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Is a Weapon-Mounted Light on Your CCW a Pro or Con?

Talyn

Talyn

SAINT
Founding Member
While there is a general consensus on a weapon-mounted light (WML) on a long gun, running a light on your pistol remains somewhat controversial. However, there is no denying their advantages given certain circumstances.

Is a Weapon-Mounted Light on Your CCW a Pro or Con?

While there is a general consensus on a weapon-mounted light (WML) on a long gun, running a light on your
athlonoutdoors.com

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"The greatest advantage of a WML is 'confirming' PID when searching for known threats."

Have to put "confirming" in quotes? You already lost.

The greatest advantage of that light, on a bad day, is the photonic barrier it generates. This is why I don't care about night vision. I'm not worried about staying on the defensive. I just want to make sure I stay above room temperature.
 
Short of an offensive hit it’s a con
it makes people lazy and why cops shoot the wrong people!

Coulle issues. One you commit a felony pointing a firearm at someone your. It legal to use deadly force on 2 multiple cases of cops and civilians shootjng the wrong person or making a wrong shoot leading gun first (Force Science institute has done a a couoke studies in its findings)

Link below

And for folks that say they won’t sorry you will and I have seen it all the time. I teach time to time at my states academy and one stage you fire 3 low ready fire 4 (2 reload 2) low ready then 3. Everyone with WNL are always covering the target everyone without goes to low ready. That tells me they have already started the practice of “searching” with a WML
My state police use to publish a. Internal memo on Trooper discipline every month what they did name district not for embarrassment but for “learning” (they said it also wa stopped when someone decided to leak to the press) a large amount of Troopers every month were hemmed up because they forgot their handheld and pulled their handgun with WML and flagged drivers and occupants to read DL’s. They called complained cameras pulled and bam discipline.

So outside of your own home it’s really a con and even then there can be factors that make it a con.

FSI Investigates Unintentional Discharges: When Are You At Greatest Risk? - Force Science

When are you most likely to experience the shock and potentially deadly consequences of an unintentional discharge: a) While clearing an area in response to a call? b) While performing routine firearms tasks, including cleaning your weapon? c) While already engaged with a suspect in high-risk...
www.forcescience.com
 
Lights and optics on a EDC gun, EH. You do whatever make you feel comfortable and works for you. No need to justify it. Just please, don't give me a ration of "you're not serious", "you're not prepared" or "you're going to die in XYZ fantasy scenario" because I'm not marching in lock step. I'm serious enough to know me (YMMV) and anything bigger than my 638 is eventually be left behind, with that J Frame I'm better prepared than 90% of the rest of the world, and that despite doing a lot of stupid things, with stupid people in stupid places in my youth, I managed to survive where more than a few didn't.
God looks after fools and drunks, and I had both covered.
 
bc22wm said:
Lights and optics on a EDC gun, EH. You do whatever make you feel comfortable and works for you. No need to justify it. Just please, don't give me a ration of "you're not serious", "you're not prepared" or "you're going to die in XYZ fantasy scenario" because I'm not marching in lock step. I'm serious enough to know me (YMMV) and anything bigger than my 638 is eventually be left behind, with that J Frame I'm better prepared than 90% of the rest of the world, and that despite doing a lot of stupid things, with stupid people in stupid places in my youth, I managed to survive where more than a few didn't.
God looks after fools and drunks, and I had both covered.
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I do optics but not lights.
 
I am with Bassbob here. Optics yes, weapon mounted light never. Remember, I am not a cop. Lights work both ways, and surprise, bad guys are smart enough to shoot at the light. I am not comfortable pointing a loaded gun at an object I am trying to illuminate. Your mileage may vary. But I can almost guarantee the "daily carry gun" that has the added bulk of a light, to say nothing of trying to draw that shape of a pistol from an inside the waistband holster, well, those two factors add up to a gun that sure looks cool at the range to impress your friends but it too awkward to carry so it gets left at home. So many people say a regular 5 inch Government Model 1911 is too big to carry. Think they will make the commitment to a weapon mounted light?
 
I am not a law enforcement officer or a professional gunfighter, so I would rather have a handheld light in one hand and my snub in the other. I would not be comfortable sweeping the area with a firearm not knowing if it's friend or foe, besides a weapon light will not mount on my snub.
But this is just me, your training may be different.
 
I have zero experience with a WML. If you stop reading right now I will not be offended.

The only person I'm aware of who has compiled any database on Citizen Defender shootings in the United States is Tom Givens.

His database is 66.

One person was caught off guard and robbed. he gave up his wallet and the robber left. No shots fired.

Three people were unarmed and were murdered.

Sixty Two fought back and won/survived.

No percentage was given but "Most" of the fights occurred during the hours of darkness (6PM to 6AM) in Well Lit parking lots (gas stations/convenience stores (which carries its own lesson) ).

Givens said he was unaware of any fight in which a WML was even a factor.

I worked as a security guard for 15 years, mostly at night. My employer forbade employees from altering issued handguns in any way, no WMLs.

I don't remember ever being anywhere in the city besides the Graveyard where I didn't have sufficient light to see my sights.

I don't leave home w/out a handheld light but I've never felt the need for a WML
 
Wirenut said:
I am not a law enforcement officer or a professional gunfighter, so I would rather have a handheld light in one hand and my snub in the other. I would not be comfortable sweeping the area with a firearm not knowing if it's friend or foe, besides a weapon light will not mount on my snub.
But this is just me, your training may be different.
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My EDC includes a good flashlight. I don't do too much effing around after dark. I admit I have lights on 2 ARs and one shotgun, but in my defense, the light on the 500 kinda doubles as an aiming device and the Inforce on the ARs just kinda looks cool. :)

I won't be putting any extra crap on a pistol.
 
Bassbob said:
My EDC includes a good flashlight. I don't do too much effing around after dark. I admit I have lights on 2 ARs and one shotgun, but in my defense, the light on the 500 kinda doubles as an aiming device and the Inforce on the ARs just kinda looks cool. :)

I won't be putting any extra crap on a pistol.
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If I was allowed to own an AR it would have a mounted light, but governor flintstone put hold on that.
 
Not a fan of weapons mounted lights especially on handguns. Makes it too easy to get lazy and use the WML to light up an area with in place of a flashlight, this automatically can break rule number one.

And yes, I have seen it occur.
 
Have only one pistol (the bedstand one) with an WML on it for potential target ID for things that might go bump in the night.

No WMLs for any other CCW or other handgun carry, and would use a seperate flashlight if needed.

High-power WMLs are allocated for use, when needed, on the primary Home Defense ARs and Benelli M4.

Low-power "Nav" lights are standard on the Home Defense ARs and shotguns for the Nav role.
 
I just bought a WML yesterday for my HD pistol. Learned a couple things. First, in ambient light dark enough to require a WML, you definitely do NOT need to flag anyone. Point it at the floor or ceiling and the entire room lights up. Second, 300 lumens is all you need in any indoor environment (except a gymnasium). 1000 lumens will cause you light-blindness when flashed against an interior white wall, floor or ceiling. You worried about flagging? Don't. Point at floor or ceiling and EVERYTHING in a pitch-black room is illuminated...

Now, for my EDC? Never...

And as an aside, my HD pistol is only present to give me access to my SP5 a few steps away. as well as an ak47...but I digress.
 
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