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I want to get some feedback on tac lights for a nightstand Semi-auto (Glock 21). Right now, I have a Mag light sitting on my nightstand right next to my handgun safe, and can easily grab both if needed (not to mention that my house is next to a major street, and the street lights and house windows are such that the house is never extremely dark).

I'm wondering about the pros and cons of getting a tac light for the G21. All comments appreciated.

One drawback of a weapon mounted light is that you're pointing a loaded gun at someone you want to illuminate.
That person may possibly be a family member or a friendly.

I personally prefer a small hand held light independent of the gun.

USA1 wrote:One drawback of a weapon mounted light is that you're pointing a loaded gun at someone you want to illuminate.
That person may possibly be family member or a friendly.

That was one of the things that I thought about, too. I watched the tactical light training videos on You Tube and when one of the officers said "and lights attract bullets", I decided that a gun mounted light was probably not the way that I wanted to go. Being able to hold the light in a different place than my gun (and my head behind it) seemed like a good idea.

Be sure to checkout the "Streamlight" brand.

I have a 4 year old SL20XD led model that's been through all kinds of torture and it's still kicking. I know many, many LEOs that use this model as their everyday "duty" light, and HFD issues Streamlight products to their firefighters and EMS personel.

The SL20XD led is the same size as an old 3 (4?) Maglight, but a vast improvement. For starters it's rechargeable (up to 1000 times according to Streamlight). They say the output of the "main" bulb is 200 lm. It will "run" at that 200 lm. for 1.5 hours continuous. A separate switch controls 3 very bright leds (enough to illuminate a dark room).

My light has been dropped (rolled off the truck) 100s of times, and submerged completely underwater with no negative effects.

I also have a much older (over 10 years) Streamlight with no leds. Last year I had to get the switch replaced (it had been used nearly every night for years and years and the waterproof cover of the switch had worn out). I took it back to Central Police Supply here in Houston and they fixed it on the spot for no charge and the repair took all of 3 minutes. They are an "Authorized Repair Shop".

I hadn't looked at the Streamlight website in sometime and I was amazed at some of the new products. Check them out, I think you'll like what you see. And no, I don't work for them. But since I could break an anvil and have yet to break a Streamlight I trust them like no other.

USA1 wrote:One drawback of a weapon mounted light is that you're pointing a loaded gun at someone you want to illuminate.
That person may possibly be a family member or a friendly.

I personally prefer a small hand held light independent of the gun.

I prefer both, in case the flashlight gets knocked off the nightstand or out of my hand. And a flashlight isn't a laser -- it doesn't need to be pointed right at someone to illuminate them.

Good point. You could point it at the ceiling, wall, or safe backstop of your choice and still illuminate say, a person in bed. But what about under the bed? Or over the fence to light up the adjacent backyard? I wonder what my neighbor would think if I (while investigating glass breaking noises, etc) stuck my light equipped pistol over the fence and scanned his yard and house a few times? What about then, huh?!! Sorry, I got carried away.

Of course this is all hypothetical, because surely everyone here does like I do when it comes to investigating things that go bump in the night. Ya'll have nightvision goggles too, right?

USA1 wrote:One drawback of a weapon mounted light is that you're pointing a loaded gun at someone you want to illuminate.
That person may possibly be a family member or a friendly.

I personally prefer a small hand held light independent of the gun.

That certainly can be true if the operator points the light directly at the person/sound. I'd suggest using the "cone" of the light to light up what you're interested in seeing while keeping the barrel pointed lower than the target.

The hand held technique that I use really doesn't have many differences with a weapon mounted light, so this is the technique that I've learned to use. Interestingly enough, Clint Smith recommends leaving the light on - This is about the only thing that he teaches in his videos that I don't agree with 100%.

Dave2 wrote: And a flashlight isn't a laser -- it doesn't need to be pointed right at someone to illuminate them.

True dat. Holding a gun with a mounted light at low ready is probably enough to see an assailant ,but for the sake of argument, when it's 3am and your house alarm is blaring, and your bedroom door opens, and your heart is racing, aren't you most likely going to point that light directly at the face of whoever it is to see who they are, what they want, and what they might be holding? It could be the bad guy, or it could be a family member.

...Just thinking out loud.

I understand that with proper training, a weapon mounted light can be a highly effective tool. The only problem is that most people are not properly trained.(myself included).

Thanks for all of the input. I think I will stay with the handheld light for now. As it is, I already have alot more on my shopping list than I have the cash to buy.

On my G21sf duty weapon there hangs a streamlight tlr-1, there's also one on my AR. In my loop there's a streamlight sl-20 and on my belt is a strion led.

They make great lights. You may check out the safariland light system too - it is a tac light that operates handheld and can clamp on the rail on your glock when you need it too. One of my buddies on our swat uses it on patrol and loves it.

As a result of the thread I've been checking out the Streamlight website. If you've got around $500 to spare, you can pickup a "Litebox". It's a lantern style (has a handle). Practically indestructible, 500 lumens with a 7.5 hour runtime! Next best thing to the lightsaber.

Another thing to consider is normal lights or lamps with remote switches. From my bedroom, I can turn on lights at both exterior doors and in the kitchen. I can remain hidden by darkness but anyone coming to my bedroom will be back lit at least. These don't replace tactical lights but they're another tool for the toolbox.