Pistol WML detailed discussion with Paul Howe

No one is saying don't run a WML on your pistol. If you decide to run a WML on your pistol then train realistically. There are pros and cons to all things.

[@Patrick_Cannon]

We watch a 12 minute video that took hours to film, days to plan, and a career of experience. Thank you for sharing.

[@ASqdrnDA]

Available to us on the tip of our fingertips.

[@MinimumSpeedOperator]

This is about as good a demonstration as I’ve ever seen. This will keep you out of prison and on the right side of morality.

[@danielmarshall4587]

"you never hear about the good deprtments, because they're not making the news"........ SOLID GOLD Mr Howe, right on the money. Again thank you for this AND your other videos.

[@SeanTownsendStormrider]

This is excellent and reinforces an idea I had a couple of years ago and have put into practice. I attach a shock cord lanyard sized to fit around the palm of my hand to all of my handheld lights. I've developed a habit of putting that lanyard around my hand every time I deploy the light. The stretch of the cord lets me use the light in multiple grips. It allows me to drop the light out of my hand when drawing a pistol, while still retaining the light and not compromising my gun grip in any way. I wish I could post pictures in KZbin comments of how I do it, I'd be happy to send some if anyone wants to see what I'm talking about.

[@SeanTownsendStormrider]

@@paulhowe5863 That's great food for thought, and something I need to think about. I run the lanyard around my palm, with my thumb keeping it from going all the way to my wrist. Even still, I don't see how I could avoid banging on the door with it dangling on the lanyard with a gun in my hand. I need to train this in the house and see if it's still viable.

[@cohortcorbett2629]

Really glad this topic got expanded upon. Especially from a LE perspective those demonstrations clarified the limitations of a WML. A good example of mission dictates gear and why training is critical to be effectice with that gear.

[@mikedtheartist]

Thank you for adding value to the discussion. Rather than just say "I'm right because of my experience, and you don't need it" you're offering education and sound principles. You are creating solutions rather than drama.

[@averageguyyoga5638]

Seems pretty clear in this video that a WML can be a liability several different ways. If you light your entire body outline crossing the threshold with a WML, and then need to close the distance to 5 yards in order to discriminate the threat thats all bad all the way around. What was unexpected is how bright the handheld is downrange and how this disguised your body shape while properly lighting the space/target. These past few videos have been a masterclass in excellence. Thank you for your contribution and showing us what top tier looks like in the youtube space.

[@FrancisBean44]

Thanks Paul! Feel I’m in the minority who watched you and Ken and immediately thought the concept was about getting proper training and repetitions in the usage of a WML, while too many jumped off the deep end and missed the point. Great info here!

[@salvadormelendez9749]

WMLs are practical when engaging in low light conditions but we also need to carry a hand held light in the event we need illumination without the need of brandishing a firearm. I think this is the first video on the subject I see in which we are presented with the perspective of the person being illuminated. That is a good point of reference we need to consider. Always grateful for your input.

[@jman4230]

Hey Paul, just a tip, that light should fit in that holster. Those 6000 series safarilands have a screw on the left side of the holster shell, about half way down the outer shell (looks like it could poke you in the side of your hip). Loosening it will relieve pressure on the inner portion of the holster where the light rests and tightening it will obviously tighten it. Safari land did that to fit wide variety of lights

[@AnthonyGTrees]

This is a fantastic source of knowledge. Thank You

[@dkuno2588]

Thank you for sharing this. One of the best 12 minute video on WML! God bless!

[@mallninjarising]

I am very for having a handheld light and also a DASA firearm as it has the best of both worlds, although there is no substitute for proper vigilance and training.... muzzle awareness etc. it may prevent situations such as the "accidental discharge" that happened in NYC

[@HHI44]

The best light vid I’ve seen in a long time! Thanks Paul

[@dvmtg4284]

Thank you for the demonstrations and perspective. It is extremely valuable and much appreciated.

[@agustinghernandez7682]

Fantastic video, and demonstrations. Reality check, facts not Opinions. Great video keep them coming. 🤙🤙

[@lizzapaolia959]

Outstanding video of yours. Thank you for sharing your expertise. God bless 🙏

[@MrCschu]

Excellent explanation. Really clears things up for me.

[@alvaroeloredo]

Food for thought. Thank you Mr Howe.

