Are Gun Lights Useful for Every Day Carry?

This week we take a look at gun lights. Are they useful for everyday carry? Or is their usefulness in a more niche position?
Please note, in the shooting section of this video, Rodney accidentally forgot to wear his eye protection. This should be avoided. Apologies for the mistake.
Apologies for the audio on this video. Our lav mic failed on this one, and we were forced to use audio from the camera.
Thanks for watching. New videos post every Thursday!
FIREARMS SHOWN
9mm Luger Canik SFx Rival
GUN LIGHTS SHOWN
Streamlight TLR-1 HL Gun Light (www.streamlight.com/en/produc...)
HOLSTERS SHOWN
Rounded Holsters by Concealment Express IWB TLR-1 Holster(www.roundedgear.com/products/...)

[@jackmarks2176]

Many years as a police officer and never found it so dark I couldn't see the bad guy. As for optics, practice drawing, pointing and shooting from 6 inches to 20 feet in the rain at night. preferably on a moving target, the bad man isn't going to stand still while you find the dot on your optic.

[@AmmoMart]

Thanks for your service as an officer. That was the point I was making about dimly lit versus dark. Huge difference. Thanks for the view and the comments.

[@nunyabusiness1755]

Optics help with faster target acquisition. A WML is very useful. Technology changes, as do tactics

[@navchaps3449]

Balanced discussion of the topic. Well done.

[@marciocumpiancumpian2075]

Good afternoon here in Brazil, considering that most clashes between citizens and lawbreakers are practically based on the rule of three, three meters, three shots, three seconds, I see no reason to use a flashlight on the weapon, unlike a police officer, for example, who works as a team, most of the time. The selling point is that you will never forget your flashlight at home. Thanks for share your experience. God bless the Americas 🇧🇷🤝🇺🇲🙏

[@MoonInPisces1962]

No rail lights or red dots on carry guns. The less stuff on your carry gun the better.

[@weaponeer8582]

This is of course, not true. You add accessories to give you a better advantage in a fight. Red dots and lights are tools to help increase your advantage.

[@JROCK100ification]

carry a flash light A hand gun is used with one hand in mind Flash light revolver Or flash light with a semi auto You don't need a light on your weapon but on your person

[@weaponeer8582]

There are times that you do actually need a light mounted on your handgun. That being said, you should have both.

[@OnTheRiver66]

Very well thought out. I should help many make a decision. You covered things I never thought about.

[@weaponeer8582]

This video is terrible and wasn’t well thought out. One before you listen to this guy, you should take some low light courses. If not that, look at some videos on the rope by Sage Dynamics. WML have some benefits aren’t mentioned here. One example is the Trayvon Martin/Zimmerman shooting. Zimmerman fired during the attack and if Trayvon wasn’t mortally wounded with the initial shot and was able to stay in the fight because his gun was knocked out of battery. An X-300 would likely have prevented that.

[@markbarringer1462]

No lights on my carry firearms, just my home defence firearms.

[@roberth7580]

Good points, thank you. In time, I managed to reach some of the same conclusions on my own, and I have an unused light-bearing IWB holster to prove it. Doh!

[@weaponeer8582]

His conclusions are bad.

[@watchyoutube9553]

Get the right holster it doesn’t matter I put light on all my guns it’s not day 24/7 and I don’t always go to the safe to switch guns which wouldn’t matter because what I grab will have a light off hand flashlights can easily be forgotten n left and the ohhh u point a gun while shining a light 💀 finger placement is a basic thing learned I train for that I live alone so at times I don’t turn on lights I practice the ways shown to correctly use a light which will mostly be used n my home or around my home u snooping around u think I care about flagging u?! And I’m not paying 300 for a light…olight does the same thing shine a light that most don’t apply the right way

[@davecovington6461]

Check out the Matthew Graham method. He teaches a two handed grip with a standalone flashlight.

[@johngrunwell2412]

Thanks for those thoughts as I’ve heard them so many times. However, for me, all my carries will not only have a lamp, but also a laser. All my choices for Lamp+Laser can be activated on my draw. Tactically, you have absolutely no choice when Shit might hit the Fan and carrying a tactical belt with all you might want to carry, in an urban enviroment, is not my cup of tea. It’s all a matter of choice and 5 to 6 hundred Lumens that don’t increase the weapons size in length works and their holsters are quite well constructed in size and comfort. No matter what’s on your platform, including Optics, takes training and awareness of what your gaining and what you are loosing.

[@AmmoMart]

I appreciate the view and thanks for commenting. It truly is the carrier's preference. One of the shortcomings of the video was not sharing more of the range data. Those shots were right on the bullseye with only one in the B zone after approximately 3 runs each. It makes no discernible difference in performance and at that point......to each his own. Thanks for the sharing your equipment list as well. Lots of good info.

[@eronavbj]

A light on your firearm gives your adversary a clear advantage, in that he now knows exactly where to aim, while you’re just as obviously still searching for him.

[@AmmoMart]

That is also something to consider. John from Warrior Poet Society calls all lights bullet magnets!

