Mounted. But I have a Streamlight TLR-2 laser/light combo mounted on my P320 full-size .45 ACP. Those who have been in actual gunfights have said not to count on having both hands available. You may need one hand to use a phone, pull a child to safety, open a door, etc.
I understand the concern that proponents of hand-held lights have about directing fire toward themselves, or having to point the muzzle of their pistol at that which they have to illuminate. As for that, most modern rail-mounted tactical lights are powerful enough and a have a beam disperse enough to illuminate a hallway without directly pointing the muzzle downrange. And having a rail-mounted light on your pistol does not in any way preclude you having a light in your other hand.
All my home defense guns are equipped with (good) laser/lights.
I have a couple flashlights on the nightstand but they are secondary.
Even the "critter gun", that hangs by the back door has a laser/light.
When I grab the gun when going out back, I have a gun and light, AND I will have a free hand.
You need both a handheld and a WML on a long gun, IMO. That's because the WML is a part of the weapon system, and NOT just for illumination (liabilities). For handguns, I still prefer light in one hand, and pistol in the other.
I don't do much building clearing and I really don't know what HD means. As a regular guy, I keep a good flashlight handy at all times. My 19 is my EDC and I don't want stuff on it. If I ever decide to have a dedicated night stand gun, I may consider it. Or perhaps for my tact. vest gun. But really, I hate to rely on battery operated stuff.
I'm with you. Having searched hundreds of buildings in my LEO career I still don't really get the tactical weapon mounted derp-derp. Of course that was so long ago we used flaming torches in those days. :supergrin:
Having retired, I am unlikely to be out clearing native villages or searching buildings these days. I have a flashlight or I would simply flip a light switch on if I needed light in my house.
I'm in the "both" camp. Keep a handheld beside my weapon with WML bedside. Fortunately, never had to use either. But if I had to respond in a hurry I would just grab the gun with WML as there are night lights at various points in the house providing some basic illumination.
An advantage of weapon mounted lights on "house guns" is, when you grab the gun, you also have a flashlight.
For instance, near the back and front doors there are a couple pistol grip shotguns equipped with Streamlight TLR-2 laser/lights.
If I had to quickly grab one of these guns, at night, probably quickly heading out the door because of some disturbance, I wouldn't have to take time looking for a hand held flashlight.
Plus trying to use a long gun and hold a hand held light, for me, is very awkward.
Sometime back I came by this little 20 ga Mossberg and thought it might come in handy, equipped with a laser/light.
Nice little gun.
I prefer a rail. I can mount a light or laser on it. Having a free hand is useful. The railed Glock can also work in my latest acquisition, the CAA. Micro Roni Stabilizer. Advantages are the ability to mount several accessories onto a platform such as a red dot, laser, and light. One can even put thumb stabilizers. The bottom of the hand guard lends itself to added stability. With a red dot, I can fire sideways, around corners, upside down, and at distances as far as 75 yards, if necessary, even in low light conditions.
Again, I have put this into the hand of novices, who have hit rates of 1/5 at 25 yards to get 3-5/5 yards at 25 yards.
I'm with you. Having searched hundreds of buildings in my LEO career I still don't really get the tactical weapon mounted derp-derp. Of course that was so long ago we used flaming torches in those days. :supergrin:
Having retired, I am unlikely to be out clearing native villages or searching buildings these days. I have a flashlight or I would simply flip a light switch on if I needed light in my house.
I started before the day of it being common to have a WML on a duty pistol. In fact I have worked 90% of my career before we issued pistols with rails.
The advantage is the free hand for opening doors, manipulating switches, and especially reloads during firing.
The other advantage is a solid two handed grip on the gun.
When I started it was a handgun and a 3 D cell sized Magcharger. Try holding that combo through a reload or rapid firing.
I always did the old FBI method. I gave up trying to hold the light and pistol together. Just didn't work well for me.
I started before the day of it being common to have a WML on a duty pistol. In fact I have worked 90% of my career before we issued pistols with rails.
The advantage is the free hand for opening doors, manipulating switches, and especially reloads during firing.
The other advantage is a solid two handed grip on the gun.
When I started it was a handgun and a 3 D cell sized Magcharger. Try holding that combo through a reload or rapid firing.
I always did the old FBI method. I gave up trying to hold the light and pistol together. Just didn't work well for me.
A lot of people don't understand that the purpose of an illumination tool is to identify and discriminate a target before pointing a gun at it.
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