+1
Good question
opcorn
I meant to ask this the other day.
Good question
opcornI meant to ask this the other day.
Rail Mounted Light or Hand-Held
Do you prefer a rail-mounted light and/or laser or a hand-held?
Why would you prefer one over the other..
In which situations... Home/Out and about etc....
Why would you prefer one over the other..
In which situations... Home/Out and about etc....
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
Interesting to see what some people have to say, and why they feel the way they do. I have run a bunch of scenerios in my mind, and currently use a hand-held, and have realized there are alot of advantages and dis-advantages to each option.
Weapon-mounted lights (this applies to long guns as well as pistols) offer a tremendous advantage if you know how to utilize them properly. The primary benefits in the home defense scenario are that it gives you a free hand to open doors, dial a phone, etc., and target identification...that way you don't mistakenly plug Junior full of lead when he tries to sneak back into the house late at night. :doh
But they shouldn't be used for general searching; think about it...do you really want to point your gun at everything you light up? Having both a weapon-mounted light and a handheld light is ideal, but if you can only afford one then a handheld is more versatile.
But they shouldn't be used for general searching; think about it...do you really want to point your gun at everything you light up? Having both a weapon-mounted light and a handheld light is ideal, but if you can only afford one then a handheld is more versatile.
+1
I agree. Those were some of the points I made aware to myself. Figuring there really is good and bad to anything of oppisites.
Pending on circumstances.
Just that I cant afford a rail mounted light currently, and reviewing some instances in my brain, was seeing if that kind of light would be a needed investment.
A good investment... Yes.... Needed... Not really.
But I always feel that you need to be prepared for anything/everything.
I agree. Those were some of the points I made aware to myself. Figuring there really is good and bad to anything of oppisites.
Pending on circumstances.
Just that I cant afford a rail mounted light currently, and reviewing some instances in my brain, was seeing if that kind of light would be a needed investment.
A good investment... Yes.... Needed... Not really.
But I always feel that you need to be prepared for anything/everything.
The thing I can't get past about weapon mounted lights is that the BG ought to just shoot for light. Chances are he'll get the holder - you. If you're in your standard Weaver or Isosceles position, gun in front of your face so you can use your sights, with a big light underneath it, you just might get a face full of lead.
One of those things I've read that stuck with me was that the number of times LEOs shot the bad guy's guns was way more than expected. In that moment of tunnel vision, extreme tension, they focused on the weapon, and ended up shooting it. If nothing else, that would tend to make the BG tend to shoot at the light. Seems to me....
Plus, as DeadEye said, do you really want to point your muzzle at everything you shine the light at? Remember, your body has just dumped every last drop of adrenaline it can find into your bloodstream. Then your kidneys hopped out of your body, went next door and got some adrenaline from your neighbors, came back and dumped that into your bloodstream, too. That flinch to pull the trigger is just dying to happen.
One of the techniques for a flashlight is to get it off the weapon so that if they do shoot for it, at worst they get your hand/arm. The downside of that is you are shooting single handed.
My plan is to keep my light off my gun. What might be really good would be a remote controlled light that could be switched on behind the BG. You could identify them with backlight, and I bet they'd turn to face that light. Then you've got the drop on them.
BobL
One of those things I've read that stuck with me was that the number of times LEOs shot the bad guy's guns was way more than expected. In that moment of tunnel vision, extreme tension, they focused on the weapon, and ended up shooting it. If nothing else, that would tend to make the BG tend to shoot at the light. Seems to me....
Plus, as DeadEye said, do you really want to point your muzzle at everything you shine the light at? Remember, your body has just dumped every last drop of adrenaline it can find into your bloodstream. Then your kidneys hopped out of your body, went next door and got some adrenaline from your neighbors, came back and dumped that into your bloodstream, too. That flinch to pull the trigger is just dying to happen.
One of the techniques for a flashlight is to get it off the weapon so that if they do shoot for it, at worst they get your hand/arm. The downside of that is you are shooting single handed.
