turn it on remotely by activating a light weight plastic switch...mounted on a wall.

Yup, I just turn the lights on in the room and aim at anything that shouldn't be there.

 

[c_yeager]

Most weapon lights throw a pretty substantial beam of light, enough that you really dont have to point your weapon at something to see it. My surefire 6P will light up one side of a room just being pointed in the general direction. In other words, you can have your weapon at low-ready and still take advantage of the illumination without passing your muzzle over friendlies.

 

[Coronach]

Rule 4 is a must-follow.

I'll leave it up to you how to follow it. I don't care of you have NV goggles, a weapon light, a handheld that you use in cojunction, or your room lights rigged to The Clapper, but you MUST ID your target.

Mike

 

[TallPine]

We leave a 15 watt flourescent on downstairs all the time.

It provides enough light so that you can go up or down the stairs safely.

It also lights up the living room well enough and leaves the upstairs dark. So if someone were to break in, I could stand in near dark upstairs and look down the open stairway into a portion of the room below.

 

[crofrog]

hm. Well I think wepon lights or a good combat flashlight are a must for a low light situation.

They provide enough light for you to see the entire room, and with the bright hotspot when you aim the light at there eyes they can no longer make out where exactly you are in relation to the rest of the room or see what you are doing and the likes.

As for just flipping the light switch, if you have a powerful flashlight and they don't you are at an advantage. Why flip on the light and even the playing field. Just doesn't seem like sound tatics.

Here's basiclly what I do. I use a SureFire G2. I peek around the coner and toggle the light giving a quick scan while doing so. I then move to the darkest area in the room and do a more complete scan from there. All the while I avoid being back lit by any light sources, and make sure to maintain light disicpline.

If I came across something they get a light in the eyes, and depending on the situation I would either verbalize command or shoot.

I've never had any formal CQB or low-light training. This is just a plan I've made from reading numerous sources about low-light engagements, and force of force training in both my house, and some of my friends house in a low light situatations.

Chris

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Massad Ayoob did an article years ago on this very subject. He used a weapon mounted light as well as a hand held light with his home defense set up. He said that way he could ID potential threats with the hand held light. Using the method, he wouldn't have to sweep the house (and wife/daughter) with a loaded gun. Then if there was a threat, he could drop the hand held light and use the weapon mounted light.

Nobody ever said Ayoob was a great tactician, but people will believe most anything he says. I really have to wonder why Ayoob would have his wife and daughter in front of him when searching the house. Human shields?

A weapon light is focused and a target indicator.
A led rolled into a roomlights up the whole room.
A led permently on and on a chain around your neck leaves the hands free and gives you the ability to see in what would be darkness. It is less of a target indicator than a flashlight, or a weapon mounted light.

Sure, weapon and tactical lights tend to be focussed lights, but they are not lasers. While focussed, they do generate a LOT of light.

I have no idea how you are suggesting that we wear LED lights around our necks to leave hands free. It most definitely is NOT less of a target indicator as you don't have the option of turning it on and off since your hands are busy with other tasks.

 

[beerslurpy]

Weapon lights are useless if you have any illuminated targeting system (tritium, red dot, etc). Your eyes will be adjusted to the internal lighting of your abode. The only trick is seeing where the gun is pointed. Adding a flashlight only gives away your position to the intruders. Better to put a red or amber dot over the silhouette of an intruder and find out what he looks like afterwards.

 

[crofrog]

Weapon lights are useless if you have any illuminated targeting system (tritium, red dot, etc). Your eyes will be adjusted to the internal lighting of your abode. The only trick is seeing where the gun is pointed. Adding a flashlight only gives away your position to the intruders. Better to put a red or amber dot over the silhouette of an intruder and find out what he looks like afterwards.

That type of grabastic shoot frist then figure it out stuff, is what gives gun owners a bad name . You have to at the mininum IFF. What if it's your S.O., mom, or dad just dropped by for some reason, and came in without knocking to try to avoid disturbing you.

As for the wepon lights giving away your postion they absoulty do let them know where you are but if you've never handled a real wepon light. Belive me being hit in the eyes buy one esp if your eye's are adjusted to the dark hurts and 90% of people will shield there eyes or close them. This allows you different use of force senario's. Instead of just shooting him you can verbalize comands. If nothing else you can now properly aim the wepon, There is enough light bouncing back off the bad guy to allow me to properly align the sights, although night sights do make it easier. Also you can now fully see the target allowing for shot placement. Also, you do not walk around with the light switched on the entire time. You hit the momentary button scan and IFF. The shoot as needed.

I think alot of the comments in here are from people who have never used a wepon light, or more importantly never used one on and force on force exercies. You can't compare some little d or 3 d cell mag light to the output and beam pattern of a surefire.

Chris

 

[Sir Aardvark]

Leaving night lights in each room is probably the best idea. If possible, place them in such a way that you are not the one back lit in doorways, etc., as you go through your "Slicing the Pie" routine.

Read up on how to effectively clear a house, and then practice a little bit.

Regardless of whatever, you would still want a light with you, weapon mounted or handheld, so that you can use when necessary and to positively ID your target.

 

[Buck Snort]

It seems to me like you give up the element of surprise the very second you turn on a light.

 

[RiverwinoIA]

i installed a 500 watt halogen floodlight in my bedroom for this purpose
it is mounted on the ceiling, in front and a bit to the left of where i will hunker down in the corner of my room.(that corner is where my gun and cell phone reside as well). the light is focused right on the doorway, and the switch is located on the wall next to my "safe" corner.
if some punk decides he wants to check out my bedroom, he opens the door to 500 watts of blinding fury. i get a darn good look at who he is, and he cant even see me, as I'm behind the light. If he is armed... well, he isnt going to know im there til hes got a hole in him.

unlike many of you, i dont have children or items in my home i cant live without. if there is a home invasion, i stay in my bedroom. no "slicing pies" for me, as i dont want to be ambushed or run into a few armed guys (those guys could be a no-knock police force with the wrong address, you never know).
-another plus about the flood light is if the intruders happen to be a no-knock entry by police, they probably wont see me with my gun trained on them, which might happen if you use a weapon light or simply turn the lights on in your house. i dont plan on getting wasted because they thought i was pablo the snow-slanger from down the street.