Light/Laser combo recommendations

[XDJYo]

OP-You'll have to give HTB a bit of a wide berth. He's like a strong cup of coffee. He DOES have extensive experience and knowledge. I respect that. I wish I had the time and funds to train like he does.

In regards to your question. A weapon mounted light is an absolute must have on a HD pistol. A laser is somewhat a luxury. I would NOT use a laser. It DOES have it's advantages. However, as one of the previous posters mentioned, the laser sits well below the bore of your gun. What this means is that once you zero the laser at a given distance (ex: 7 yards), the closer or farther you get from 7 yards, the higher or lower it will hit. Since the laser sits so low, that difference is quite great. We have a TLR-4 on a Springfield XD-m. I don't like to have the laser on. (It was purchased in a moment of weakness!). You CAN'T rely on it for a perfect, accurate head-shot. It can help you with general aim. For example, if you can't quite get the gun in a position where you can see the sights, if you see the laser, the laser will get you on target. WITHIN REASON. Remember, closer or farther, it will hit higher/lower than the laser.

All of the above things taken into consideration, I have a SA 1911 with a regular TLR-1. No fancy laser for me on that one.

To address other issues with lights/lasers and home defense. Yes, train. Take a night shooting course. To get a feel for what it will be like to use a weapon mounted light, set your alarm for 3:00 am and when it goes off, shine it on the wall across your bedroom (NOT attached to your gun-or you can use a regular flashlight of similar output). How do your eyes react? It can be a real eye-opener to see how hard it is to keep your eyes open. (Pun intended). Also, there are other techniques for using a hand-held light with a gun. Those are other options. But, again, each technique has it's own pluses and minuses.

As far as brand, I like Streamlight. They are good quality, haven't failed me yet (I do train with it and shoot with it at the range) and put out good solid light. The batteries last a long time too. Typical for those types of batteries.

Train, educate yourself and make your own decision. Don't let anyone else on the internet make that decision for you.

Happy shooting and be safe!

[customiiguy]

Check out the viridian lights/lasers. They are tiny

[XDJYo]

Check out the viridian lights/lasers. They are tiny

He's shooting 45 ACP, I doubt he wants tiny. If he did, he'd be shooting a Glock 19! LOL! J/K!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist!

[floogy]

OP-You'll have to give HTB a bit of a wide berth. He's like a strong cup of coffee. He DOES have extensive experience and knowledge. I respect that. I wish I had the time and funds to train like he does.

In regards to your question. A weapon mounted light is an absolute must have on a HD pistol. A laser is somewhat a luxury. I would NOT use a laser. It DOES have it's advantages. However, as one of the previous posters mentioned, the laser sits well below the bore of your gun. What this means is that once you zero the laser at a given distance (ex: 7 yards), the closer or farther you get from 7 yards, the higher or lower it will hit. Since the laser sits so low, that difference is quite great. We have a TLR-4 on a Springfield XD-m. I don't like to have the laser on. (It was purchased in a moment of weakness!). You CAN'T rely on it for a perfect, accurate head-shot. It can help you with general aim. For example, if you can't quite get the gun in a position where you can see the sights, if you see the laser, the laser will get you on target. WITHIN REASON. Remember, closer or farther, it will hit higher/lower than the laser.

All of the above things taken into consideration, I have a SA 1911 with a regular TLR-1. No fancy laser for me on that one.

To address other issues with lights/lasers and home defense. Yes, train. Take a night shooting course. To get a feel for what it will be like to use a weapon mounted light, set your alarm for 3:00 am and when it goes off, shine it on the wall across your bedroom (NOT attached to your gun-or you can use a regular flashlight of similar output). How do your eyes react? It can be a real eye-opener to see how hard it is to keep your eyes open. (Pun intended). Also, there are other techniques for using a hand-held light with a gun. Those are other options. But, again, each technique has it's own pluses and minuses.

As far as brand, I like Streamlight. They are good quality, haven't failed me yet (I do train with it and shoot with it at the range) and put out good solid light. The batteries last a long time too. Typical for those types of batteries.

Train, educate yourself and make your own decision. Don't let anyone else on the internet make that decision for you.

Happy shooting and be safe!

Yes, yes he is. He knows quite a bit, but not everyone has that kind of time and money. I think that's where the disconnect happens. Don't take that as me saying "who cares about training", training is the most important aspect of defending oneself and others. But a majority of us do not have the time or money to get trained as well as someone who does it for a living. I've had hundreds of hours of firearms training and thousands of rounds of ammo paid for by uncle sam, but it's been a few years. Raising a family comes before high speed tactical training. Do what you can, when you can.

On the flip side, most of us already have a decent flashlight and gun (obviously), so paying a few hundred bucks for a class is a better investment than a shiny light/laser.