[@Euchouston]

Very comprehensive,. Nice work!

[@joehumphreys5571]

Learned a lot, great video, thank you

[@raptor1combatives35]

Outstanding video. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

[@matts8396]

This is really fantastic! Great information

[@echo_research_and_development]

I had a number of debates with people saying, "Pistol light is enough. I can splash the light on floor or celing to identify the bad guy...blah blah." From my experience, not that I think is worth braging about, people who say that has no real world experience or is in some denial. I have witnessed number of cases where people working with me trying to illuminate a certain spot with a pistol light, then in frustration, poking a pistol muzzle in places where they perhaps should not, because they just could not see what they wanted to see without a direct beam.

[@hcdtactical]

Outstanding information.

[@TheTkpham]

Fantastic, practical demonstrations. However, it seems pretty evident there's a huge disparity in the handheld vs WML beams and possibly intensities. TLR1 and X300 have good lumens, but the handheld has some crazy candela. That's why Surefire came out with the Turbo series. So you can positively ID someone's hands even if they are standing in front of a car's headlights, for example, which would make many other weaker lights ineffective.

[@joshuasmith5538]

i like how this video really drives home target discrimination such as seeing if the person is actually armed or not before possibly engaging them. very seldom have i seen any videos that go over shoot or no shoots that aren't blatantly obvious. most are like "there's someone in my house that i don't know, they are getting shot as fast as possible", or at least having a gun pointed at them. i can somewhat understand that for the normal person but i suppose that's where good training comes in. bringing people up to a higher standard and not just surviving the encounter but avoiding a trip to prison as well.

[@salvadormelendez9749]

Very necessary.

[@bridgeburner265]

Thank you for this, you folks did a great job. This should be mandatory viewing in every field, period.

[@celestronvorhees8076]

This is the best light video I have ever watched. Thank you so much for everything!

[@pisom4314]

thank you for sharing, very few get to see the light on the receiving end...... most only the giving end!! this is where force on force training gets to leave a memorable mark on you, that you will remember!!! again thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge with us!!!

[@jeffcooper5789]

Great information as always.

[@jamessmith-hq5mr]

The down range/booger eater/bad guy perspective clearly shows the advantage of holding a hand held off of your own center mass.

[@chrisjohn78]

Fantastic!

[@irafowlerjr.7492]

Very helpful, thanks

[@scottedwards402]

Paul, Thanks for knowledge drop.

[@dalewalters357]

Well done…thank you

[@valterXIII]

Thank You!

[@vyr01]

the holsters for lights are usually made for specific lights - so you would need to get another holster to match the light - so another training issue to get the same holster (if the company makes one for that pistol & light combination)

[@bh-2198]

Thank you Mr. Howe! :) :us I'm wondering if this debate can continue for the rest of the year.

[@bh-2198]

@@paulhowe5863 Good luck with that, it was a big ant-hill Ken kicked over.

[@JB-uk7mn]

Good video

[@randyrhyne8658]

Thanks for pointing out that lights make you a very clear target.

[@luguefamily1498]

This why your vids are so informative because it's wear the rubber meets to road. A lot of internet parrots talk about how that don't need a handheld because a WML can safely search a room by bouncing light off of the floor or ceiling but they have never done it before and don't realize how a dark carpet etc will suck up all the lumens/candella your WML is putting out.

[@_NKBD]

Good video. When on duty I use a TLR1. The same gun/light is in the night-stand. For off duty/concealed carry I do not use a weapon mounted light. I do not think the benefit you get is worth the additional bulk/weight on a concealed carry firearm. Especially in the south because I'm wearing a t-shirt or polo 90% of the time. I think a lot of people that haven't received quality low light training assume they are going to be pointing their pistol at people and using the light to get a positive ID on a threat. Simunitions training proves individuals focus on the gun and in low light the weapon light and direct shots at them. If you're not wearing a vest holding a light in front of your torso/upper body is a bad plan.

[@tfwwhennofitlitgf3300]

For what you're doing, you'd be much better off with a new high candella WML. Surefire X300T, Modlite PL350, and Holosun PID HC. The PL350 and PID HC also have the benefit of taking rechargeable 18350 lithium batteries.

