What is the best way to hold a revolver and a flashlight for defensive purposes?

[coltle6920]

Every time I needed a flashlight the batteries in it were dead.Do they make 200ft extension cords for drop lights?

Yeah,Right! Like nobody else had the same idea but was afraid to say it.

 

[Silvergoose]

I can not agree with the photo showing the right hand(pistol) over lapping the left hand(light). I would suggest putting the light hand on top of the gun grip hand to better control recoil.

Good Luck

 

[walkin' trails]

I can not agree with the photo showing the right hand(pistol) over lapping the left hand(light). I would suggest putting the light hand on top of the gun grip hand to better control recoil.

Good Luck

The Harries sort of utilizes some of the mechanics of the Weaver if applied properly. That's one reason the support hand with light goes under the strong hand. The other is that anything you place above the strong hand when shooting a semi auto is going to get bit. Granted, the question was about a technique with revolvers, but a revolver shooter might have a semi at some point....

 

[Silvergoose]

Walkin' trails, I have used the Harries technique and the reverse technique( my suggestion). I was shown the first technique in one of my defense classes. After watching several people try to control the recoil of their weapon and maintain the light placement. I tried the second technique while shooting a Sig 226 .40 and holding the light, faster target aquestion and the slide did not come close to bitting me.

Just my findings, ymmv.

Good Luck

 

[Rugerista]

I tried the second technique while shooting a Sig 226 .40 and holding the light, faster target aquestion and the slide did not come close to bitting me.
Good Luck

Silvergoose - Do you have a picture of what the technique looks like? Or its name so I can look it up?

 

[redbeard3569]

Miners Helmet for the win

 

[forrestinmathews]

I totally agree. If you could make it come on when you put it on it would work great for IDPA.

 

[Jim1392]

During the time we carried revolvers we were trained to hold the light in our weak hand and away from our body. That way if the bad guy shot at the light it would not be anywhere near our vitals. I don't care for the present use of the light held on the gun itself right in from of our X-Ring.

I was trained the same way and it always seems to make sense to me. I'm guessing we are dating ourselves. After seeing this new way on some of these TV shows I'm not not convinced that the old way isn't better. I would rather have the rounds heading towards my weak hand away from my body then right at me.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

What to do with the flashlight when reloading?

1. Drop it.

2. Keep it in your hand as you reload. (Works with revolvers if you have some coordination.)

3. Hold it in your teeth. (I use this for my SureFire Nitrolon G2.)

Odds are, though, that you won't reload until all the shooting's over.

My only nighttime shoot in the civilian world was in a mall parking lot with plenty of light. I'm considering NVGs to go along with my active hearing protection muffs for nighttime home defense.

ECS

 

[vito]

I'd probably drop the flashlight if I had to reload. As to hearing protection, I assume I will be partially deaf, at least for awhile, if I ever have to fire a gun inside my home. My guess is that it would be all I could do to get my eye glasses on and grab my gun to respond to an intruder event. I doubt that I would even have time or think to put on some hearing protection, which would at best give me protection but reduce my ability to use sound to help locate the intruder in the dark. I'm not sure what a 38+p would sound like in the quiet of my bedroom in the middle of the night, but I'm sure it would be very unpleasant at best.

 

[elm_creek_smith]

Vito, my active hearing protection is a set of electronic muffs that limits sound over 85db and amplify softer sounds. (You can hear people whispering in the next room and hear their footsteps.) In the event of a break-in, my dog will be going nuts and may well be generating more than 85db on her own. The muffs are right on the nightstand with my glasses. (Yeah, I'm blind and deaf, too.) The wife has her muffs hanging on the grip of her revolver, so we can both hear and protect our hearing.

Most of my hearing loss can be chalked up to 20 years on tanks, but there was one occasion when I had to fire a 125 grain JHP .357 Magnum round in a closed hallway. I can tell you that can flat take the wax right out of your ears! (No one was shot in that incident, but someone else soiled himself.)

Depending on the situation, though, I have my Ruger Mini-14 handy with a couple of 30 round magazines of Hornady 55 grain A-Max. (Zombie apocalypse? Food riots?) Firing that at the indoor range draws attention, so the active hearing protection is a must if things go that far.

ECS

 

[vito]

You have specifics on the hearing protection, possibly a link? Thanks.

 

[b_san]

I hold mine like this...

 

[Sy Brule]

I can start you with a technique I was trained with at the the Massachusetts Police Academy in 1974. The theory was to hold the light with your weak hand, my left, as far away from you and a little in front of you to draw any fire away from you. The idea was your assailant would shoot at the light assuming you were behind it. It made a lot of sense back then but I'm sure there are new techniques being taught now.

Good luck with your search.

Sy Brule

 

[vito]

Maybe the best solution is to keep night vision goggles next to your gun, at the ready, rather than using any sort of flashlight.

 

[Horseless Trooper]

I have a lanyard on my light which is wrapped around my weak hand (non-shooting hand for those of you who like to keep up with with new terminology for old stuff to make it sound better). If I have to reload I just let go of the light and it hangs there until I am done. I prefer the Cross-over method most of the time. If I am carrying my 5 cell Maglite I tuck the light in my left armpit to reload or open doors etc.

 

[davidward501]

I am a Viet Nam veteran and was a Military Policeman while I served. I was trained to hold the light as far away from the gun, and my body, as possible. The theory, and it makes sense, is that if the "bad guy" is in there in the dark and you pop up with a light, he's going to aim instinctivly at the light. He may not be able to see you behind the light, but it gives him a good point of reference.