Rifle mounted lights, why?

[digitalelf]

I would just like to point out that in 89 posts the OP posted exactly 4 times (all on the beginning of the first page), and has some 35 odd posts on various other threads after his last post here...

It is in my humble opinion, that it seems he could care less about why we have lights on our rifles...

[racky]

i have a gun mounted to my flashlight

[Mickael81]

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.

That's because all of these posers are trying to make their rifles look like it just got back from its fifth tour in Iraq. Most of that stuff was implemented out of necessity for military and law enforcement personel. Now you see all of these posers with money mount all the little toys they could get their hands on so they could mimic the appearance of those that really did use their rifles for its intended purpose. You gotta be an idiot to use your AR in California for home defense, specialy if you own other firearms like a handgun or even a shotgun. The court will eat you alive.

[Mickael81]

Oh yeAh.... you mount a flashlight on your rifle so you can ID your target in the dark..duh! What a POG question... maybe i should hold the rifle with one hand while looking through the sights and with my free hand hold out a flashlight FBI style.

[PatriotnMore]

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.

I am with you. However, if people like it, or think it helps them, it's all good.

[pacifico23]

I think lights are give and take. I personally have a fenix light, nightforce and a surefire. But none of them would I mount to any of my firearms. I know Im gonna sound pretty ridicoulous at first but here me out. Back when I was a kid me and my friends #1 hobby was indoor airsoft. We would play in either my friends condo, my parents house or my friends house. One of my friends was all tacticool and rigged some pos light on his gun. He was ALWAYS shot first. Why? You can always predict him coming; in the house wih hallways you can see the light a mile a way and you just anticipate him.
And 10 years later and with real firearms I can see the exact same thing if I attached a weapon light to my gun. My apartment now are 2 hallways connecting front door to living room and bedroom to living room and bath. If I had a light on he would be able to see me leave from my room to the living room etc. I personally don't have officers, or a unit backing my butt up. It's only me if someone tries to invade my house. So no way would I turn on that light. Based out of close quarter airsoft ( I know I know not the same), that flashlight is a beacon to hit at 4-10 yards. Even with the powerful ones that may temp mess with your vision. Your talking a matter of feet. Now if I was an officer, soldier, zombie apacolypse with people backing me up.. Oh yeah you betcha I would have one.

[M. Sage]

I think lights are give and take. I personally have a fenix light, nightforce and a surefire. But none of them would I mount to any of my firearms. I know Im gonna sound pretty ridicoulous at first but here me out. Back when I was a kid me and my friends #1 hobby was indoor airsoft. We would play in either my friends condo, my parents house or my friends house. One of my friends was all tacticool and rigged some pos light on his gun. He was ALWAYS shot first. Why? You can always predict him coming; in the house wih hallways you can see the light a mile a way and you just anticipate him.

What you're telling me is that he was shot first because he didn't use the light properly. He was also using a POS light that's not throwing enough power out to work the way I'm talking about.

You don't use a light to see where you're going. You do it to see where you're shooting. The switch on your light is like the trigger on the weapon it's mounted to. You don't hit it unless you have something to shine it at!

In Green Eyes and Black Rifles, Kyle Lamb talks about "flashlight NDs".

It also sounds like he was using generally poor tactics. Sitting tight and waiting for the other guy to come for you is almost always the best choice.

And 10 years later and with real firearms I can see the exact same thing if I attached a weapon light to my gun. My apartment now are 2 hallways connecting front door to living room and bedroom to living room and bath. If I had a light on he would be able to see me leave from my room to the living room etc.

Only if you turn the light on as soon as you pick the rifle up. Don't. Don't use it until you see something that looks like it might be a target, then use it to identify the target. Also, don't stop moving!

Man.. there are so many tricks to use to minimize your risks with a light. How long do you need a light on to see what's in a room? You could have someone write a word on a white board in the other room, turn out the lights and cover the windows and you could go in with a camera strobe and just from the one flash of the light, you can read the word. So here's one of the things that you do: as you step through the doorway, you're going to just tap the light on momentarily and then sidestep (don't ever ever stand in the freaking doorway) while your brain processes what it's seen. If you saw something, you can turn the light back on, pointed in a direction that will be effective.

I personally don't have officers, or a unit backing my butt up. It's only me if someone tries to invade my house. So no way would I turn on that light. Based out of close quarter airsoft ( I know I know not the same), that flashlight is a beacon to hit at 4-10 yards. Even with the powerful ones that may temp mess with your vision. Your talking a matter of feet. Now if I was an officer, soldier, zombie apacolypse with people backing me up.. Oh yeah you betcha I would have one.

The only ones to use are the ones that will mess up vision, and by "temporary," the effects I've experienced from them is half an hour to a couple of hours. They really screw you up.

What you need to learn is how to use them properly. You're not understanding the proper use of a weapon light. If you were educated in their use (more than I can do in an internet post), it would destroy the misconceptions you hold.

[misterjake]

Because no wear = no practice.

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

BS. My 1911 has had over 2,500 rounds in it and you could never tell (except inside the barrel). I clean my 1911 for 8 hours after it visits the range.

