Just looking for opinions, I’m really considering this after reading that something like 70% of violent encounters happen at night. Is it much more uncomfortable than a pistol without a light? Any tips, opinions, etc?
Jay
When my clothes allow to carry OWB, I carry my Glock 19 with Surefire 300. Since it is OWB, there aren’t any comfort issues. It isn’t a dedicated decision to carry with weapon light; it is my only OWB holster so if I wear it, the Surefire must be attached. Regardless whether I carry with light attached or not, I always carry a handheld light.
Convertible IWB or OWB concealment systems:
I purchased a Raven phantom holster to carry my G19 w/ X200B attached, my rational was parallel to yours. But as much as I played with it I couldn’t get it to sit comfortably. It was just a little too think and big for me to IWB. Perhaps its because I’m spoiled and usually carry w/ a milt sparks VMII IWB oh well…OWB was completely fine, and the raven holster worked terrific for that. But thats just me, I’m sure some others on this board have different opinions.
GU
I carry a 1911 without a rail, so for me a light isn’t an option. However, concealed is the only option in my state, which for me means IWB. I doubt a light would work well with IWB carry.
-B
I ordered a Phantom already, and I’m considering getting a Phantom LC along with a X300 or Insight Procyon. I just found a thread from a year ago or so that I read through. Some good info. I was more curious as to people’s comfort level carrying this way.
Jay
i could be wrong,
but i thought it was a bad idea (possible illegal) to carry a weapon mounted light on a CC pistol.
reason being 99% of the time u need to identify a possible threat before you point your weapon at it.
and that carries over to—
if you point your (you as a civilian) weapon at someone it better be to shoot them because your life is in danger.
if your worried about shooting at night then crimson trace laser grips work great, and there 100% legal.
[QUOTE=Vash1023;428284]i could be wrong,
but i thought it was a bad idea (possible illegal) to carry a weapon mounted light on a CC pistol.QUOTE]
I don’t think mounted weaponlights on CCW pistols is necessarily “illegal”, but it could be, so I’d recommend checking local laws or contacting your issuing deptartment for clarification. Here in NC, it’s perfectly legal.
Two thoughts on the mounted weaponlight for CCW, one for each side of the coin when faced with a trial situation:
Pro: If the weapon should be utilized at night or in low-light conditions, one (YOU) may stand a better chance in court if you used the light to identify the target before firing a shot. “Yes, your Honor, I illuminated the attacker and could clearly see the knife he was holding as he came running towards me and my family.”
Con: Juries are made up of “sheeple”. A jury that is on the fence may see your CCW gun with its attached light as too “tactical” and thus, not intended for use in personal defense. "Mr. X (YOU), I see your pistol has a light attached. What exactly is that for? Why did you buy it? Ahh…I see, so you could see your targets at night. So I assume that you bought this gun with the intent of killing other people at night as well as during the day?
Obviously the “pro” remark could be used to counter the “con” line of questioning, however a jury sees and hears what it wants, and if they see a pistol with a “tactical light” on it, that may bring to mind visions of its intended use being offense rather than defense.
The same could be said for pistols with the word “Tactical” or “Operator” on them. A good (albeit wrong) lawyer could construct a line of questioning to point out to any jury that the pistol itself may or may not be meant for offensive instead of defensive use. For this reason my CCW pistols (G19 and S&W .357 revolver) do not have any markings on them other than factory markings, and I will not carry any pistol with such markings on it. For illumination purposes, I always have a Surefire clipped to my pocket.
Definitely planning on getting a hand-held as well, just wondering about the applicability of a rail-mounted light for CCW.
Jay
i carry an MC operator and a night ops gladius.
No but often I’ll drop a M3 in my pocket. My CCW has night sights and if given the opportunity because things look ‘questionable’ I can snap on a M3 pretty quick. Or if needed I can hold it in my non shooting hand.
Honestly these are my least important considerations if I am trying to stay alive. A weapon light actually goes a long way to positively identifying an threat from a potential threat (both cases you might draw and point a weapon) and can sometimes neutralize an attack.
Give me a brightly illuminated and partially blinded target over a laser dot any day.
G19 w/ X300 in a RCS Phantom, and also E1B or Fenix in pocket.
The above is practical, and comfortable.
G19 or 17 w/ a SF 300 in a BladeTech IWB.
SF E1B for a backup light & 442 for a BUG.
Carry most every moment out of the house but never with a weapons light; don’t care fore the concept.
but my point is you cant (legally) point a firearm at a person unless there threatening your life.
im pretty sure you will lose your CCW if u do that.
thats why lots of LEO’s have flashlights and weapon mounted lights.
I carry a Glock 19 wX300 IWB. It carries well but I do have to wear t-shirts that are more loose fitting than I normally wear.
Lights like the x300 that have the side-by-side batteries are a throw back to when you needed two batteries to get enough lihgt out of a incan/xenon bulb while LEDs allow a 1x123 light to put out 80-120 lumens, correct? I’d like to see Surefire comeout with a narrower 1x123 light that fits the narrow Dawson rail. Now that would be a nice carry light platform.
I keep a lighted pistol by the bed, but my carry does not go with a light. Even if you train and become extremely proficient, a slick pistol is always going to be faster and less prone to snagging and printing.
On duty I carry a Glock 22 with Surefire X300 in a Raven Concealment Phantom. I love it and never in a million years would have thought that setup would conceal so well. I don’t have the IWB clips/loops for it, but on my pants that are large enough for IWB carry, the entire setup slips inside easily and comfortably.
Off duty I typically carry my Para P-14 and it doesn’t have a rail. If it had a rail, I’d get another RC Phantom and carry it with an X300.
As a side note, I have carried a Surefire 6Z on my belt since the mid 90’s and still do today. It’s there in a Rosen SOS whether my sidearm has a light on it or not.
Legally, there are no issues with having a light mounted to your sidearm. Obviously using that light the way you would for “regular” flashlight tasks is a terrible idea (whether legal or not).