Spot on Gabe. The “Three Michaels” way back when taught me the same thing. With lighting technology being what it is today, an EDC light can be very convenient and easily carried in a belt holster, as I do, next to a single magazine in a pouch. I like the analogy to falling off a cliff; it directly applies to us, as we live in a semi-rural environment, and our acreage lacks much ester lighting, by design. Looking forward to part 2. SplitHoof

Gabe! I have been saying the same points for years-both when I was training our inservice guys, and since I retired and have been teaching honest taxpayers! You hit ANOTHER home run! DVC

A weapon mounted light is not a search light or a light used to look around. Never point a weapon at anything you don't think is a threat. One of the 4 rules. I have seen operators look around in their trunk for an item using their weapon mounted light. Not the best choice. Well done Gabe, stay safe.

Agreed, but... I carry a wml anyway. Lights have gotten so much better, smaller and lighter (and continue to). Having alternated and not noticed any additional weight or discomfort, I've elected for both.

I've done enough FOF low light cornering CQB to have experienced using both. Weapon light is not my first choice for a few reasons. 1. BG may shoot at the light. Your face right behind it is not best idea. With handheld you can at least offset that enough to cause a miss. 2. Forces you to point muzzle where you may not want it to go. 3. May be more likely to reflect a bright surface and blind yourself especially in a tight place. 4. Control fumbling under stress might lead to AD/ND. Those pistol switches that put the light button under the trigger guard is a horrible idea. 5. Makes specialty holster selection for your non-glock a lot harder. However, I have one for the sake of options. I have used both handheld and WML simultaneously in successful distraction tactics that gave me edge in FOF work. Also, if your handheld is lost or damaged you have a backup. Something quick detach can be used as a backup handheld. But for the love of Pete do not get one of those auto-turn-on light/holster combos, that is pure stupidity. So while it will never be my go-to, I will always have one for the sake of options.

Yep I totally agree. In vegan civilian life a pocket light does it all with less size and weight. Plus I avoid badly lit areas.

Agreed, Dave. I still carry one on my weapon in the off chance I can use it. If it comes to illuminating a dark area, I have my phone flashlight for that.

My opinion on lights on your guns is , if you are in that situation and you have a big ass bright light shining off your gun . You're just making yourself an easy target.

I hear you brother, but IMO it's really not about being loaded down with too much gear. A small weapon light on a pistol is nothing as far as I'm concerned, but it does improve tactical advantage, no questions asked. I've lost count of how many low-light/no-light hours of training and work experience I have including working swings and mids and training days over my previous career, and in that time, I can't tell you how often IDing the actual threat v. perceived possible threat has been a conscious and applied effort due to shadow, even in urban lighting settings. It essentially for the same reasons I advoate carrying a light when you expect to be operating in full sunlight. There's always going to be dark crap to deal with. The bottom line of a weapon mounted light is to have better control over the weapon when the light is employed, and in a dynamic engagement against a mover, I'll take all the "tactical advantage" I can personally. Because the dynamic evolution of the event is reactive, I want that. Granted I'm retired now and no longer functioning on a "team", but it is a no-brainer for me. One low profile light and a low-profile reflex optic backed up by Trijicon sights is the optimum choice in my experience. In full light, a blacked-out blade is optimal for maximum contrast, but I've had a lot of difficulty in the past, especially while in the military waaay back in the 80s-early 90s (pre-optics and wide use of NVGs era) quickly picking up a black sight in low light and following a moving target with it accurately. (I've even taken the tiny matchstick sized glow-sticks and stretched electrical tape over one tip to reduce its light signature and taped the whole stick to my front rifle sight to have a bead-sight index. This allowed me to track and get hits well beyond what was otherwise possible. This was before navigation light on rifles too, and I'd keep a second one of those tiny glow sticks in my mouth like chew to control light output while running blacked-out through buildings) Stationary targets on a square dojo-range? No big deal, it's a safe, warm and cozy place to be, so the handheld lighting is just fine. But when the dude is at any distance and shadows are in play, I want a highly visible front sight and a weapon mounted light. It's not a cool-guy thing, it's just plain more functional from what I've seen firsthand. Targeting and hits are much faster with a weapon mounted light, and the bad guy is easier to track accurately with two hands on the handgun v. one while trying to run the light in a second hand, regardless of method utilized. A handheld flashlight for me is a back-up or used to maximize certain searching applications.

Man you need to put out more videos like this

Spot on!! To me, a weapon mounted light is just 1 more piece of gun gear that you have to think about when you should be more concerned with getting off the' X" & running rounds. I've carried a Fenix PD35 for yrs & have realized the benefits of a carrying hand held flashlight especially when it comes to a less lethal response to a threat. Rep what you carry consistently & see what works & doesn't for the threat/ environment you are in.

I was a cop for 30 years, well before weapons lights were a thing. I've been retired for 18 years now. I carry every day. I find it hard to imagine being able to conceal a handgun with a weapon mounted light in civilian attire. I learned long ago that a decent pocket light, always carried, suited my needs.

None for CCW, never saw it as that useful. Lasergrips for 'get off me' guns though. Most for defense at home have lights, but I doubt I would need them in an emergency, plenty of light.

Spot on

I could not agree more! A weapons light is functional in the realm of ESU and I’m not even sure about uniformed patrol. Maybe also as a bed stand weapon? I believe NYPD stated some years back that at the time, the had zero incidents where a light was used in a OIS. I guess in a rural setting with limited ambient light? In my midsized urban PD we had the same results. For me the possibility of WML malfunctions ( as in Glock 22 ) outweighs the I might someday need it. The mission dictates the gear and the legally armed citizen or off duty cop, that mission certainly doesn’t dictate the complications of a weapons mounted light. 🇺🇸👮🏻‍♂️👍🏻

I used to carry a weapons mounted light. It now stays at home. This got moved off when I went to a Red Dot. If it comes to weight, I would rather have the red dot and if I need a light, I always edc one anyway. Good Video.

Great video Gabe. I had this same debate with some fellow shooters recently. They touted the ‘I’ll always have a light on me because it’s attached to my handgun’ and my argument was to carry a flashlight. When I countered with a weapons light not being versatile and asked them ‘would you pull out your firearm to search for something you dropped in a dark public place like a movie theater or restaurant ?’ They gave all sorts of arguments but that effectively ended the peaceful discussion.

A lot to think about.

I actually do carry two flashlights on my person. But they're really small. They're so small , I have to check to make sure I haven't lost them.

When I hear a noise in the yard, it’s almost always a possum, coyote, or cat. If I used a mounted light, I’d inevitably be barrel sweeping neighbors’ properties. Even worse if I go into the driveway. I can shoot just fine at the distances I have in my yard with pistol in strong hand and light in support hand, with no risk to others. A weapon light doesn’t bring much to the table, especially with the automatic lights and cameras I’ve placed around the property. And a mounted light doesn’t work for me in a CCW environment, too much bulk. I reached the same conclusion, at least for pistol work.

Gabe, love your stuff and agree with about 95% of this other than when you insinuated that it’s never dark and there are never shadows in an urban environment… uhm…what?

Make sense to me

A bad guy don’t jump out,they shoot from the dark

Cell phone light?

Peak fudd lore here.