Weapon light and holster question

CZfool68

CZfool68

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What does everybody use for a handgun and pistol light? Do you always leave the light on the weapon and have a holster that fits the light, or do you have 2 different holsters so you can carry it without the light. OR do you keep the light off until you plan to use it?

For me this pertains to a new a gun that will not be an EDC. It will either be a home defnse weapon or possibly be carried in an OWB holsters for certain occasions.
 
You are pretty much relegated to a kydex holster if the weapon light is mounted on the gun for carry, or leather with a thumb break, although if it is for home defense to just sit in or on a nightstand and you want a holster just to keep your fingers off the trigger, those $20 nylon jobs work, and usually have an extra mag compartment on them. These work well to stow in a car console, too.

I keep a separate light on the nightstand next to a holstered pistol. Since there are often three occupied bedrooms on two levels of the house I don't like sweeping the house with the gun if I decide to use the light when things go bump.
 
I have a Glock 17 with TLR-1 that is my nightstand gun. The light stays on it 95% of the time, and I have several different holsters to carry it in either configuration.
 
I don't really see the point in setting up for different configurations. The advantage of running the gun wo the light is minimal so I just leave it permanently attached.

If Raven doesn't make a holster for your setup Armiger solutions did an outstanding job for mine. I'd advise dropping them an email prior to sending the order so they're tracking. I'm impressed with what I received.

FWIW I never would run a WML without a handheld light (even a small one) as well.
 
Thanks for the replies so far guys. I do have the hand held light coverd already. Just giving myself options.
 
I just leave mine on. If you don't EDC it, or shoot it in matches where the light is prohibited, there is no downside.
If you need holster, common light + common gun = lots of options. The further from common issue you get the more boutique you are likely to have to go.
 
I have a couple light bearing holsters for my GLOCK 17. I only take it off for matches that don't allow it.
 
I keep a holstered (and night sighted) M&P .45 with TLR-1 combo bed side. Weapon mounted lights are game changers, and can be concealed if need be. Dara Holster.

Also keep hand held light, reloads, and Israeli bandages along with it.
 
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M&P 9 full size, night sights, and a TLR-1s in the nightstand, next to it is a Powertac E5 just in case.
 
I have a TR holster for my Sig 226 with a light and a Simply Rugged holster for it without a light. I can carry either way.
 
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My XC1 stays on the P320c all the time and it rides just fine in my TR Holsters IWB holster.
 
CZfool68;n26750 said:
What does everybody use for a handgun and pistol light? Do you always leave the light on the weapon and have a holster that fits the light, or do you have 2 different holsters so you can carry it without the light. OR do you keep the light off until you plan to use it?

For me this pertains to a new a gun that will not be an EDC. It will either be a home defnse weapon or possibly be carried in an OWB holsters for certain occasions.
Click to expand...

All of the above! I have holsters for the gun and light, holsters for just the gun, and a holster that fits the weapon light only so it can be used with any gun.







 
How many of your guys are actually carrying a pistol with a light mounted ? I've never been a fan of mounting a light on pistol anyway but trying to carry it that way would make me less of a fan.
I carry a small light in my pocket and have never had an issue. I guess I think of them as two separate tools but that's just me.

To the OP, in this situation I think kydex is going to be your friend like has already been mentioned.
 
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spittinfire said:
How many of your guys are actually carrying a pistol with a light mounted ? I've never been a fan of mounting a light on pistol anyway but trying to carry it that way would make me less of a fan.
I carry a small light in my pocket and have never had an issue. I guess I think of them as two separate tools but that's just me.

To the OP, in this situation I think kydex is going to be your friend like has already been mentioned.
Click to expand...
I carry an XD45 with TLR1 AIWB.
Yeah it's big, and heavy, and gets a little uncomfortable after a couple hours sitting.
But I work in the evening and can't carry there so during the work week don't carry it too long. But I spend as much time and sometimes more out in the dark on my own time than I do in the daylight, then it does nightstand duty when I go to bed. Odds are I'll never need either, but they probably favor it'll be in bad light if I do.
I carry a flashlight also, for flashlight things, it sees near daily use.
 
G19 with Surefire XC1 in a Stealthgear IWB. It stays on the gun full time and I keep a separate light in my pocket/beside the bed as well.
 
spittinfire;n28851 said:
How many of your guys are actually carrying a pistol with a light mounted ? I've never been a fan of mounting a light on pistol anyway but trying to carry it that way would make me less of a fan.
I carry a small light in my pocket and have never had an issue. I guess I think of them as two separate tools but that's just me.

To the OP, in this situation I think kydex is going to be your friend like has already been mentioned.
Click to expand...

