Lights on guns. WHY????

churchmouse · Mar 7, 2021

ChooterMcGavin1973 said:
I tend to keep multiple handheld flashlights on the bedside table with my home defense gun. If I hear a bump in the night, I turn them on and throw them down the hall as to confuse the intruder about my true position!
Seriously though, I do have a light on every gun that will accept it. As others have said, just because you have it on the gun doesn’t mean you have to use it. Thank God I have never been in a situation where someone was shooting at me and using my light against me as a bullet beacon!

Living in the city.
Being around the idiots that would scare the living crap out of 80% of you guys to be around after dark.
Seeing how they carry.
Seeing how they shoot....Dons guns real world observations.
Knowing sooooooooo many only have a few rounds in that piece of crap cheap piece they have in their belt (a few G****s but not many) I think the odds in any shoot out would be in my favor. Light/no light but I really pray to never press these odds.

Most douche nozzle home invaders are not well prepared/trained individuals.

Use your head.

erasure · Mar 7, 2021

Lights on guns, why NOT? It's one thing less to carry. Very convenient.
I wish guns with a place for your keys would come back into fashion.

churchmouse · Mar 7, 2021

tcecil88 said:
I have never understood the thinking that WML lights are not needed nor night sights. Why would anyone want to go into a potentially deadly situation without every advantage you can get? That situation may not be seem deadly to you, but what about if it's your teenager who is trying to sneak back into the house late at night? The WML will help identify the potential threat. Night sights help you aim your weapon better in low light if you choose not to have a WML and by chance can identify the target as a threat.
I for one have poor night vision, so I use both WML's and night sights on all my defensive weapons.

Night sites are invaluable as to guiding me to the hand gun in the dead of night. They are beacons that stand out even when being ripped from a deep sleep and not clear headed as yet.

Beyond that I do not rely on them to acquire a target.

Leadeye · Mar 7, 2021

Interesting read BBI, I would have never guessed robbers would use that Pokemon game to collect victims.

Ggreen · Mar 7, 2021

smittygj said:
Marine I used to shoot with called them "shoot me" lights. He advocated single handed handgun use, and holding your light out away from your body when shining it.

Disproved over and over and over. It's always better to focus on marksmanship over something as silly as trying to hold a light away from your body while trying to put rounds down range. If anything the splash of the light just works to softlyand comfortably illuminate your soft tissues. I know maybe 5 people that can hold a light completely off center and still score clean follow up hits.

daddyusmaximus · Mar 7, 2021

I say a light belongs on every single defensive weapon. Maybe not every firearm if it's a hunting, or sporting gun, but every single weapon that may be used for defensive purpose. Handgun, rifle, or shotgun. Here's why.

You're in bed. It's 3 am. You hear a noise coming from what sounds like the living room. You get up, and listen closely. There's a sound of something bumping, and a muffled curse. Someone is in the house. You quietly wake the wife, telling her to dial 911, and taking your chosen defensive gun, go to investigate.

As you round the corner you see the shadow of a man that looks like he's attempting to disconnect the wires from the back of your big screen TV. You hit the switch of your weapon mounted light. There stands your college age son who came home for the weekend, and was trying to hook up his X-box without waking you. You never want to shoot at a shadow or silhouette.

A light isn't just about blinding the bad guy. It's about making a positive ID of the target so you know to engage or not. You still need a hand held light as well for those times when all you need is a light, but you also need a weapon mounted light, because that may have NOT been your son. It may have in fact been an armed intruder, and you may have had to defend yourself when he discovered he was being confronted.

EVERY defensive firearm needs a weapon mounted light.

10-32 · Mar 7, 2021

Because I know a few of you IRL, KEEP YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER.

If you're really concerned with your light giving you away, get some Tactical Balls. Throw one in the general area you want to light up and another where you think someone may be hiding. You may or may not scare them from a hiding place but you're going distract them and make it easier to see things around you.

OakRiver · Mar 7, 2021

10-32 said:
Because I know a few of you IRL, KEEP YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER.

