Nightstand handgun setup

[alexrex20]

Ship, any EagleTac lights small enough to mount to a handgun?

[alexrex20]

If only this was 1/2in shorter:

http://www.eagletac.com/html/d25lc2m/index.html

[alexrex20]

although i guess it doesn't have ideal hand controls

[Shipwreck]

I'm wiilling to bet that in a home invasion scenario where your system is full of adrenaline and any shooting, should it happen, will take place quickly and at a distance of no more than a few feet...you're going to be hard-pressed to notice subtle balance differences because of a 4 oz light on the front of a 2.6 lb pistol.

I hear ya, but I don't think so... I mean, I can shoot with the light just fine - but I do notice the difference...

I have no doubt that you can tell the difference under range conditions, where you have the luxury of paying attention to such things.  But there's a huge difference between that and the fast-paced, emotion charged, possibly-fighting-for-your-life scenario I described. Similarly, consider the perception differences between shooting a rifle from a bench and shooting at a deer in the field.  At the range I can tell the difference in recoil between different loads in my lightweight .30-06.  But I've never even recalled feeling recoil at all after shooting a deer because I'm amped on adrenaline and focusing on the animal in my crosshairs.

The idea that you're going to be noticing balance subtleties when facing down a hostile intruder in your own home, let alone it having any meaningful impact on your ability to make COM hits on a min-sized target 8 feet in front of you seems quite unrealistic.

Yea, but continuing on this line of thought... Why do I even bother keeping my favorite gun on the nightstand? Why not just any gun, because under stress, it won't matter anyway...

My favorite gun is my favorite for a reason. I like the balance of my 92 without a light. I chose that.

Otherwise, I should just go buy an M&P or Glock or anything...

[Shipwreck]

Ship, any EagleTac lights small enough to mount to a handgun?

No, they do not. Todd at Illumination Gear told me one might be coming, but that was over a year ago - nothing yet.

[Jeb_66]

Lol

[DParker]

Yea, but continuing on this line of thought... Why do I even bother keeping my favorite gun on the nightstand? Why not just any gun, because under stress, it won't matter anyway...

Because there are qualities that DO matter in that situation, whether or not you pay any attention to them at the time.  Reliability, for instance.  Or a more natural (for you) grip angle, how easy the controls are for you to operate under stress, etc.  The inherent qualities of the gun most certainly can matter when your life depends on them, and in that regard different guns are...well...different.

My favorite gun is my favorite for a reason. I like the balance of my 92 without a light. I chose that.

My point is that making a decision about functionality that could make the difference between life or death based on a factor that, when it counts, won't matter at all doesn't seem like the way to go.

[lightskye]

My point is that making a decision about functionality that could make the difference between life or death based on a factor that, when it counts, won't matter at all doesn't seem like the way to go.

I'm running a P30L w/Surefire X400 (light/laser combo) and I totally get what DParker is saying.  For a full-size handgun, I doubt the added weight of a weaponlight will be noticeable by most in a SHTF situation and the advantage of not having to fumble around at night looking for your handgun AND a separate flashlight immediately upon waking up is a huge plus.

FYI, the reason why I opted to spend a couple hundred dollars more for the Surefire vs. a Streamlight TLR-series weaponlight is because I didn't like the fact that the TLR-series requires you to weak-hand thumb up (or trigger-finger thumb down) to enable "permanent on"---both disadvantages compared to a weak-hand thumb down motion.  For the TLR-series, weak-hand thumb down activates "momentary on" which immediately deactivates once you remove pressure---something you are almost guaranteed to do while firing which can create a strobe effect AGAINST you for rapid follow-up shots.  It's nice that Streamlight now offers a dedicated strobe feature (which Surefire does not, last I checked) but that's not enough to make up for its inferior control setup, IMO.

The one minor drawback for the Surefire (which I'm not sure if the Streamlight does or doesn't share) is that you need to dismount the X400 series from the handgun to swap out batteries (requiring you to verify and possibly re-zero the laser).

Going out at night, though, I love my EagleTac T20C2 (that Shipwreck recommended).  I am considering getting a smaller flashlight for lighter wear, though.

[Jeb_66]

I can flip my TLR 1 or 3 on with my trigger finger. Don't need the weak hand for anything other than holding cell phone to call 911, or opening a door, or whatever. I keep my 92FS/TLR1 combo in my night stand, and my spare Streamlight Strion Led is in it's cradle on the same night stand.  I can get both or just one depending on the circumstances.

But mounted light or not, doesn't really matter if you have a plan and practice it. Since he practices one handed shooting and I'm sure is comfortable with a light in one hand and a gun in other, more power to you. It's just not how I prefer to roll. Lol. I shoot my 92FS with the light on it so I'm use to how the gun feels, since that's how I intend on using it if I ever need to.

[Jeb_66]

Oh yeah, the TLR 2 (light /laser combo) shares the same drawback. I believe the TLR 3 is the only one that the battery comes out the front.

[Colonel]

Nuts to some girly .45 caliber pistol.

Booby trap your doorway with an anti-personnel mine; it'll handle any crappy thief, murderer, or rapist just the same AND wake you up in time to get your CQC shotgun instead (although at this point, you'll probably need a mop instead of a shotgun... ).

 

[Shipwreck]

Well, I sold that TRL1 actually. I do still have one on one of my PS90s. I could pull it off and use it on a handgun if I wanted to. But, I like the separate light. I mentioned it here a year ago, but I also have small nightlights everywhere in my house. 3 to a room, typically. I did this after my son was old enough to get up and walk.

I didn't want to hear a bump in the night, and make a mistake with someone hiding. I bought these small, round energizer LED nightlights they sell at Target. I like them a lot. They turn on and off automatically.

The standard non-railed Beretta 92 is my fav gun. Decided I didn't want a light on my gun.

I also know the gun very well. Have about 5k thru it now.

[Rubberdown]

P2000sk on both sides of the bed with a stream light and spare mag next to each. But usually I pick up the fn tps with the fore end light if im checking something out  The light output is better and a 12 gauge racking a round into te chamber is a bit more intimidating.

[lightskye]

P2000SK w/Streamlight on BOTH sides of your bed?!  Are these dedicated nightstand guns or does one double as your CCW?

[alexrex20]

$$$$$

I've settled on just a Surefire X300. no laser, no reflex sight.

I ordered VZ grips but they git hit-and-miss reviews for fitment, so I will probably just sell them and get some factory black grips. I think it will look better than the desert sand grips on the dark earth frame.

[lightskye]

I've settled on just a Surefire X300. no laser, no reflex sight.

You will love the X300, no doubt.  You can use it to surprise blind someone coming through a door (or around a corner) using your weak-hand thumb while maintaining a firm two-handed grip to simultaneously fire.

[alexrex20]

well here's a photoshop of what my gun should look like when i'm done with it.



i'm bidding on the factory aluminum grips on eBay right now. i set my max bid pretty high, let's see if anybody wants them more than me! lol

[Shipwreck]

Can you photoshop what you will look like, holding it? I need more imagery... 

[Jeb_66]

Looks sweet man!!! 

[alexrex20]

Still waiting on the black aluminum factory grips.