Proper activation of handgun mounted light?

[matthewdanger]

I have always generally preferred to use a hand held in my weak hand when needing a light with a handgun. The mechanics just make more sense to me. I do, however, realize that I am giving up some second shot speed by not having a full two hand firing grip.

I have spent some time on the range working with a G35 and G21 with light mounted. It seems that most people use the index finger of the strong hand to manipulate the light. However, since the light is only to be used very intermittently (not constant on), it seems strange to use your trigger finger. Once a target is identified and your trigger finger moves to the trigger, your light goes out.

Would it make more sense to use the thumb of the weak hand in a high thumb grip? The problem with this however is that the controls are usually opposite for the thumb on a rocker type switch (up for momentary, down for constant). Some of the Insight offerings correct this by have a switch that is up for constant and down for momentary on both sides.

Using a hand held light seems less complicated even though it requires the user to keep track of two items in their hands. And with a palm or wrist lanyard the user can easily and quickly gain use of their weak hand if needed.

I will continue to test this out and I do have some opportunities coming up for more low light training (in the past I have always used a hand held light). So what is the "proper" way to activate a handgun mounted light?

Thanks,
Matt

[Robb Jensen]

I use my support hand thumb.

[matthewdanger]

I use my support hand thumb.

Thanks! So I'm not crazy.

[Jay Cunningham]

I went full circle from employing a DG switch on my X300, to removing the DG switch and bumping the rocker switch with my support thumb, back to the DG switch.

This is after completing Hackathorn / Vickers Low Light Level I and Level II.

[theJanitor]

I went full circle from employing a DG switch on my X300, to removing the DG switch and bumping the rocker switch with my support thumb, back to the DG switch.

This is after completing Hackathorn / Vickers Low Light Level I and Level II.

The_Katar, can you expand on the benefits of the switch? i'm assuming it's centered around one handed operation of the pistol/light.

Personally, i use my support hand thumb, as i'm not employing a switch on any of my lighted pistols.

[Jay Cunningham]

The_Katar, can you expand on the benefits of the switch? i'm assuming it's centered around one handed operation of the pistol/light.

Personally, i use my support hand thumb, as i'm not employing a switch on any of my lighted pistols.

Sure.

First a minor correction: I used an X200B on my Glock. I prefer it on a pistol to the X300.

During Low Light I I simply used a hand held light and a tritium dot on my front sight only. I quickly learned how nice a weapon mounted light was... ever try to open a door with a pistol in one hand and a flashlight in the other? Even squeezing a teammate on the shoulder became a chore. I also learned that I needed a reference point on the rear sight, or else it was easy to throw shots high in very dark conditions.

After that class I went for the Warren straight 8 style night sights - which are phenomenal. At one point I had CT Lasergrips on my Glock 19 and the X200B with a DG switch. I seemed to have a lot of light ND's with this setup, so I took the DG switch off. Eventually I got rid of the CT laser because the Glock model sucks.

During Low Light II I realized how much I missed that DG switch. I thought I would just bump that light with my support thumb and soldier on, but it's not so easy in a dynamic environment. I got to the point that upon entering a room I would just turn the light on and then turn it off after the engagement. I managed to have a light ND (in a doorway of all places) even with the rocker switch but my teammate (C4IGrant) I believe used a DG switch the whole time and I don't recall a light ND.

When I got back home I put the DG switch back on. I am currently doing T&E on a LaserMax Sabre laser and lo and behold - I found I got light ND's from this arrangement. Turns out it is the change in the grip and not the DG switch itself that makes it (for me) prone to light ND's.

Anyway I am quite content with the Warren two dot night sight config and the X200B with the DG switch setup.

Sorry for the ramble.

[John_Wayne777]

To echo what Jay is saying, I found using the rocker switch on the X series Surefire lights to be a pain in the ass. In the November 2007 Low Light class I was using my X200B on my M&P through the barrel house at Ken's range and I looked like a monkey trying to hump a football. It was terrible.

I engaged a target in the hallway and ended up running dry. (Because I was so busy futzing with my light that I wasn't paying attention to my ammo consumption) As I went to turn the light off I actually pushed the rocker switch too far down and locked it into the downward on position. I realize this in the middle of my reload and about .5 seconds before Ken starts yelling at me to get that light off.

I was so pissed off at that point that I just pulled out my hand-held light and used that to finish the house. Miracle of miracles, once I stopped worrying about how to use my friggin' light I didn't make any more huge tactical mistakes. Equipment doesn't make the man, but fighting with your equipment sure as hell doesn't help you out any. Even though I had a mounted light on my handgun I did the rest of the course using a hand-held light because I found the rocker switch so difficult to use.

After that experience I bought a DG switch and it's great. After spending some time figuring out the best way to use the light I don't have light AD's but when I need the light it is just a squeeze away. I live in perfect harmony with my X200 now.

[NCPatrolAR]

I use the support hand thumb. Only time I use my trigger finger is if I have my support hand occupied.

[John Hearne]

I really like the DG switch. For starters, my thumbs are shorter than normal and if I use my support sidee thumb to activate the light I have to compromise my firing grip. When I first tried the DG switch, I didn't like the AD's I'd get with the light in the holster. I recently picked up a better holster, that encapsulates the light, and like it a lot. If the light gets bumped on during my firing stroke it doesn't give anything away. Once I get the gun moving up, the AD's are a non-issue.

[CLHC]

Still learning here but, . . .what is "DG"? Tried looking around before and even within SF's website and catalogs, but to no avail as to what this "acronym" stands for (if it's even an acronym)?