Shooting in very dark conditions is a crapshoot at best. In my linebacker days, to get us to keep our heads up, our coach used to always say, “You can’t hit what you can’t see.” Of course, shooting is much the same way: You can’t shoot what you can’t see.
Of course, the very nature of some situations, like many self-defense episodes, requires shooting in darkness or near darkness. Violent criminals like home invaders typically don’t ply their trade in broad daylight, often leaving homeowners to perform their home-defense duties in far less than well-lit conditions.
That’s why, decades ago, various manufacturers started producing lights that could be mounted on the rails of pistols and carbines. These lights enabled the shooter — whether law enforcement, military or a homeowner defending his family — to see any threat he might face, even in pitch-dark conditions.
Later on, laser sighting devices were introduced. While a light might illuminate a shooter’s target, they still had to align the sights correctly and execute a proper trigger pull. Laser sights simplified this task by projecting a laser dot onto the target, indicating precisely where the bullet would strike if the shot was taken correctly.
Interestingly, some companies discovered that they could create units that accommodated both a light and an aiming laser, thereby doubling the utility of a unit without occupying any additional rail space. Despite the skepticism from many naysayers regarding handgun-mounted lights — mostly those who have not worked with them extensively — they remain popular, with numerous new models introduced each year for your handgun-owning customers to consider.
The Customer Is Always Right
Of course, finding the lights and lasers to keep on hand to keep customers happy isn’t an easy task or an exact science. Still, there are some factors that customers typically consider that should be kept in mind when choosing units to add or delete from your inventory.
First, let’s discuss handgun-mounted lights. Brightness is one of the primary factors considered by many shopping for these units, and choosing a brightness is closely related to the intended use of the light-equipped firearm. For indoor and close-quarters use, 300 to 500 lumens is ideal. For outdoor use and tactical scenarios, brighter lights with beams measuring 800 to 1,200 lumens are ideal.
Another factor to consider is the light’s pattern, namely whether it shines a tightly focused beam or a wide beam that illuminates a bigger area. As the names imply, focused beams concentrate more light in a small area, so also are better for longer distances. Flood beams offer better peripheral vision and are often more effective in close-range encounters like those inside a home.
Another consideration is the power source used to run the light. While rechargeable batteries are convenient and cost-effective, old-fashioned disposable batteries are reliable and easy to replace quickly in a pinch. Hand in hand with that is battery life, which is always a consideration when choosing any kind of electronic device to mount on a firearm. Of course, on this matter, longer is always better.
Lastly, the mounting mechanism of the light attaching to a handgun is another consideration. Customers must be able to be sure that the light they are considering will mount to the type of rail on their gun. Retailers would do well to bone up on rail types and mounting compatibility in order to help their customers choose the light that best fits their needs.
A Little on Lasers
There are also some factors that customers tend to consider when shopping for a laser sight. One major consideration is laser color. Many manufacturers make units that have either red or green lasers, and it’s basically user preference that determines which one a shooter will choose. Some companies are making laser sights now that have both red and green capabilities, which is ideal for those customers who are on the fence about laser color.
Another major consideration is the activation method. Grip activation is where the laser turns on automatically when a firing grip is applied, and it is one of the most popular. Button activation uses a dedicated button to turn the laser on and off. Lastly, pressure pad activation is where applying pressure on specific pads on the laser unit activates the beam.
Of course, as with all firearm-related electronics, battery life is a factor to consider. Nobody wants to get in a situation where they need to use their gun only to learn that the battery has gone out on the laser unit. For most shooters, putting in a battery and knowing they won’t need to change it for several years brings peace of mind that is worth a few extra bucks. As with pistol-mounted red-dot sights, laser units that have a battery that can be replaced while the sight is still attached to the pistol alleviate the necessity of resighting the laser after every battery change.
Now, let’s take a look at some new pistol-mounted lights, lasers and combos that might help increase your sales over the coming year.
LIGHTS
The Surefire XC3 shines 550 lumens on the target, making it ideal for many handgun applications. The unit’s hybrid beam pattern creates a smooth, far-reaching beam with a center spot that's highly effective for close- to medium-range engagements. Lightweight and compact for duty use or concealed carry, it features a tactile switch for easy, sure activation control. The unit uses a readily available 123A lithium battery that is easily loaded into the front battery compartment, and a “disable” feature prevents accidental activation when in storage or traveling.
