[ministerofdeath]

Ok, I'm willing to lay out the coin for a good weapon mounted tactical light, but there are alot of different types out there to choose from.

What are the advantages to having a weapon mounted tactical light like the Streamlight M-6 with the laser illuminater? I've never aimed a handgun using a laser illuminater and was wondering if you just look at the little red dot or if you can co-witness it with the sights? Do laster illuminaters really improve accuracy and speed on target?

Should I just go for the Streamlight M-3 with just the visible light and no laser? What about Surefire weapons lights? Any info you guys could give would be help feel better about spending money on a tactical light.

Safe Shooting

 

[madecov]

I prefer either Surefire or Laser devices.
The streamlight M3 is not as robust.

I think a light mounted on a weapon is a good idea.

 

[Guest]

I don't have either a rail-mounted light or a laser, but I was about to buy a light when someone mentioned to me that he did not like rail-mounted lights because:

1. It paints your location, and provides a general target to your attacker.

2. It requires that you point your weapon at anything that you want to identify. This could end up being a friend or family member. This is in conflict with a very important gun safety rule: "Never point your weapon at something you don't want to shoot."

I'll be interested to see what others think about rail mounted lights as well.

As far as lasers go, I like the idea of the potential accuracy. Although, I read a comment from one guy who said that he would rather practice point shooting (as opposed to sight shooting) instead of getting a laser pointer in case he ever ended up in court for shooting an intruder..."Sir, if you had a laser pointing device on your weapon, couldn't you have accurately taken aim at the victim in a non-lethal area of his body?"

 

[madecov]

You have to able to identify your target . A light is what allows that.
Lights for weapons have momentary switches, point, illuminate turn off and move , learn proper tactics !


A handheld flashlight will almost always be pointed in the same direction as your weapon, it's a natural way to move.


RULE #1 keep your finger off the trigger until your ready to fire.
RULE #2 Identify your target and what's behind it

There are no perfect answers, if there's enough light to identify your target your target can identify you. Usually before you see them.

If it's too dark to identify your target you need a light source to identify it.

I'm not a big advocate of lasers, I think they become a substitute for proper shooting technique.

 

[Guest]

I suppose that trying to learn from each other is why most of us are using this board...at least that much is true for me. I always appreciate the ideas and input from others here.

 

[Guest]

for me i want to concentrate on shooting well. I would't mind talking my wife into some crimson trace grips on her snubbie though.

I have been wanting to pick up a tac light to keep in the bedside gun safe though.
Our plan is for me to turn on alll the lights as i clear the house and loudly rack the shotgun and yell for anyone out there to please leave. while my wife and dogs stay in the bedrroom calling 911.

but what if the power is out?

I would love a small light bright enough to blind someone, that i can hold police style behind and above me (hey if they're gonna shoot at the light i don't want it in front of me). The shottie mounted light from surefire is ungodly expensive though.

I just really don't want to have to take the light on and off if i'm carrying or leaving in the safe. Or train bothe ways w/ the different weight and balance.

 

[Guest]

FWIW, my thoughts are that a good quality compact hand held flashlight is a better solution than a weapon mounted light, except for with a rifle or shotgun. My preference is a SureFire E2D Defender. It produces enough light to momentarily blind an aggressor, is small and light, can easily be used in the "cross hand" position (not sure what the technical name for that grip is), and, if all else fails, can be used as a damn effective impact weapon (much better than a polymer pistol). Plus, I see two distinct advantages to using the "cross hand" grip vs. a rail mounted light. First, as was mentioned earlier, with a weapon mounted light, you have to point the muzzle at anything you wish to identify. With the "cross hand" position, you can keep the weapon in a "low ready" position, while you identify the threat with the flashlight. It's a natural movement (for me, anyways) to then pull the weapon up and fire a double tap in one smooth movement. Also, in the unlikely event that a threat decides to fire back at your light, with the "cross hand" position (and if he can shoot worth beans, which is unlikely), he will miss above your right shoulder, because the light is held "canted" to your body, instead of in a straight line to it. I guess it's really about personal preference, though.

 

[hihoslva]

Sir, if you had a laser pointing device on your weapon, couldn't you have accurately taken aim at the victim in a non-lethal area of his body?"

I don't know about Georgia, but Arizona has laws AGAINST shooting to maim.

In this state, if you draw your weapon and fire, you are shooting to kill. And in fact, you may face more legal repercussions for wounding a person in the leg on purpose than if you put one right between the eyes.

The reason for this is that firing a weapon at someone is a last-resort defense, and should ONLY be done when the shooter is in fear for their LIFE. That being the case, force is met with equal force. Threaten my life, and I take yours.

If you are in a situation in which you feel EQUAL force is a leg wound or immobilzation of a threat, possibly your gun should never have been unholstered in the first place.

Shooting is to kill, and kill only.

 

[Guest]

I agree with your philosophy. I'm sure there are a few lawyers who might see things differently, though.

