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Weapon Mounted Light


davidb72

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Our local IDPA club generally runs a low light stage every month on our indoor range.

Since IDPA decided to allow weapon mounted lights it has become just about mandatory to have one if you want to be competitive on that stage (and in the overall).

Would you support a separation of the haves and the have nots re: weapon mounted lights?

I have two really nice 1911's that I used to enjoy shooting at the IDPA matches in ESP division but stopped shooting them since they don't have a light rail and I was getting slaughtered in the results trying to use a handheld light for the stage.

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33 minutes ago, RJH said:

I don't really understand any reason not to have a wml in IDPA. It would seem like those two would go together like peanut butter and jelly

 


IDPA was supposed to be the anti-equipment race game.  Requiring anyone who wants to be competitive to go buy a new gun, light, and holster seems contradictory, especially when many people have no business even putting a WML on their carry gun.  

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I remember when having a ring on a hand held flashlight was bridge too far in idpa..... And I also remember making sure I had a handheld flashlight in my bag at all times, as some sort of lowlight scenario was sure to be at most matches.

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21 minutes ago, rowdyb said:

I remember when having a ring on a hand held flashlight was bridge too far in idpa..... And I also remember making sure I had a handheld flashlight in my bag at all times, as some sort of lowlight scenario was sure to be at most matches.


I’ve shot a lot of sanctioned IDPA matches and have encountered low light stages twice.  One years ago was no flashlight allowed and last year in IL State was handheld light only.  Maybe low light is a new trend, at least in places I don’t go.  I hope that’s not the case.  I don’t think low light stages belong in sanctioned matches. 

Edited by deerslayer
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1 hour ago, deerslayer said:


IDPA was supposed to be the anti-equipment race game.  Requiring anyone who wants to be competitive to go buy a new gun, light, and holster seems contradictory, especially when many people have no business even putting a WML on their carry gun.  

 

 

I thought the d stood for defensive, a wml seems like equipment that ought to almost be required for that game.

 

Not sure why anybody would have no business putting a wml on their carry gun. Identifying targets sounds like a wonderful idea 

 

 

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2 hours ago, RJH said:

 

 

I thought the d stood for defensive, a wml seems like equipment that ought to almost be required for that game.


A competent carry gun does not require a light to be attached to it. 

 

2 hours ago, RJH said:

Not sure why anybody would have no business putting a wml on their carry gun. Identifying targets sounds like a wonderful idea 


A citizen with a carry permit pointing his gun at or even toward an unknown person to identify them is asking for it.  

Edited by deerslayer
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7 minutes ago, deerslayer said:


A competent carry gun does not require a light to be attached to it. 

 

But it doesn't hurt anything

 

7 minutes ago, deerslayer said:


A citizen with a carry permit pointing his gun at or even toward an unknown person to identify them is asking for it.  

 

This would depend on a lot of things and would sometimes but, not remotely always, be true.  

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6 minutes ago, RJH said:

 

But it doesn't hurt anything

 

 

This would depend on a lot of things and would sometimes but, not remotely always, be true.  


I completely agree.  This is why I said many people don’t need them (as opposed to NOBODY needs them).  

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The equipment race argument is a good one. There is no way you can be competitive without a WML when the stage allows one.

I don't really want another 1911 - I like the ones that I have and they are all without rails.

For competitive equity I would support splitting it into WML - non WML because it is such an advantage.

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2 hours ago, davidb72 said:

The equipment race argument is a good one. There is no way you can be competitive without a WML when the stage allows one.

I don't really want another 1911 - I like the ones that I have and they are all without rails.

For competitive equity I would support splitting it into WML - non WML because it is such an advantage.


Is it WSSA? They run a great IDPA match and they always do an indoor lights out. I kill it on that stage every month with my weapon mounted light. James Cantrell also does really well on that stage and he doesn’t use a weapon mounted light. So there is both sides of the coin. 
 

As far as purpose if I’m in my house and something goes bump in the night. I have no problem holding my light low enough to not point it at anyone but be ready to point it at someone once a threat is identified. A really bright light with wide bloom makes that possible. 
 

I don’t support splitting it up into two divisions. There are not enough low light shoots to even warrant that. 

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3 hours ago, Twilk73 said:


Is it WSSA? They run a great IDPA match and they always do an indoor lights out. I kill it on that stage every month with my weapon mounted light. James Cantrell also does really well on that stage and he doesn’t use a weapon mounted light. So there is both sides of the coin. 
 

As far as purpose if I’m in my house and something goes bump in the night. I have no problem holding my light low enough to not point it at anyone but be ready to point it at someone once a threat is identified. A really bright light with wide bloom makes that possible. 
 

I don’t support splitting it up into two divisions. There are not enough low light shoots to even warrant that. 

Yes, it is definitely the best IDPA match in the area.

I might just skip that stage in the future - probably better for my lead levels to stay out of the indoor range anyway.

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On 9/18/2023 at 5:24 PM, RJH said:

 

 

I thought the d stood for defensive, a wml seems like equipment that ought to almost be required for that game.

 

Not sure why anybody would have no business putting a wml on their carry gun. Identifying targets sounds like a wonderful idea 

 

 

becasue they end up being used as flash lights,, not aiming devices..  nothing like watching a cop point a loaded AR at a baby in a car seat, because thats where his flash light is.
Show me someone with a WML and I will show you someone pointing loaded guns at people they shouldnt.

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1 hour ago, Joe4d said:

becasue they end up being used as flash lights,, not aiming devices..  nothing like watching a cop point a loaded AR at a baby in a car seat, because thats where his flash light is.
Show me someone with a WML and I will show you someone pointing loaded guns at people they shouldnt.

 

Why is it I feel like there was some extenuating circumstances you're not divulging?

 

Like had the car just been used in a  robbery? Where you might think somebody in the back seat could be a threat 

 

Did they drag the driver of the car out because they'd been chasing him after drug deals? Where you might think somebody in the backseat could be a threat

 

Or was there just a car sitting there and a cop wanted to look in and so he immediately grabbed his AR with flashlight and started pointing it around the minivan at the Little League game?

 

 

Edited by RJH
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