Subcompact Weapon Lights

[BucDan]

I like the inforce light that's designed around the Glock 19. I have that on my HD gun. I feel silly practicing with it on at the range, but has to be done.

[steelholder]

Tlr 7/8 is great imo, if you have small feminine hands you might have trouble reaching the switch with your fingers.

[JDMIS300]

I prefer to identify things in the dark by pointing a flashlight at it, as there are many things I’d prefer not to point a gun at in a high stress situation; headlamps are your friend.

(I would make an exception for a light mounted on a shotgun, which would be appropriate due to my lack of a third hand)

If you have drawn your CCW or off duty gun that probably means you have already identified some kind of threat. If you are still in the search phase, that’s what your handheld is for and your firearm should remain holstered at that point.

Even if you do need to search with your WML, you don’t have to identify things by pointing your WML directly at it. It’s 2019, WML’s are bright enough to illuminate an entire room. You would know this if you actually used one in a practical application.

The headlamp idea.

[NorCalGlock9]

I carry a flashlight at all times and still have a light on all my carry guns. Doesn’t hurt to have both

[rlewpolar]

Subcompact Weapon Lights

I like the idea of a good handheld light and a laser for the pistol. If I do have to draw my pistol and fire using one hand and the other hand holding the handheld light, I think not having to be behind the sights, especially while on the move or behind cover or in a weird position, would be a really good use of the laser. Plus, all of my Crimson Trace green lasers have just enough spill in the complete dark to have some value in target identification. Not nearly as good as a good light but better than nothing.

And maybe, just maybe, a laser might have some deterrent effect.




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[Milsurp1]

Also consider an XC-1b

Make sure you can find a holster for whatever combination you want to carry.

[kenl]

I like the inforce light that's designed around the Glock 19. I have that on my HD gun. I feel silly practicing with it on at the range, but has to be done.

Ditto. I like its size and simple controls. Its mounted on the HD glock 22, while the critter defense rifles wear noname pistol WMLs.

Don't have a light on the carry pistols. They have night sights, and I also have a small flashlight for EDC.

[DB>]

I've got the Streamlight TLR-6 on a P238, light and laser. You can press quickly, and it comes on and stays on, or press and hold, it goes off when you release (a bit odd to get used to, but useful). If you press the opposing button while on, you can cycle through laser/flashlight/both. Again, takes some getting used to, but makes it more versatile. IF you have the presence of mind and the luxury, you have options.

My take is it never hurts to have options, and there's a high power (blinding at night) flashlight right next to the Sig...

You will need to practice (preferably dry fire with a laser indicator, sorry, there's another $100 to spend...) and run scenarios through your mind so that you aren't fumbling around should poo actually hit the rotary oscillator and start flying around. Remember to run scenarios with multiple threats, not just a lone criminal...

Nothing wrong in my book with making sure what it is you're shooting, if at all possible, and having options that will "stop" the threat short of deadly force, as long as it doesn't increase the risk to yourself or others.

[floogy]

I like the inforce light that's designed around the Glock 19. I have that on my HD gun. I feel silly practicing with it on at the range, but has to be done.

Nothing silly about it. Train like you fight, or hope not to. The other is "train hard, fight easy". I saw someone suggesting putting some tape over the light to keep the lens from getting scratched if you don't need it.

Tlr 7/8 is great imo, if you have small feminine hands you might have trouble reaching the switch with your fingers.

Good to know about the TLR-7. I'm large size Mechanix, so not super girly.

Most weapon lights have a fair amount of spill for just this reason. My 1200 lumen Olight is very good at lighting a dark room.

That's the plan.

I like the idea of a good handheld light and a laser for the pistol. If I do have to draw my pistol and fire using one hand and the other hand holding the handheld light, I think not having to be behind the sights, especially while on the move or behind cover or in a weird position, would be a really good use of the laser. Plus, all of my Crimson Trace green lasers have just enough spill in the complete dark to have some value in target identification. Not nearly as good as a good light but better than nothing.

And maybe, just maybe, a laser might have some deterrent effect.

I just ordered a TLR6 with light and laser. I've never used a laser, so I have no idea if I'll like it or not, but it was cheap, so I'll find out.

