Question What is the deal with "everyone" hanging a flashlight off their pistols?

[Bongo Lewi]

I've long questioned this claim... that a strobe will disorient an adversary. My opinion: I don't think so. It will just tell them your location and while you're waiting for the strobe to "take effect," the bad guy will just shoot you.

Yep. And the strobe can affect you almost as much as it does the bad guy.

 

[Bobster]

I've long questioned this claim... that a strobe will disorient an adversary.

If the perp happens to have photosensitive epilepsy, it will disable them and leave them puking, pissing and shitting all over your floor!

 

[Bongo Lewi]

If the perp happens to have photosensitive epilepsy, it will disable them and leave them puking, pissing and shitting all over your floor!

That would be no fun to clean up. After the body is removed from the scene.

 

[Curmudgeon]

I've honestly never had any use for the strobe light on my flashlights and hated having to go through all the modes to shut off the light. Until today that is. With my flashlight sitting on the passenger seat after using it checking my tire pressures this morning, I started to not enjoy the super bright headlights on a pickup that decided to ride my bumper on an exit ramp. 3 seconds of a rearwards pointed Super bright strobe and the driver kindly backed off a couple hundred feet. I think some of these people don't realize how bright their headlights are as they point directly through the back window of a car and give someone a free brain scan displayed on the visor in front of them. Other than that I still don't care for strobes on a flashlight.

 

[Bobster]

I've honestly never had any use for the strobe light on my flashlights and hated having to go through all the modes to shut off the light...Other than that I still don't care for strobes on a flashlight.

All these "cheapie" flashlights from the big retailers must source their switches from the same company. That "feature" has kept me from buying many, many lights in the past. I'm staring at my (empty) 2 & 4-cell Mag-Lites waiting for a mission.

Back in the tween days, I got rapped in the back of the head with a 4-cell by a grumpy LEO after running from him into a bramble of thorns where he was able to catch up with me. It was more of a "love tap" and after a severe chewing out, I was allowed to go on my way. Back then we didn't consult a lawyer after popo-administered justice--we knew we dun wrong and felt no need to transfer blame.

 

[Curmudgeon]

All these "cheapie" flashlights from the big retailers must source their switches from the same company. That "feature" has kept me from buying many, many lights in the past. I'm staring at my (empty) 2 & 4-cell Mag-Lites waiting for a mission.

Back in the tween days, I got rapped in the back of the head with a 4-cell by a grumpy LEO after running from him into a bramble of thorns where he was able to catch up with me. It was more of a "love tap" and after a severe chewing out, I was allowed to go on my way. Back then we didn't consult a lawyer after popo-administered justice--we knew we dun wrong and felt no need to transfer blame.

Yes most of my flashlights used to be box store cheapies but this latest one was a gift from my son and his family. It's an O-Light warrior 3 and to use the strobe all you need to do is mash the button on the end all the way in. The regular power button doesn't run through the modes unless you hold it in and then it just cycles through low/med/high. If you only push the end button in part way it gives high and will switch to strobe if you go all the way in. I use it daily for looking for leaks on hydraulic injection molding machines and haven't had to charge it in about a month and a half. Love this little light.

 

[Bobster]

Love this little light.

Yes, but a flashlight requiring a user manual to operate?

 

[Bobster]

So a little UPDATE on the TEMU "X300" weapon light. I'll update the X300-compatible holster and CR123A batteries in another post. Received everything in less than 2 weeks from Cali. The batteries came a little earlier out of NJ.

About the eX300. This is a very good X300 knockoff and appears well-made. I'm assuming this because I don't have a real X300 to compare it to. The vendor has since sold out but there are many other vendors selling the same exact thing I'm assuming. Some are getting $30-$40 for theirs. No instructions or batteries were included.

First a couple batteries to see if it works and it does. Seems bright but I'm not sure how it compares to the real thing. It turns on by moving the lever CW or CCW. With it in the middle and off, pushing forward on the lever turns it on momentarily until you stop pressing on it.



Initially, I couldn't get it to "latch" into the pistol slot. I tried it on the Lone Wolf and the MAC DS9D. So maybe that's why it was only $20? I tried swapping the slot adapter to the thinner of the two which did not help. Kind of a pain in the ass with those tiny little screws and a spring which has to be held compressed to get the screws back in. Note that with the real X300, these adapters are marked P for pistol (thicker) and U for universal (thinner). I put the thick adapter back on.



