This week's topic, though slightly late, will be of lights and guns.
When most folks go to the range, they do so during the daytime. As Murphy would have it though, most times when emergency occurs, it is during adverse conditions. Break-ins, attacks, burgs usually occur at night. So training without a light, while practical to grow one's overall firearm handling skills does not help with the night time scenarios.
I know... Some will ask: what about weapon mounted lights? A lot of folks look at them as the next best thing to sliced bread since nowadays most departments require the weapon mounted lights as part of the duty setup. So if it's good for the cops, why not for us? Well guess what - they also require a regular flashlight. This has to do with the fact that there will be times where you need a light and you're close to but not at the position of having to point a gun at someone. Don't take me wrong though, my nightstand gun has a WML and right next to it is a flashlight.
So what about the out and about? When I'm out and about I carry a small but powerful (bright) pocket flashlight. It's on and off only so that I don't have to worry about cycling through a variety of brightness levels and strobe (my duty light has strobe on it). I train with it at the range every few months. If it's not dark, then I still simulate going with it through the proper motions. Starting with drawing the light and then following with the gun, drawing gun and then getting the light (your scenarios might vary). I also practice shooting using various light techniques as well as reloads with the flashlight being out.
Training makes for good habits. Good habits make for better life experiences
When most folks go to the range, they do so during the daytime. As Murphy would have it though, most times when emergency occurs, it is during adverse conditions. Break-ins, attacks, burgs usually occur at night. So training without a light, while practical to grow one's overall firearm handling skills does not help with the night time scenarios.
I know... Some will ask: what about weapon mounted lights? A lot of folks look at them as the next best thing to sliced bread since nowadays most departments require the weapon mounted lights as part of the duty setup. So if it's good for the cops, why not for us? Well guess what - they also require a regular flashlight. This has to do with the fact that there will be times where you need a light and you're close to but not at the position of having to point a gun at someone. Don't take me wrong though, my nightstand gun has a WML and right next to it is a flashlight.
So what about the out and about? When I'm out and about I carry a small but powerful (bright) pocket flashlight. It's on and off only so that I don't have to worry about cycling through a variety of brightness levels and strobe (my duty light has strobe on it). I train with it at the range every few months. If it's not dark, then I still simulate going with it through the proper motions. Starting with drawing the light and then following with the gun, drawing gun and then getting the light (your scenarios might vary). I also practice shooting using various light techniques as well as reloads with the flashlight being out.
Training makes for good habits. Good habits make for better life experiences
