I’m setting my everyday carry pistol aside to just be a home defense gun now. Anyone got thoughts on adding a light or laser to it? Or maybe a combo of both? Not really worried about holsters since it’s staying home now.
Lasers are more of a gimmick, but a light is a must-have.
Lian said:
Lasers are more of a gimmick, but a light is a must-have.
You can sort of aim with a light, too. It’s not exact, but if I light up someone’s chest, that’s where I’m aiming. Good enough for a home defense situation.
I’ve been in some tight spots, and I’ll never go without a light again. Nothing worse than being in the dark with someone there. You won’t be thinking about a light switch; you’ll be thinking about keeping yourself and your family safe.
Definitely get a light. Lasers are only useful with night vision, which most of us don’t have. A solid white light is all you need.
A light is essential. Lasers? Not so much. If your vision isn’t great, maybe look at a red dot sight. And a paddle holster could help keep it safe and ready to grab in a pinch.
Gale said:
A light is essential. Lasers? Not so much. If your vision isn’t great, maybe look at a red dot sight. And a paddle holster could help keep it safe and ready to grab in a pinch.
I get where you’re coming from, but I actually find a laser pretty useful, especially one with a grip-activated pad. No need to press extra buttons.
@Yan
But what if the laser isn’t visible because of background clutter? Lasers have too many limitations, especially compared to red dots.
Gale said:
@Yan
But what if the laser isn’t visible because of background clutter? Lasers have too many limitations, especially compared to red dots.
For home defense at night, though, it’s mostly dark or low light. Just sight it at 7 yards, and you’re good for that range. Not my go-to for carrying out, but it works for home defense.
@Yan
Yeah, my pistol isn’t optics-ready. Tried a few on friends’ guns but never loved them enough to buy one myself.
@Yan
Lasers seem a lot better on a range than they do in real-life situations.
Zaren said:
@Yan
Lasers seem a lot better on a range than they do in real-life situations.
Totally agree. Everything changes when you’re actually in a high-stress situation.
Some people really hate the idea of putting a light on a gun, especially a home defense one, but I don’t get it.
“You could just turn on a light.” Well, what if the power’s out, or you’re somewhere without light?
“You could hold a light in one hand and the gun in the other.” Or I could use both hands on my gun.
“A gun light forces you to point at what you want to see.” Only if you need to see something specific, and even then, it’s manageable if you’re careful.
“Just call the cops and wait.” Not always an option if things are urgent.
TLDR: It’s your gun. Do what you feel is best. Adding a light to a home defense gun isn’t a bad idea.
@Valentine
Thanks for the insight! I’m leaning towards putting a light on it, but I like hearing what others think.
@Valentine
You can also point the light at the floor or wall to get some indirect light without aiming directly at someone. Real life isn’t a video game.
Think about a holster too, just to avoid accidentally grabbing the trigger if you reach for it in the dark. For my setup, I’ve got both a light on the gun and a flashlight nearby.
Light if your eyesight’s good, light and laser if you wear glasses. You might not have time to grab both your gun and glasses at night, so the light lets you see and the laser helps you aim.
Lasers work best if they’re parallel to the bore, not zeroed at a fixed distance.
Check out some of the sonar sights on the market. They’re a solid option for close-range defense.
If you’re serious, don’t point a flashlight directly forward—law enforcement holds it off to the side. Keeps you safer.