If you're really concerned with your light giving you away, get some Tactical Balls. Throw one in the general area you want to light up and another where you think someone may be hiding. You may or may not scare them from a hiding place but you're going distract them and make it easier to see things around you.

That's what I use Molotov's for. It lights up the area, and makes an assailant leave cover.

Ggreen · Mar 7, 2021

10-32 said:
Because I know a few of you IRL, KEEP YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER.

If you're really concerned with your light giving you away, get some Tactical Balls. Throw one in the general area you want to light up and another where you think someone may be hiding. You may or may not scare them from a hiding place but you're going distract them and make it easier to see things around you.

> *bang, crash, shatter

>me: wake up, don lbt gear equipped with light balls, unlock pistol, grab flashlight

>me 25 minutes later just finishing kitting up and calling in a report of kidnapping.

Ffs lol keep it simple. A wml is not going to turn you into a target in 99% of defensive firearm use situations. If you're working an assault on a fortified target from across a field with limited cover, lights probably aren't a great idea to leave running unless they are ir and you have nods.

In a confined space like a home or a shop there is zero reason to not have a wml. There is no evidence to support they turn you into a target in defensive use. They absolutely make you more effective than trying to one hand a light and one hand a gun.

There is no reason to add more than a handheld light to your wml set up by your bed. I use low ready to check bumps and the splash of a tlr hl does a fine job of illuminating the house while the pistol is safely aimed at the floor. A quick tap out goes strobe as i draw to fire. Easy peasy and safe. Tactical light balls?? This thread has fully peaked lol

10-32 · Mar 7, 2021

Ggreen said:
> *bang, crash, shatter

>me: wake up, don lbt gear equipped with light balls, unlock pistol, grab flashlight

>me 25 minutes later just finishing kitting up and calling in a report of kidnapping.

Ffs lol keep it simple. A wml is not going to turn you into a target in 99% of defensive firearm use situations. If you're working an assault on a fortified target from across a field with limited cover, lights probably aren't a great idea to leave running unless they are ir and you have nods.

In a confined space like a home or a shop there is zero reason to not have a wml. There is no evidence to support they turn you into a target in defensive use. They absolutely make you more effective than trying to one hand a light and one hand a gun.

There is no reason to add more than a handheld light to your wml set up by your bed. I use low ready to check bumps and the splash of a tlr hl does a fine job of illuminating the house while the pistol is safely aimed at the floor. A quick tap out goes strobe as i draw to fire. Easy peasy and safe. Tactical light balls?? This thread has fully peaked lol

You and I are on the same page. I've been through low light training twice (1998 & 2016) and I have night sites along with weapon lights on most of my handguns and riles. If I'm going to buy a handgun, it must have night sites on it already and a weapon light available for it unless I'm buying a .22 plinker or revolver for wilderness carry.

I originally was just going to post "Those of you against weapon lights need to get a set of Tactical Balls" as a tiny bit of humor and leave it at that but this being the net, someone most likely would of taken it the wrong way.

Ggreen · Mar 7, 2021

10-32 said:
You and I are on the same page. I've been through low light training twice (1998 & 2016) and I have night sites along with weapon lights on most of my handguns and riles. If I'm going to buy a handgun, it must have night sites on it already and a weapon light available for it unless I'm buying a .22 plinker or revolver for wilderness carry.

I originally was just going to post "Those of you against weapon lights need to get a set of Tactical Balls" as a tiny bit of humor and leave it at that but this being the net, someone most likely would of taken it the wrong way.

Got ya. I want to see the no light guys run a course with simunition. I'm 5050 on night sights. Other than being pretty i don't see a need. Workout a wml or handheld you still can't see your target. They don't really do much with a light. A tlr hl out shines them easily. Sight alignment without id is pointless in a friendly rich environment

brian_a_mcmillen · Mar 7, 2021

People just like gadgets......

88E30M50 · Mar 7, 2021

I have WMLs on my nightstand Gun and on an AR that I keep next to the nightstand. I have not seen the utility in carrying a WML but don’t begrudge those that do.

bsmithg19 · Mar 8, 2021

My wife asks this same question because I have lights on my guns but have never had to use them outside of training. Well, I've never had to use my guns outside of training either lol.

