Carrying with a light

[titsonritz]

An interesting aside on the topics of lights...
Did you know that on a Gen 3 Glock 23 if you put a light on it and really crank it down it will stiffen the frame enough that it increases the slide speed to the point that it won't properly feed? My wife had this issue on her service weapon, and no, she wasn't limp wristing it. The malfunction occurred when I fired it too. It only did it with full power loads, not with my plinker reloads. I called Glock and got a great tech on the phone that helped us diagnose the problem. The cure was +10% magazine springs from Wolff. Put those in and never had another issue.

The was the whole reason for Gen 4 Glocks which came with their own teething pain. That is when they switched recoil guiderod assemblies

 

[HPL0]

Surefire Xc1. It's no wider or longer than a Glock 19/23/32.

Just added weight, and slightly reduced holster availability. Any real holster company can handle this though.

It's the guys using a red dot as a crutch that annoy me. If your eyes are good, buy a shot timer first.

 

[Bajohn]

I tired it but it just wasn't for me. The light hosted I got just didn't feel good Took the light off. Got a better holster. We gravy now.

That's a huge part of it for me. Got a holster for my light on my Glock 47 and just hated the holster bulkiness. I guess in certain situations it would make sense to throw on the light and carry the bulky holsters

 

[Cerberus Group]

I don't use a weapon mounted light, except for the rifle...hard to run a rifle and hand-held light at the same time.

Carry a light in the pocket everyday, never when one is needed during the day...and find I use one quite often.

 

[Bajohn]

I don't use a weapon mounted light, except for the rifle...hard to run a rifle and hand-held light at the same time.

Carry a light in the pocket everyday, never when one is needed during the day...and find I use one quite often.

That's my thought. What style do you prefer of light weapon presentation would you use? The FBI style with the light up to the side and the gun in the other hand seems weird. I need to work on a way of carrying the light while getting good support on the gun with my flashlight hand

 

[Cerberus Group]

That's my thought. What style do you prefer of light weapon presentation would you use? The FBI style with the light up to the side and the gun in the other hand seems weird. I need to work on a way of carrying the light while getting good support on the gun with my flashlight hand

There's several techniques, and one should become fluid to be able to switch on the fly as the need arises.

I use the two Rogers techniques, along with Harries and neck index...they're designed to work different problems, so being fluid from to another is necessary.

I also have a ring on my light that is collapsible, so its more versatile. Will post a pic

 

[Cerberus Group]

I mostly run a Surefire G2Z with a large key ring...easy on, easy off. I don't care for the rings that stay stationary, they can get in the way at times.



Attaches to the index finger



Easy to flip around out of the way.

 

[magnummike]

Maglites only.

Because if all else fails, I now have a strobe blinding bludgeon.

 

[L84Cabo]

I have no interest in engaging in the debate of weapon mounted lights. Mostly because I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. It is, very much, based on personal preference.

What I will say is that I carry an umbrella when there is a 30% chance of rain. And there is a 100% chance that it will be dark tonight...errr...short of God invoking his angry wrath and shutting this whole place down. I digress. But I carry a handheld light every day. It's probably the most useful thing I carry, actually.

But you need a way to positively identify the threat. When it's dark. And while I think the odds of me ever getting into a gunfight are pretty low...if it does happen...I think the odds are about 70% that it will happen at night.

And there are, of course, plenty of other uses for a light beside defensive ones. And you can't exactly pull out your pistol when you're trying to find the keys you dropped, that fell under the truck. Or you're trying to find the fresh dookie that your Puppers just dropped for you.

A light can also be used as a great defensive weapon when the situation doesn't, yet, call for deadly force. 1000 lumens in the eyes of some overly aggressive beggar, or a dude that looks like he may be thinking about starting something or jacking you, but does not have a visible weapon displayed, can really shut down a situation before it starts. YMMV of course.

Side Note: I completely understand the challenges of trying to carry all this stuff. I personally find carrying a light to be very useful. So it's worth the hassle for me.

 

[1775usmc]

I have no interest in engaging in the debate of weapon mounted lights. Mostly because I don't think there is a right or wrong answer. It is, very much, based on personal preference.

What I will say is that I carry an umbrella when there is a 30% chance of rain. And there is a 100% chance that it will be dark tonight...errr...short of God invoking his angry wrath and shutting this whole place down. I digress. But I carry a handheld light every day. It's probably the most useful thing I carry, actually.

But you need a way to positively identify the threat. When it's dark. And while I think the odds of me ever getting into a gunfight are pretty low...if it does happen...I think the odds are about 70% that it will happen at night.

And there are, of course, plenty of other uses for a light beside defensive ones. And you can't exactly pull out your pistol when you're trying to find the keys you dropped, that fell under the truck. Or you're trying to find the fresh dookie that your Puppers just dropped for you.

