I mentioned in another thread that I have ordered a Streamlight TLR-7 for my G19. So as not to derail that thread, I have a question.

I only have the one G19, I plan to keep the light on the weapon when home, and remove it for carry, as I already have two good holsters that will not accommodate the weapon with light.


My question is will repeated mounting and removal of my TLR-7 harm either my G19, or the light itself?

Any friction and repeated action will cause accelerated wear. Will it mean much in the grand scheme? I wouldn't think so unless the light sticks when you try to remove it like some X300s do.

So, it depends on your definition of "harm". Accelerated wear? Yep, you bet. Make the rail or light useless? Doubtful.

Although, holsters are cheap. Spending $70-100 on a holster that will take gun and light seems to be a no brainer. The light in question is tiny and wouldn't affect how the gun would be carried.

quote:

Spending $70-100 on a holster that will take gun and light seems to be a no brainer. The light in question is tiny and wouldn't affect how the gun would be carried.

This.

Of course the "correct" answer is a second G19 for carry/spare. That way you can leave the light mounted.

it will cause mre wear obviously. I just don't understand people wanting to carry concealed with the light on.

harder to conceal, heavier, potentially harder to draw. I would keep the same holsters and use a flashlight.

The weaponlight for me is just for home use!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Of course the "correct" answer is a second G19 for carry/spare. That way you can leave the light mounted.

I know, right!

From 2009 to 2018 I put a Surefire X300 with a DG switch on my Glock 17 everyday when I got to work and took it off everyday when I went home.

Doing some very rough math, that's 4 days a week for 468ish weeks that it went on and then came off.

There is no noticeable wear to either the light or the gun.

I would say you don't have anything to worry about.

If I wanted a non-carry light that would be routinely mounted/dismounted, I'd look at the Olight products. They have a quick action lever based attachment mechanism, instead of the slotted screw mechanism a lot of WMLs use. The latter is good, maybe even preferable for long term mounting. But if the light is going on and off a lot, the lever system would be better.

INSIGHT pistol lights (M3, M6/M6x) used a strong spring loaded cross bar which secured the light to the rail. I always thought that was the perfect mounting system for quick on/off without effecting the laser sight in. Unfortunately, the light was rather large compared to what's available now.

Any light system that uses a tension screw/adapters to secure to the rail, especially a polymer rail, will result in some degree of degradation to the rail. If the light is polymer as opposed to alloy, repeated tightening may effect the mounting system as well. The combination of pistol and light are tools so I expect some blemishes.

I now use a TLR7 on a P320c. It's enough of an inconvenience to R&R that I leave it in place permanently for home use.

quote:

Originally posted by Warhorse:
I mentioned in another thread that I have ordered a Streamlight TLR-7 for my G19. So as not to derail that thread, I have a question.

I only have the one G19, I plan to keep the light on the weapon when home, and remove it for carry, as I already have two good holsters that will not accommodate the weapon with light.


My question is will repeated mounting and removal of my TLR-7 harm either my G19, or the light itself?

For safety, mounting / dismounting the light should only be done with the weapon unloaded. Unloading and reloading your gun multiple times per day (in this case to swap the light) can cause issues with your carry ammo. Strongly suggest you invest in a holster for the Glock with the TLR-7 or a second G19.

Buy another 19.

My TLR-7 stays on but years ago we had an officer that refused to buy a Surefire or Streamlight because his Insight Procyon was the best easy on off light there was. After repeated mountings, his light would eventually fly off the gun when shooting and break.
Insight would replace it but it would later break again.
Not sure if it was from the repeated mountings or if it was just a bad design. The only lights we allow now are Surefires and Streamlights.

I am doing this with my Glock 19 and an X200. I have been doing this for 7 years now with no issues. I used to travel for work and now I work from home so I have not removed and replaced the light daily for all of that time but on average probably several times a week. So, say maybe 1000-1500 times the light has been removed and replaced.

And I do not unload the gun every time. Even if I did damaging my carry ammo would not be an issue since I regularly shoot my carry ammo. I do point the gun at the bed when I remove and reinstall the light and make sure my finger is off the trigger and my hand is clear of the muzzle. But the light is not hard to remove so I am not struggling with the gun.

As suggested above though I am eventually going to buy a XC-1 or similar and a holster for it so I don't have to remove the light. The X200 is a bit large for CCW for my tastes.

quote:

Originally posted by HCM:
Unloading and reloading your gun multiple times per day (in this case to swap the light) can cause issues with your carry ammo.

Only if you bang in the chambered round from the magazine. If you ease the round into the chamber from the mag, there won't be any bullet setback.

I haven't slammed a round home in years - not counting speed reload practice with carry ammo that's getting shot right then - and calipers show zero change in OAL of the top 2 rnds in any regularly carried magazine.

The issue here is not taking the light off the pistol, it's getting a proper holster so the light stays on the pistol. I EDC a Glock 19 with TLR-7 in a TR Holsters IWB and occasionally a P229R DAK with a TLR-7 in a Gearcraft IWB.

Taking a light on and off would just be aggravating, especially with the Streamlight mounting design. It was easier with the old M3s. I don't see much wear happening unless you are heavy handed and do not loosen the mounting screw enough. The polymer will be more forgiving than aluminum, but will scratch easier, but who cares.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
it will cause mre wear obviously. I just don't understand people wanting to carry concealed with the light on.

harder to conceal, heavier, potentially harder to draw. I would keep the same holsters and use a flashlight.

The weaponlight for me is just for home use!!!

I understand your reasoning. For me, the small WML viridian C5, is small, no size gain, figuratively speaking, and I will always have a light with me. It also will serve the same purpose for self defense , say at night in a dim parking lot, as well as inside my home. I have a nice IWB leather holster, my pistol, Walther PPS M1 is slim even wih the light attached. Which is why I prefer the M1 PPS.

But, constant installation and removal of a WML, depends largely also on the mounting system, as far as wear to both.

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

I've been doing the same with my 229R and TLR-1s for several years. I have a holster I can use with the light mounted, but it's huge and much more difficult to conceal than my regular holsters.

I have noticed accelerated wear on the rail finish, which you won't have to worry about with a G19. I have also noticed that I have to turn the mounting screw just a tad more now than when new in order to get it to the same tightness.

After practicing putting my new TLR7 on, and taking it off, I do not think it is going to be a big deal.

However, I can see where it would be handy to always have it on my G19, it seems there are very few concealment holsters designed for the G19 with the TLR7 mounted on it. Anyone have any leads on where to find a quality leather OWB holster for this combo?