All,

I just had my daily carry P365 milled to accept a red dot. I typically carry in a Crossbreed holster, however, it is not compatible with the red dot.

I have always carried concealed without a dedicated weapon light and have opted to have a Fenix PD35 on me at all times should light be needed.

Now that I have to get a new holster, I need to decide if I am going to change the way I carry and put a weapon light on the P365 or continue with my traditional carry without.

I have decided on the Tier 1 Concealment line of holsters...

Thank you for your input. If you want to give reasons, then I would like to hear them.

Question:
Should I get a holster that will accept a weapon mounted light or without?

Choices:
With Weapons Light (TLR-6)
Without Weapons Light (Fenix PD35)

 

I found a couple cheap Foxtrot lights. They aren’t stun with brightness bright but I think they are plenty enough for your intended purpose. Only issue I have found is that you go through a lot of batteries if you practice much. Eventually I will probably get a second 365 for practice/no burning of batteries practice. Lol

So yes to a light.

Ped... thanks.

Me and the wife have been speaking about this at length the past 2 days. I am leaning towards without.

Reasons:

If I have to deploy this in self defense, it would either be a very quick encounter or one that I would have time to set up for (mugging versus pinned by a mass shooter in a store or something). In the quick shooting scenario, I am not sure I would I have time to turn on the light AND I would probably know the threat as they would be close. If I have time to set up, then I could use the more powerful handheld light.

I will not be using this gun for home defense. All my home defense weapons do have lights on them.

I only have an option from Tier 1 for the TLR-6 (I don't want to do a custom, 1-off holster).

Additional bulk concerns (this will be carried appendix and will be carried in thin summer clothing.

It would cost me an additional $100 for the light option and light.

Again, I want to see what you guys think, but I think my reasoning for not getting is sound (at least to me )

I voted for the light, but it would be the Sig Foxtrot light. I pocket carry more than any other way, and the ability to have a light already available without having to engage my non firing hand interests me. I like the foxtrot because it has the grip based pressure switch, which I currently use on my G23. The combination of a weapon mounted light that can be activated by the firing hand on a pocket pistol is a total win in my book.

Sgt & Ped...

I had not looked at the Foxtrot so I was not aware of the activation method.

This would require that I completely rethink my choice of holster manufacturers as they do not offer a Foxtrot compatible offering.

Thanks.

Because you asked, an opinion: A weapon-mounted light is an extra complication and therefore a con to the question: holster, Hick’s Law, expense, change in handling and usage, maintenance, to cite the obvious issues.

The pro(s) of having a light mounted on a small concealed carry pistol: ? What sort of situation do you anticipate as being even remotely possible in which it would be valuable to have?

Voted no. I can think of a few reasons to not have one, but not many good reasons to have one. Two that immediately come to mind are: weight, even though the 365 is a light (no pun intended) pistol, every ounce adds up when you're carrying it daily. 2: it's not practical as a flashlight, because wherever you point the light so goes the muzzle, and you definitely don't want to be pointing your muzzle where it doesn't belong. The only good reason I can think of is as a backup for a handheld light, but that's about it.

If you can, the best would be a weapon mounted light, and a handheld light.

sig and Puck...

Thanks.

sig, these are the realistic, although highly unlikely things that could occur based on my habits and how I live my life... This also assumes that I got caught being unaware (situational awareness went to shit because my mind is wandering or worrying about something) or that compliance would not be the best option based on the circumstances.

• Getting caught up in a mass shooting inside a location with limited exits.
  
• Getting mugged at a gas station while filling up.
  
• Car jacking at a stop light.
  
• Being a victim of a convenience store robbery, a hold up at a restaurant, etc.
  
• Stray dogs charging me while walking my own (this has happened and I was not carrying at the time... my dogs sustained injuries as I could not beat the other dog hard enough for him to loose focus on my dogs).
  
• The unforeseen and unrehearsed scenario that would be totally reactionary.

In none of these situations do I see a weapon mounted light being an asset and could result in it becoming a liability (especially if I fumble activation and loose my focus on what I should be doing at the time).

I believe I remember you saying that you train people in weapons use (LEO maybe). I am very interested in what you and others like you (jljones) would recommend and reasons for the recommendations.

My philosophy re weapon-mounted lights.

Lights are necessary when searching really dark locations and/or if it’s necessary to identify things like weapons that an adversary might be holding and it’s necessary to avoid shooting someone when it’s not justified. That’s why WMLs are critical for law enforcement officers and (usually) for home defense weapons. If one’s weapon is a handgun, a handheld flashlight should also be used in conjunction with the WML, but a handheld light alone is not a very good substitute for the WML. It’s far better than nothing, but I relied on a handheld light until the first time I participated in a realistic exercise that involved extensive searches under really low light conditions. After that experience I immediately got WMLs for my duty guns even though they were a big expense for me at the time.

For concealed carry outside the home, though, I cannot think of a situation in which a WML would be anything other than a useless appendage. Lights of either type do not improve our speed of target engagement or accuracy except under very low light conditions and we’re not exactly sure where the target is. (Hint: If we’re being shot at, the loud noises and flashes of light provide pretty strong clues as to our target’s location.) Lights of either type, handheld or weapon mounted, are so much slower and awkward to use as compared to shooting without them that during the low light training exercises I conduct I must specifically direct the participants to use them in some stages when the target is even dimly visible because most officers prefer to shoot without them whenever possible.

sig...

