Weapon Mounted vs. Handheld Light – Part 2

With a few exceptions, lights designed to be mounted to your pistol’s accessory rail cost significantly more than a handheld light of equal quality. Not only do they have to pack a lot of illuminating power into a small package, lights that mount directly to your firearm have to include a switch that is easy to reach.

The sensitive electronics must be able to withstand the recoil of a centre fire handgun. The lens material has to endure muzzle blast and fouling without breaking or permanently diminishing the quality of the beam. That’s a lot to ask, and it doesn’t come cheap.

Many weapon mounted lights will function perfectly over the course of a few practice sessions, but only the most rugged lights can withstand the recoil and abuse of being attached to a pistol for several thousand rounds. Consider how often you’ll want to practice with your light mounted to your pistol when making your choice, and assume that if you want maximum durability, it will come with a price tag to match.

Even if you decide not to keep your light mounted every time you fire the pistol, at the very least, fire 200 rounds with the light attached to ensure it’s mounted correctly and will not work its way loose under recoil. Also be sure to check that the light and switch still function after firing. 

Finally, it’s not a bad idea to clean the outside of the light’s lens before storing the gun for emergency use.

Here are a few suggestions from Klarus Light to get you started. There are plenty of excellent lights listed here, always be aware that inexpensive lights typically cannot be expected to stand up to long-term use nearly as well as more costly designs. Remember the old addage, “If it looks too good to be true… it will probably catch on fire when you try to turn it on.”

Klarus XT11
Klarus XT11S
Klarus XT15

Weapon Mounted vs. Handheld Light – What do you use?

Weapon Mounted vs. Handheld Light – Part 1

Do you know what that rail is for on the front of your handgun? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not there to impress the ladies! It’s for mounting accessories, which usually means some kind of “tactical” light. Anyone who carries a handgun or keeps one around the house should also have a good flashlight, and a rail-mounted light is a convenient solution. Handheld flashlights are a popular alternative, and many respected firearms instructors seem to prefer this option.

Here are the basic pros and cons of the handheld light.

No matter which way you lean on this issue, it’s essential that the light selected is of high quality. Even if you skip the practice and training necessary to become proficient with a light, just having ready access to a reliable illumination source is better than waving around your gun in the dark. Below are a few general gear-specific tips and some recommendations to get you started.

Handheld Lights

LED technology has come a long way in the last decade and we now have plenty of remarkable flashlights that put out a great deal of illumination but can still fit in your pocket. However, not every well-constructed bright flashlight is suitable for use with a handgun. Beyond basic quality and light output, the most important feature to look for is a switch that can be activated easily with one hand. This usually means a tailcap switch that is operated with the thumb.

A simple interface is also ideal. Some lights have a strobe function or various brightness modes depending on how many times or how long you press the switch. For self-defence, the light should be stupid-easy to operate so that next to no brain power is required to activate it under stress.

Some lights feature a “momentary-only” style switch, which is useful for techniques that require the user to activate the light only for short bursts in order to avoid becoming a target for a potential attacker. Others boast extraordinary light output, which may be ideal when searching for missing children in the woods at night, but possibly counter-productive when illuminating your bathroom with a glossy white tile floor.

Most tactical flashlights run on one to two batteries, usually AA or CR123. Both battery types are common and affordable, and many of the brighter flashlights will burn through those batteries fairly quickly when used on the highest setting, so keep a good supply handy. No matter the bells and whistles, just make sure your light comes from a reputable manufacturer, like Klarus Light, who have a history of making lights that work every time and won’t die out on you when you need it.

Below are a few excellent tactical flashlights that are both reasonably priced and reliable.  This list should help get you thinking in the right direction.

Klarus ST2C
Klarus XT2C
Klarus XT11
Klarus FH10

This list should help get you thinking in the right direction. Stay tuned because next week we’ll be discussing the basic pros and cons of the weapon -mounted light.

Headlamp vs Handheld Flashlight

Which one is better – a headlamp or a handheld flashlight? Well, they both have their pros and cons and they both fill unique rolls with some overlap, so there really is no definitive answer. It is up to you to make your own choice.

Let’s evaluate the headlamp vs handheld flashlight features and benefits to help you decide which one is best for your next adventure.

Headlamps

A headlamp is essentially a hands free flashlight. These flashlights come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are of varying quality – all allow you the ability to use both hands while still shining light on your focus area.

Pros

- Operates completely hands free
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Difficult to lose while running, swimming or after a fall

Cons

- Generally not a powerful as a handheld
- Must be clipped or affixed in order to be efficient
- You must turn your head to turn the beam of the flashlight

Handheld Flashlights

These are what come to mind when someone says the word “flashlight”. Handheld flashlights cover a wide range of styles and power levels. Because of their versatility, handheld flashlights are the go to option for a variety of professionals and hobbyists.

Pros

- Extremely versatile
- Ability to alter beam strength, length and type
- Ideal for tactical uses

Cons

- Easily misplaced
- Must be aimed and does not automatically follow gaze
- Does not stay attached in the event of a fall

Regardless of which one you choose, or if you choose both, make sure you are investing in a flashlight that will do the job consistency and well. Don’t buy a cheap flashlight that cannot perform when you need it most, rather invest in a flashlight that will do the job for years to come.

Browse through Klarus Light’s website for a wide range of durable, innovative and affordable flashlights!