Laser/light usage for carry?

[ScatPackLife]

First a question. Does anyone know if there is a rail or trigger guard mounted pistol laser/light that comes on automatically when drawn other than Viridian?

Now for the post:
I see a lot of carry rigs, pistols for CCW, where they have a laser, light, or combo. While I like lasers and light and understand their uses - I have pistols with lasers and lights - I wonder how useful they are in a SD situation outside of the home. I will skip to my dilemma and then add more context.

The dilemma - If you're in a situation where, in saving your life every millisecond counts, do you have time to turn on the laser/light? I don't think you would. I think if someone is shooting at you your instinct is going to shoot back, not turn on a laser/light and then shoot back.

I'm referring to the ones that mount to the rail or front of the trigger guard that don't automatically come on like the TLR series or most of the Olights, not the ones like the Viridian InstantOn and any that have triggers on the pistol grip like the Crimson Chase Laser Guard/Grip. (I think that despite not having the rugged reputation other brands have they are the only company I know of who makes anything like the InstantOn.)

Im not condoning the use of WM lasers or lights. They are both useful tools in many situations. In fact, at night, I think having a laser and light could save your life or someone else's: using a laser and aiming from the hip is way faster that getting the gun up to see the sights, and a light to see what you're shooting at so you don't accidentally shoot an innocent standing next to the bad guy. And for a home defense gun a WML is critical IMO, and a laser could be useful because you can move your head around and still see where your firearm is pointed, but not 100% necessarily. But when it comes to fast shooting to save your life things need to happen automatically IMO. Even with training it's going to slow you don't.

The reason I bring this up is that I want to hear different opinions and what your thought are (Not why other people are wrong but why you think you're right. You know debate instead of argument, can we debate on NWF? . Comedy is always welcome). I know some people despise lasers and think if you have a laser it means you don't know how to shoot (I completely disagree with this as I believe they can be very useful in the right situation). Some people don't like lights because of the extra weight or maybe other reasons? Some like one or the other and some like both.

What are your thoughts?

Read More

 

[MTpockets]

Product - Collection - Masterfire - SureFire

www.surefire.com

 

[ScatPackLife]

Yes. Like that. But smaller. That's not intended for CCW. And Grandthumb doesn't like it.

 

[1775usmc]

Train.

I carry a handheld light as well as a WML.

 

[L84Cabo]

A laser

They are both useful tools in many situations.


What are your thoughts?

You've already answered your own question. Lasers and lights are additional tools in the toolbox. It's good to have tools and options. They obviously won't be useful in every situation. Maybe not even in most situations. But there are situations where they can be incredibly useful. Whether or not you ever encounter one of these situation is anyones guess. The adage, "better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it," comes to mind.

I will also add that a laser is NOT a replacement for iron sights. Again, it's an additional tool. You need to train with both regularly.

 

[ScatPackLife]

I think what I was trying to get at is more wondering if it's advantageous to have an auto on feature or not.

I was reading a little more and instructors in low light classes don't like auto on feature because it give away your position as soon as you draw. My question would be, if you're already being robbed or car jacked doesn't the bad guy already know where you are? But I understand if you see someone getting robbed and decide to intervene, your wife, neighbor, or family member for sure your getting involved, and it's night then you wouldn't want your 1000 lumen light to come on.

Again, it would be situational. I think the only way an auto on feature would be beneficial was if you could manually turn that feature on or off while it's in the holster.

Let's just use a light for an example. During the day you want it off. In low light you would want it on in case a mugger jumps out of the bushes, when you draw the light lights that bastard up so you can light up that bastard (see what I did their). But you would want the ability to turn the feature off in the holster if you needed to pull your firearm and you're not in immediate danger.

What sparked this was last night I was out walking my dog with my wife and kid. There was someone sitting on a bench and I didn't even see him until we were about 10 feet away. (Mostly your typical robber is afraid of dogs, but I wouldn't bet my life in that.) Luckily he was just chillin with no bad intentions that I know of, but what if he had jumped up and pulled a gun on us. There would have been potential for a gun fight with my family in between us. Having my light come in automatically in that situation would be very beneficial as to not shoot my kid or wife on accident. Even if they weren't in between, in that situation having a light auto on would be good presuming there is enough lumens to bling the purp. That's how I imagine things go down most times, the mugger tries to surprise the victim. Anyone know statistics on this?

I know situational awareness is super important but it was just really dark. I had a flashlight, I always bring a flashlight at night, but thought it wasn't necessary. I don't usually have a hard time seeing people at night but it was oddly dark that night and dude was under a tree (the bench was under a tree). Next time we go for a walk I'm going use the flashlight to light up any dark areas in front of where we walk.

Does that make sense, am I missing something, or am I overthinking this.

