Opinion
There’s a bizarre hill some individuals select to die on—and it’s this: arguing that placing a lightweight in your carry gun is one way or the other “overrated.”
Look, we’re not dwelling in 1975. Flashlights aren’t 30-lumen toys anymore. At present’s compact weapon lights (WMLs) put out 1,000+ lumens and excessive candela that may actually flip a darkish alley right into a surgical room.
And no, this isn’t nearly being a “cool man.” That is about optimistic risk ID and stacking the percentages in your favor when the world goes darkish.
So let’s lower by the old-school dogma and break down the professionals, the cons, and the nonsense in between in relation to carrying a pistol with a weapon gentle hooked up.
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TL;DR
A weapon gentle helps you ID threats quicker.
Use it sensible—don’t scan together with your muzzle.
Prepare such as you carry.
If you happen to can carry it comfortably and conceal it reliably, there’s no cause to not run one.
Why It Truly Makes Sense
The concept that solely cops or troopers “want” lights on their pistols is outdated. The reality? If you happen to carry a firearm to guard your self and others, then having the ability to see what you’re probably going to shoot isn’t simply sensible—it’s accountable.
Most violent encounters occur in low gentle.
A weapon gentle helps you to affirm whether or not that silhouette is a risk—or your drunk neighbor on the lookout for his canine.
You possibly can disorient a risk utilizing sheer lumens alone. Suppose: retina destroyer mode.
As Colion Noir put it, “Why would I not put the solar on the top of my gun?” It’s a legitimate query.
However What About Flagging Individuals?
Sure, utilizing your weapon gentle to look an space is a nasty thought—as a result of it means you’re probably muzzling non-threats. That’s an actual concern, and critics like Ken Hackathorn are proper to convey it up.
However right here’s the factor: That’s not a weapon gentle downside. That’s a coaching downside.
Use a handheld gentle to look. Use your gentle solely when your gun is already on a confirmed risk. Easy as that.
And for many who say they’ve “by no means wanted it” in a self-defense encounter? You would say the identical factor a few hearth extinguisher… proper up till your kitchen goes up in flames.
Concealment & Carry Practicality
Sure, including a lightweight to your carry gun impacts your concealment setup.
You’ll want a holster that accommodates your particular pistol-light combo.
It provides bulk—particularly on the muzzle.
Your draw stroke might have retraining.
However guess what? So does switching from a G19 to a G43X.
If you happen to’re severe about EDC, you’ve already accepted that you simply’ll regulate your setup over time. Including a weapon gentle is simply one other step in constructing a system that works in low gentle.
Coaching Is What Separates the Ready
A lightweight in your gun doesn’t provide you with superpowers. It provides you choices.
However with out reps? It’s simply an costly toy.
Prepare to activate the sunshine throughout your draw.
Apply transitioning between handheld and weapon gentle.
Run low-light drills to make choices below stress.
In case your weapon gentle is simply there for the cool man look, you’re doing it incorrect. But when it’s there that will help you make higher shoot/no-shoot choices, you’re forward of the curve.
Closing Phrase: Cease Overthinking It
Weapon lights for hid carry aren’t about being tactical. They’re about being accountable.
They don’t make you a “cool man.” They make you somebody who can see what the hell is occurring when issues get ugly. And no, you don’t have to make use of your pistol as a flashlight to vary a tire—that’s what your handheld is for.
We reside in a world the place 1,000-lumen lights are smaller than a tube of lip balm. If you happen to’re nonetheless arguing towards carrying one, perhaps you’re the one caught up to now.
Weapon Lights for SHTF Survival Rifle Setups
Streamlight TLR-7A FLEX Tactical Pistol Mild Assessment
About Scott Witner
Scott Witner is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/eighth Marines. He accomplished coaching in desert warfare on the Marine Air Floor Fight Heart, Mountain Warfare and survival on the Mountain Warfare Coaching Heart, the South Korean Mountain Warfare Faculty in Pohang, and the Jungle Warfare college within the jungles of Okinawa, Japan. He now enjoys leisure capturing, path working, climbing, purposeful health, and dealing on his truck. Scott resides in Northeastern Ohio.
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