A light can also be used as a great defensive weapon when the situation doesn't, yet, call for deadly force. 1000 lumens in the eyes of some overly aggressive beggar, or a dude that looks like he may be thinking about starting something or jacking you, but does not have a visible weapon displayed, can really shut down a situation before it starts. YMMV of course.

Side Note: I completely understand the challenges of trying to carry all this stuff. I personally find carrying a light to be very useful. So it's worth the hassle for me.

Everyone should be carrying a handheld light. Whether they have a light on their gun or not. Flash light and knife are not negotiable in my opinion.

 

[Cerberus Group]

Something that's rarely discussed, but a light used against an attack during the day is very effective.

They can blind during the day as well...given effective lumen/candela

 

[Catfishmoon]

It's a personal preference issue. I don't care for a light on a handgun and there are multiple items I would prioritize having on my person ahead of a light.

 

[1775usmc]

Something that's rarely discussed, but a light used against an attack during the day is very effective.

They can blind during the day as well...given effective lumen/candela

Agreed. A good handheld is an extremely good Non-Lethal option.

 

[1775usmc]

It's a personal preference issue. I don't care for a light on a handgun and there are multiple items I would prioritize having on my person ahead of a light.

Simply because I am curious as to what others carry what would prioritize having on your person ahead of a flashlight? Phone/keys/pocket knife excluded. I think we all carry those 3 items.

 

[Catfishmoon]

Simply because I am curious as to what others carry what would prioritize having on your person ahead of a flashlight? Phone/keys/pocket knife excluded. I think we all carry those 3 items.

I am someone who rarely uses a flashlight for any purpose even though I am a "night owl" who is awake and has worked nights for more than a decade. A knife, pepper spray, a tourniquet or extra ammo are items I would be more likely to carry.
For me, a flashlight is typically just kept in the house, vehicle, barn, etc.

 

[1775usmc]

I am someone who rarely uses a flashlight for any purpose even though I am a "night owl" who is awake and has worked nights for more than a decade. A knife, pepper spray, a tourniquet or extra ammo are items I would be more likely to carry.
For me, a flashlight is typically just kept in the house, vehicle, barn, etc.

That's fair. I would put a TQ before a light as well. I carry one of those on my person daily. I use a flashlight daily. I carry a light over pepper spray (I'll never carry pepper spray personally). Sometimes a spare mag, but normally it's left in the center console.

 

[Catfishmoon]

That's fair. I would put a TQ before a light as well. I carry one of those on my person daily. I use a flashlight daily. I carry a light over pepper spray (I'll never carry pepper spray personally). Sometimes a spare mag, but normally it's left in the center console.

I just don't have experience with weapons and lights used in combo, I am probably just one of those people who don't realize or understand the potential of a quality light in self-defense. I was also late in appreciating the potential of red dot sights on multiple different firearm platforms.
I am not in as good as physical condition now that I am in my late sixties, and I don't want to be in any physical confrontation with a stranger. To me, the appeal of pepper spray is that it can be used in a situation where you could not legally shoot someone. It's basically a warning shot.
If they continued a physical confrontation after being sprayed, I believe a jury is more likely to be sympathetic to a firearm being used as a second means of defense as opposed to a firearm used as a first option if they are not armed with a deadly weapon.

 

[1775usmc]

I just don't have experience with weapons and lights used in combo, I am probably just one of those people who don't realize or understand the potential of a quality light in self-defense. I was also late in appreciating the potential of red dot sights on multiple different firearm platforms.
I am not in as good as physical condition now that I am in my late sixties, and I don't want to be in any physical confrontation with a stranger. To me, the appeal of pepper spray is that it can be used in a situation where you could not legally shoot someone. It's basically a warning shot.
If they continued a physical confrontation after being sprayed, I believe a jury is more likely to be sympathetic to a firearm being used as a second means of defense as opposed to a firearm used as a first option if they are not armed with a deadly weapon.

I simply don't carry OC because I have personally witnessed it fail. On the flip side I have had it sprayed on me and it hurt like hell. I had to fight through it and it sucked. The chance of cross contamination is too damn high and I don't ever want to get exposed again. So part of my painful experience is why I choose not to carry it. I would rather use my handheld when less than lethal is needed. OC is great when it works and doesn't get you too. Haha.

I try to avoid any and all physical altercations. I'm still at an age/in physical shape that I can run away. Which is exactly what I will do.

 

[Aught Six]

Let me bring your attention to FM-23 Army noise and light discipline field manual.

No white light shall be shown in a combat area of operation.

Gee I wonder why that is...

 

[NeoBlackdog]

Let me bring your attention to FM-23 Army noise and light discipline field manual.

No white light shall be shown in a combat area of operation.

Gee I wonder why that is...

So you don't get conked on the head with a mortar! Not something most good vs. bad self defense scenarios are likely to entail.