
Originally Posted by
The Morrigan
I think you are mistaking how a weapon light is used.
You don't hear a bump in the night, grab your rifle, turn on the light and then go looking for the bad guy.
The light stays off until you are int he proximity of the threat (it's rare that there will not be enough light, even at night, to see where an intruder is). Then, you aim the weapon, and engage the light. This does several things:
1.) It allows identification of the target. Unless you are behind enemy lines, killing the enemy willy-nilly, you damn well better know what you are shooting at. This is especially true as a police officer or civilian who will have to go to court and explain to people who have no idea what the situation might have been, just exactly why you drilled someone. Doesn't matter if you live alone, you have to have a good reason you killed someone, and you WILL have to describe how you POSITIVELY identified the person as a threat worthy of lethal force.
2.) It destroys the bad guy's night vision, and with the light pointed at them, blinds them and puts them at a severe disadvantage -- hopefully enough that they will cease and desist without driving you to shoot.
3.) Provides a light background (illuminated perp) which enable you to have a better sight picture with or without a RDS.
#3 is the reason most people will put a weapon light ahead of a RDS for a defensive rifle. At self defense ranges at home, you don't even really need to align sights. Put the front sight post on the target, or if you have a hard time seeing it, bracket what you want to hit with the front sight ears. This will put you on target -- you won't split hairs, but it'll be good enough -- very quickly. Don't believe me? Very few houses have a place you can shoot much over 45 feet. So go to the 15 yards line at the range. Set up a silhouette target. Then, standing with the rifle in your preferred ready position, mount the rifle as you would if you were going to line up the sights, but just put the front post on the silhouette where you want to hit it and fire. Do that several times. You'll have no trouble hitting the chest, and with practice, fist sized groups (good enough for e heart, or unobstructed head shot) at that range won't be difficult.
But you need the light to ID what you are shooting at.
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