Rifle mounted lights, why?

[locosway]

I also see pictures of AR's and AK's with all this crap on them. Two different optics, vertical fore grip, and then you see the flashlight.

Do these people think they're going to be clearing rooms in the middle of the night with their rifles?

Sorry, I just couldn't hold back any longer.

[G60]

Same as a pistol light. 5.56 has less risk of overpenetration than most handgun rounds so it can be argued a rifle is one of the most effective and also safest to bystanders means of defense.

[robcoe]

I also see pictures of AR's and AK's with all this crap on them. Two different optics, vertical fore grip, and then you see the flashlight.

Do these people think they're going to be clearing rooms in the middle of the night with their rifles?

Sorry, I just couldn't hold back any longer.

most of that is mall ninja stuff, the light however is a good idea if you actualy plan on being able to use the gun as a HD weapon.

you dont need to be clearing your house for a light to be useful, it's still a good idea to be able to see what you are aiming at even if you hunker down in the bedroom.

[M. Sage]

I also see pictures of AR's and AK's with all this crap on them. Two different optics, vertical fore grip, and then you see the flashlight.

Do these people think they're going to be clearing rooms in the middle of the night with their rifles?

Sorry, I just couldn't hold back any longer.

Umm, my AR is my go-to home defense weapon. I won't be clearing rooms since I'm alone and clearing rooms alone is incredibly stupid, especially since I'm alone and have no reason to go out looking for trouble.

I have a light on my rifle so that I can make sure the person I'm about to shoot is someone I want to shoot. I have a light on my rifle to give that poor bastard one last chance before I start putting 5.56 into his guts - a light makes a decent non-lethal weapon. I have a light on my rifle because it can give me breathing room to make sure I've got a good sight picture (see the bit about it being a good non lethal weapon), not that it'll take me any time, but it could mean the difference between me shooting him and us shooting each other.

Do I need to go into why my AR is my go-to? It's more likely to put someone down fast than a handgun is. It's easier to use than a handgun, especially under stress. All else fails, I get thirty tries, unlike a handgun or shotgun. It's much more precise than a handgun or shotgun, which isn't usually an issue for HD, but it's nice to have. Unlike a shotgun, I don't have to worry about my pattern vs distance. Put the dot on the target and squeeze. 5.56 is a lot less likely to leave my home if I miss and put my neighbors in danger than my .45 or a 12 gauge, especially the downward angle into the concrete pad from the top of my stairs.

Buckshot is round, it bounces pretty well. 55 grain 5.56? It tends to come apart if it hits something solid.

I also have a short vertical fore grip on my rifle, but it's functional and not just for ninja points. Everything on that rifle has a purpose behind it. Everything that I couldn't justify didn't get installed or got taken off.

[locosway]

^ You don't count...

I was mostly referring to the CA compliant crowd that show off their rifles which have apparently no wear on them.

[M. Sage]

^ You don't count...

LOL, gotcha!

[SDM44]

You mean to tell me that a bright LED tacticool light with pressure switch that's taped to my VFG, on a 15-22 plinker, is a no-no?

[farnorcal]

for blinding zombies

[Merc1138]

^ You don't count...

I was mostly referring to the CA compliant crowd that show off their rifles which have apparently no wear on them.

Why is visible wear on the rifle an indicator of the willingness of the person to use that rifle in a self defense situation? Maybe they... I don't know... want to identify the target prior to opening fire?

[locosway]

Why is visible wear on the rifle an indicator of the willingness of the person to use that rifle in a self defense situation? Maybe they... I don't know... want to identify the target prior to opening fire?

Because no wear = no practice.

It's like a mechanic opening a new package of tools before working on your car...

[shooting4life]

You need a light because you would look silly with a rail and nothing attached.

[stix213]

If you ever had to defend yourself at home it is almost certainly at night. Light should be pretty self explanatory.

[locosway]

You need a light because you would look silly with a rail and nothing attached.

WINNER!

I guess that's why I don't have a rail.

[Mssr. Eleganté]

I have all of that crap on my ARs because it looks fricken cool. It would be pretty retarded for me to use my ARs for actually shooting stuff since my M1 Garands/M14 clones/Mausers/Enfields make bigger holes. I've got three ARs in .223/5.56 and have never even owned a single round of .223/5.56 ammo. Seriously!

[oni.dori]

Because it is easier to just hold on to a rifle than it is to try to juggle and manipulate a rifle and flashlight at the same time?...