use of a flashlight... whats your technique?

[Lone Ranger]

Still reading Ikor's article but thought enquire how u guys do this...

When, for whatever reason you need to use your handheld flashlight to clear an area or conduct a search, what's your technique? How do you hold the gun and light? What form do you prefer?

Having to still inculcate this into my training, my current technique is to hold the flashlight in my weak hand and keep it very close to my face. Thic allows for me to follow the light and vice-versa.also assists in lighting up my standard sights. Wil have to shoot strong-hand-only

Any better advice?

[cerop]

Wouldn't the holding the light at your head/face show the BG where to shoot? I make the assumption that in the dark, the focus will instinctively go to where the light is coming from and that is where the BG will direct his assault.

I have a similar concern over the use of a WML. Sure, it is handy when having to open doors, i.e. you need a second hand, but properly holding a firearm in front of your chest with a light mounted to it, you have a similar problem as mentioned above...a big bright bullseye.

Might it not be beter to hold the flashlight more off side, obviously, without being too awkward?

[ikor]

Even though I have not used Weaver for a long time now, I will use the Harries position to incorporate both gun and light for shooting in most circumstances simply because it is faster for me and feels 'right'. LR you should not need illumination of your pistol sights via your torch since in most cases they will be visibly outlined in the light thrown by it on the target. (or is that what you mean?)

cerop...if you read the article you will see that there are search positions and shooting positions, but the truth is that yes, holding the light directly in front of you is a risk since the BG is almost certainly going to shoot back at the light. We mitigate that as much as possible by not leaving the light on once we have ID'd the target and by moving after shots are fired. Holding the light away from the body is an old technique that still has some merit but it is much more difficult and slower to direct the light to a specific area and get both light and gun on target. Done less than perfectly it also serves to illuminate you via side spill from your torch.

[DrDave]

I will use the Harries position to incorporate both gun and light for shooting in most circumstances simply because it is faster for me and feels 'right'..

+1

[Grobbie]

We tried a few options on using the light. Here are a few points that stuck for me.

1. If the light is not mounted, you need to be able to manupulate it easily for pointing and switching it on and of.
2. Switching it on and off makes it much more difficult to track the person holding the light. Also, you should move right after you switched the light of, maybe even just back behind cover for a moment, then switch the light on and search again. Switching it on and off really disorientates the person tracking the light. We tried it and it works even better than a strobe.
3. Illuminate the target and use the backlight to see the sillouette of your sights. Putting the light on your sights do not work so lekker.
4. Use the light pointed at the ceiling if you are indoors, and just buzz the ceiling with burst of light. Its amazing to see how much light gets reflected off the ceiling.
5. Practice a lot, and try to get to a night shoot. Its a whole new ballgame in the dark, even with a flashlight.

One thing is for sure, searching in the dark and clearing spaces inside a house with a flashlight is very difficult. I have tried it by myself, and its not easy. I have even made up my mind to rather stick to one defendable position.

Also, shooting strong hand only is not so nice. Once I get my shotgun it will defnitively have a mounted light especially for home defence as shooting pistol strong hand only, with a flashlight in hand is not so accurate. I probably would not hit the BG, hence the idea with the shottie.

Its back to work for me now........

[cerop]

Haven't see the article yet ikor, will go and give it a gander.
Thanks!

[BigT]

Situation dependant but I use variants of the FBI ,Harries and neck index. The light needs to be only kept on for very brief (1 second or so) flashes.

[shark_za]

Using the ceiling bounce works well indoors with high powered lights.
Momentary is almost mandatory, being able to control when the light works at any exact second.

A combo of Harries method when I am unaware to a sort of Rogers method when I know I am shooting works for me.

[Grobbie]

Situation dependant but I use variants of the FBI ,Harries and neck index. The light needs to be only kept on for very brief (1 second or so) flashes.

Thanks for the Harries lead, never saw that, but turns out its the one I went for naturally.....

What reasons do you like the neck index for? I sort of pick up that if the light is behind the gun and spils on my sights, I struggle to get a nice sight picture. Or do you use the neck index first to pick up the target and then transition to the Harries?

I like the idea of the modified FBi. Seems the way especially in the house.

[Teufel Hund]

I use a Streamlight TLRII WML, makes reloading, opening doors etc a bit easier. If I don't have the WML and only a HHL I use the Harries Flashlight Technique.