[@karlmadsen3179]

Good information. My (outdoor) private club prohibits night shoots. I understand their safety concerns, but I think it is more about being a good neighbor to the people living nearby. What I notice is that it is possible to carry a higher power flashlight if it's not mounted on the pistol and gives the user a lot more flexibility in illuminating areas without pointing a gun at people and things you don't want to shoot. What about long guns? They require two hands to properly operate them. So, the weapon must have a light. Right? Unless.....it remains slung while probing with a handheld light. I'll look forward to your information on this topic.

[@theDemong0d]

Guys will carry a gun to be prepared for the vanishingly unlikely odds that you will need to confront a deadly threat yet won't carry a handheld light to be prepared for everyday crap like dropping your keys at night or providing illumination for someone working on something in a dark corner

[@sombra6153]

I noted the recommendation of dropping the hand held when transitioning to the handgun. I tried to use a lanyard over the years to keep my light available when needed again but found they got tangled on everything. I now use a couple of 1 to 1 1/2 inch rubber seal thingies from Ace Hardware fitted to the hand held to form a finger loop. I’m able to flick the light out of the way. What are your fires on something like that? Anyway, as I’m in a semi retired status anymore, I don’t use the weapons light, but as I’m starting to teach private citizens, some of them do show up with them.

[@thecsatway3622]

First, everything works. I have had officers use a flashbang ring and then spin the light to the back of their hand. With a not break away link to the flashlight, I worry about hand combat situations and getting tied up with a suspect. I suggest trying to open doors with your flashlight hand and see if it bangs the door, makes noise or telegraphs.

[@sombra6153]

@@thecsatway3622 thanks for the reply. I set up so that my hand held will always be in my support hand to start with. Your teaching makes sense. And for those of us not running a WML for concealed carry, I believe the hand held needs to be in hand ready for use when starting down the dark trail, coming home to an unlit home, or across the parking lot rather than having to fish for it after being surprised. Thanks again!

[@patrickaherne3598]

Use a THRYM ring. It works great and you can flip the light out of the way or back into use. They cost about $20 and have a breakaway notch so they won't break your finger if they get snagged. There are models for Surefires and Modlites and other lights.

[@DoWork316]

The issues made by some was due to lack of real world experience that was summed up(partially) in this video. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@carlbecklehimer1898]

I learned the value of a WML for a duty handgun after a foot chase. I was trying to hold a handheld light, a handgun while trying to figure out how to work my radio. They're handy if you keep them in context of what they are meant to do.

[@Flack55]