My plan is to keep my light off my gun. What might be really good would be a remote controlled light that could be switched on behind the BG. You could identify them with backlight, and I bet they'd turn to face that light. Then you've got the drop on them.
BobL
In my case, I have no youngsters or anything/body that should be bothering me at my house at night. If my dog is raising hell, it's not gonna be my momma, in the backyard...
I have a L.E.D pocket light that is blinding (xenon? I think). s'got the rear push button. All I need is a universal mount for the rail and I'm set.
Like this
But I'm not sure how it would hold up during a shooting.
-gc
I have a L.E.D pocket light that is blinding (xenon? I think). s'got the rear push button. All I need is a universal mount for the rail and I'm set.
Like this
But I'm not sure how it would hold up during a shooting.
-gc
I think the possibility of that happening is somewhat exaggerated...with the amount of lumens put out by most dedicated weaponlights, that'd be like trying to aim for a photo flash after it's gone off.The thing I can't get past about weapon mounted lights is that the BG ought to just shoot for light. Chances are he'll get the holder - you.
It would seem to me that after lighting up a BG, what would have otherwise been even odds in terms of hit probability just tipped dramatically in the defender's favor.
That mount looks like it's for a AA-powered light, such as a Mini-Mag Lite. Non-LED, AA-powered flashlights typically do not have the light output to be suitable for defensive use, and the Mini-Mag Lite in particular is too clumsy to deploy to be utilized in this role, IMO.In my case, I have no youngsters or anything/body that should be bothering me at my house at night. If my dog is raising hell, it's not gonna be my momma, in the backyard...
I have a pocket light that is blinding (xenon? I think). s'got the rear push button. All I need is a universal mount for the rail and I'm set.
Like this
But I'm not sure how it would hold up during a shooting.
-gc
Lights that use lithium 123 batteries will typically fit into any 1" Weaver-mount scope ring, so a specialized mount is not absolutely necessary.
In the case of lights, lasers another story altogether, whatever you prefer. There are pros and cons to each. Personally, I prefer a handheld light for handgun work and a weapon mounted light for shotguns. Just my personal preference.
I use a hand held for WIW:thumsup
I'm with Mac on this one. I PREFER a handheld for handguns :thumsupIn the case of lights, lasers another story altogether, whatever you prefer. There are pros and cons to each. Personally, I prefer a handheld light for handgun work and a weapon mounted light for shotguns. Just my personal preference.
That said, at times, I've got a glock rail mounted light on the G17 sitting next to the bed after I hit the sack. I don't need it in the house, however, I'm more likely to step outside to address some issue with the horses, particularly the mini [ could be a mountain lion attack ]. In that instance, I may have need to make a longer precision shot of as much as 40-45 yrds from the back porch where there's no threat of my taking incoming, but need a good two handed hold on the gun to take the threat down on or near the horses.
That weapon mounted glock light comes off in a split second but I'd leave it on the gun to search the house and not likely use it. The house is back lit enough with nightlights low on the floor.
I don't utilize a weapons mounted light on my carry gun however I do on my nightstand gun and on one of my AR's.
I personally have and plan to use a full-sized Maglight when something goes bump in the night. Dang thing puts out a ton of candlepower, enough to blind whomever it's aimed at, or at least seriously impair their vision. As a plus, it's heavy and solid enough to be used as a club if things get up close and nasty.
That being said, I don't see the harm in getting a light specifically mounted on a pistol. In fact, I'd probably get one for the .45 that is currently missing from my TO&E, since that weapon will be my primary home defense weapon. As an added plus, wifey can use the combination more effectively if it comes down to that. :thumsup
That being said, I don't see the harm in getting a light specifically mounted on a pistol. In fact, I'd probably get one for the .45 that is currently missing from my TO&E, since that weapon will be my primary home defense weapon. As an added plus, wifey can use the combination more effectively if it comes down to that. :thumsup
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
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