Shied with or without flashlight?

[Jamespt]

Should I get the flashlight on the shield or not for my wife's first gun. We just went to the range and it was her first time. I am trying to put all odds in her favor . I thought the light may help in dark situations .The cost is about $80 more. I am already getting the crimeson green light, but wonder if the flashlight component will be over kill. I have not seen many around that makes me feel that they r not popular.

I really appreciate everyone's input as we r newbies. She is excite and has already said she wants to go back the the range

 

[wnderr]

MHO, stay away from the lights. More cumbersome, not needed, better to learn with basic gun. For self defense, point and shoot are your best tools!

 

[Pisgah]

Based on popular cultural expectations of the day, I say go ahead and add the light. Seems no gun is complete without enough doo-dads added on to make a handgun impossible to holster, and a "light, handy" carbine need wheels.

Remember -- a gun may just work flawlessly for generations -- unless you add enough stuff to it. Sure, it may not work when you need it, but all your buddies will be wowed by the cool factor...

 

[gwpercle]

The more electrical stuff you can attach to a handgun the better it will be when something goes bump in the night... remembering what button controls what , plus the firearms manual of arms while under stress needs to be as complicated as possible , keeping batteries charged up for all these gizmo's is also a plus.
So be sure and attach all you can to it .
Don't forget the red dot sight and silencer .

In case you don't get it ....the above is an example of irony.
The least junk you have on a defensive handgun the better.
My model 58 (avatar) doesn't even have adjustable sights , just a plain revolver with no safety , slide, magazine , laser sight , red dot sight or flashlight. Pick it up - ready to go. Keep it simple .
Gary

 

[Flyingfool]

If there is a flashlight on the gun. Sooner or later you will want a flashlight and the only one available is on your gun. And the. You end up waving a potentially loaded gun aroind as a flashlight.

My wife has a laser on her snubby revolver. I hate it. All you do is end up chasing the dot areoind and not lookimg where you want to aim. It is a distraction and a waste of time money, adds complexity and weight.

Learn how to hold antactical flawhlight properly and carry the light separately. You can even legally carry a flashlight anywhere. Including gun free zones. The flash of light can blind a buy guy long enough to get you out of trouble. And you never have to worry about using hour gun for a flashlight.

One thing to consider. With flashlights. Consider the distance you intend to use it. ll the huge lumens brightness is all the rage. More is NOT always better. I have a streamlight and I think it is too bright. Yes it will no doubt ruin the bad guys night vision. But too bright of flashlight can ALSO ruin your night vision too!!!!

Only buy a light that will go on with just pressure. Not click and not go through a cycle with each click for low//high/strobe. The cycle will totally mess you up and most lights you are reauired to go through the complete cycle just to shut it off. Huge pain and definitely do Not want to be doing all that clicking under stress.

 

[ScaryWoody]

For a self defense gun for a new shooter I would recommend to not add anything. Running a pistol under stress is hard enough. Add fine motor movements like turning the laser or light on could be overwhelming. An intruder in my house in the dark is at a serious disadvantage. I know the place in the dark they do not. Why give up an advantage?

 

[Ransom]

Without. Keep it simple.

 

[Practical]

I think the Green or Red integrated Crimson Trace is a GREAT idea for someone who is not a dedicated handgun person.

If she trains to use the iron sights first then learns to use the laser she will have basic skill and a practical tool.

If lasers were not useful our military and police would not apply them. The issue is training to use a firearm first then to use a tool that does require maintenance (batteries) but does allow for fast target acquisition.

I would add a handheld flashlight to the kit and a bedroom cell phone if this is a bump in the night gun.

If she wants to add a pistol mounted light I would wait until she has fired at least 1500 rounds.

Yes these are tools that require a higher degree of skill and I think the pistol mounted light would not be my first choice on a gun this size.

Unless your wife is tactically trained. The laser however is a plus.

 

[bigwheelzip]

Welcome to the forum.

My first semi-auto had a laser included. I never liked using it.

