Light on your side arm or not?

[Highhuntin]

 So I just picked up a G 20 for my woods gun trying to decide if I should add a light to the rail or not? Pros cons? Thoughts? Holster options?

[Yelper Guy]

Get a red dot

[Highhuntin]

 I have never looked through a red dot have to look into them 👍🏻

[Bushcraft]

Damn hard to shoot the boogeyman if you can't see him.   

Put a TLR-8 on it and thank me later. 

[Highhuntin]

Damn hard to shoot the boogeyman if you can't see him.   

Put a TLR-8 on it and thank me later. 

Wow they are proud of those!

[Alchase]

My preference is no light. I prefer my knowledge of my house and the lightning in it.
Having said that, lights definitely have their place. If I was actively hunting/looking for someone somewhere other that my home at night, I would want a light.
Just don’t see a need on my daily carry.

[Fl0und3rz]

So I just picked up a G 20 for my woods gun trying to decide if I should add a light to the rail or not? Pros cons? Thoughts? Holster options?

Because this is in backcountry hunting, be aware of the prohibition of devices that cast a beam on quarry, and your context.  Otherwise, for pure SD, sure, light laser combo.  Red dot might be nice for hunting and possibly SD.

[Highhuntin]

So I just picked up a G 20 for my woods gun trying to decide if I should add a light to the rail or not? Pros cons? Thoughts? Holster options?

Because this is in backcountry hunting, be aware of the prohibition of devices that cast a beam on quarry, and your context.  Otherwise, for pure SD, sure, light laser combo.  Red dot might be nice for hunting and possibly SD.

It is a dedicated self defense gun for the back country, (will not be Hunting with it) that’s what rifles are for  leaning towards a light or light laser combo but then need to figure out and get new holster(s)   

[MADMAX]

I went with trijicon night sights on my G20
Very nice and simple

[Fl0und3rz]

Shop for holster first, to see what laser/light combos you can fit, unless you are in for a custom.

[buckfvr]

If its dark, Im wearing a head lamp anyway, but may still get a light for the XDM 10mm just in case.  I have the Diamond D Alaskan Guides chest holster for it and didnt want to buy a light and pay more for the holster so it would fit the light.  I never found myself wishing I had a light on my 44 revolver, my headlamp being more than adequate.   

[Alchase]

I also run Trijicon night sights.

[Alchase]

I am conflicted on using a red dot on my pistols.
I love shooting red dots for rifles and pistols but they are not very practical for Most types of every day carry holster wise.
I will probably mount my Trigicon Delta Point Pro on one of my XDs to use for OWB or pack mounted holsters when hiking and hunting.

[Highhuntin]

Not sure a red dot is something I’d like,


How about these?

https://www.hivizsights.com/product/hiviz-target-sight-set-for-glock/P

[slavenoid]

If you need a light to identify your target in the woods you probably already have a light on anyways. In the woods I always have my light on my head and/or support hand. The best thing about having your light separate is you can transition your light to different areas without having to muzzle people that don't need guns pointed at them. I would get some trijicon night sights and call it good.

[Highhuntin]

That’s for all the responses! I agree a separate light is good to have and I do the same headlamp and also always have a handheld but I like to have as many options as I can, I have a problem if overpacking though!

[MHWASH]

I recently picked up a Streamlight TLR-1HL for my XDM 10mm. My concerns are when I’m in the tent at night or while family camping. The SL uses a thumb screw to tighten up to the rail. I just put mine on at night and remove the next morning before hunting.

[Highhuntin]

I recently picked up a Streamlight TLR-1HL for my XDM 10mm. My concerns are when I’m in the tent at night or while family camping. The SL uses a thumb screw to tighten up to the rail. I just put mine on at night and remove the next morning before hunting.

I think this may solve most of my problems here! My concerns are the same and it’s only one flashlight to pack in then 👍🏻 Didn’t realize they came off that easy, for general lighting I have a headlamp or my hat with leds. it also frees me up on the holster side of things.

[Fl0und3rz]

That’s for all the responses! I agree a separate light is good to have and I do the same headlamp and also always have a handheld but I like to have as many options as I can, I have a problem if overpacking though!

Sounds like headlamp, handheld falshlight, and night sights are the trick.  I have a laser/light on a bedside combo, but it never sees carry.

[dilleytech]

If you carry a head light with you you don’t really need a light on your gun. Also I think a laser built into your grip would be a better choice so you can shoot without aiming down the sights in the dark.

[Highhuntin]

I agree when wearing a headlamp it is not needed but while sleeping in my tent I don’t wear it and a handheld flash light is one more thing to try and grab in the dark when the boggyman comes knocking on the tent flap

[KFhunter]

I'm running a G20 (gen 3) and TRL-1 HL in a GFI holster and I added trijicon night sights as well.

If you buy a GFI holster with the TRL-1HL option then you need to have the light on the gun or it won't fit in the holster snug enough for carry. 

I went with the HL version because I'm not using it like a flash light and don't need the extended burn times, I want pupil burning bright!



As for the light being necessary or not I'm not sure    I generally have a head lamp on and with the trijicon sights I can see those fine.   I don't always have my headlamp on though, especially if the moon is good or its dusk.

Sometimes I have the head lamp on red, do I want to fumble around trying to get the white on or draw and aim when the brush cracks?