Don't confuse people who take care of their weapons with wanna be soldiers rolling around in the dirt.

[Cokebottle]

I clean my 1911 for 8 hours after it visits the range.

You can complete the machining and assemble a 1911 from an 80% frame in 8 hours.

What takes you 8 hours to clean a 1911?

[misterjake]

You can complete the machining and assemble a 1911 from an 80% frame in 8 hours.

What takes you 8 hours to clean a 1911?

It looks almost new every time after I take it to the range....

I polish it too...it's a stainless 1911.

[nagorb]

BS. My 1911 has had over 2,500 rounds in it and you could never tell (except inside the barrel). I clean my 1911 for 8 hours after it visits the range.

Don't confuse people who take care of their weapons with wanna be soldiers rolling around in the dirt.

If your bored I've got a few guns you can clean

[ge714]

I have a flashlight on my rifle so I can feel like Sam Fisher...

[GettoPhilosopher]

In a darkened room, they're blindingly bright. I wasn't joking about being able to hide behind my light, and I'm running a light designed for use on a pistol (Streamlight TLR-2). This light is bright enough that if it's dark and your eyes are adjusted to the dark, you use it in a room and the splash back off the walls is almost enough to dazzle you for a moment.

I have a TLR-1S (the slightly brighter one). I did a function test (to make sure batteries were still good) while it was sitting on my nightstand. The glare reflected back on me from the dark wood nightstand was enough to make me see spots for a few min.

I also did try to test it by strobing it at a mirror....I never want to be on the wrong end of one of those things again. *ouch*

[pacifico23]

What you're telling me is that he was shot first because he didn't use the light properly. He was also using a POS light that's not throwing enough power out to work the way I'm talking about.

You don't use a light to see where you're going. You do it to see where you're shooting. The switch on your light is like the trigger on the weapon it's mounted to. You don't hit it unless you have something to shine it at!

In Green Eyes and Black Rifles, Kyle Lamb talks about "flashlight NDs".

It also sounds like he was using generally poor tactics. Sitting tight and waiting for the other guy to come for you is almost always the best choice.



Only if you turn the light on as soon as you pick the rifle up. Don't. Don't use it until you see something that looks like it might be a target, then use it to identify the target. Also, don't stop moving!

Man.. there are so many tricks to use to minimize your risks with a light. How long do you need a light on to see what's in a room? You could have someone write a word on a white board in the other room, turn out the lights and cover the windows and you could go in with a camera strobe and just from the one flash of the light, you can read the word. So here's one of the things that you do: as you step through the doorway, you're going to just tap the light on momentarily and then sidestep (don't ever ever stand in the freaking doorway) while your brain processes what it's seen. If you saw something, you can turn the light back on, pointed in a direction that will be effective.

The only ones to use are the ones that will mess up vision, and by "temporary," the effects I've experienced from them is half an hour to a couple of hours. They really screw you up.

What you need to learn is how to use them properly. You're not understanding the proper use of a weapon light. If you were educated in their use (more than I can do in an internet post), it would destroy the misconceptions you hold.

I know what your saying, you just don't turn it on, until your you spotit so you can sorta stun him. But for me, I don't need to add another button or something when it's a matter of life and death. All I want to worry about pulling or messing with is the trigger. I see plent of applications if your being the assaulter (like cops, military). When your suprising someone it is a great tool. But if someone is breaking into your house, your kinda now on the defense. He will always be alert and even trying to find you. Now let's say you do what you say (hide in the corner) and flash that light right when he comes in. Yes you will have first shots and the advantage. However all he needs to do is pull the trigger a few times in the direction the light was spotted. You give yourself to much away with a flashlight inside your home. If it was me, my. xd has night sights and that's enough. If something happens I have a 2 foot separation from wall to bed I'll just lay in and wait for him to come in my room. If he does I dont need no light, and he def won't see me or getting the first shots off either. Like I said for military, police scenarios absolutely. But IDE rather be silent, no way noticeable, and ready for him.

I hate to keep referencing this. But the amount we did this and at that age the fear of getting shot was pretty up there, you do develop strategies. Now back when we played, we used to always play lights out at night in the house with nommore than shirts, shorts goggles (and snowboarding goggles sure don't help seein in he dark). He did actually kinda use it right, he learned the hard way. He at first kept it on and that was a signal like no other. But then he after learning, he would stay dark and then when he THOUGHT he saw someone lol, he would turn it on. He was still a damn beacon. You see some sorta of light you know the vicinity of him when it's in small enclosure like a home or condo. Now we played this hundreds of times, and who was the best? My friend... This sneaky bastard would play in boxers no shirt and socks. (he was impossible to hear, completely silent). He would crawl to wherever the noise came from lay down in a corner and just wait. He always picked off people (ESP me, my damn gun had a rattle). Yes I know this is airsoft blah blah blah. But at 10 -12 years old your AFRAID to get hit at 3-5 feet. So you are cautious, and very very careful lol. God that was fun.

[nagorb]

So you'll just shoot anyone who comes through the door? Doesn't sound too smart.