Yes. A polymer framed pistol + light is about the same weight wise as a metal framed pistol (full size for both - think P320 vs P226). OWB the bulk really isn't that much more significant and I've found it surprisingly easy to do.

The one place it sucks is appendix. The xc1 may be an exception but the light itself digs into my leg where the contour of the trigger guard and barrel normally aren't an issue.
 
Bedside gun is M&P45 Mid with TLR-1 light in a Kydex Holster. I'd like to upgrade to one of the new smaller superlights but it's not high on the priority list
 
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spittinfire said:
How many of your guys are actually carrying a pistol with a light mounted ? I've never been a fan of mounting a light on pistol anyway but trying to carry it that way would make me less of a fan.
I carry a small light in my pocket and have never had an issue. I guess I think of them as two separate tools but that's just me.

To the OP, in this situation I think kydex is going to be your friend like has already been mentioned.
Click to expand...
This will not be a EDC gun for me. Mainly a home defense gun and something I carry OWB while out walking, hiking or working in the yard. It could also see some time in a backpack so size and weight isn't too big an issue.
 
spittinfire said:
How many of your guys are actually carrying a pistol with a light mounted ? I've never been a fan of mounting a light on pistol anyway but trying to carry it that way would make me less of a fan.
I carry a small light in my pocket and have never had an issue. I guess I think of them as two separate tools but that's just me.

To the OP, in this situation I think kydex is going to be your friend like has already been mentioned.
Click to expand...
I carry my P320c with surefire XC! daily when I'm not in the gun free zone of my job. The XC1 is very small and light weight it is designed for CC
 
fieldgrade;n26756 said:
You are pretty much relegated to a kydex holster if the weapon light is mounted on the gun for carry, or leather with a thumb break, although if it is for home defense to just sit in or on a nightstand and you want a holster just to keep your fingers off the trigger, those $20 nylon jobs work, and usually have an extra mag compartment on them. These work well to stow in a car console, too.

I keep a separate light on the nightstand next to a holstered pistol. Since there are often three occupied bedrooms on two levels of the house I don't like sweeping the house with the gun if I decide to use the light when things go bump.
Click to expand...

This brings up a good point. I have been doing research and reading on lights and weapon mounted lights. As with everything you can find any point of view you want on the internet. Here are my conclusions so far.

- The 'operators' of the interent favor the weapon mounted light. But I am not a real world operator or an internet ninja so I likely would need some good training. I won't be clearing houses for terrorists so finding the right balance is tricky. It seems to me while we don't want to sweep any family or friends in our homes, with proper trigger finger control or technique you can still be safe. Finger off the bang switch until you want a hole in something. And I have read about using the edge of the light to illuminate a person. That way your point of aim is not immediately on them. Comes back to training for your situation I guess. Not a perfect answer for everything.

My main interest in having a light on a hanfgun is for times when I am up at our weekend place. We do some walking and Gator rides in the area around dusk sometimes. I almost always have a flashlight with me, but it may be useful to have a handheld light and a weapon light just in case. I could give my handheld light to one of my kids or whoever is with me at the time if need be, Gator's break down we could be walking home in the dark.

I am also up there a lot by myself. No worries about sweeping a kid in the night. So for sitting out in the woods by the fire or just general home defense it seems a light on a gun might be useful. But I would still have a handheld light and only use the weapon light and drawn a weapon if something gave me cause. I have also been known to have a few different carry options with me on trips to the mountians. So I might have the gun with a light holstered in a bag. It could then be used a little more judiciously, and my normal EDC and a handheld flashlight would be the main go to. Options. I like options,
 
I had TR Holsters make me a holster for my FNX45 with a TLR1. It is my bedside gun primarily, but I have taken it to matches before.
 
CZfool68 said:
fieldgrade;n26756 said:
You are pretty much relegated to a kydex holster if the weapon light is mounted on the gun for carry, or leather with a thumb break, although if it is for home defense to just sit in or on a nightstand and you want a holster just to keep your fingers off the trigger, those $20 nylon jobs work, and usually have an extra mag compartment on them. These work well to stow in a car console, too.

I keep a separate light on the nightstand next to a holstered pistol. Since there are often three occupied bedrooms on two levels of the house I don't like sweeping the house with the gun if I decide to use the light when things go bump.
Click to expand...

This brings up a good point. I have been doing research and reading on lights and weapon mounted lights. As with everything you can find any point of view you want on the internet. Here are my conclusions so far.

- The 'operators' of the interent favor the weapon mounted light. But I am not a real world operator or an internet ninja so I likely would need some good training. I won't be clearing houses for terrorists so finding the right balance is tricky. It seems to me while we don't want to sweep any family or friends in our homes, with proper trigger finger control or technique you can still be safe. Finger off the bang switch until you want a hole in something. And I have read about using the edge of the light to illuminate a person. That way your point of aim is not immediately on them. Comes back to training for your situation I guess. Not a perfect answer for everything.