Streamlight’s TLR-1 HL-X USB brings an astounding 1,500 lumens of ultra-bright light to any situation. This ensures the user will see whatever’s directly in front of them, as the beam reaches out to 283 meters. This version of the tactical light comes equipped with a Streamlight-exclusive rechargeable battery and a convenient USB recharging port. With a tool-free rail clamp system, the light is easy to mount, and the compact light is only 3.45 inches long and weighs just 5.19 ounces.
Glock pistols are well known for their tank-like construction and excellent reliability. Glock’s foray into weapons lights, Glock GTL II, might just gain the same reputation. Specially designed for Glock pistols with a mounting rail, this new LED pistol light provides about 600 lumens for bright illumination and around 11,100 Candela for light concentration. The light features a high-quality aluminum housing with characteristic Glock serrations for better grip and is precisely matched to the length and width of the G19/G45 slide.
Nightstick’s TWM-30 features a 1200-lumen LED with a 194-meter beam distance. Optimized for threat identification and target discrimination, its clearly defined halo provides peripheral illumination in CQB situations. Single-motion ambidextrous switches operate the momentary-on and constant-on lighting modes, and the light also features user-selectable strobe and battery-safe modes, which are easily enabled or disabled with two unique, simultaneous switch actions. The TWM-30 is constructed from black anodized aircraft-grade aluminum and provides 1.75 hours of runtime from two included CR123 batteries.
The PL-Mini 3 Valkyrie from Olight boasts a maximum output of 600 lumens and a runtime of 76 minutes, extendable to 2.5 hours with the included spare battery. Additionally, since it features a removable battery, the light allows for swift battery replacement without the necessity of disconnecting it from your setup. Featuring a patented adjustable design, the light can be easily positioned forward or backward along the rail for easy access to controls. It also features a programmable strobe mode that is easily enabled or disabled with either hand via the switches.
LASERS
LaserMax’s GS-Max9-G uses the company’s patented GripSense Technology similar to capacitive touchscreens found in smartphones. The product contains a sensor in the area where the user’s middle finger rests on the triggerguard. This sensor detects the user’s grip on the firearm and activates the laser instantly when a firm grip is detected. Featuring a green laser, it is easily programmable for steady or high-visibility pulsed laser beams. The external battery access door features toolless entry, and the ambidextrous TAP ON/TAP OFF switch reinforces safe firearm handling.
Crimson Trace is the granddaddy of weapon-mounted lasers. Also known as the Modern Tactical Laser, the Crimson Trace MTL is a low-profile auxiliary aiming solution for any rail-equipped firearm. The MTL can be mounted almost anywhere, freeing up valuable rail space for other accessories like a weapon light. It comes complete with Picatinny rail and M-Lok adapters. The remote switch features both tactile ON/OFF and Momentary ON functions. It features a bright green laser for easy visibility in both daylight and dark conditions, and has run time of two hours.
COMBINATION UNITS
A powerhouse name in the weapons light industry, SureFire has another tactical powerhouse in its X400 Ultra. Engineered to fit virtually any rail-equipped pistol, its recoil-proof LED and TIR lens focus 1,000 lumens of light into a smooth, far-reaching hybrid beam with a large central spot and plenty of spill light. It attaches easily to both universal and Picatinny accessory rails and features integral ambidextrous momentary- and constant-on switching. The light’s run time is 1.25 hours; the laser, which can be set to red or green, has a run time of 24 hours.
The Viridian C5L with SAFECharge is a combination light/laser unit that boasts a lot of top features. The 650-lumen unit has a universal mount and is ideal for small- to medium-framed railed pistols. It features fully ambidextrous activation and mode changing, as well as Viridian’s legendary patented INSTANT-ON, which instantly and automatically activates the laser when the pistol is drawn from the holster. It also features SAFECharge, the must-have ultra convenient rechargeable power source system ready when the shooter is. It also features the new Built-in Holster Retention Feature for better holster compatibility than ever before.
The new Nitecore NPL25 is a high-quality weapons light that also features a green laser for sighting. With a maximum output of 900 lumens and a throw of 236 yards, the NPL25 GL is compatible with most compact and full-size pistols, making it adaptable for a wide variety of setups.
