I did a quick search nothing really popped up I am hoping you guys can help.
Background: I have never really wanted to spend the money for a light but I am signed up for a carbine course that requires I have a light.
Question 1: Do I get the one piece light that mounts on a rail or get a hand held that can be mounted via a mount (wow i know)?
Thought 1: If I have to get one might as well get a nice one and not a throw away just for the class.
Concern 1: Because I have to get this light I was thinking I get one that I can use on my AR during the class and then throw it on my pistol at home because I don’t really have the chance to shoot in the dark at a local range, but I had read so much back and forth of whether to have a light on your home defense pistol due to muzzling love ones.
Question 2: Is there a light that can do this dual purpose well?
Question 3: Are light better when they have one purpose? One setup for the AR and one for the pistol?
Concern 2: I would rather not buy multiple lights because as I said earlier Flash lights never really had a purpose in my mind bc I dont shoot at night and I have handheld ones for around the house.
Thanks for your help. Does want some opinions before I spend $200+ on something I wasn’t really looking to get.
A Surefire Fury in a VTAC mount should only run about 115-120. If you want something to go on both a rifle and pistol, an X300 or a TLR-1 would work well.
I’m confused by your post. You’re only buying a light for an upcoming class but then you’re gonna remove the light because you see no reason for it and you don’t intend on shooting at night? I hope your class experience changes your thinking regarding weapon lights.
Couple things: 1. I’m sure this class will change my perspective because I never have trained at night 2. My thought is that I would remove it from my AR and put it on my pistol. The main reason for this would be because other then this class or any future classes I don’t have anyway to live fire train at night.
Just me writing that seems like a rail only mounted light may be the best situation.
So then I guess my question is which is a better a pistol mounted light or handheld for home defense because you do not want to use your pistol light to search for loved ones because you would muzzle them. I suppose there are probably plenty of topics out in the web space about that.
My answer is get and try both. My house Glock & AR have mounted X300’s.
I also have a a few G2LEDs. One is mounted to my second AR and one is kept by my bed. I don’t usually carry a light mounted handgun concealed, so I still routinely train with handheld lights.
You don’t need to buy everything all at once. Try different things, especially in classes.
I was more referring to hand guard and barrel config.
If you are running rails and a low pro gas block, or a fixed FSB with a car cut out rail then an X300 at 12:00 is a good solution. If you are running standard hand guards and a fixed FSB there is the mossie tactics mount that allows you to mount an X300 to the FSB at 12:00. If you are running MOE hand guards then Impact Weapons Components has some nice mounts for mounting at 11:00 or 1:00.
IMHO you should consider a light for both your handgun and your rifle, especially if you are using them for HD.
At night especially, I’m an adherent of the ‘Two is One, One is None’ concept, especially with high powered 123A Lithium eating beasts. The handheld light is a great backup, train on using it even if you have a WML to use (obviously focus on using that first).
For the cost of the VTAC light mount and a G2 type SureFire, a WML is pretty accessible (and that mount gives you 11:00 and 1:00 options), and for handheld lights the cute small executive style lights can wind up being a better value if you’re more likely to EDC it.
For WMLs, Surefire has a definite edge - while there are some great streamlight/insight and Inforce lights that fill some niches in the WML side of things, SF always has one of the best products, even if the price seems high when you’re first looking at it.
I was more referring to hand guard and barrel config.
If you are running rails and a low pro gas block, or a fixed FSB with a car cut out rail then an X300 at 12:00 is a good solution. If you are running standard hand guards and a fixed FSB there is the mossie tactics mount that allows you to mount an X300 to the FSB at 12:00. If you are running MOE hand guards then Impact Weapons Components has some nice mounts for mounting at 11:00 or 1:00.
IMHO you should consider a light for both your handgun and your rifle, especially if you are using them for HD.
This will be my setup for my class. 10.5" barrel switchblock long rail and suppressor. If the pic works.
I am starting to think at first start with a SF x300 ultra and mount with thorntail 45deg rail piece so I can get it t the 11 or 1 position like the guy above me recommended.
You can get economic and rugged hand held SOLARFORCE LED lights from SBflashlights.com.
Unless you’re hung up on buying American ONLY and/or insist on fattening SureFire’s bottom line, they’re a great value.
I run them on all of my guns. The Vtac mount will work with them, but I use GearSector and Vltor mounts since I dedicate the light to the weapon… and prefer a strong, metal mount.
Do you already have a quality handheld light? If not, I’d at least pick up a Surefire G2 or something along those lines as well. Two is one and one is none, particularly with lights. The X300 is an excellent choice BTW.
Crackpantspaintr.
You have a lot of interesting advise posted here, along with peoples ideas…
Hopefully during the upcoming class you may find what you are looking for… Will they challenge you to use a light to find out the advantages of different methods…
A light mounted at 12o’clock will have some distinct advantages… when transitioning… can be manipulated with either hand, will be out and away from a wall, to help reduce splash-back, and if you use an x300 no need for additional mounts, pressure switch’s, or added length. A light can be very helpful, yet if not properly trained, a light can become a bullet magnet…
Whatever the training, check to see if your instructor’s can validate the training from the opposite perspective… either with video, or force on force with airsoft or Simmunition…
I’am sorry but I myself think that behind every light is a dead man . if a light is mounted on a gun and you are aiming it you are in the line of fire. first thing I would do is take out the light. I keep my light in hand away from my body and in the eyes of my target. no lights on my guns
