Weapon lights and handgun reliability

[cineski]

Just took delivery of a TLR-2 C4. Very very nice weapon light. Just curious, is there any need to worry about a weapon light effecting reliability in the handgun? I would imagine not, but the gun does balance quite a bit differently than it did before (XD45c). Thanks in advance for your thoughts/experience.

[1911su16b870]

IMO if the firearm is for defense purposes and you are running a light on it, then shoot a sufficient number of rounds through that platform to prove to yourself that it is 100% reliable.

I have heard stories (but not seen) of firearms not cycling properly when a railed light was attached.

[Casual Observer]

The only light-related issues I am aware of was with, ironically, Glocks. The Glock 22, 23 and 35 were known to have cycling issues with a light attached. It caused a little too much stress on the frame, causing the next round to 'nose dive' while feeding.

The problem is solved by using 11-coil magazine springs (more forceful feeding) and recommended replacement of the recoil spring every 5k rounds or so.

[SigLion]

I run the streamlight TRL-1 on my Glock 29 and have shot over 100 rds with it on and not had a single problem. I love it!

[shoupdawg]

No issues with mine, but I would practice until you were comfortable.

[trinydex]

there's that one glock that if you put some light on it it'll stove pipe more often or something.

[HCz]

The only light-related issues I am aware of was with, ironically, Glocks. The Glock 22, 23 and 35 were known to have cycling issues with a light attached. It caused a little too much stress on the frame, causing the next round to 'nose dive' while feeding.

The problem is solved by using 11-coil magazine springs (more forceful feeding) and recommended replacement of the recoil spring every 5k rounds or so.

This is what I heard too, and the only one that I heard about too.

[Casual Observer]

I run the streamlight TRL-1 on my Glock 29 and have shot over 100 rds with it on and not had a single problem. I love it!

The Glock problem was/is limited to the .40 cal models.

[trinydex]

did anyone ever figure out why that happened?

[j1133s]

Just took delivery of a TLR-2 C4. Very very nice weapon light. Just curious, is there any need to worry about a weapon light effecting reliability in the handgun? I would imagine not, but the gun does balance quite a bit differently than it did before (XD45c). Thanks in advance for your thoughts/experience.

If anything, you'll shoot that pistol better w/ the light on. Think of it as extra functioning barrel weights Also, if your light contains a built-in laser, you can think of the laser (in additino to its normal uses) as backup when you run out of ammo (turns your ordinary pistol into a laser gun).