My husband mounted a weapon light on one of his pistols, then decided against it and traded the gun off and the light. I never liked using the mounted flashlight either.

Keep it simple. Being able to safely react quickly and accurately is a much more difficult skill to master than most new shooters appreciate.


Good luck.

 

[jim46ok]

For me, a right-hander, gun belongs in right hand, light in left... the old...KISS method. (Keep It Simple,
Stupid)

 

[sheepdawg]

Doesn't the flashlight tell the bad guys where you are?

 

[Flyingfool]

^^^

Yes, so does a laser.

A "tap" or very short "blip" of a flashlight can allow you to identify, and also then immediately move to a different location after turning off the light. I suppose you can do this with a gun frame mounted light.

However, you must have sufficient lighting to know for certain the target is indeed a threat and you have be enough light to see your sites. You also ought to know what is behind the target to not be negligent if you miss or the bullet continues through and out of the target.

More than one person has unfortunately and tragically inadvertently shot their own family member and/or loved one because of ineffective target identification.

 

[gwmac]

Don't complicate her life. Teach her "point and shoot" and then sights if you must. Just firing a handgun for the first few 100 times is complication enough.

 

[FloridaS&W]

Identifying an intruder is good, if she's going to train with it, ok; BUT, flashlight mounted to gun without commitment to proper training can be problematic. Last thing you want to have her do is running around the house "searching" with a mounted light, inadvertently muzzle-lighting a family member coming in the house late one night with a loaded gun under stress.

You can just get her a nice little tactical flashlight and that way she can ID the intruder without pointing the gun at them. Massad Ayoob says searches with a mounted light can be dangerous. This is why he recommends using a flashlight to search with gun mounted light as a backup.

 

[NewToGuns17]

I have a TLR-6 on mine. I wanted the light, don't really use the laser. It doesn't add much weight to the gun, at least not in a negative way. I enjoy it, I practice with it. Don't take this personally but your post sounds like you both just got into guns. I would suggest forgoing the accessories for now. Buy a holster you love, carry and go to the range. In short time you'll know what improvements you want.

 

[WR Moore]

1. You MUST identify what you think may be a threat to verify it is, in fact, a threat.

2. Doesn't matter if any flashlight is on the firearm or in a hand for any of the negative stuff to turning on a light. The firearm mounted light is easier to manage than a separate light.

3. Unless the pistol is going to be a carry piece, why handicap someone with a small pistol?

 

[Smoke]

Should I get the flashlight on the shield or not for my wife's first gun. We just went to the range and it was her first time. I am trying to put all odds in her favor . I thought the light may help in dark situations .The cost is about $80 more. I am already getting the crimeson green light, but wonder if the flashlight component will be over kill. I have not seen many around that makes me feel that they r not popular.

I really appreciate everyone's input as we r newbies. She is excite and has already said she wants to go back the the range

Take the money you would spend on a light and put it towards a basic handgun self defense class

 

[Bamabred]

My vote is for without. I have a TLR6 laser/light combo on my Shield, but mostly because it was on sale for super cheap and I like gadgets. I likely will never use it and don't even train for using it.

If this is a carry gun, then she won't need it. If it's a home defense gun, which would be weird, then yeah, get a light. Don't complicate her first gun.

 

[MichiganScott]

My house gun has a TLR-1. It sits in a drawer with an additional flashlight. The flashlight is used for identification and the TLR-1 would be used for illumination.

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
Adding a light or laser to a gun is for "Handgunning 201 , or even 301"
Not for starters.
A light or laser works both ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The only use for a gun mounted light is when your light hand [with a much larger "eyeball melting" light and battery pack] is unable to
light up the area as in holding wife, kid,dog horse door phone etc.
Search with hand light so as not to cover things you like with
the muzzle.
Hold it away from you so as to attract [lights are bullet magnets!!]
bullets away from you.
Better ,install some way to light up your home etc remotely
so bad guy cant hide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!