Detached carry of a weapon mountable light

[Timber Wolf]

I recently swapped out my carry piece from a non-rail equipped Glock 27 to a pistol that fits me a little better, a Springfield XDsc (.40 S&W) that has a rail. Most of my CCW occurs at night walking the dog around my semi-rural neighborhood and I carry at least one and usually two small flashlights. My thought now is that with the smaller more powerful weapon mounted lights that are available is to pick up one and just carry the light in my pocket as my “spare” light. I can still use it as a hand-held light and could slap it on the pistol if needed/desired. I don’t want to go with a holster that would carry it already mounted as I prefer my SuperTuck and don’t want the bulk. Yes, I know mounted to the gun would be best, but heck I would probably be better served by toting my CAR-15 or Remington 870/1100 too, you have to draw the line somewhere. Does anybody else carry a mount capable light not already attached to the pistol?

[Deltaten]

Wolfie;
Personally, I think yer better served with a separate light altogether. It would avoid all the [theoretical] problems you are considering, like holsters, dragging belt line, secure attachment troubles, etc. Just tote the gun as normal and slip a fire-lite or whatever into yer shorts or belt!

*light mounted* and ya wanna take a peek at whatever?..ya gotta either pull the lite or poke yer muzzle at summat that ya don't wanna kill! Additionally; more weight up front..ya gotta practice with it installed... a lot of it in "dark" mode.

*light dismounted* and ya gotta fumble to attach..and prolly won't if time is of the essence..you'll just use it as a hand-held flashlite. Once yer dis-mounted; are ya gonna shoot top same POA/POI as when ya did all that practice with it on??

Yer fav devil's advocate
Paul

[gunplumber]

I went to investigate an alert from my dogs. I was wearing my flipflops and nothing else. My gun was my nightstand G-17 w/rail light. I don't know why I didn't grab my AR w/surefire G2, but it was 3 AM and I was groggy.

Anyway, I'm sweeping my back yard and then the front. it occurred to me, that it might be nice to be able to have the light and the gun pointed in different directions. No problems dismounting it. easy to operate holding switch on thumb side. harder to hold with lens on thumb side of hand.

Suppose the "intruder" was the sheriff, or a neighbor chasing his dog. It might be nice to illuminate something without pointing a gun at it.

Or illuminate myself, because given how I was (not) dressed, that would frighten away all but the most disciplined intruders.

[xcpd69]

...or leave them helpless on the ground, convulsed with laughter......

[Timber Wolf]

I guess I did not make it clear that what I was considering was carrying a mount-capable light in addition to a (very small) standard flashlight. It is probably belt-and-suspenders but having two lights appeals to me and one of them might as well be able to be mounted on the gun. Chances are I would not have the time to mount it anyway but it would be nice to have the capability if I wanted to.

One possible scenario is this: The dog and I have been out scouting the parameter (walking) well after dark and are coming back up to the house. I see/hear suspicious activity at/in the house. I know my wife/daughter/cat are in the house so I can’t just hang back and wait for the law to arrive (after I called from my cell phone while standing in the street). I do however have time to think and mount the light before assaulting “mi casa”. I briefly consider but ultimately refrain from throwing a flash-bang, and I enter only to find the wife and kid snuggled in the bed watching a scary movie in the semi-dark house. I don’t know right away where the cat is but she shows up eventually. No harm, no foul but having a hand free to manipulate door knobs unencumbered by a separate flashlight was really handy.