[@weaponeer8582]

This is a bad take. A light on your firearm gives you the advantage if you know how to use it. The WML is used to give you PID of your target. WMLs and red dots also gives you the ability better view of the target and possible furtive movements instead for putting focus on your front sight. Your assumption that a WML giving your adversary an advantage is only true is you leave it on constantly. YOU WOULDN’T EVEN DO THAT WITH A HANDHELD LIGHT! You turn the light, scan the area to get a snapshot mental picture, turn the light off and move based on that mental picture of the area. The light doesn’t bother the shooter as much as the adversary because the shooter is behind the light. If your weak side arm/hand is occupied, you are still able to manipulate the WML. Searching with a WML, you can search with a WML without pointing it at anyone. You can use it to provide umbrella or baseboard lighting that would provide enough light to brighten a fairly large room without endangering anyone else in the room. If you are in an arms distance fight, depending on the WML, it could give you stand off distance if you need to fire at point blank range. Remember Trayvon Martin/Zimmerman incident. Zimmerman first shot was his last because his pistol was knock out of battery because he fired point blank into Trayvon’s body. Holsters. I have 3 Surefire X-300s. Yeah, I paid good money for them but I save a shit ton on holsters. I have 3 universal holsters that index on the light and not the pistol. An IWB, OWB and a holster for may battle belt. The guns with the holsters are fairly comfortable. Lastly, I read in the comments that someone only puts a light on their pistol when they are out at night and going to a bad part of town. Well, sometimes you can’t always predict that you for some reason going to be out longer than you expected and with the low police response and the uptick of crime since the George Floyd riots, how do you determine what a bad part of town is?

[@weaponeer8582]

@@AmmoMartthey are only bullet magnets if you leave it on and stop moving.

[@nunyabusiness1755]

Fudd take here

[@timjohnson8390]

The massive fireball from my 2" 357 mag will for sure give him the pause lol. Thanks for the info its great to hear different perspective on things. Be safe

[@AmmoMart]

Thanks for viewing. I so love .357 magnum!!

[@cdmorrissy3692]

A light on a pistol you keep at home for SD is useful, as the chance that a "night time encounter" is larger than a daytime one, but to always have a light on a conceal carry piece is a bit much. I carry a Glock 29 - 10mm and it's barely concealable (compared to other pistols) and I would only consider mounting a light if I were specifically going to be in an area, at night, where danger is present; though I really wouldn't put myself in that position anyway. Now a light on a pistol kept in the car is a good idea.

[@weaponeer8582]

This is very shortsighted. A light should alway be on your carry pistol.

[@cdmorrissy3692]

@@weaponeer8582 That is nonsense; are you doing Felony warrant arrests at night ? Are you patrolling your neighborhood at night ?

[@weaponeer8582]

@@cdmorrissy3692 dude, you aren’t very smart are you? Does darkness happen to everyone…or just cops?! Do civilians defend themselves at night or does it just happen…to cops? I’m old enough to remember that shootings happen in dark movie theaters.

[@weaponeer8582]

@@cdmorrissy3692 you aren’t very smart are you? Does darkness happen to everyone or… just cops? Do civilians defend themselves on the streets at night or is it…just cops? I’m old enough to remember a time when shootings happened in dark theaters.

[@weaponeer8582]

@@cdmorrissy3692 why do you keep hiding my replies?

[@Scarywoody]

I keep a light on my Bump in the Dark guns but not on my carry guns. More weight, more opportunity for breaking. Being situationally aware, I won't be in the dark out of my home.

[@weaponeer8582]

The added weight helps reduce recoil. If you buy a decent WML you don’t have to worry about breakage. And you don’t know that you won’t be in the dark outside of your home.

[@nunyabusiness1755]

@@weaponeer8582This video brought out the fudds lol

[@rbm6184]

Are Gun Lights Useful for Every Day Carry? The more accessories you put on a gun the harder it is to hide and conceal. You are increasing the bulk of the gun. Lights should not be used unless absolutely necessary to identify a target because they give away your position and make you a target. The military does not practice light and noise discipline for nothing.

[@user-bl4hb1bq9t]

Dots & whitelights on a pistol are tactacool! I don't need to be cool! You need to practice 1 hand shooting any way. You can get shot in you weak arm. I practice neck index flashlight technique & shoot 1 handed!

[@AmmoMart]

I do alot of one hand and off hand shooting as well. Everyday I live fire in fact. Unfortunately however, I almost never see anyone else do it.....even those with lights. Your points are right on, because you not only have a plan, but you rehearse it. Thanks for watching and be safe.

[@AmmoMart]

Still love the dot though!!!

[@rickyshultz2051]

So only cops should have lights, and search with a gun mounted light ! Got it !

[@nunyabusiness1755]

This is a fudd take. Get with the times

[@weaponeer8582]

Y’all need training.

[@erozion8211]

If possible, it would be cool to see you review the Ruger “ReadyDot” optic-a simple, relatively affordable red dot built for conceal carry that users don’t have to zero. I am definitely interested in hearing your review, thoughts, and educational take and advice on it for viewers. My brief take: Red dots are becoming more popular, and the unfortunate reality is many people who conceal carry or who are seeking personal protection are either new to conceal carry, aren’t well trained, or aren’t familiar with zeroing optics (ideally they’d get training) …example would be young women or older folks who just “want something simple.” Perhaps they may benefit from the “ReadyDot” for its simplicity, while still giving them the benefit of a red dot. I still think ideally that anyone who wants a dot should just get a ‘regular’ dot, learn to zero it, and train with it. No matter what, training is key. Simplicity is nice, but not so much in a way that caters to or promotes less training. But maybe there are other good uses for the “ReadyDot”

[@AmmoMart]

I love that idea and will try to get one in for review. Thanks for the suggestion!!