Are Tactical Lights A Bad Idea?

[Dude]

What do you guys think about tactical lights that are slung under gun barrels?

I think pointing a loaded gun at everything you want to see is a very bad idea. Not everything is that goes bump in the night is a burglar and keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction is a fundamental safety rule.

Tactical Lights: A Firearm Accessory for Home Defense? - Associated Content

[lefty o]

i prefer a handheld light with a momentary switch, like surefire's.

[billy]

since i live alone with no pets to go bump.
if something is in my house .
it shouldnt be there.

but i can see your point also.

[Jersey Jailer]

They're OK as long as you can switch it on an off. You don't want to broadcast your position,making yourself a target. I always taught On-Off-Move. Remember those Tac-Lights are high power and will temporarily blind your subject if you shine it in his eyes. The operative word here is temporarily. We used to teach holding the light in your weak hand and hold it out at arms length. The Feds finally realized that doing that only got you shot with a tired arm. I prefer to hand hold the light in my weak hand rather than bolting it to the gun. Another technique is to toss the light into the room you are entering. There is no definitive way to avoid being seen, just keep yourself concealed until you are sure you are safe.

[nathangdad]

is also a sort of highway back to you and your gun. Some people are geared psychologically to take first advantage of that fact.

[TheWall]

Just flip on the light switch. LOL Unless you're outside of coure. If your eyes are adjusted to the dark and you turn on a light it will screw up your night vision. I know we use to use red lenses in our flashlights when working around aircraft to prevent this. So why not use red lenses in the gun mounted lights.

[HEMI]

Lights are a very usefull tool in some apps, but for the average person probably little use. Think about it you are in your home and there is an intruder, you know the layout,cover, phones, exit points, family members etc... why give up the advantage you can walk around your house in the dark without issue. Take your sd weapon and practice low light shooting and really have the edge. just my .02

[SoDakHunter]

I think for personal protection/home defense, they aren't really needed. And i totally see your point in not pointing a loaded gun everywhere you want to look, they use them in tactical situations because there is a reason that the entry team is using them. If you are going in after someone, you are going to want to point your weapon at them. But i think people just like all the goodies hanging off their guns.

[privateer]

I understand both sides of this issue with kids or friends in the house but look at it this way - If it's a bad guy in your house and you have your gun pointed at the ground or some other safe direction and alert him with your hand held flashlight ?? could be just enough time for him to get the upper hand, however if your weapon is pointed at the threat ?? just keep your finger off the trigger until you want to pull it.
I know how spooky it is to search a dark house and I feel for anybody that has to do it (that kind of work will age a person) you can practice reaction drills in your home with a unloaded gun to help you train for such an event. good luck and god bless.
John

[SwedeSteve]

While I do not currently utilize a light, I do have a light switch right outside my bedroom that turns on all the lights all the way down the stairs , around the corner, and through the hallway downstairs.

[ArkansasHunter]

Speaking from what I learned from my son who is an LEO. The lights he/they use, light up dark places such as house's, Alleys and during a pursuit of a criminal(s).
You figure...A cop needs these lights in there work. Wether the light is mounted on a pistol, Rifle or Shotgun the cops Firearm has the nessasary equipment on ONE device which is his firearm.
So a mounted Light beats holding a Hand held flash light.

Now with that said I've seen a lot of different firearms here rigged with lights and they look cool and I guess they would come in handy if you were in your house looking for someone who broke in.
Other wise there useless as Tits on a Boar Hog IMHO. Yet they do look good mounted on Pistols, AR 15's and Police/Military style Shotguns.

I'd reather have a Lazer...A.H

[Mike Franklin]

Lasers are for pointing not looking. Having a light on your weapon isn't bad but having an extra light for your hand is a good idea too. Especially if there's more than just you living in the home. If it turns out to be say a kid stumbling around in the dark you want that second light so you don't have to point your gun at your kid to see what's going on..

[buckhunter92]

Originally Posted by privateer

I understand both sides of this issue with kids or friends in the house but look at it this way - If it's a bad guy in your house and you have your gun pointed at the ground or some other safe direction and alert him with your hand held flashlight ?? could be just enough time for him to get the upper hand, however if your weapon is pointed at the threat ?? just keep your finger off the trigger until you want to pull it.
I know how spooky it is to search a dark house and I feel for anybody that has to do it (that kind of work will age a person) you can practice reaction drills in your home with a unloaded gun to help you train for such an event. good luck and god bless.
John

I 100% agree with you Privateer. Keep your finger off the trigger until you know for sure who or what it is and you wont have problems like that.

[GlockMeister]

Main thing to remember is if this tactical light is mounted on a/the gun, and if you have family, wife,children, mother,father, whatever, anyone else in the house, where ever you point the light, the barrel is also pointed.

One other thing to consider, you also give a criminal somewhere to aim, usually the light is right where you are, especially if mounted on the gun.

With that said, I have a couple. One gun mounted and one hand held. Just like anything else gun/shooting related, you need/have to practice, practice,practice and practice some more with it.

[Zephri]

Just get some night vision, the criminal won't see you coming, problem solved