Looking the light over, I noticed a couple pins holding maybe a back cover on. I wonder what is under them? Pushed them out by hand and there was nothing but empty space. Then tried mounting the light again and success! This "trick" was not noted in the real instructions and this light came with no instructions.



Note how it hangs under the muzzle on the G19 and G17-sized guns. What good is a light if it is covered in carbon and powder residue... And perhaps the muzzle blast may affect longevity?

(to be continued)

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Home defense… mandatory in my book. For carry…. Useless weight and bulk.

The best argument for not having a gun mounted light is you instinctively point the light - and thus muzzle - at whatever it is you hear or react to. This is why a lot of cop shops don’t permit LEOs to put lights on their duty weapons. They are trained to carry a torch in the weak hand.

 

[Bobster]

UPDATE2:

So as noted in my Lee Melting Pot thread, I made these slugs. I had the lead already in the pot, just had to make the mold. I got the idea from this Ben Stoeger ad I came across for tungsten CR123A "batteries". So I must have been on to something when I figured the flashlights are for weight. But I certainly wasn't going to spend $300 on small rod of W just to make a slug only slightly heavier than Pb! Hence the lead slugs...

The 8 pack of batteries I got is shown. They seem to work OK...



The spec for CR123A batteries is ~17mm dia. by 34.5mm tall. The closest drill I had was 5/8" and I had Al stock about 1-1/4" so that is the size of my slugs, slightly smaller than the batteries.
Two batteries weigh 33g/1.15oz/.072lb.
Two slugs, pads and tubes weigh 141g/4.95oz/.312lb.
The light with batts. weighs 100g/3.5oz/.222lb.
The light with slugs weighs 207g/7.3oz/.456lb.
So having a light on the end of the gun adds a few ounces and having slugs in there instead adds a few ounces more...

 

[Bongo Lewi]

Interesting. Does the weight really help? I can understand that heft helps mitigate recoil but it can also make steadying the firearm more challenging.

I can only imagine Match Official Lester McFuckface disqualifying you. Unless you run unlimited. I've seen some crazy shit in that class.

Also in 22 match competition. Bizarre grips and weight systems.

 

[Bobster]

Interesting. Does the weight really help? I can understand that heft helps mitigate recoil but it can also make steadying the firearm more challenging.

I shot both the MAC and RIA today at my club's monthly Action Pistol shooting steel. I didn't really notice the weight making a difference but I didn't try either gun without it either. I had the "on" lever on the right pushed down for easier finger insertion into the trigger guard. I'm still getting used to the guns so my performance with them was so-so--I had a couple decent runs but a couple dogs, also.

I determined my TEMU flashlight holster (picture earlier in this thread) was hitting the extended mag release on the MAC so I'd draw the gun and after the first shot, the mag would fall to the ground. A couple times I inadvertently applied the safety--I guess I still have Glock thumb... I suppose I need to start training safety "off" when drawing.

 

[Notshawn54]

A couple times I inadvertently applied the safety--I guess I still have Glock thumb... I suppose I need to start training safety "off" when drawing.

I’m assuming you’re shooting with your thumb under the safety. Initially I did too. Many years ago I switched to shooting with my thumb riding on top of the safety. Seemed strange at first but ultimately gives you more control over the gun. Better recoil control and no chance of bumping the safety up during said recoil. Drawing and deactivating the safety is one continuous movement.

 

[One Ping Only]

Home defense is the ONLY use I have for WML's. I have NO holsters to accommodate them for carry, as I can't see the advantage for CC at all. Just detriments.

So I've one WML on the Beretta 1301, and one on the 'nightstand sidearm' of choice- with a twist- I also keep a small, bright handheld flashlight on the nightstand for the obvious safety advantage as stated by others, and other sidearms that may be in rotation without a WML (and that's most of them).

My wife has a (similar to mine) bright handheld FL on her nightstand next to her .357 snubbie. Simple. She too, has a WML on her 26 clone, but it's put away. She'd rather use her revolver or her P365.

I too shun the useless, err, strobe function.

 

[rodm1]

At night for home defense they could be handy but an off hand one I think is more use full. The biggest problem with weapon mounted pistol light is they all have multi function switches on them. I don't won't the light to get stuck on or off at an improper time.