Holster with or without light

[neouser]

I think he meant in an otherwise dark room. A decent light casts enough light everywhere to keep an eye on things around you without taking the gun off target. In the dark my tlr3 lights my whole living room pretty well. Even when the battery started to die.

Or you can just flip on the light switch.

In most civvie applications, there's really little application for a weapons mounted light. While the thought of sweeping your home looking for a loved one in the middle of the night, after drawing your weapon with a pre-mounted light from your holster, has an air of movie romanticism to it, it's just not realistic. Statistics show that most burglaries happen during the day while you're at work. Even if you are at home during the morning when it happens, do you really need a flashlight on your pistol? (http://homesecurity.net/home-burglary-statistic/)

I can completely see the use of a weapons mounted light for LE or military for offensive use in low light situations. Breeching, searching for a perp, etc... But it's hard to justify in a defensive situation when your responsibility is to avoid conflict. While I see a lot of articles that demonstrate how useful a weapons light is in tactical situations, almost all of them are offensive and none of them are defensive...

[fullrearview]

Because, once that light comes on it's going to attract everyone's attention, even the bad guy with the gun, I usually sweep a room with the light looking for anything out of place. I never leave the light on when clearing my house and i always have the pistol at low ready.

And I don't leave the light on either. Poor light discipline isn't a feature for mounted or unmounted... It's poor training.

Having real world experience clearing rooms, searching for people indoors and out, having a light on your gun is a must for me...

It's also similar to having a momentary/permanent on switch over the pressure switch activation on an AR. You take your support hand away, to call out or manipulate anything, you now have no light on your suspect.

@Neouser: You are correct with the stats... However, in my experience, when I don't have it, I need it. An extra few ounces is worth it.

[LOW2000]

@Neo There is nothing defensive about shooting at another human being.

[neouser]

@Neo There is nothing defensive about shooting at another human being.

There is absolutely everything defensive about shooting at another human being if it is your absolute last resort in a life threatening situation.

The difference between "It all happened so fast. I was attacked and the next thing I knew, he was laying on the ground" vs. "I heard a noise and went to investigate with my gun" is being reactive vs. proactive. Room clearing with a weapon is definitely on the offensive.

For most people, it shouldn't even get to that point. Home security is a complete package. If you care enough to have a pistol for home defense, you should also care enough to diligently arm your alarm system every night. You should have motion detection lights outside your house. Basically, if you can prevent someone from entering your home, that's your first line of defense. People break in to homes that make it convenient to do so.

As an aside, I'm just a recreational shooter. I doubt that there will be any point in my life where I'll ever be put in a position where I will need to fire a shot at another human being in self defense.

[SA227driver]

As an aside, I'm just a recreational shooter. I doubt that there will be any point in my life where I'll ever be put in a position where I will need to fire a shot at another human being in self defense.

I'm sure every person who has defended themselves with a gun has thought the same thing, "I won't happen to me".
That mindset is not a good one to have. It drops ones guard.

Bad guys don't care what kind of shooter you are.

[solanoshooter]

Will a holster for a light added gun hold the gun well if i end up ditching the TRL1?

No. At lest not with my Glocks. The holster will hold them without the light but the weapons bounce around quite a bit.

[neouser]

I'm sure every person who has defended themselves with a gun has thought the same thing, "I won't happen to me".
That mindset is not a good one to have. It drops ones guard.

Bad guys don't care what kind of shooter you are.

True.

It's partially optimism on my part. I can defend myself with one if I have to, but hope that I've taken enough precautions where I won't need to. I've read way too many court cases regarding defensive shootings that I just never want to have to go through that ordeal.

[JUm3]

i mean if you're getting a raven, id get the with weapon light anyways. that way you can add a weapon light and still holster it. You can still get a good fit and hold in your raven holster without a weapon light mounted. And it doens't add any weight. Otherwise you're just gonna buy a new holster in the future. Nice to have options in one holster.

[NewbieDave]

Get both...

[Tjfearl]

I always shoot with my light attached and I use it. I also train with a Surefire as a backup. no point in having it if you don't train with. for a custom kydex holster go to www.zeroconcealmentsystems.com for the abosolute cheapest and super good quality delivered much quicker than the bigger companies.

[WoodenGun]

Since the thread seems to have gone down the home defense alley:

How often are you carrying when there are no lights on in your house?


If you don't put your pistol in a safe when sleeping - then at least holster your weapon. So that could be a reason.

[unusedusername]

I like how nobody read the OPs question.

My holsters for my P226 with a light do not fit the gun when the light is not installed. There are a few nylon pouch type holsters that will fit with or without, but I really don't like them because it allows the gun to "slosh around" inside it.

I have both a Raven holster for the P226 with a light and a Blade-tech. Neither can work with the gun when the light is not installed.

Personally I prefer one holster for the light and another for without the light.

[06roush]

Since the thread seems to have gone down the home defense alley:

How often are you carrying when there are no lights on in your house?


If you don't put your pistol in a safe when sleeping - then at least holster your weapon. So that could be a reason.

Pistol is always in the safe. Only reason for the light was for late night walks at the ranch.

I like how nobody read the OPs question.

My holsters for my P226 with a light do not fit the gun when the light is not installed. There are a few nylon pouch type holsters that will fit with or without, but I really don't like them because it allows the gun to "slosh around" inside it.

I have both a Raven holster for the P226 with a light and a Blade-tech. Neither can work with the gun when the light is not installed.

Personally I prefer one holster for the light and another for without the light.

Thanks. Guess ill try it without the light first.

[Lugiahua]

Looking for a holster for my CZ SP-01. Recently bought a TRL1s more on a whim than actually necessity. Will a holster for a light added gun hold the gun well if i end up ditching the TRL1? My gut is telling me to just go with a holster without a light but since i have it, might as well let it be there...?

As far as holsters are concerned, I've been recommended Tac-Tech-Cal and Raven. Through some research, looks like you guys are a big fan of TTC.

It's really depends on the design. Some will hold the weapon even when the light is detached.

[teflondog]

Looking for a holster for my CZ SP-01. Recently bought a TRL1s more on a whim than actually necessity. Will a holster for a light added gun hold the gun well if i end up ditching the TRL1? My gut is telling me to just go with a holster without a light but since i have it, might as well let it be there...?

As far as holsters are concerned, I've been recommended Tac-Tech-Cal and Raven. Through some research, looks like you guys are a big fan of TTC.

The Safariland ALS holsters will work even if you remove the light. But they're for open carry only since they're on the bulky side. I laughed when I received my ALS "concealment" holster because there's no way I could hide it unless I wore a XXXXL shirt.