Getting a weapon light for my G17 and honestly have no experience with lights on pistols. Done some research and pretty set on a Surefire X300A if I go for light only and X400 if I go for light/laser combo. Looking for input on how useful a laser is for night shooting (as I don't imagine it does much for day shooting)?
pistol weapon light only or light laser combo
- Thread starter rugbydave
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I used to shoot with an IDPA club that regularly shot matches with the range lights turned off.
It was very educational.
Smoky ammo is terrible. The light lights up the smoke and you can't see the targets.
A laser makes for very fast and very accurate shooting. The light does not have to be super bright.
For close range shooting in daylight, the laser retains the accuracy advantage.
It was very educational.
Smoky ammo is terrible. The light lights up the smoke and you can't see the targets.
A laser makes for very fast and very accurate shooting. The light does not have to be super bright.
For close range shooting in daylight, the laser retains the accuracy advantage.
I thought about the Streamlights and saw they had great reviews but I'm trying real hard not to buy anything made in China these days.
Combo for me.
I went with a TLR-8.
Yup, it’s not easy but with firearm related stuff at least there’s often an option.
Even Surefire has to buy out of US parts to make their flashlights.
https://reactual.com/outdoor-equipment-2/led-lights/brightest-led-lights.html
How so?
I will elaborate:
Pistol shooting works according to the same principals as any other tactical shooting. And through training and repitition you present with muscle memory to your sight line.
Whether you are using a MRDS or iron sight (my preference) you instinctively obtain a sight picture.
When shooting low light and no light, your weapon light illuminating the target actually helps your sight alignment due to the contrast.
The light options for pistol are best limited to 200lm and under and ideally find a medium spot with wide and soft edge lighting. You do not want to have a spot light, and you want your reflector to give a flood effect with soft edges to aid your eye in identifying other targets.
Anything over 200lm will reflect off lighter surfaces such as walls resulting in a detriment to your ability to see when your light is off, as well as minimizing your eyes ability to register detail outside of the lit area.
Most pistol lights are designed to meet these criteria.
As for a laser, when using a light, you can use the center cone of the light to instinct shoot on close targets should you need to, and a bright light can overwhelm your laser.
Additionally, the current MRDS provide a more familiar muscle movement to aquire and are less perceptibly impacted by shooter input on the pistol. Minor movement by the shooter moves the MRDS a milimeter within the shooters eyeline, while a laser may move inches, or feet downrange.
The other issue with a laser as an aiming device, is that the laser may be obstructed from the shooters veiw by the pistol itself causing the shooter to have to adjust their position to aquire it, or switch sighting methods anyway.
When compared to a laser the MRDS greatly improves long range pistol engagements. And for close range most shooters can instinct shoot or if they are equipped with a light, use the light as a pointing aid.
We have Lights 'n' Lasers matches.
Hand held light.
Pistol mounted light.
Pistol mounted laser.
A have a Crimson Trace grip mounted laser, and a Streamlight light. They work very well. If I were buying again, I would get a combination unit.
For a handheld light I have a Fenix.
Mounted on a carbine, the Streamlight allows accurate fire using the scope; I've not shot it past 100m.
If you have never used a laser in the dark, it is a remarkable experience. Groups and scores can be just as good or better than in daylight with sights.
Hand held light.
Pistol mounted light.
Pistol mounted laser.
A have a Crimson Trace grip mounted laser, and a Streamlight light. They work very well. If I were buying again, I would get a combination unit.
For a handheld light I have a Fenix.
Mounted on a carbine, the Streamlight allows accurate fire using the scope; I've not shot it past 100m.
If you have never used a laser in the dark, it is a remarkable experience. Groups and scores can be just as good or better than in daylight with sights.
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I ran a light/laser on my carbine at my first night match, thinking I would win it all and what an advantage it would be. Turns out it’s a HUGE learning curve.
1. The laser beam bounces around a lot and it spreads at distance.
2. With smoke around, the beam can get refracted.
3. Hard to figure out the intersect point when you shoot beyond the calibrated zero for the laser.
4. The light show was distracting. I found myself looking at the beam and not the target or trying to line up the beam with the target. Either way, it was slow!
By the end of the evening, I gave up looking at the laser even though I left it on. Now this is the observations of a newbie laser user doing live fire for the first time at night. We only get one night shoot a year so it’s not like we can practice this regularly. Playing with one with the lights on or in daylight is not the same thing. Since my experience, I’ve watched a few other guys try the laser. No one has won with one yet.
I agree with DaverII that, for me, visible light with a RDS is the fastest combination.
I don’t use a laser with my handgun so I have no experience with that. I would assume, as a point shooting tool, it would be fine. In our low light pistol matches, the front sight silhouettes really well with visible light to make good hits.
1. The laser beam bounces around a lot and it spreads at distance.
2. With smoke around, the beam can get refracted.
3. Hard to figure out the intersect point when you shoot beyond the calibrated zero for the laser.
4. The light show was distracting. I found myself looking at the beam and not the target or trying to line up the beam with the target. Either way, it was slow!
By the end of the evening, I gave up looking at the laser even though I left it on. Now this is the observations of a newbie laser user doing live fire for the first time at night. We only get one night shoot a year so it’s not like we can practice this regularly. Playing with one with the lights on or in daylight is not the same thing. Since my experience, I’ve watched a few other guys try the laser. No one has won with one yet.
I agree with DaverII that, for me, visible light with a RDS is the fastest combination.
I don’t use a laser with my handgun so I have no experience with that. I would assume, as a point shooting tool, it would be fine. In our low light pistol matches, the front sight silhouettes really well with visible light to make good hits.
