Pros and Cons of Weapon Mounted Lights

I recently posted a question across the Guns.com social media platforms: Does your concealed carry gun have a light?

Overwhelmingly, the answer was NO – and for a variety of reasons, ranging from a fear of giving away your location, to concerns about light-bearing holster availability and price.

Responses were similar across Guns.com social media pages.

My Experience

Before we go farther, here’s some pertinent information about myself: my carry gun does not have a weapon-mounted light (WML). I carry an HK VP9sk, and I have a small Cloud Defensive admin light that I carry along with medical supplies and a good knife. I’m not anti-WML – I just don’t have one for this gun yet. Both of my rifles have WMLs, as well as some of my larger-framed handguns that I like for home defense.

I do not have prior military or law enforcement experience, but I make an honest attempt to train with my firearms as much as I can afford. I do not consider myself an expert – I’m simply a gun owner with good intentions, a growing skill set, and opinions that may or may not be right.

WML Pros and Cons

While the Guns.com audience seemed to fall on the side of no lights, there are some major advantages to having one, including the ability to use your support hand to open doors, grab things, turn on lights, etc. (Photo: Chase Welch/Guns.com)

Over the past decade or so, the popularity of weapon-mounted lights on carry guns has undoubtedly increased. WML manufacturers have also improved their designs, decreased weight and bulk, and pumped up the lumens.

A quick scroll through Instagram will likely serve up more than a few stylized shots of Glocks, SIGs, HKs, and more sporting a variety of WMLs. But the question remains: Is a WML practical for the average concealed carrier?

Let’s examine some of the most common pros and cons you all posted in the comments.

Cons:

Added bulk and weight
Holster accommodations/cost of light
“I have to point my gun at something to use the flashlight.”
“The bad guy knows where I am.”

Pros:

Positively identify your target
Free support hand
Disorienting for attacker

Con: Added Bulk/Weight

Adding a light will increase the profile of your gun, as seen here with a **Taurus TH9**. (Photo: Taurus)

Despite innovations in design, the fact remains: adding a WML to your concealed carry gun is going to increase the weight and bulk. When the goal is concealment, the drawback here is obvious. More gun equals more difficulty concealing. At 5-foot-7 and 125 pounds, I’m not exactly a hulking hunk of human, so for me, the less bulk the better when it comes to carrying (in the warm months at least).

Carrying concealed isn’t exactly the most comfortable endeavor, and while innovations in holster design and concealed carry aids have greatly improved the experience, I personally still struggle with achieving a high level of comfort. It is understandable to me that some people would feel reluctant to use a WML for this reason; however, I would caution against letting a little discomfort potentially put you at a disadvantage.

Con: Holster Accommodations/Cost of the Light

Budgets vary, and it became apparent to me after reviewing comments that not everyone is willing to fork out additional money for a WML or a holster to accommodate it. While there are lots of options available at a variety of price points, your budget is your budget, and I can’t really argue with that. All I can say is that I personally believe in investing in my training and equipment, and I think you should, too.

Con: “I Have to Point My Gun at Something to Use the Flashlight”

If you're relying solely on your WML then you're also pointing the gun at whatever you need to see. (Photo: Rutsen Eagle/Guns.com)

Lots of the feedback I saw came in the form of concerns around pointing your firearm at things you shouldn’t. To some degree, I agree – you absolutely shouldn’t be pointing guns at things you don’t intend to shoot. Accidents happen, and it would be horrific to unintentionally harm or kill someone when you only intended to see what’s going on. I see the validity in the concern.

That being said – having a WML doesn’t mean you can’t ALSO carry and use a handheld light for the situations where it’s more appropriate. In fact, you probably should. Using a WML in place of a handheld light is going to increase the risk that you do something stupid, especially if you don’t practice good trigger discipline.

Con: “The Bad Guy Knows Where I Am”

As usual, training is key here. If you know what you’re doing, a WML is an effective and helpful tool. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re probably imaging a scenario where you’re using your WML to navigate – which would certainly draw some attention from would-be bad guys.

As soon as you hit the power button someone will know where you are. (Photo: Noah Alkinburgh/Guns.com)

All in all, yes, there are situations where accidentally activating your WML could reveal your location and make you a target, but chances are this is not the scenario you are going to find yourself in as a civilian.

If your home is being invaded, or if you’re attacked while carrying concealed, you’re already the target. In these scenarios, good training and a WML is your friend. We’ll dig more into the why with the pros of WMLs.

Pro: Positively Identifying Your Target

Weapon-mounted lights can help with home defense, no matter your firearm of choice. (Photo: Rutsen Eagle/Guns.com)

It is critical that you positively identify your target. I don’t think I need to tell you that there are no takebacks once you pull the trigger. A light will absolutely improve your ability to identify what something is and whether it’s a threat in a low-light situation.

Whether or not you should be using a handheld light or a WML depends on the situation you’re in. Your effectiveness with that tool will likely be dependent upon your training, situational awareness, and critical thinking skills.

Pro: Free Support Hand

One of the more obvious benefits to a WML is not having a handheld light in your support hand. It is possible to reload and clear malfunctions without your support hand, but like anything, it requires consistent training to be effective. If you don’t train it, you’re probably going to suck at it. If you become proficient with this technique, it may still be slower that having your support hand available.

Pro: LET THERE BE LIGHT!

To demonstrate how effective a pocket torch can be, Jarhead6 was a good sport in the video above. As you can see, there is something to be said about suddenly being blasted in the face with a bright light or strobe. When my husband and I first got handheld lights with some serious power, we had a bit of fun surprising each other in dark hallways. It is very disorienting and impacts your ability to react.

There are a few of you out there reading this right now thinking how it would be funny to surprise your wife or girlfriend in this way. Don’t do it, man. Just don’t. Also, don’t read the sentence following this one.

Ladies, hello! You should 100-percent do this to your husband or boyfriend with a handheld light. It is hilarious.

Conclusion

The polls and comments have made one thing certain: you guys have no shortage of opinions on this topic! At the end of the day, there is no simple black and white, right or wrong answer. Weapon-mounted lights are useful and effective tools.

Whether or not you should use a WML depends entirely on your needs and the level of training or experience you have acquired. If you don’t know how to use a tool properly, its usefulness will be diminished in your hands. Guns included. Train hard and consistently. Seek advice when you lack knowledge. Don’t make assumptions. Practice situational awareness and stay safe, friends.