I would say a high quality handheld is an absolute must have. I do not want to identify a target with my gun. I can get by without a weapon light. A handheld is absolutely necessary. In my opinion, the weapon light is useful once you've committed to stopping a threat. Using it prior to that is a good way to point a gun at someone you shouldn't. First rule. The weapon light should not be your only light source when seeing what went bump in the night.

Also good points about learning how a flashlight will affect you in the middle of the night. I've said almost the exact thing in another thread about lights. Pointing a 1000 lumen blue tinted LED flashlight at a white wall in the middle of the night can sear your eyeballs like tuna steaks. It WILL cause an involuntary reaction. That's why I don't need the highest output light possible. I also have a Streamlight TLR1. No HL, no strobe, no laser, just on/off.

[thetaxman]

My EDC is an MC Operator and it has a Streamlight TLR2-HL in a Bladetech holster.

It has run flawlessly for the last year with about 4,800 rounds down range.

[Fishslayer]

He's shooting 45 ACP, I doubt he wants tiny. If he did, he'd be shooting a Glock 19! LOL! J/K!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist!

I have a Veridian C5L on my P220. Only 100-ish lumens it'll light up any room just fine. It's small size is one of the reasons I like it.

[TheSierraDrifter]

I'm not SWAT, SPEC OPS, or a Chuck Norris wannabe. Just a regular guy that likes to target shoot and wants some knowledge if things went bad at home and the wall switch wasn't within reach!

Some guy wants to get a home defibrillator, in case of medical emergency. Someone else suggests they take a CPR course in addition to their defibrillator.

"I've put on band-aids for years! I'm not trying to be an MD, or RN, and I don't need basic medical training! I'll rise to the occasion and make things up as I go along. You're just a keyboard surgeon!"

Internet bully! Internet bully!

[Blade Gunner]

For me the light is because I was unfortunately born without night vision.


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The light is an absolute for home defense at night. The laser is useful in two other ways.1) you don't have to acquire the sights in a high stress situation 2) the intimidation factor of the red or green dot dancing on the perps chest. The best home defense shot is the one you're not forced to take. I have Veridian as they where an early adopter of green lasers. I'm sure any of the other quality laser light combo are just as good. Don't go cheap on a laser light combos. It may not work when you need it and cheap lasers do not hold zero. Remember to change batteries on a scheduled basis.

[j1133s]

I have my go to pistol in the safe and was considering getting a light combo maybe with a green laser. The pistol is an MC operator SA

Streamlight 69245 TLR-4G TLR-4G with Laser

I don't have a lot of money to spend on a surefire and I know they are awesome. Has anyone used one of streamlight's setups with success?

Thanks for the help

I can recommend the Glock light (attaches to the rail). It's cheap at $80 when I bought it in 2004. So 12 years old, used on the range for practice, night pistol matches, and even semi-regularly as a flash light (off the gun). Still works, very durable and reliable so far (that's what you want in a light); just that it's old tech and a set of CR123 batteries only lasts 1/2 hr or so.

As for lasers, I've tested the Crimson Trace grip laser and was very impressed. I decided that a laser isn't really a necessary tool for HD so I didn't spend the money on it for my HD pistol. If I want a laser, that'd be it.

[Fishslayer]

Don't go cheap on a laser light combos. It may not work when you need it and cheap lasers do not hold zero. Remember to change batteries on a scheduled basis.

I remember the first time I installed my Veridian. "Hmm... looks like some blue lockTight might not go astray here. Naahhh..."

Sho nuff about the third magazine it just about fell off. Reinstalled with blue LockTight and it's been there a long time now.

[Guapoh]

Here's a pic of my P229 Elite with Crimson Trace Rail Master Pro green laser/flashlight combo. Ambi activated. Very bright.

[CouchOperator]

DBAL-PL.

/thread

[Blade Gunner]

Light/Laser combo recommendations

I remember the first time I installed my Veridian. "Hmm... looks like some blue lockTight might not go astray here. Naahhh..."



Sho nuff about the third magazine it just about fell off. Reinstalled with blue LockTight and it's been there a long time now.

Blue LockTight, the duct tape of the gun world.


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[Crazed_SS]

Ive had great luck with the TLR-2.

Excellent piece of kit.. and quite a bit cheaper than the Surefire options.

[Maximus924]

TLR2S on my Glock 23 for home defense (hopefully its never needed...)

The TLR2 (and I assume the TLR1 w/out laser) is alarmingly bright. I got the one with strobe function as well, but it will EASILY completely light up a dark room. COMPLETELY

Its not small, its not light, but it fits snug on the gun and it does exactly what I ask it to do. paddle control for "ON" or "Momentary On" are great, strobe on (tap the paddle) is easy if you practice it, but not as easy as just turning on the light.

There are going to be 15 different options that will probably suit you just fine, I went with the TLR2S because I didnt want a plastic housing, and i wanted a lot of light with my laser. My final decision was the high-output, or strobe. I chose strobe.

the strobe is debilitating.