I would like some feedback from those that carry their sidearm with a light attached. Do you see any drawbacks? Do you encounter any issues with this set-up?
I currently do not have a light on my EDC pistol. This has mostly been a decision based on holster limitations and the fact that my pistol would be my third choice if someone broke into my home at night. Now, I am about to order a kydex holster and I am debating on whether to get the option for a light. In my mind it seems like there might be few situations where a light would be needed, but then again the only time I have had a gun pointed at me as a civilian was on a dark street late at night. Maybe I have just answered my own question. :rolleyes:
I would still be interested in hearing if there is any downside to this set-up.
Obvious limitations are concealment and some issues arising from specifics of light-bearing holsters.
With full-sized pistol, you’re pretty much limited to OWB. With compact sized pistols, you can do IWB, but it does require careful clothes selection. I have Raven Concealment light-enabled holsters for 1911 and Glock 19 and have carried both OWB extensively, and Glock 19 with SF X300 - some. I like added capability but no tailored clothing or tight jeans…
I’ve encountered a problem of hitting a proximal phalanx of my middle finger against the edge of trigger guard portion of either of my holsters, since that part is “winged” to allow for light’s passage. I understand that this has been noted on other maker’s holsters. Both holsters went to RCS; the 1911 was fixed, the Glock - not to my liking. I took it down further and ended up screwing it up by taking off too much. I don’t carry Glock 19 right now but if I did, I would need a new light-bearing holsters; just sharing a lesson.
I carry an M&P 9 FS with a TLR-1 every day in a Personal Security Systems holster. I see no downsides with it - the extra weight is negligible, the extra bulk is in the part hidden in my pants (TWSS), and I now know I won’t have to fumble with my other flashlight if I need to use my gun in a low light condition. I don’t see any reason not to do it.
What size dude are you (and DONT take that the wrong way :D) and also what are the summers like up there in Utah? I assume that’s where the majority of your CCW will take place. Here in Mississippi it regularly gets in the mid/high 90s in the summer and when I carry a WML holster I can conceal it quite well with a button up untucked short sleeve shirt. It is carried at about the 2:30 position with a zero cant holster. My only problem with it is that I have what a Major once said to me @ Airborne School, ‘child bearing hips’. I’m not big (6’, 215 lbs) but carrying at that position, with my ‘mama hips’ can be a little discomforting at times. Especially sitting in a cinema but I can access the gun faster (for me at that position) and I like the angle the gun sits at with the zero cant as it pertains to my grip/draw. So its a trade off. I’ll take a little discomfort to have the advantage of a slightly faster draw of a handgun with the ability to illuminate a threat. BTW my carry gun is an M&P9 FS with an X300. Good luck & hope this helps,
I also carry an M&P9 FS. I am 5’10", 175 lb. with a 32" waist. The Summers are much more bearable than Mississippi. We get into the 80s and 90s with very low humidity. I don’t have much problem concealing out here because no one really cares if I am carrying or not so I don’t worry about printing.
Gotcha man. Sounds like it shouldn’t be a problem then. Try it on, throw it up against the wall and see if it sticks! I know the vast majority of my concealed carry is done with the sun on the other side of the planet. It just makes sense to me to have a light on the gun. But not without my E2D in my left pocket.
I carry a G19 pretty much most days of the year. When it gets colder out (as it is now) I transition to the G19+ TLR1 outside the waistband in a RCS holster.
Fits great. Not really that much more bulk relative to the gun without the light OWB. I would probably never carry with the light IWB. If it’s going OWB, though, I see no reason to carry without the light. Just my 2 cents.
I’m 5’9" 178lbs. and wear blue jeans and t-shirt’s to slacks and tucked polo’s daily. At first I was apprehensive about adding x300 on my M&P9fs for IWB edc, however after getting the PSS holster and carrying for 4 months now I cannot tell its on there and no one else has either.
The only downside in my decision coming from a Comp-Tac Leather/kydex holster going to a complete kydex for IWB you may lose a little comfort but that’s fixed by adding mole skin to the backside of the kydex holster.
I bought a kydex holster from bad karma holsters approximately 2.5 months ago to fit my G19 and TLR-1. I’ve been carrying it IWB every day since I bought the holster. This includes 90+ temps with high humidity. I’ve carried concealed for 2 years now, with J frames, small semi autos, and the G19. I honestly can’t see myself going back to just carrying the J frame, as the Glock with the light attached is that comfortable. In my experience, it all has to do with the right holster, and I got lucky in my choice of holsters.
I’m 6’0, 200#, and can conceal the gun IWB with just a t shirt. I can’t wear one of those emo shirts some guys steal from their little sister, but anything looser than that will conceal the gun and light well. If you have a decent holster and a decent belt, you can get away with carrying a light on your gun every day.
I’m 5’8" 175 lbs 32" waist. I have no problem EDCing a G19 + x300 IWB in a Raven Phantom LC with the MD cut. I got the holster for a 17 and while it’s a little tougher for me I will still carry the 17 in this manner as well. I have never had to size pants bigger for a pistol alone but in my experience I had to go up about 1" in the waist line to accommodate pistol, light, and the ability to tuck in warmer layers in the winter and still be comfortable. YMMV but I like doing it.
Does the 19 w/ light fit just fine in that holster? I hadn’t thought about it before… makes sense but would have wondered if the 19 vs. 17 might have changed where the light sits in the holster’s molding slightly.
I’ve never been a Glock guy but finally giving in and deciding between 17 or 19 (w/ SF x300). Would be really nice to have one RCS to fit both. Sounds like that’s the case…?
I’m not a fan of edc a gun+light. Mainly because there are times that I want to use my edc light quite a bit and I’ve thankfully yet had to pull my g23 in self defense. Given that carrying a separate light + gun/light combo is a bit of over kill.
Not really. Two is one and one is none. If one goes down, you’re not left in the dark. Also, there are tasks the hand held light excel at and vice-versa.
I’m currently waiting on my Y-12 TL holster from Tony for the G-19/X300. It’s supposed to be headed to me this week!
