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Well, in my house it's pretty simple: there's me, and there's my wife. If my wife is behind me, there's nothing in the house that the gun can't get pointed at.

Good point, and everyone's situation is different.

I guess some of us are just of the frame of mind that we don't want to point a gun at "something" (for the purpose of investigation only) until we have made up our mind that it seems certain it will be necessary to fire. Not meaning to be doctrinaire about this subject just to be annoying, but this is where the modern equipment and technique clash with conventional wisdom.

Have you ever tested that rig to see how many rounds you can fire before it flies off the gun? Just curious. Some mounting systems look at lot more robust than others.

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Oh, and have fun in court when the plantiff's attorney holds up our "deathblaster" for the jury to see

Thanks for the legal advice, khclark . . . don't know how I ever got along without you.

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Some mounting systems look at lot more robust than others.

Definitely a good point.

A good shoot is just that and if a dirtbag prostitutor is motivated to make an example of you, even an everready flashlight and a RG10 22lr is going to be considered a "Death Blaster" I think.

As for carrying the flashlight separately, I do have a surefire on the nightstand too, but the idea of the light being connected to the weapon makes sense in that one will never be without a light if one has that gun and vice-versa.

My wife grabs my surefire light and uses it for general flashlight use sometimes...she forgets to put it back where she found it on occasion. Even if she forgets, my M5 is still with the gun.

As for going to court over shooting a predator in my home, job one is to survive the encounter. I really think the night sights and flasdhlight on the gun aid that effort.

I will say this, I do not intend a constant-on approach with my light. I will mometarily flash the suspected target to ID, and then engage it with the night sights. The targets basic outline is clearly visible in my home due to ambient light entering from streetlights outside. Searching a house with a light turned on constantly seems like a bad idea. I will stay put until a target presents itself, flash to id and shoot or not as required...at least that's the plan until the bad guy changes it for me LOL!

The light on my G34 coincides with point of aim. In addition to identifying who's there, and maybe blinding them, it also makes for quick point shooting.

BTW, it's still two handed. My off hand is working the momentary switch, until it's time for full on.

Buck

I recently went to a NRA school that addressed this issue.

The NRA instructor (retired from a large LE State agency) showed us to keep you muzzle depressed and the power of the light will still illuminate the area which you are searching.

if the decision is made to fire, they did a study and no real time is lost from bringing your muzzle up and firing as opposed to making the decision to fire with your muzzle already on target.

I know there are many pros and cons on this issue, however a two handed grip offers more accuracy. I really like the concept of a depressed muzzle plus it opens up your field of view.

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Originally posted by Erich:
Thanks for the legal advice, khclark . . . don't know how I ever got along without you.

Oh, your welcome. Just let me know if I can be of further service.

Now let's start a thread about laser sights or point-shooting...

Right after I clear up whether I should carry a 9mm or a .45 . . . or maybe a .357!

Ha! You're alright, man!

Back atcha!

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Frankly, if that justification works for you, then good on you. But I can "what if" you to death with many hypothetical and some real scenarios in which pointing a gun-mounted flashlight around is, um, shall we say undesirable. Oh, and have fun in court when the plantiff's attorney holds up your "deathblaster" for the jury to see

This is an interesting concept to explore. If I interpret this correctly, you see the utility of a weapon light on a long gun, but not on a handgun?

Personally, I think that 90% of "court concerns" are overblown, even as 50% of statistics are made up.. but if the worry is an attorney, wouldn't the inconsistency factor in as well?

IE-"Sir, you don't trust a light on your pistol, but the Wilson combat scattergun you actually used has a huge light attached to it...Which is it?" I'm not sure a light in any configuration is going to be a deal breaker court-wise.

I think proper gun handling techniques apply no matter which type is used. Finger outside of the trigger until ready to shoot with a pistol, shotgun, or rifle. Even if the light isn't mounted on the weapon, and carried in the weak hand, it's human nature to follow one after the other.

If you were clearing a building and heard an unwanted visitor moving around, would you actually shine your hand mounted light at the noise while continuing to point your handgun in the opposite direction? If not, then I don't see the difference.

I guess to sum up this long post, it seems strange that someone would support the use of a weaponlight on a shotgun/rifle, while disapprove of a handgun mounted light.

Well, the court quip was an apparently poor attempt at humor and not realy high on my list of concerns either.

About the light on a long-gun and no light on a handgun: it is strange (I did use the work "ironic"). I yield. May I go now, please?

Oh, I just wondered if you had any other thoughts or techniques in mind. I suppose irony is a strange thing...

Several posts have brought up the good point that if one has a weapon mounted light, there are going to be circumstances where illumination is needed but pointing the pistol in that direction is not desired. This is the reason our department mandates that we carry a separate flashlight in addition to our weaponlights.

I will say this, if a choice must be made between a hand-held or a weapon-mounted light, I would unequivically choose and recommend the hand-held.

Thankfully I am not, nor are most people, relegated to one choice. We can mount a light on our pistol and also have a hand-held. There is no requirement to activate the weaponlight, and by offering two choices we increase our tactical options and have a "backup" plan to identify our target and gain sufficient visual information regarding our surroundings, the situation, etc.

There are real reasons not to want a light mounted on one's pistol, including inability to sufficiently train with the system, inability to fit holsters, cost (if it's between light or practice/ammo, buy a cheap hand-held and practice), and inability to mount a light to one's chosen pistol.

Everything else (legal aspects, the concept of light as target, pointing the weapon at non-threatening things, etc.) can be dealt with by sufficient and proper training, tactics, and legal knowledge.

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Originally posted by Erich: ...Thanks for the legal advice, khclark . . . don't know how I ever got along without you.

Erich; I think I'm going to find out. How to get along without him.

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Originally posted by SW CQB 45:
I recently went to a NRA school that addressed this issue.

The NRA instructor (retired from a large LE State agency) showed us to keep you muzzle depressed and the power of the light will still illuminate the area which you are searching.

Amen! BTW, use the thumb of the support hand to operate the mounted light. By actual timed trials, 'tis faster than using the trigger finger and the shot grouping was better.

Use the TLR-1 myself, took me almost exactly 2 years to burn out the original batteries.