Handheld or Handgun Mounted?!?

Remember you don't need the light to identify the threat. The threat will announce itself before you draw, if not, you have drawn too soon…

The O-Light Arkfield is the best EDC light hands down. The magnet on the back allows you to stick it on the nearest magnetic structure to light up your target without being in its vicinity. Total game changer and it’s less expensive than the Wedge.

A lot of this depends on your body size and build also. For some of us it's very comfortable to edc a full size handgun with weaponlight and a separate flashlight. I also have an IWB med kit and carry 2 spare mags. The only thing that ever gets uncomfortable is the med kit. I may be switching to an ankle kit at some point. Actually, that would help balance things out a bit, nice to have weight on both ankles…

You can go with just a handheld, but if you get a pistol light don’t make the mistake of ditching the handheld The handheld is much more useful in more situations. And most importantly, remember that you can’t go around pointing your gun at people just because there’s a light on it. You’ll end up in jail or worse.

Love this guy lol he can learn yall some tactical shit too. James yeager passed the torch the this man lol

I thought you liked your glocks to be stock? That one looks heavily modified

And the crowd goes wild 😅

Same. I keep them separate for EDC. Mounted on my rifles.

You could also get a headlamp to keep your hands free.

On duty, I have a WML, a normal size handheld, and a pen light. Different tools for different jobs.

Even with a WML, I train to unholster and shoot one handed, or using the handheld for support. Why? I mean, if my gun is out, I’m not pointing it where my light isn’t. My gun goes where I’m looking, so it’s the same as the WML.

I train both ways because if you’re holding a flashlight, the instinct isn’t to drop it if you have to draw quickly, it’s to hold onto it. Light is life. Everyone knows that instinctively. Rather than fumble around in the heat of the moment, I practice holding my light, drawing, and firing.

However, for a civilian, I agree with Jon. Your role isn’t to make entry and end a threat. Your role is to protect you and yours and get out. If you have to shoot, so be it. But there’s no reason to risk your life to catch someone. There are trained men and women with armor and weapons for the task.

In that case, 99% of the time you’re just using a handheld. Why carry the extra weight on your gun?

Now, a RDS is a whole other story for another comment.

I do both, Surefire X300u/b on my Glock 34.3 and RMR type 2, and my handheld is a Surefire Stiletto Pro. Love both of them

The VAST majority of holsters are NOT molded for lights and lasers.

Having a light on your gun is good in some cases, but if you need to shine a light on something you DON'T want to destroy that light can be an issue.

I already conceal a large gun since it is what fits my hands. Adding a light would just make it bulkierand most likely less comfortable. Handheld carry.

Pro tip that I was taught by a SWAT officer: add a large O-ring on a tiny split ring to the tail of your flashlight and get used to looping that over your thumb when you grab the flashlight. That way when you need that hand you can just let go of the flashlight and it is dangling from your thumb ready to grab when you are able do that again. When the flashlight is in your pocket or holder, keep the O-ring draped over/around the flashlight. You’re welcome.

ITS NOT ABOUT COMFORT!
I LOOK LIKE A DAMN PIRATE SHIP WHEN SHIT GOES DOWN

I definitely agree here and the next thing I'm going to do with my carry rig is get a sub compact gun thats comfortable to shoot. I'm comfortable with something a bit bigger than say a 365 if I can actually hit something with it. I hate shooting single stack handguns

If I need a light, and I need to shoot. It’s way better for there to be a light on my gun. However this light is not for normal tasks so if I need an edc light I’ll put one in my pocket. It’s not a zero sum game, you can have both.

Yep 95% of the time I carry a sub compact and 1 extra mag… less bulk and I can surprise the bad guy.

Hand held 100%. Can't stand the extra weight no matter how minimal it could be.

I'm still not using pistol mounted lights in my 'edc'. I have yet to see their validity in a civilian, defensive role. It's a monkey see, monkey do situation where people are just doing what they see mil/leo doing and missing the point that those people are acting in a completely different context than Joe Civilian in day to day life. If I were hunting 'bad guys', or assaulting something or someone in the dark, and only had a pistol for that task, then I'd have a light on it…

I'm both…

For real. Wise words my man.
Additionally when the only light you have is on your pistol that leads to aiming a weapon at things just to illuminate them.

I can understand the point of a weapon mounted light but most of y’all are out there thinking you’re going to be clearing rooms
in a pitch black warehouse during a ‘self defense’ encounter.
That’s just so far beyond unrealistic it makes my head spin.

No sirrrrr…. light on my gun, Big ass knife in my other hand

Carrying both allows you to do an incredible trick which is called staging your light. Leave your flashlight somewhere, step away from it and draw in the dark, away from where they think you are. And you retain the ability to strobe your WML if needed. You can make your potential attacker think there are twice as many of you and all on alert.

Even with a WML, you need a flashlight that isn't your gun. Because a flashlight is a handy tool to have and you can't just draw your gun everytime you need one.