The 4 ways to hold a flashlight with handgun

[Elk34]

1
2

3

4

 

[kptaylor]

Interesting. Outside #1, inside #3 or #4.

 

[xerts1191]

#3

 

[Noshoot]

There is a variation of #4 (indoors), that you point the flashlight downward toward the floor, or upwards toward the ceiling. It gives you the ability to reflect light off of the surfaces and illuminate a room/space vs just what is directly in front of you. I have one of the original 6Z's (purchased around 1997 IIRC) that I use in this manner.

 

[admin]

I've always used #3. I believe it's called the "Harries" method?

 

[Seif]

I do #3, #4 looks like it would be very awkward for me.

 

[Elk34]

I did all of them at one time or the other. The way I was taught was to use the momentary switch to turn off and on as I move so the bad guy doesn't see me move around corners very easy. Sometimes I use the strobe technique

 

[mtuck]

I tend to go with #3. I might play around with #4 though. I'll have to see how it feels and functions.

 

[superdrag67]

I joined the 21st century and just keep the light attached to the gun. I can keep actually keep both hands on the gun and still activate the light when needed. :?

 

[Flash]

I joined the 21st century and just keep the light attached to the gun. I can keep actually keep both hands on the gun and still activate the light when needed. :?

So when you want to walk through a pitch black parking lot in the evening and there are a bunch of other people in the lot also, you just pull out the gun and activate the light and go on your way?

 

[superdrag67]

Does having a light on a handgun preclude you from having a separate flashlight on your person?

The title is "4 ways to hold a flashlight with a handgun", not "how to hold a flashlight in every scenario imaginable".

 

[Tim McBride]

I have a light on my gun, and carry a light in my pocket.

I'm reminded of a saying I've heard:
"A flash light is for searching, and sometimes shooting. A Weapon mounted light is for shooting, and sometimes searching."

 

[TacMedic]

I have a light on my gun, and carry a light in my pocket.

I'm reminded of a saying I've heard:
"A flash light is for searching, and sometimes shooting. A Weapon mounted light is for shooting, and sometimes searching."

Bingo

Carry both as EDC, even daytime as I’ve used it as well in dark areas.

 

[baby huey]

If you’re using a light in conjunction with a firearm, it should be attached so you can have a free hand if needed. If you’re using a light only the gun should be holstered. Those techniques pre-date weapon mounted lights. Of course this is my own opinion, ymmv etc, but those older techniques are compromises.

 

[Elk34]

If you are off your property and you are using your gun with light on it for searching, you have unholstered your weapon you will go to jail. If you are using a light in one hand you can draw with your strong side anytime. You stay out of jail.

 

[Elk34]

I'm old. If I hear a crash at night in my home, I'm using the light that's on the gun. And the rare times I do go out at night in the neighborhood to get my mail or walk the dog, I only go in lit areas and not lurk in the shadows. Power goes out, I have a handheld.

The only problem with that logic is, the shadows are your friends. Learn to love them. A surefire flash light with a strobe can blind someone long enough for you to draw a gun if you had one or hit them with a rock.

 

[Tim McBride]

I never found strobe as useful when I worked as a cop. Perhaps it was technique or training, but I just found a solid, high lumen white light that worked(ie good battery life) as the best solution.
I did find that painting a room with brief bits of light on/light off before moving helped, however I really only did that when it came to searching a building for a suspect. And I'm definitely a fan of having both a handheld light and a weapon mounted light for the reasons I've mentioned before.

 

[Tim McBride]

I was told that too much light on even a handheld can be a bad thing by a few cops.

Whats too much light? What was the bad thing?
FWIW, in your house one night turn off all the lights and use your own lights to move around. Look at light bounce, etc. Make up your mind for yourself.

 

[Elk34]

I'm old. If I hear a crash at night in my home, I'm using the light that's on the gun. And the rare times I do go out at night in the neighborhood to get my mail or walk the dog, I only go in lit areas and not lurk in the shadows. Power goes out, I have a handheld.

The only problem with that logic is, the shadows are your friends. Learn to love them. A surefire flash light with a strobe can blind someone long enough for you to draw a gun if you had one or hit them with a rock.

The only problem was the one you made when there wasn't one. And actual problem with your logic, is that real world users that kick in doors arresting dangerous persons for a living have told me face to face that strobe lights are useless fluff that serves no real purpose. I know who I am and what I am not, so I'll listen to the actual professionals rather than someone that was disturbed by my post because it showed dissent to the narrative of the tribe.

We're on the same side, lets not try to eat each other and learn to let things be, cool?

Edit:

Never assume someone has no training
Never assume someone doesn't have enough mags
Never assume someone hasn't shot a gun
Never assume someone has no experience
Never assume someone doesn't have ammo
Never assume someone doesn't have spare parts
Never assume someone knows less than you
Never assume someone never carries
Never assume someone that the guy with one can actually use it
Never assume someone with a collection can't use them
Never assume someone is doing it wrong because it isn't your way
Never assume someone is spending too much money on a part or a gun
Never assume and worry about others, you see where I am going with this?

I'm very cautious when listening to so called professional people. In my past I let so called professional people go in front of me because they thought they were hot sh!t. Next thing that happen hot sh!t got his head blown off. Huh. I was trained with flash lights by different units. They were all tuff sh!ts and liked different techniques regaurdless. When you come around a corner or you are piecing a corner you never leave your light on. Whoever may be waiting can see how close you are getting to coming around that corner. Turning on and off the light as you move keeps them from tracking your every movement. I train SWAT teams on certain things and traveling from state to state they all train differently and believe their way is better. In the end they are all self centered egotistical nerds. They are just as bad as a Navy seal that sees his reflection in a mirrored surface. Premadonas

 

[Elk34]

Nope but when you say, well I listened to people that know more then me and this is the way it is. That sends up red flags on , if someone tells you to jump you will do it.