Thank you.

As it stands now, the poll would indicate that a majority say "Without".

Like I said, that is the way I am leaning.

Need to order the holster tonight as the lead time is already long (30-35 business days).

In the meantime, I will be carrying my P320 X-Carry. Not my favorite for spring/summer carry, but will do for now.

I will continue to monitor this thread through midnight. After that I will close the poll.

Again, thanks to all the respondents so far. I am reading and considering every point of view/reason for or against on this matter.

Get the light, it might be dark out.

I go with.

You stated you normally use Crossbreed.
They sell a holster for the P365 with the Sig Foxtrot light.




I use it for both my normal 365 and for the XL.
I had to modify it to fit the XL however.... took about 5 minutes with a dremel.

The good thing about the Foxtrot light... there's nothing really to fumble. You hold the grip and it lights up.







Edit to add the link to crossbreed:
https://www.crossbreedholsters...uck-iwb-holster.html

And to say looks like they simply natively support the XL version now.

Use of a WML outside of your home, including your front porch, would be considered aggravated assult if it was pointed at someone. That is what happened to a friend here in Nashville.

quote:

Originally posted by Anush:
Use of a WML outside of your home, including your front porch, would be considered aggravated assult if it was pointed at someone. That is what happened to a friend here in Nashville.

LOL was he using it as a flashlight?
Or was he using it as a gun?

Cuz if he was using it as a flashlight.. and he shined it at someone (and by extension pointed a gun at them)... then sorry but he got what he deserved.

quote:

You hold the grip and it lights up.

Which could be a disadvantage under some circumstances when we don’t want the light to reveal our position or presence. Some weapon mounted lights even have ways to lock them off to prevent “white light discharges,” but is that true of the Foxtrot?

And FWIW, the Foxtrot switch is similar to the Surefire DG grip switch which was banned by at least one LE agency (Denver?) because it was claimed that squeezing the grip to activate the light led to some officers’ squeezing the trigger unintentionally as well. That of course was a failure of proper gun handling and control, but I do wonder whether the switch could affect proper handling and control even if it didn’t result in improper use of the trigger. When I’m getting ready to shoot, I ensure I have a firm firing grip on the pistol and if I didn’t want to activate the light it seems that wouldn’t be possible.

Doesn't this belong in the CCW or, Sig Pistol sub-forum?

Best to have a separate light when CCW; the light itself is quite handy and pointing your pistol when you intend to just use the light is simply poor weapons discipline

corsair...

You are probably correct. I put this poll here because I believe this forum has considerably more traffic than the CCW or Sig Pistol forum and I was looking for some quick feedback.

creslin...

I have many MiniTucks, SuperTucks and the like for several pistols and they are my preferred holster. I was carrying the 365 in a Reckoning holster by Crossbreed in the appendix configuration. This specific holster will not work with a micro red dot milled into a P365 with a rear dovetail sight still installed (milling was in front of the rear dovetail to maintain backup sights). And, based on the information I have, none of the "tuck" holsters will either.

So, that is the need for the holster change. I was just trying to figure out if I wanted to change to carry with a light as that would dictate the holster variety I would get (micro red dot compatible with or without a light).

Again... Thanks all for the input and feedback so far.

It depends on your lifestyle. My wife and I rarely, if ever, go out at night, so I see no need for a WML, although I do carry a small light (dropped keys, etc.) When I did go out years ago, it was to work night shift where I was forbidden to have a gun.

I got a deal on two Foxtrots for a hundred bucks. Gave one to a buddy, put one on mine. If you somehow pick up the gun and negligently pull the trigger it had nothing to do with the light.

As for pros and cons, there are a couple. It’s a light. I tend towards having a wml and a handheld. For the cons it’s simple, it will light up every time you present the gun. You could theoretically train yourself to relax that particular finger but I think that is a box of cats best left unexplored. So two issues in my mind. You burn through a ton of batteries when shooting this gun for practice. I can live with that. Light discipline. I think that rarely if ever a CCW issue. If you pull the gun you mean to potentially use it. A flashlight is the least of your issues. As to your buddy in Nashville, well let’s just say there has got to be more to the story. He either was justified in pointing a gun at someone or he wasn’t. If you just need a flashlight carry a fucking flashlight especially if you aren’t sure you have the discipline to recognize the difference.

In a CCW scenario if I pull my gun then either the flashlight has zero impact on the scenario or it helps me out. I’m not clearing a room with my carry gun. I’m not sneaking around being stealthy. I’m either engaging someone who wants to cause me harm or I am extricating myself from same (running away not to put too fine a point in it lol).

You won’t even know the foxtrot is there. There is no “training” associated. It just comes on. No there isn’t a switch to turn it off.

I like mine. It’s so small and light you wouldn’t even know it’s there. There is no button or switch to fumble. You can’t screw that part up. If you pull the gun and point it at someone the light will be on no matter what. If you think that could be an issue in a CCW scenario this light isn’t for you.

Personally none of my carry guns have lights but this one. My HD guns all have lights with handhelds within easy reach. That is my setup.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: pedropcola,