Excellent video and excellent points made! Butttt it's not the "debate" stopper you were hoping it to be. First, I'm going to get it out in it open and state I agree with you that a handheld light is a MUST whereas a WML is a useful OPTION. It's a "if you can only have one" it must be a handheld and if you want a WML, you must have both, situation. For most searching circumstances, the handheld is legally and morally superior, and should be used. But it's those "grey-er" areas that the WML "search" starts to become more relevant, and hereafter, the "debate" continues. So in your previous video, I mentioned the use of a "depressed high ready/ modified Sul position" to use WML spill to PID potential threats in circumstances where an un-holstered pistol is legally/morally acceptable (such as a castle doctrine protected low light home defense scenario). The UNmodified Sul and HIGH high ready (umbrella) spill demonstrations in this video are not what I was describing with my terminology. What I was describing was a DEPRESSED high ready whereas the barrel is oriented DOWN from a true high ready (horizontal, oriented towards the target)/ modified Sul whereas the barrel is oriented UP from a true Sul (front of opposing foot). Ie instead of pointing at a potential target, and instead of pointing at your feet, you're pointing IN BETWEEN those two orientations, such as at the potential target's feet! The spill from that orientation is going to be much more informative, and much more visually disabling to the potential threat, even at 11yds, than what you demonstrated; not to mention much faster than an FBI/ Barricade Handheld Hold to engage should the need arise. Furthermore, it's arguably a "safer" and more legally/ morally sound approach, as you know that the white hot center of that WML beam is where the barrel of your firearm is pointing. Ie you KNOW your "target" and what lies beyond (you KNOW the orientation of your barrel and are ACTIVELY POINTING it in the direction of least consequence). This is obviously checking two of the four universal safety rules for a firearm in hand simultaneously, but is also in direct opposition to the concept of searching with a weak-hand Barricade Hold handheld while holding an un-holstered firearm strong-hand! Ie your attention is where that beam is pointing, NOT where your firearm is pointing! (Try it out! Sure, as a highly trained former operator, you're gonna have a pretty good idea where it's oriented, but not EXACTLY. And over time, in a complex searching environment, I'd argue that even you might lose active awareness of that muzzle. Now imagine- or try it- with your average beat cop; they're gonna be flagging all kinds of stuff!) We've seen countless instances in recent years of "sympathetic movement" causing negligent discharge and negligent manslaughter/homicide in predominantly LEO interactions (typically wannabe Wyatt Earps dual wielding taser AND firearm), but enough to make the argument that for most humans (LEO and civilian alike) if a firearm is legally/morally acceptable to be in hand, it should be THE ONLY thing in hand! It should be where both hands and all awareness lies, and human performance study shows us that more people will be able to perform to standard in that environment vs the dual wield. Finally, most of this argument is based on the legal/moral justification of a firearm in hand, so it's worth mentioning that's a pretty significant step in use of force doctrine (going from a holstered firearm to in hand). However, comparatively speaking, if wickets have been met to have a firearm in hand, it's a relatively small step (less wickets) to move from that "in hand" state to a "pointing" state. So my point is, if I've met legal/moral justification for a gun in hand, I'm a lot less worried about potential future implications of "he pointed it at me!" and a lot more worried about PIDing the "imminent threat of death or great bodily harm to myself or another" that prompted my production of the firearm in the first place! And we all know that most LEO and civies alike need a lot more training on what meets that standard, and until then, keeping the dammed thing secured in its bucket! So to summarize my argument, if you have to search, do it with a handheld. If you have to search, but feel the need for a firearm in hand, re-analyze carefully if you ACTUALLY need and meet justification for, a firearm in hand AND meet need/ justification to search, and if the answer is yes AND yes, proceed to search with WML in a depressed high ready/ modified Sul.

[@MerihemXx]

I think it's pretty crazy how many gear-heads that bought a light to stick on their ccw thought they knew better than guys who've trained law enforcement for decades. Blows my mind how short-sighted people are.

[@brad_1388_]

I think it's ridiculous that people get so worked up about this. It should be pretty self evident that wml's are a niche tool, even just due to brandishing laws alone. Too many people think with a military mindset that doesn't apply to their reality

[@paulbrentar5363]

I'm sorry but your low ready is not a low ready. At that distance, your point at the ground in front of you, low ready is just below the bad guy's feet as it's still safe as you are not pointing at the person if the gun should go off. I applaud this video but that's not a true representation of a low ready which would put more light on the bad guy.

[@TGS-rb8us]

Wow, Mr. low ready expert man. Thats all you got from this video? It’s too bad that you missed out on all of the great information. Well, by God I bet he’s gonna have trouble sleeping knowing that he did low ready “wrong”.

[@paulbrentar5363]

@@TGS-rb8us As I said above, I applaud the video but to give an accurate representation of what a low ready with a WML would like on target is not represented here. If you used the technique properly, you would most likely see what the bad guy was carrying. The same could be said for using the handheld improperly and just pointing at your feet. I don't give a crap if he loses sleep or not but if you're willing to believe incorrect information then that's on you as you're not willing to truly analyze what's being said to you. Sorry, but I call it like I see it and if that offends you, I still don't care.

[@TGS-rb8us]

I’m not offended at all. I’m not surprised at your ignorance/arrogance. I’m not even surprised you showed the whole world. 👍🏻

[@jb7483]

You do realize there are several definitions of low ready? I am sure when you were a Delta Force team leader, you did it that way. BTW, if this is what you noticed in the video, it is rather sad. Also, he explained why he had to hold the wml like that.

[@thecsatway3622]

Thanks for the note. I don't use the low ready nor do I teach it. Having said that, I have watched and been taught every variable of it to include what I demonstrated. Each state is different in how they teach it to include training agencies and you simply have to surf the internet to see all the variables. Next, add in hostages/victims lying about in front of and next to the suspect and it becomes problematic.

[@rebelscumspeedshop]

Waiting for the bearded tattooed crowed to chime in.

[@TGS-rb8us]

Same here. I’m also waiting on their videos.