Also consider an XC-1b

Make sure you can find a holster for whatever combination you want to carry.

I like Surefire's bombproof construction but not he output or price. Looking for the holster almost has to come before the light. If you can't find a decent holster, it's not even worth it.

Ditto. I like its size and simple controls. Its mounted on the HD glock 22, while the critter defense rifles wear noname pistol WMLs.

Don't have a light on the carry pistols. They have night sights, and I also have a small flashlight for EDC.

Night sights are overrated IMO. I have a set on each of my carry guns but I'm not convinced if they're useful. If it's dark enough to see the tritium, it's almost certainly too dark to see the target. If the target is illuminated, it the sights are just shadows. I find myself leaning towards fiber optic sights with a blacked out rear. A guy at a gunstore said he liked the fact he could find his gun was in the dark. Fair enough.

I've got the Streamlight TLR-6 on a P238, light and laser. You can press quickly, and it comes on and stays on, or press and hold, it goes off when you release (a bit odd to get used to, but useful). If you press the opposing button while on, you can cycle through laser/flashlight/both. Again, takes some getting used to, but makes it more versatile. IF you have the presence of mind and the luxury, you have options.

My take is it never hurts to have options, and there's a high power (blinding at night) flashlight right next to the Sig...

You will need to practice (preferably dry fire with a laser indicator, sorry, there's another $100 to spend...) and run scenarios through your mind so that you aren't fumbling around should poo actually hit the rotary oscillator and start flying around. Remember to run scenarios with multiple threats, not just a lone criminal...

Nothing wrong in my book with making sure what it is you're shooting, if at all possible, and having options that will "stop" the threat short of deadly force, as long as it doesn't increase the risk to yourself or others.

I figure that a light will give you an edge in almost all situations. If you have to start shooting, having that light on your target will help get hits when everything has hit the fan. I have quite a few flashlights and most of them are quite a bit more than 100 lumens, but having it attached to the gun is nice.

[code_blue]

Floogy, if there's anything that I've learned from this thread, it is that you are a level-headed gun owner that analyzes the details and comes to your own rational and logical conclusion; as we all as responsible gun owners should. We should all be considering alternatives and advancements in technology and techniques to further our own capabilities.

We need more of that to combat the boomer FUDs out there. Kudos, buddy.

[DB>]

Since the light and the laser are more or less centered on the same spot, you get the choice of how to "light up" where the bullets should go if needed.

The TLR-6 light is most likely not going to blind anyone (that's what the bigger handheld is for!), and in some ways I regard that as a "weakness".

I have other rail mount laser/flashlight combos that are significantly brighter, and could blind a person temporarily if it shines into their eyes, also providing a possible tactical advantage, because they are likely to instinctively twitch or jerk to avoid the light.

[floogy]

Floogy, if there's anything that I've learned from this thread, it is that you are a level-headed gun owner that analyzes the details and comes to your own rational and logical conclusion; as we all as responsible gun owners should. We should all be considering alternatives and advancements in technology and techniques to further our own capabilities.

We need more of that to combat the boomer FUDs out there. Kudos, buddy.

Thanks. I really hadn't intended the thread to be a debate about whether or not to use them. But what's the point of Calguns if we don't argue about stuff?

Since the light and the laser are more or less centered on the same spot, you get the choice of how to "light up" where the bullets should go if needed.

The TLR-6 light is most likely not going to blind anyone (that's what the bigger handheld is for!), and in some ways I regard that as a "weakness".

I have other rail mount laser/flashlight combos that are significantly brighter, and could blind a person temporarily if it shines into their eyes, also providing a possible tactical advantage, because they are likely to instinctively twitch or jerk to avoid the light.

Yeah, while I don't want to say for sure that you could use a light to "point" a gun, I can see it happening under stress. The laser would help in that case.

100 lumens is not that bright, but if your eyes are night adjusted and it's pointed at you, it will be disorienting. Not as much as 1000+ of course, but I think it's still something. I'll have my wife point it at me without it mounted on the gun and see what that's like.

Strobing lights have been shown to create an advantage because the person it's being pointed at will have a hard time judging distance. I think that function is more suited for LE use. It won't stop a determined attacker, but it will be a disadvantage to them.