My main interest in having a light on a hanfgun is for times when I am up at our weekend place. We do some walking and Gator rides in the area around dusk sometimes. I almost always have a flashlight with me, but it may be useful to have a handheld light and a weapon light just in case. I could give my handheld light to one of my kids or whoever is with me at the time if need be, Gator's break down we could be walking home in the dark.

I am also up there a lot by myself. No worries about sweeping a kid in the night. So for sitting out in the woods by the fire or just general home defense it seems a light on a gun might be useful. But I would still have a handheld light and only use the weapon light and drawn a weapon if something gave me cause. I have also been known to have a few different carry options with me on trips to the mountians. So I might have the gun with a light holstered in a bag. It could then be used a little more judiciously, and my normal EDC and a handheld flashlight would be the main go to. Options. I like options,
Click to expand...
There's going to be day/night shoot at H2O in Dunn the second Saturday of January if you want to get some live fire experience using a handheld light after dark. Should be a blast.
 
Thanks I have been in the market for a light bearing holster.
 
I keep a TLR-1 on my Glock 19 and it stays in the night stand no holster. I dont take it off unless i feel the need to carry it that particular day. Most of the guys here like the streamlight or use one themselves. the XC1 is a great option as well if you are not wanting a bright light. Just remember in wake up mode your eyes are blurry the lower lumens may not be a bad idea.
 
spittinfire said:
How many of your guys are actually carrying a pistol with a light mounted ? I've never been a fan of mounting a light on pistol anyway but trying to carry it that way would make me less of a fan.
I carry a small light in my pocket and have never had an issue. I guess I think of them as two separate tools but that's just me.

To the OP, in this situation I think kydex is going to be your friend like has already been mentioned.
Click to expand...
I only carry with the light attached when I am going to be in the woods at night.
 


The new light arrived. I have zero experience or training with a light so all my instincts might be wrong, but it seems very easy to manipulate. Paddles are on both sides so I just use my left thumb to activate light. Quick tap turns on continuous light and holding it down acrivates the momentary light. It also allows me to keep my trigger finger on the rail or trigger while usIng the light. Seems pretty slick.
 

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CZfool68;n42352 said:


The new light arrived. I have zero experience or training with a light so all my instincts might be wrong, but it seems very easy to manipulate. Paddles are on both sides so I just use my left thumb to activate light. Quick tap turns on continuous light and holding it down acrivates the momentary light. It also allows me to keep my trigger finger on the rail or trigger while usIng the light. Seems pretty slick.
Click to expand...

I am not a fan of turning the light on with a constant on. I like the momentary function because your not casting a beam so the bad guy can just point his gun in your direction a shoot
 
I have separate lights. Surefire G2X stays in the nightstand beside whatever pistol is there; Streamlight PolyTac for out-and-about. When I took low-light classes we used the Surefire. I just prefer being able to aim the light independent of the firearm, and I use momentary-on only (no strobe/etc). One plus is that the holster is also independent of the light. This is just what works for me.
 
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EDC Glock 43 with tlr6 pocket in a sticky holster or aiwb in a warrior concealment kydex
big jacket/cold weather under a Blackhawk hoodie for the xdsc with tlr3 rarely carry the xd as I really like my littleglock
 
We've been hacked.
 
I have a Glock 19 with TLR1 in a bedside quicksafe and carry a 43 with tlr6 in a kydex holster. The 43 is the first gun I've been comfortable carrying with a light attached. Really don't even notice it as the tlr6 is so small.
 
I recently picked up a Glock 17 that has a TLR1 light and came with a nice Insane Kydex holster. I'll most likely sell the light and holster.

g17_zps4m0k47ai.jpg


insane_zpskmfszd50.jpg
 
Geezer said:
I recently picked up a Glock 17 that has a TLR1 light and came with a nice Insane Kydex holster. I'll most likely sell the light and holster.

g17_zps4m0k47ai.jpg


insane_zpskmfszd50.jpg
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Let me know when you sell that holster, I may be interested.
 
Geezer said:
I recently picked up a Glock 17 that has a TLR1 light and came with a nice Insane Kydex holster. I'll most likely sell the light and holster.

g17_zps4m0k47ai.jpg


insane_zpskmfszd50.jpg
Click to expand...
And maybe the light too!
 
Geezer said:
I recently picked up a Glock 17 that has a TLR1 light and came with a nice Insane Kydex holster. I'll most likely sell the light and holster.

g17_zps4m0k47ai.jpg


insane_zpskmfszd50.jpg
Click to expand...
Looks like you need a biggeer mag! Those Glocks must be very inaccurate.
 
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