Not sure how this fits in here but, I've ran drills with just a laser during the day and I was fast because I could shoot accurately without needing to bring the gun up to eye level. So close'ish range, lasers can be very fast. However, further away it starts to become difficult to track where the laser is and sights become necessary.

 

[Member 53867]

Nvm. My opinion doesn't matter.

 

[Certaindeaf]

A laser on a .45 is useless because rainbow .

 

[Alexx1401]

The reason I bring this up is that I want to hear different opinions and what your thought are (Not why other people are wrong but why you think you're right. You know debate instead of argument, can we debate on NWF? . Comedy is always welcome). I know some people despise lasers and think if you have a laser it means you don't know how to shoot (I completely disagree with this as I believe they can be very useful in the right situation). Some people don't like lights because of the extra weight or maybe other reasons? Some like one or the other and some like both.

What are your thoughts?

There is no such thing as "wrong or right" on this kind of thing. MANY claim you don't need sights on a defensive handgun at all. Problem is in many decades of shooting I have only every known a VERY few who were really this good. A hell of a lot more would tell me how great they were until we got to a range together. Suddenly they could not hit paper. The paper is not shooting back at them. So no one is going to convince you if you do not want the options. I love them but matters not to me that others do not. Far as I know I don't own a piece of the Companies I like so matters not if other buy them or not.

 

[DaddyOh]

Bumping this back to the front as the issue of whether to opt for a weapon mounted light is something I'm kicking around, both for my carry weapon as well as for my bedside firearm. I know there are pros and cons for each, but just wanted to take a quick pulse of what people here are doing recently.

 

[titsonritz]

The biggest issue is finding a legit concealable holster that is compatible with the weapon/light combination.

 

[WillametteWill]

Bumping this back to the front as the issue of whether to opt for a weapon mounted light is something I'm kicking around, both for my carry weapon as well as for my bedside firearm. I know there are pros and cons for each, but just wanted to take a quick pulse of what people here are doing recently.

Here are 36 pages on this topic from recent posts for your reading pleasure.

 

[ScatPackLife]

As mentioned in my other post, I believe there is use for lasers and lights in low/no light situations. However, this post was actually supposed to be about the auto-on feature of the weapon accessories.

I have a carry pistol with a light if I go out when dark and I have a laser on a pocket gun should I need it. Gonna skip comments about my carry rotation as not relevant to this subject.

But, neither have the auto on. My thought is, as a web researcher with zero real world gun fighting experience and this being probable use for my personal situation, that the circumstances where I would need to pull my gun and immediately fire, the threat will be close and obvious. At night I also carry a combo flashlight/mace option. The mace is for potentially aggressive dogs. The flashlight is too identify "potential" 2 legged threats..., and not tripping in the dark . And all my HD rifles have lights on them.

Bumping this back to the front as the issue of whether to opt for a weapon mounted light is something I'm kicking around, both for my carry weapon as well as for my bedside firearm. I know there are pros and cons for each, but just wanted to take a quick pulse of what people here are doing recently.

To answer this question, just because it's my post , I would say get the brightest weapon light and matching holster you can comfortably carry.

 

[Member 45541]

Nvm. My opinion doesn't matter.

I had a wife that told me that!

Key word: "Had"

 

[MikeInOr]

I understand the appeal of a laser on a carry weapon. I have thought about a similar setup myself.

Contrary to every action movie I have ever seen I expect any self defense shooting to be within 5 yards. I practice shooting center of mass with my carry gun from the hip at 10 yards and feel quite comfortable in my ability to score a body hit at this distance... without a laser.

Every weapon mounted light I own is too big and bulky for a carry gun and would definitely slow me down. I have a mini light on my keychain that I always keep in my left pocket for when quick light is needed. My keys are always in my left pocket because my carry gun is always in my right pocket. When I find I have put myself in a situation that doesn't feel safe my right hand is in my right pocket ready to draw... but I make it a habit to not put myself into dangerous situations.

I do have both a light and laser on my home defense pistol where concealment isn't an issue.

 

[CD Smith]

I'd like to say thanks to the O.P. for asking the question!
Got me thinking... I've been in a few situations that got rowdy very fast. Because of that and other reasons I don't use any extras. However technology has given us great things, small and light weight as well... A nice little blinding action right up front could be disorienting (perp) and advantageous (us).
Not too bright though, because the reflection can be a real problem for our end as well... I'd like the ability to go off with a lever or pad though.

 

[titsonritz]

I don't want my equipment making decisions for me, so I'm not a fan of auto-adjust red dots, auto on light, etc.

 

[Member 53867]

The biggest issue is finding a legit concealable holster that is compatible with the weapon/light combination.

I found such a holster for my PSA Dagger with no problem (kitten not included). Conceals quite nicely.

 

[titsonritz]

I found such a holster for my PSA Dagger with no problem (kitten not included). Conceals quite nicely.

View attachment 2017171

If you can't find a holster for a Glock or it's clones your not looking.