What to put on the R8 Rails?

[oink]

I've done plenty of dark building searches, many alone. I'd consider a weapon light an asset. I ran one for a short time when I was using my 1911 that had a rail on the dust cover. Quite a few officers were running weapon lights at the time. Yeah, I've been through the various fads of police training and the different theories on flash lights and how to use them during searches, off to the side, crossed wrists, whatever. Having a free hand is pretty valuable. I don't know if they even teach the light held out to the side in the academy anymore. I'd rather be able to see my sights or have a light that itself provides a pretty good aiming point, and a free hand.

I don't have a recommendation for a light. I'm sure the technology has improved a lot since the one I used on my 1911. I Mine is an Insite brand and I don't even know if they're still around. Currently in my house we have a 9mm pistol that's more a PCC, with a laser and light and a bull pup 12G with a light.

 

[Octagun]

The Surefire XC1-(B/C) seems to fit well on a TRR8. However I could not find a holster company willing to build one for this combo.

(Not my pic but one I found in the internet.)

 

[murphydog]

I see no problem with having a light on the bottom rail, it just gives you an option and you don't have to use it.

One aspect no one mentioned is with a rail-equipped semi-auto pistol you can control the light with your dominant hand because the switch is close to the trigger guard, but (I think) an R8 light would take your other hand to turn it on and off. It will take practice to use it if so.

 

[chief38]

I don't like anything on my SD guns at all. No light, no laser, nada. IMHO they are just additional things to malfunction when you need it the most. Once your mind gets used to relying on them, it will watch, wait or look for them during a stressful time because it has been trained to do so - if it malfunctions, your response could be delayed. Lasers can and do move, go out of alignment, buttons fail, etc. If you feel the need for a light source then have a small and light weight flashlight near your SD gun that you can hold or set up not next to your body. Remember, if aiming a pistol, the light or laser is usually right between your eyes!

The other detriment could be:

If you are an armed bad guy and the house is dark, then the homeowner has a pistol or revolver with a light, laser etc, where do you aim? AT THE SOURCE of the light of course - making yourself a great target & no longer "hidden".

Last but not least let's remember what times we now live in......

You shoot or kill a bad guy - next thing is you wind up being arrested and in court. How do you think the prosecuting attorney (DA)is going to use the laser or light attached? He's gonna make it sound like you are a crazed killer and out to have all available advantages to kill someone. I see these items as a detriment on SD guns, but that's just me. Nope - I don't care for them.

My personal practice is to have very dim night lights placed in strategic areas of your home. I have 4 of them and at night we can navigate very well and since it's our home and we are familiar with it, we have no issues seeing with the very dim light. Someone not familiar with your home will not have the same advantage as you. IMHO much better than attachments!

Last but not least, if your EDC is the same as your HD gun, you need special holsters for a gun that has appendages. More weight, more bulk, more things to catch and go wrong. My feeling is to keep things simple, straight forward and just train to make them work for you. YMMV.

 

[FloridaGun]

Appreciate all of the feedback, didn't realize I was opening pandora's box with the weaponlight question! I wonder why SW included a bottom rail if it is so universal that weapon lights on this type of gun are not warranted. My thought had been that if something wakes me up in the middle of the night, I'd rather have a weaponlight on my gun and not use it. The way I see it, I would prefer that the intruder know I am there and run, rather than sneak up on them and shoot them. If I turn on my light and an intruder opens fire, then I don't know if it matters if it is my flashlight or my weaponlight, stuff is about to get real. I'm not trying to win a navy seal gun battle, I'm just trying to protect myself and family.

 

[bigwheelzip]

I wonder why SW included a bottom rail if it is so universal that weapon lights on this type of gun are not warranted.

The railed revolver was specifically designed for the lead person of a police entry team, the person holding the bullet proof shield, so they could brace the firearm against the shield edge and shoot. That technique may interrupt the action of a semiautomatic slide.




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[ISCS Yoda]

Last but not least let's remember what times we now live in......

You shoot or kill a bad guy - next thing is you wind up being arrested and in court. How do you think the prosecuting attorney (DA)is going to use the laser or light attached? He's gonna make it sound like you are a crazed killer and out to have all available advantages to kill someone. I see these items as a detriment on SD guns, but that's just me. Nope - I don't care for them.

An urban legend. If a bad guy breaks into your home it doesn't matter what weapon you use to take him out. Knife. Revolver. Rifle. Brick. If you are justified nobody is going to arrest you or prosecute you or sue you. Justification is required. If the doper is sleeping on your sofa you cannot shoot him, bludgeon him, stab him, or even punch him out. But if he is threatening you or your family then putting the perp's lights out is justified and will not be prosecuted - and I think that includes LA, NYC, Chi-town, Seattle, Portland, or similar venues. These types of events go on everywhere, daily, actually, and the law enforcers understand the concept of self defense, especially in stand your ground jurisdictions.

----------------

I wouldn't put any light or red dot type sight on my home defense handgun. Not ever.

 

[stu1ritter]

Flash lights on handguns, Dick Tracy spelled it out in the 1950's in his Crime Stoppers Notebook saying you never wanted to hold the flashlight in front of your body as you give the bad guy a center mass light to shoot at. Olde Dick Tracy said to hold the flashlight as far away from your body as you can.