Also would a strong light deflect a charge?  perhaps..I know critters generally go blind in the light and it blows their night vision for a bit, it might delay them long enough or could even abandon a charge with enough light...in theory?  maybe   


In the end it doesn't weigh much, so I decided to have that option on the gun.  It does have a dampening effect on the recoil and the gun tuning, not enough to make a well tuned gun not run, but a poorly tuned gun might not run with a light.   

[Highhuntin]

Yeah that’s my thinking is I have to decide light or not before I go holster shopping and also what light (prob the TRL1) Guess I’ll do like someone said and see what holsters with the light option I have and then decide.

[jdb]

I have a streamlight I don't recall the model tlr6 maybe? I called simply rugged and asked if they'd make me a holster that'd fit my m&p with that light. No problem.

[KFhunter]

I've done many forms of shooting at dark, and it's not much fun holding a flashlight while shooting, not when compared to shooting with a light on the gun rail. 

The only draw back to having a mounted light is making sure your not swinging the muzzle around like a flashlight...not a big deal solo in the back country, but if you got a hunting partner don't muzzle them 

[Highhuntin]

Yeah the 10 is a handful any way

Yeah jdb a custom may be the way to go I’m just scared of the price tag 

[MHWASH]

You don’t need a holster, leave the light at camp. Bolt on when you get there.
Critters are not the problem people are.

[Dan-o]

Interesting perspectives.

I've opted to go without lights/lasers.

I've had them on a few firearms, but I just kind fo figure in my time of need I don't want to mess with it.

Not saying I'm right.

[MHWASH]

Interesting perspectives.

I've opted to go without lights/lasers.

I've had them on a few firearms, but I just kind fo figure in my time of need I don't want to mess with it.

Not saying I'm right.

 What do you do in the dark? I’m talking in the wilderness where there is no light other than the moon? What about in the dark with no moon light? I ve been in the back woods on a cloudy night where there is zero light.

[Stein]

My thought is that if it is dark and I can't see then sending a bunch of bullets around is likely not the best move.  If there is a bear on me then chances are I would know which way to shoot or it wouldn't matter.  For every guy that shot a bear off him in the dark with a rail mounted flashlight, there are 50 that shot their buddy, kid, brother or some other poor guy who was in the wrong place at the right time.

[Dan-o]

Interesting perspectives.

I've opted to go without lights/lasers.

I've had them on a few firearms, but I just kind fo figure in my time of need I don't want to mess with it.

Not saying I'm right.

 What do you do in the dark? I’m talking in the wilderness where there is no light other than the moon? What about in the dark with no moon light? I ve been in the back woods on a cloudy night where there is zero light.

Well, I'm a big chicken, so I  ALWAYS have a flashlight handy.

Personally, I think I'd be better off operating a flashlight and just using my pistol the good old way.

I imagine if a guy was really practiced up with his gear that a laser/light combo would be best of all worlds......   But I don't practice that way and I'm either not dedicated enough or scared enough to change.

[jdb]

Yeah the 10 is a handful any way

Yeah jdb a custom may be the way to go I’m just scared of the price tag 

i think my holster ran like $85

[Highhuntin]

Yeah the 10 is a handful any way

Yeah jdb a custom may be the way to go I’m just scared of the price tag 

i think my holster ran like $85

That’s not bad

[Torrent50]

Have a G20 with a Delta Point Pro mounted on it (after sending the slide to Lone Wolf for milling).  Love the gun.  Rapid acquisition of the dot and definitely has improved my shooting, especially with my eyesight getting worse with age.  There is a reason that lots of police departments and officers are going to red-dot sights.  I highly recommend it.  As for my pack holster, it's a Blackhawk Serpa and it fits perfectly. 

[wkraemer]

I have thought about the same question. My thought are if you have a light and it strobes, would that disrupt the animal and cause vision problems?  would it even scare the animal away?  Or would it do the other and attract the animal to you?

[KFhunter]

My TRL-1 HL battery cap broke, might be good idea to get a spare

No idea why, perhaps just fatigued plastic? hasn't been dropped or banged that I know of. Seems to be common thing by Amazon reviews.. 18 bux on prime

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[KFhunter]

Try not to loose that metal pin, new caps come without it or the clamp either.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk

[Highhuntin]

Good to know, was planning to buy the tlr1 here soon. I’m still looking at holster options, I hate to buy one online without seeing and feeling it but not seeing much locally. (Tri cities) I travel east/central wa for work so planning on looking around.

[Buzz2401]

My preference is no light. I prefer my knowledge of my house and the lightning in it.
Having said that, lights definitely have their place. If I was actively hunting/looking for someone somewhere other that my home at night, I would want a light.
Just don’t see a need on my daily carry.

I'm on this boat.  I understand being sure of your target but a light gives your position away.  I think every situation is different and having the ability to use the light and maybe not using it at all times may be the best option but I don't personally like the extra bulk.

[Highhuntin]

My preference is no light. I prefer my knowledge of my house and the lightning in it.
Having said that, lights definitely have their place. If I was actively hunting/looking for someone somewhere other that my home at night, I would want a light.
Just don’t see a need on my daily carry.

I'm on this boat.  I understand being sure of your target but a light gives your position away.  I think every situation is different and having the ability to use the light and maybe not using it at all times may be the best option but I don't personally like the extra bulk.

I don’t use one for my home gun but his will he my dedicated “woods gun”