Do you CCW a pistol with a light?

[Reddevil]

Not CCW, but I carry my agency issued Sig P229 w/TLR in a Raven Phantom OWB on duty. I work plain clothes and have to be very concealed. Best OWB holster I've ever owned, however, off duty, I carry a M&P 340 as that SIG is just too damn heavy after 10-12 hours.

[John_Wayne777]

I would add that a weapon light can function as a hand held which can be placed ON the weapon if needed and time permits.

If I'm coming out of a restaurant and hear a noise by the dumpsters my left hand goes into my pocket and lights up the area with my TLR1 and my right hand goes to my SIG in my holster. If I see Goblins and have the time I mount the light...otherwise I drop it in my cargo pocket and both hands go to the SIG.

I would urge caution on that because there are documented cases where police officers have tried to do the dynamic on/off weapon light thing under stress and have ended up putting rounds through their hands in the effort. When I carry my M&P IWB I frequently have my X200B handy, but if I actually have to use it in conjunction with the handgun I'll be using it with a neck index or a Harries style technique.

[SteyrAUG]

The issue with this is if you ever needed to reholster the weapon quickly, you wouldn't be able to because of the light.

A Streamlight TLR1 goes off an on in about a second.

[SteyrAUG]

I would urge caution on that because there are documented cases where police officers have tried to do the dynamic on/off weapon light thing under stress and have ended up putting rounds through their hands in the effort. When I carry my M&P IWB I frequently have my X200B handy, but if I actually have to use it in conjunction with the handgun I'll be using it with a neck index or a Harries style technique.

The old M3 lights had to go forward of the barrel to attach, and I wouldn't feel too safe doing it especially with something like a Glock. The newer TLR1 and 2 attach from the bottom so it isn't the same.

[civilian]

Only if you're finger-tightening it to the gun, which I would recommend having seen a few fall off guns during range sessions. I use a nickel to tighten and remove mine, but that takes about a minute or so - less if I were pressed for time. All the more reason why I just leave it on the gun and if necessary use a separate flashlight if the need to illuminate arises that doesn't require me drawing the gun.

A Streamlight TLR1 goes off an on in about a second.

[Fly'nBuff]

I typically carry a SA Lightweight Champion Operator in a Comp-tac Infidel. I have a rail, so I will tote a light when possible. I just clip a Safariland RLS to my belt or waistband and I'm on my way. I like the flexibility to use it as a stand alone flashlight or a weapon mounted light. My two cents, but you can see it here:

http://www.safariland.com/DutyGear/rls/

[El Cid]

The other concern with trying to use a weapon light that is carried separately comes into play when it's time to re-holster. If the support hand/arm is injured or busy (dragging someone, carrying a child, etc.) you cannot holster with one hand. As tempting as it was before I got a holster designed for the gun/light combo... I refused to try taking the light on/off the gun in that manner. I also don't really feel like there will be time 99% of the time to mount it in the first place. If I need my gun, chances are I need it NOW. When I draw, the only place I want my support hand to go is to the front of my torso. From there it will join my shooting hand as the gun moves forward of my body. Trying to create two sets of muscle memory (one for daytime and one for night with the light) is not something I would care to try.

[ToddG]

The other concern with trying to use a weapon light that is carried separately comes into play when it's time to re-holster. If the support hand/arm is injured or busy (dragging someone, carrying a child, etc.) you cannot holster with one hand.

I hear this a lot, but I have to admit I'm hard pressed to think of too many situations where I might need to holster a gun so quickly that I can't take three seconds to remove a light.

[sff70]

I hear this a lot, but I have to admit I'm hard pressed to think of too many situations where I might need to holster a gun so quickly that I can't take three seconds to remove a light.
__________________

Todd, I respect what you have to say, and that may be true for you.

But it may take more than 3 sec.

Under stress, in the dark, how difficult is it to remove the light? How is the light attached? Do you use a rail lock? How tight is the attachment? Do you need a coin or a screwdriver? Are you wearing gloves? Are you using that support hand to employ a handheld light, OC, a cell phone, car keys, etc.?

Further, in LE (non generallly CC, I know, but we do have Det's, UCs, administrators, off duty LEOs, etc.), we have to go hands on with people a lot, people who we can't shoot, and who know that you can't shoot them.

If you had that pistol out during a building search, or to challenge a suspect in just about any LE circumstance and they close on you during circumstances that you can't shoot them, you have to holster NOW to go hands on with them and/or employ other force tools and if you have get that light off prior to holstering, you have a problem that is very difficult to solve.

We tested this in scenarios with a guy who was adamant that he could get the light off and then holster the gun to go hands on quickly.

He was unable to do so, each and every time, even when we tweaked the scenario to favor him (increased the distance, etc.).

FWIW

[ToddG]

Further, in LE (non generallly CC, I know, but we do have Det's, UCs, administrators, off duty LEOs, etc.), we have to go hands on with people a lot, people who we can't shoot, and who know that you can't shoot them.

Which is why my post said "situations where I might need to holster a gun so quickly". (emphasis added)

If my gun is in my hand, it's probably staying there until the problem is solved or someone in uniform pointedly asks me to put it down/away. Someone threatening or questionable gets within arm's reach, he gets thumped ... with the gun.

Certainly things could be different in an LE environment. However, if a particular officer finds himself frequently having to holster his gun to deal with a combative but non-lethal suspect who clearly isn't deterred by the presence of the pistol, it may be time to reconsider having the pistol out so much to begin with.