Stu

 

[StrawHat]

Flash lights on handguns, Dick Tracy spelled it out in the 1950's in his Crime Stoppers Notebook saying you never wanted to hold the flashlight in front of your body as you give the bad guy a center mass light to shoot at. Olde Dick Tracy said to hold the flashlight as far away from your body as you can.

Stu

Preferably in someone else's hand!!

Kevin

 

[StrawHat]

…Appreciate all of the feedback, didn't realize I was opening pandora's box with the weaponlight question!…

Your welcome! It is always nice to partake in a spirited discussion,

…I wonder why SW included a bottom rail if it is so universal that weapon lights on this type of gun…

Easy! To transfer the money in your pocket into their bank, plain and simple.

…The way I see it, I would prefer that the intruder know I am there and run, rather than sneak up on them and shoot them…

He already knows you are there. They are not stupid.

…If I turn on my light and an intruder opens fire, then I don't know if it matters if it is my flashlight or my weaponlight, stuff is about to get real…

Sorry, if he is firing, it has already gotten real and now you are trying to catch up. It is your house. Put night lights in other rooms to make it easy for you to see intruders. They do not have to be bright, just enough to allow you to know where he/they are. Take advantage of ambient light to give you the advantage.

…I'm just trying to protect myself and family...

If you mean this, put aside any ideas of fighting fair. If you want a fair fight, take up boxing. If you want to retire or see the kids get married and have grandkids, prepare to make sure you are the one standing at the end of the fight.

Yes, it sucks to have to think that way but they came to you and asked for this.

Kevin

 

[CH4]

The railed revolver was specifically designed for the lead person of a police entry team, the person holding the bullet proof shield, so they could brace the firearm against the shield edge and shoot. That technique may interrupt the action of a semiautomatic slide.




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I am curious to know what cop/dept is using an R8, or any revolver, when making high risk entries. Not saying they don't, just wondering.

 

[S&WIowegan]

Does anyone know if the Raptor mounts are still in business? I have one on my 617-6, and it is very similar to the Allchin, but just a little lower and streamlined. Both great mounts.

The Raptor operation was involved in one of the many California fires. He says they didn't lose the house but they are not back in business, He suggests they may not ever be back,

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Flash lights on handguns, Dick Tracy spelled it out in the 1950's in his Crime Stoppers Notebook saying you never wanted to hold the flashlight in front of your body as you give the bad guy a center mass light to shoot at. Olde Dick Tracy said to hold the flashlight as far away from your body as you can.

Stu

I was literally trained to hold a flashlight in my offhand up and away and as far from my body as possible. If I elect to use a flashlight that's the way I'd do it.

However, please realize that I have no reason to clear a house or other building and in my house the only authorized person is me, except on the rare occasion that I have company and even then my bedroom doors are always locked so getting to me requires making sounds and getting past a sweet but annoying dog.

At that point my 3" M686 is pointed directly at the entryway to my room, unless I have had time to retrieve a shotgun.

Look up what I said earlier about justifiable..................

 

[WR Moore]

I see a lot of male bovine excrement being tossed around about firearm mounted lights. Rather than expend band width, I'll mention it's your home, turn the cotton picking lights ON if you're looking for possible intruders. Or, pick a good spot and wait for any intruders to approach you.

BTW, some of the handgun lights have provisions for a separate switch assembly that replaces the tail cap. This would let you have the on/off switch located near the trigger. Not sure what the life expectancy of the wire might be though given the gas discharge from the B/C gap..

 

[armorer951]

Another thing to consider......

I'm pretty sure your off hand....the one you activate the light with that is attached to your revolver....has the potential to be cut to shreds by super-heated gasses and particulates should you find it necessary to fire your revolver while your hand is out there, forward of the cylinder, in harms way.

If you do survive the encounter, the attached weapon light would be invaluable to check the extent of your injuries after the fact.

The attached red or green dot could be a good idea IF you are willing to take the time to train with it. An available, dependable and powerful flashlight is a good idea for home defense, but not attached to your revolver IMO.

 

[CH4]

This is a "house gun" so I am guessing it is in your house (read that as the OP or whoever is asking this question). I would not put anything on the rail. It is my house! I should know every inch of it intimately. Last year my wife and I moved to a very rural community. The "town" consists of one church, one bar, a filling station, and a quilt shop, all on the circle at the intersection of two roads. Minnie Pearl once quipped "…we put up a new sign in town. It says WELCOME TO HARTSGROVE and GOODBYE…". There isn't enough room for two signs. That describes our town. No street lights, no traffic lights. There is a light on one of my outbuildings. It provides enough illumination that I can see whatever I need to see in the main portion of the house. I know how many steps it takes me to reach the door to our bedroom from the bed, how many steps to the dining room, the living room, the laundry room, the family room, the office, etc. We have only lived there a year. I also know when the is cover and concealment. Where the light switches are. We also have a plan, what each of us will do and where we will be. If someone comes into our home, they will not be familiar with the layout, they will be the ones illuminating themselves and drawing the aim of at least two trained shooters.

As mentioned, having something hanging off the end of your handgun disturbs the balance. If you cannot accurately aim your handgun in semidarkness and hit the trading target, you don't need more gimmicks, you need more training and practice.

Kevin

That's not a town, that's an intersection.

 

[StrawHat]

That's not a town, that's an intersection.

Indeed it is! US 6 and Ohio 534 to be exact. Ernie Fords song Hicktown fairly well sums it up.

We love it.

Kevin