Do you really want a light on your HD pistol?

[Steve1968LS2]

A properly used light is GREAT to have.. a badly used light will work against you..

[CaliforniaLiberal]

This question comes up every couple of years. Always lots of passionate opinions. Never any agreement or really conclusive arguments.

I haven't seen anyone in this thread point out that with a mounted light you must point your weapon at an unknown target in order to identify. I don't like pointing the gun at an unknown target.

I'm not so tactical as some. I say flip the wall switch and turn on the room lights.

Besides, those rails and mounted lights look just gawdawful. Not how John Browning would do it.

[farmerjoe]

And I come from the "rather have it and not need it" school of thought. But then, I've been accused of overpacking. Spent last week in Detroit. Won't get into getting ready for that fiasco.

[JWHuey]

YUP

[AreWeFree]

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Whatever. If you want to give an armed intruder a target which is on line of sight to your head, go for it. The rest of the above post is complete nonsense.

If you do use a light at least have it separate so you can hold it away from your body.

It's truth through sarcasm. If you really think a simple light makes you a target and THAT'S what is endangering your life, you need to get rid of everything that someone would want to steal, then there's nothing to worry about. Sell your guns, no threat left...


On a serious note, I HIGHLY doubt the 1 - 4 people breaking in to your home spend time training against an armed defender, and they're relying on surprise and force through numbers to get what they want.

Once the spotlight comes on you have the advantage, and most important, you can identify where the threat is, how many, and who is holding a gun/weapon.

I don't care about "giving away my position or being a target." THEY broke in my home, I'm already the damn target!!!

A light will disorient them, take them off guard, show you where the threat is, tell you how many, and give you information and options.

If you literally want to be "in the dark," please go ahead, but everyone here should apply critical thinking to their environment and situation before hand to decide what will work best for them.

[Scotty]

I have a weapon mounted light and a flashlight w/lanyard next to the gun. Flashlight for searching, if the gun needs to come up on target, the weapon light is coming on with both hands on the gun.

[Mayor McRifle]

Just out of curiosity, how are these assassins getting around themselves inside your unfamiliar house if it's so dark that you guys need a tactical weapon light to even see them? Are they wearing night vision goggles?

[Gryff]

No light? Then you fail Jeff Cooper rule #4 (psychic identification powers will fail in a gunfight). Additionally, a light disorients nicely.

[Mayor McRifle]

No light? Then you fail Jeff Cooper rule #4 (psychic identification powers will fail in a gunfight). Additionally, a light disorients nicely.

RULE 4
BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET
You never shoot at anything until you have positively identified it. You never fire at a shadow, or a sound, or a suspected presence. You shoot only when you know absolutely what you are shooting at and what is beyond it.

Like all four of Cooper's rules, this is very sound advice. But where's the part about needing a tactical weapon light mounted on your gun?

And how do you reconcile using a weapon light to scan your house and identify your particular human target with Cooper's second rule?

RULE 2
NEVER LET THE MUZZLE COVER ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
You may not wish to destroy it, but you must be clear in your mind that you are quite ready to if you let that muzzle cover the target. To allow a firearm to point at another human being is a deadly threat, and should always be treated as such.

[sholling]

I have a weapon light and a separate laser on my bedside handgun but neither are intended to be used when clearing the house. I have a separate flashlight next to my handgun that's for searching and identifying threats vs loved ones because I don't like muzzle sweeping anyone not identified as a threat. The only reason that I have a light installed is to allow me to free up a hand to turn on lights and call 911 while keeping an intruder at gunpoint. In other words, it's far better to have a tool that you never wind up needing than it is not to have a tool that you really-really need when the time comes that you really-really need it. It's the same story with the laser, it's there if I need it.

[Gryff]

But where's the part about needing a tactical weapon light mounted on your gun?

And how do you reconcile using a weapon light to scan your house and identify your particular human target with Cooper's second rule?

Anyone moving in my house in the dark in the middle of the night that doesn't identify themselves is a potential target. If you had to clear your house because you had reason to believe it necessary, would you do it with the gun pointed at the floor or up and ready?

Besides, inside my house my weapon light throws out far enough illumination that I don't have to point my gun directly at an object to illuminate it.

[Grakken]

Get a pressure pad on your grip. I have one on my surefire/usp combo.

Also, if i shine my x300 in your face, you WILL be temporarily blinded.

[Eldraque]

Pretty much an absolute must.

[OlderThanDirt]

You guys are so old school. While I have a blinding light on my HD gun, I can control almost every light in my house remotely, including turning all on simultaneously. Besides numerous outdoor cameras, I have several well placed indoor cameras that allow me to "sweep" the house without getting out of bed. Using the camera microphones I can listen for noises, and with the speakers I can really distract any potential intruder. I can also do this from almost anywhere in the world. But, if I have to get my fat arse out of bed, I have the HD gun with the blinding light.

And for those really smart intruders, the cameras all run on battery backup just in case the intruder breaks into my locked electronic panel and turns off the power, which sets off an audible alarm.

[The Waco Kid]

Lights allow you to identify and categorize the threat

Lights can disorient the threat

The beam of a weaponlight provides a nice "rounds will land in this area" effect

A light on the weapon allows you to do the above with one hand, useful if shepherding children, navigating the house, calling the police, or are injured.

Shooting at a shape in the dark, without identifying the threat or determining whether it really merited lethal force, is not a route I want to take. Nor is having a separate light that I must set down if I wish to call the cops, open a door, etc.

Pretty much nails it all. You can always not turn it on, if you did not want it. Personally, I would want to be absolutely sure of target ID before sending rounds out.