Expat · Mar 8, 2021

Sounds like finally we all agree on something. If you don't have the best night vision set up money can buy, you just don't love your family or take personal security seriously.

warren5421 · Mar 8, 2021

Most trainers never teach how to use a flashlight, they teach assuming you use a WML. I would bet that a large percent of the younger people that have "Light Training" have never been shown how to hold a flashlight let alone how to use it. The odds are your EDC will not have a light on it. I know a lot of friends that carry a bright flashlight in a pocket with the EDC. They have no clue to the use of the flashlight after taking training in light use.

cosermann · Mar 8, 2021

warren5421 said:
Most trainers never teach how to use a flashlight, they teach assuming you use a WML. I would bet that a large percent of the younger people that have "Light Training" have never been shown how to hold a flashlight let alone how to use it. The odds are your EDC will not have a light on it. I know a lot of friends that carry a bright flashlight in a pocket with the EDC. They have no clue to the use of the flashlight after taking training in light use.

FWIW, ACT has taught this every year, for a number of years, at their low-light class in December.

flatlander · Mar 8, 2021

warren5421 said:
Most trainers never teach how to use a flashlight, they teach assuming you use a WML. I would bet that a large percent of the younger people that have "Light Training" have never been shown how to hold a flashlight let alone how to use it. The odds are your EDC will not have a light on it. I know a lot of friends that carry a bright flashlight in a pocket with the EDC. They have no clue to the use of the flashlight after taking training in light use.

Then the people wasted their money on poor training. Coach (RIP) ran very good no/ low light training that exposed a lot of bad ideas on how to NOT use your light. He gave options then let you decide why some really sucked.
Get trained by a good trainer and you may change your mind. I carried for 40 years and decided to start all over. I approached it as if I was brand new. I was willing to admit that I didn't know what I didn't know. Learning occurred :whistle:

Gio · Mar 8, 2021

Ggreen said:
Disproved over and over and over. It's always better to focus on marksmanship over something as silly as trying to hold a light away from your body while trying to put rounds down range. If anything the splash of the light just works to softlyand comfortably illuminate your soft tissues. I know maybe 5 people that can hold a light completely off center and still score clean follow up hits.

I feel like I need to try this at the range. Not that I'd ever think about it "in event".

MCgrease08 · Mar 8, 2021

warren5421 said:
Most trainers never teach how to use a flashlight, they teach assuming you use a WML. I would bet that a large percent of the younger people that have "Light Training" have never been shown how to hold a flashlight let alone how to use it. The odds are your EDC will not have a light on it. I know a lot of friends that carry a bright flashlight in a pocket with the EDC. They have no clue to the use of the flashlelight after taking training in light use.

Wait, what? I will try and address some of this.

You're right that most defensive handgun classes don't cover using a flashlight. Mainly because those classes are designed to be accessible to the widest number of students, which means they are normally held during the day. I don't agree with your premise that those trainers assume you use a WML. One, because they don't broach the subject at all because they are daytime classes covering fundamentals. Two, because the instructor would be able to actually see who has WMLs on their pistols during the class, so there is no assuming needed as to who had them and who doesn't.

That said, this is why people seek out low light training. And yes, those courses do cover topics as basic as methods for holding a hand held light. If they don't, that instructor sucks.

"The odds are your EDC will not have a light on it." Are you being issued random EDC guns from an armory? The owner of the gun has choice and control over whether or not their EDC has a light on it. There are no odds involved in a personal choice. It's either a decision one makes or they don't.

I'm sorry to hear you have friends that have taken such low quality training, but again, if they've taken low light training and still don't know how to use a flashlight, either the instructor sucked, the student didn't pay attention, or didn't practice what they learned. Maybe all three.

I don't think lights are mandatory on EDC pistols but IMO, they are mandatory on defensive rifles and HD pistols. You may not agree, and that's cool. We all make our own choices. But even if you don't see a lot of upside, there really is no downside to having a light on the gun.

Lights on guns. WHY????

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