As a practical matter, I don't exactly live in a place that will offer a 10-15 yard distance from a door to any place I could get a clear line of sight. Any intruder would be within just a few feet of us upon entering the room. Just like you say, we had better shoot to stop him, or he would be within reach a second later.

 

[hihoslva]

I agree with your philosophy.

Not to be argumentative, but it's not my "philosophy". It's the way the legal system works, at least in this state.

My CCW instructor was very clear on this - in Arizona, you shoot to kill, and ONLY to kill. There are no self-defense laws designed to protect those who shoot to injure.

Again, not being argumentative. I just wanted to be clear that I wasn't only stating how I felt about the issue, but how the law feels about it as well.

 

[Guest]

I like to keep things with batteries off my firearms.
However, I have used a light before when playing paintball at night. I play a lot of paintball, so I will share the info I discovered. Lasers are no good (for PB) because the amount of drop involved with the low velocity will mean that your POI is going to be way above or below your laser POA depending on how you zero it. This probably isn't an issue with firearms because they shoot more flat. Playing PB often has you shooting at each other from behind cover, and I enjoy the tricks I learned from that. A laser sight will telegraph your position to whoever you aim at because the beam hits floating particles in the air (Tyndall effect?). You cannot see the beam from the side, but you can looking towards the source. A good sight picture I find is much more useful then looking for that dot painted on someone however far away they are. Lastly, people don't want to be shined in the eyes with a laser. This last one is mute to you, since you plan on shooting metal into them anyway.
Flashlights are good for night time when you must have active control of the situation and not conceal yourself until a more oppertune time. It takes at least 1/2 hour for your eyes to adjust to darkness, one look with your light (or muzzle flash) and your night vision is out the window. Often while playing I decide that it is better to look in that window with the light and run the risk of getting shot back at, then it is to presume no one is there and move past it. I have found that it is a natural instinct for people to shoot back at the light source, since the shine blinds them to all detail they could see. If I where you, I would mount the light, keep it off and use your natural well adjusted night vision, and not flip on the light until after (if) you go loud. If your getting older and blind as a bat in the dark, then you don't have much choice.. you need to see, on with the light.

 

[Guest]

OK so now that I got me a cheapie little $25 xenon bulb lithium battery flashlight in the bedside safe, I want a weapon light on the shottie.

I picked up a add-on acessory rail that goes on the end of the mag tube. What are some decent but cheap weapon mounted shock isolated lights i can find.

 

[Thunderbear]

OK so now that I got me a cheapie little $25 xenon bulb lithium battery flashlight in the bedside safe, I want a weapon light on the shottie.

I picked up a add-on acessory rail that goes on the end of the mag tube. What are some decent but cheap weapon mounted shock isolated lights i can find.

I've had good luck with DigiLight, but it's hard to find anyone that doesn't bow at the altar of SureFire.

 

[bigtaco]

my .02 would be against the mounted light. the reasons why have been said by others.

in many instances, switching the light between on and off turns out bad. as pointed out, your eyes have to adjust, and the bad guy has a beacon to start spraying towards.

the thought that you will be concealed once your light has been turned off is also false. most people aren't ninjas. in a live situation , you're going to be breathing heavy, and bumping into stuff since your eyes will be focused on identifying a threat. since the light is now off (your eyes are readjusting) the threat that was previously behind cover can now move into a more open position and start spraying at the noise he/she hears. never forget that bad guys aren't worried about the accountablilty of their round's damage.

ideally, you can come up with one of two alternatives: light the place up like the fourth of july so you can see everything clearly. or find cover they allows you to protect yourself and others without exposing your position.

 

[Thunderbear]

Best (sort of..) of both worlds...

TDi Arms mount with SureFire G2.

Picatinny belt clip, rotating, for TDi mount:

Sexiest pistol ever, with a nightlight:

It sticks out a bit further than I like.. I bought it intending to use the DigiLight which is much smaller than the G2, but the diameter of the mount was wrong. The G2 fit perfectly. I figure when and or if I test fire it mounted, I'll remove the lamp and expect some flash burns on the light body. Worst case, I just use it on the Mossberg.

 

[Guest]

I haven't quite made up my mind if I like mounted tac lights yet...but I do like night sites, and find them very effective for low/no light situations. Does anyone know where I can find some night sights that will fit on the M40? Thanks in advance! -Jay

 

[Guest]

look in our group buy section for a member only price on PT night sights

 

[Guest]

I agree with your philosophy.

Not to be argumentative, but it's not my "philosophy". It's the way the legal system works, at least in this state.

My CCW instructor was very clear on this - in Arizona, you shoot to kill, and ONLY to kill. There are no self-defense laws designed to protect those who shoot to injure.

Again, not being argumentative. I just wanted to be clear that I wasn't only stating how I felt about the issue, but how the law feels about it as well.

just my .02, dead people don't talk to lawyers, and big cheap knives are around $20.

 

[Guest]

and you can get them at the local pawn shop, gas station, or truck stop.

 

[SELFDEFENSE]

Not a fan of mounted lights. Always have to point muzzle at something not yet determined to be a threat and is a potential homing beam for incoming to your COM or dominant eyeball.