Not sure if this is the right area or not but I am curious how advantageous is it to have a gun mounted light on a CCW gun in general versus having a hand held light in your support hand?
The reason I ask, is that I am contemplating what my CCW set up will be… I have been an avid 1911 shooter for a while and while I still love the 1911 platform, I am moving away from it because of the cost, both for guns and the cost of .45 ammo…
I have been reading alot about the Glock v M&P debate and I have been thinking about 2 different set ups if I run a gun with a light attached, the first is the Glock 19 with a light like an X300 or TLR1…
The other set up would be the M&P9C with a TLR3… which leads to my original questions about the benefits of running a gun mounted light for CCW…
The third set up would be a Glock 26 without a light attached but I would have my SF E1B on my support side…
I have had exposure to both the Glock 19 and the M&P9C and I like both guns, though I have never shot a Glock 26… Any feedback would be greatly appreciated… Thanks…
Search is your friend. There have been a few threads on this topic.
Nutshell: Pros include easier target and threat identification, consistent grip, faster presentation of gun and light from concealment
Cons include limited holster selection, weight/bulk, and concerns over using the light for anything other than threat identification (possible training issue).
Thanks for the threads, the search function has never worked for me… I type something in the field and click search, when nothing comes up after a while, I hit the back button then I try to search again and I get an error telling me that I can only search again after 200 seconds… Thanks for the input though…
Use Google with m4carbine/ in the field and it will cure your woes…
Go to the range and train with both and I believe that your questions will be answered. Both have pros and cons however for me I don’t mind the extra bulk of an X300 in an Atomic Dog holster.
The biggest negative to a weapon mounted light used by itself is that in order to ID something you end up covering it with a gun. Serious trigger finger discipline and training/practice on using the light without pointing a loaded gun at an unknown that could be a family member is advised.
The positives however outweigh the negatives. The ability to use a standard grip and the ease of deployment make up for the shortcomings. The added weight up front also helps with muzzle rise.
I carry both a handheld and a WML. Nice to have both for when you only need a light.
They are not difficult to conceal. I carry a G21SF and X300 in the TX heat without any issues. Raven Concealment makes a great holster as do a couple of other makers. if you go that route.
Full size G21SF