Like the title says video on different weapon mounted lights both handgun and rifle
Awesome comparison video of flashlights (WML)
- Thread starter Edwardteach72
- Start date
I am always going to prefer a single CR123 cell light. I want it to be as small and light as possible.
Also I am now dubious as to the durability of Steamlights. The muzzle blast of my braked Galil killed the HLX. And going off personal experience stalking around my admittedly small apartment 300 lumens was plenty enough to see everything in the room and the extra 700 lumens didn't really give me anything extra. Indoors at least.
The two lights I have are a 300 lumen single cr123 cell Elzetta with a flood beam
And a similarly flood beamed Surefire pattern custom light using an Arisaka Arms body and tail cap with a 350 lumen Malkoff Devices head using a single CR123.
Also I am now dubious as to the durability of Steamlights. The muzzle blast of my braked Galil killed the HLX. And going off personal experience stalking around my admittedly small apartment 300 lumens was plenty enough to see everything in the room and the extra 700 lumens didn't really give me anything extra. Indoors at least.
The two lights I have are a 300 lumen single cr123 cell Elzetta with a flood beam
And a similarly flood beamed Surefire pattern custom light using an Arisaka Arms body and tail cap with a 350 lumen Malkoff Devices head using a single CR123.
Myself i'm really digging what OWL brought to the table almost of no where more so for a duty rifle or general purpose rifle. They took longer than they planned but everything I have been reading and seeing from nonshills is they made some amazing WML
As for a handgun I have pretty much settled on an x300u, and was going to go with the new 1,000 lumen model but again from all the reading it sounds like most people are liking the 600 lumen pattern better.
Granted that's going to be some time to save up for the x300u and most likely I'll pick up a Phlster Floodlight holster which works with any gun that has the x300 attached. Which means I am kind of hoping maybe streemlight kicks up their already 800 lumen TLR-1 HL to maybe 1,000 lumen or even closer to 1,200 in the same smaller (than a x300) package, but then again I prefer the actuation methods better on the surefire
Back in the day you had your Maglight in one hand and your service weapon in the other - back to back.
Not saying this is better than a weapon mounted light but the Maglight did and still does have its advantages.
I was once told Rochester PD did a survey to see which houses in the city had been responded to on domestic calls.
Know how they did it? They checked front doors for big circular impressions that read THGILGAM.
A 3 cell Maglight stuck between the passenger seat and the console of my car got me out of a ticket one time. He recognized it and recognized its significance which led to a little conversation which led to "Have a nice day."
All kidding aside, when you have a light mounted on a sidearm you have one weapon, a lethal one. In "the olden days" you had two - one lethal and one non-lethal. More tools in the box.
And, yeah, I do have long guns that have lights on them and they do work for their intended purpose which is night time varmints and such. But in my vehicle? Maglight & sidearm.
But I do like the performance of some of those lights in the video. Too bad they are so damned pricey.
Not saying this is better than a weapon mounted light but the Maglight did and still does have its advantages.
I was once told Rochester PD did a survey to see which houses in the city had been responded to on domestic calls.
Know how they did it? They checked front doors for big circular impressions that read THGILGAM.
A 3 cell Maglight stuck between the passenger seat and the console of my car got me out of a ticket one time. He recognized it and recognized its significance which led to a little conversation which led to "Have a nice day."
All kidding aside, when you have a light mounted on a sidearm you have one weapon, a lethal one. In "the olden days" you had two - one lethal and one non-lethal. More tools in the box.
And, yeah, I do have long guns that have lights on them and they do work for their intended purpose which is night time varmints and such. But in my vehicle? Maglight & sidearm.
But I do like the performance of some of those lights in the video. Too bad they are so damned pricey.
Honestly I just go with a handheld light with a pistol also. It is still a perfectly valid way to do things. With a pistol mounted light you need a separate holster, they are typically more expensive than an equivalent handheld light and you still should be carrying a handheld light anyway since you can't just go pointing a pistol at everything you need to illuminate. But on a long guns a weapon light is advised since you don't have a free hand.
At night I keep a holstered pistol (so I don't ham fist an ND in a startled daze) my cell phone and a flashlight all in a tray on the night stand.
I also leave the kitchen light on which gives just enough illumination to see in my whole apartment, so even without a light I should still be able to see. Also handy for a midnight piss.
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
I have nightlights in the hallway, kitchen, and living room. They are dim but just bright enough to illuminate to the point that you can see what’s what where a weapon light isn’t needed.
Same here.
You do understand a WML does not replace a handheld light right?
And as for @Podmonkey I would 100% rather have the ability to get a proper 2 handed grip for more control over my handgun if it comes to that.
This again is why a WML does not replace a handheld, but if it becomes go time handheld light is getting dropped immediately in favor of a 2 handed grip on my gun.
I'm sure you didn't mean to sound condescending there but it came across that way. And I'm sure you realize there might be one or two folks on this forum that might, just might, have a little more experience than you. Something to think about.
I mean I really dont care if I came off condescending. You're new you will find that out
Funny.
The thing about being condescending is you can pull it off if you're superior attitude is backed up by being right in the topic under discussion. Your level of factual correctness as to my being "new" suggests your factual correctness in other areas is somewhat suspect as well.
And here is the thing you being more concerned about the "tone" in which I presented something seems to show that you are more emotionally invested in the subject vs unbiased facts.
Your argument was if someone has a WML then they only have one tool, a lethal one at that. But then say that having a handheld gives a person 2 options, lethal and non lethal. And then say having more tools is better.
You also mention "back in the day" that you had a handheld in one hand and handgun in the other back to back (Harries method)..
But why are you ignoring the fact that someone can have a handheld light and a WML (oh look more tools in the tool box, someone said something about that being a good thing)
Now back to the Harris method. When shooting what provides a much more stable platform to make accurate shots and faster follow up shots. A proper 2 handed grip or one handed with something in their off hand trying to brace the backs of their hands together?
Now you get grumpy that ask in a "condescending way" if everyone knows they can drop their handheld flashlight. But wait if I drop that one tool, because I have taken in data with that light that tells me it's time draw my firearm and now I am more likely to get a proper 2 handed grip leading to (if needed) more controlled accurate shots, oh but wait again that same firearm also has a light attached to it so I can continue to collect visual data (and even gain compliance with sensory overload) I am more likely to be able to make a decision if lethal force is necessary or not and if it is not I can still with proper lighting techniques not point a gun at anything but a safe direction and still be ready to reengage if necessary or use that existing light to regain control of my original handheld light and reholster my lethal tool while still maintaining the ability to get visual data via light
Marine Cpl
.577 Tyrannosaur.
I personally wouldn’t use a weapon light to illuminate my target before I engage it because it’ll give the attacker a general target to fire at if he’s armed but I will use it after the smoke clears to check the target and scan for any other threats inside the room afterwards.
After that it comes back off. That’s what I was taught.
After that it comes back off. That’s what I was taught.
We have 6 dark-activated LED nightlights in our 850 sq. ft. apartment. Just enough.
I still pee on my pajama bottom string from time to time though...
